Top 10 Things to Do in Napili & Kapalua

Napili Bay is frequented daily by residents and visitors, and is a super popular spot for snorkeling with the Hawaiian green sea turtles. Many that visit this West Maui locale are seeking some solitude on vacation. Guests can definitely find some cool vibes and privacy here! Although the weekends can be busy, peace and comfort is found at Napili Bay. For visitors who would like to snorkel at Napili Bay, there is an activity rental booth where you can rent snorkels and fins by the hour.

Napili Beach on Maui is a small cove surrounded by intimate vacation communities. This beautiful sandy beach has calm swimming and pool-like water, as well as gentle shore break, perfect for a relaxing swim in the ocean. Here, you’ll find a collection of gorgeous underwater coral reef formations that make Napili Bay so ideal for snorkeling on Maui. Napili Kai Beach Resort fronts the bay, so it can be very busy during high season on Maui. The best time to visit Napili Bay is during the early mornings on weekdays, or later in the afternoon for sunset celebrations. There is no designated parking lot for Napili Bay beach-goers, so look for neighborhood parking, and make sure to not block anyone’s driveway.

Depending on the season, guests can also find many tropical rarities, like lychee from Haiku, breadfruit, dragonfruit, watermelon radishes, rainbow kale, and Linda avocados (the huge, dark-skinned, buttery ones with small pits).

The Honokowai Farmers Market has quickly gained a reputation as one of the best non-GMO farmers markets in West Maui. At this Maui farmers market, guests can easily find a host of locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, locally canned and packaged food items, baked goods, and tons of vendors that provide samples. This locally owned and family operated food market takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 am to 11 am. It is located at 3636 Lower Honoapiilani Highway.

Breakfast at Gazebo is really popular and should definitely not be missed if you’re in the area. The views alone surely will make breakfast worth the wait! Plus, they serve you fresh coffee while you’re waiting.

Gazebo’s breakfast menu has traditional items like two egg breakfasts and buttermilk pancakes, but they really hit a home run with the simple way they infuse local foods. Favorite breakfast items at Gazebo are the Macadamia Nut Pancakes, Pineapple Pancakes (with the special sauce), the Fried Rice Plate with Scrambled Eggs, Country Eggs Benedict, Spanish Omelette, Maui Omelette, the Popeye Omelette, and the Big Kahuna (a 3-egg omelette with bacon, Portuguese sausage, onions, mushrooms, fresh avocado, and pepper jack cheese). Breakfast at Gazebo would not be complete without a mimosa and an order of their yummy Country Potatoes or Corned Beef Hash.

Gazebo is located poolside at the Napili Shores Resort (5315 Lower Honoapiilani Road), and is open 7 days a week from 7:30am to 2pm.

Besides enjoying the rare chance to hear George Kahumoku Jr. live in concert, guests will also be able to hear a rotating selection of Hawaiian musicians and special guests throughout the evening. The Napili Slack Key Guitar Shows are never the same, and are a great place to be introduced to the music of a variety of Hawaii’s most popular musicians. In addition to performing twice a week at the Napili Kai, George Kahumoku Jr. also plays music throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and operates his farm and production company out of West Maui.

Honolua Bay is the main focal point for this conservation district, and offers amazing surfing for in-the-know surfers, wonderful snorkeling during the Summer months, and incredible views from Lipoa Point for those that prefer to stay dry and enjoy the scenery. Besides being one of the most internationally famous surfing and snorkeling beaches on Maui, Honolua Bay also has one of the most beautiful and vibrantly-colored beach landscapes within all the Hawaiian Islands. The parking lot and bluffs (Lipoa Point) above Honolua Bay provide a wonderful vantage point for watching surfers from a safe distance, or savoring a magically beautiful Maui sunset. A visit to Honolua Bay should definitely not be missed!

For guests seeking an amazing vacation in Hawaii that focuses attention on their golf game, Maui is the best island to choose for a myriad of golf experiences and instruction at all levels. If you want beautifully maintained grounds and unobstructed views of the West Maui coastline and the outer islands of Molokai, Lanai and Kaho’olawe, definitely check out the Kapalua Golf Resort. At the Kapalua Resort, guests can practice and perfect their game at the Plantation and Bay courses; pick up some new skills and instruction from PGA professionals at the Kapalua Golf Academy. This is a great Hawaii golf resort choice for those interested in refining their golf game at a world-class Hawaii golf resort.

January is the most popular time of the year for Kapalua Golf Resort visitor action. Every year, in the beginning of January, the annual PGA Tour season opens with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Golf Resort. This is surely the most exciting golf event in all the Hawaiian Islands, and acclaimed for hosting a selection of the best professional golf athletes in the world, including winners of previous PGA Tour seasons.

Time and time again, Kapalua Bay has been named “Best Beach in the World” by numerous publications, including Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and the Travel Channel, who has also called it the “Best Beach in America.” Without a doubt, Kapalua is one of the top beaches in Hawaii for snorkeling and relaxing in the warm tropical sunshine.

The quiet and peaceful community surrounding Kapalua Bay is really unique. The beach in itself is out of this world with a protected, crescent-shaped cove, ideal for Hawaii marine life to gather. Kapalua Bay undoubtedly provides a calm and lovely environment for snorkeling in West Maui. Here, beach guests will find a huge array of Hawaii marine life; Scorpion Fish, Cornet Fish, Jacks, Butterflyfish, Parrotfish, Goat Fish, Moorish Idol, Box Fish, Perch, Triggerfish, Chub, various invertebrates and more.

With vibrantly colored reef formations, mellow swimming conditions, and a perfect setting, Kapalua is perfection for an afternoon of kicking back with your family and friends in West Maui.

One of the best times to visit D.T. Fleming Beach Park is from Spring to Fall when the ocean conditions are more relaxed. Fleming’s Beach is ideal for Maui snorkeling, swimming, and enjoying perfect Pacific Ocean waters.

From D.T. Fleming Beach Park, there is a short coastal trail to a lesser-known site called Dragon’s Teeth. By traveling towards the left end of the beach, journey above the shore break to a lower bank that borders the golf course. Follow the tree lines – spanning about 14 acres left of the trail is the Honokahua Burial Site (850 AD). DO NOT WALK up there; please spectate from afar. This is an ancient land. Continuing onto Dragon’s Teeth, you will soon see a patch of disheveled Ironwood trees; this is where you should cut right to the Dragon’s Teeth site. Dragon’s Teeth will be recognized when you see 4-5 foot high sharp-looking sculptures bordering the ocean. The Dragon’s Teeth are trachyte mineral: volcanic rock with an aphanitic (fine-grained crystals that are not apparent to the eye) texture. Trachyte is a rare result of a volcanic eruption with 65% silica content. Basically, if it were cut and polished, it would look iridescent, and similar to Mother of Pearl.

Or, you can choose to travel to the next site that’s located past mile marker 38 (look for a dirt pullout alongside the road). From this spot, you can see the best view of the blowhole and the Nakalele Lighthouse on the mauka side (oceanside) of the road without doing the hike. This is the absolute best way to visit Nakalele Blowhole.

Nakalele Blowhole is unpredictable! In NO WAY should you go close to the blowhole. When we say close, we mean do not go nearer than 20 feet to the blowhole. The blowhole eruptions are based on the ocean conditions, and at times can reach up to 50-feet high pending high surf advisories. It’s OBVIOUSLY better to be safe than sorry, so please do not act crazy so you can get that perfect selfie here. There have definitely been accidents and fatalities at this location. In my opinion, visitors who would prefer to stay safe should just check out the Nakalele Blowhole from the road. You can definitely get great coastal pictures and take awesome videos while you watch the blowhole erupt from the pull out (after mile marker 38 on Highway 30).