How to Spend the Day on Maui Before a Red-Eye Flight

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Maui is famous for its red-eye flights. Many departing flights are offered late at night, which begs the question of what you will do on your last day on Maui.

Before we had kids, we always booked the Maui red-eye flight out. It gave us another day on Maui! But when we weren’t leaving until 11:30 p.m., we had to plan our day strategically. 

Here is my ideal Maui departure day itinerary so you can feel fresh and clean for your red-eye flight home. 

Jordan’s Take on What to Do on Your Last Maui Day

When you booked your flight to Hawaii, a Maui red-eye flight sounded like a great idea. You got a cheap ticket and an extra day on Maui! However, you may have a hard day in front of you. Luggage storage is hard to come by, showers are at beach parks, and you have time to kill.

Have a strategy for a great final day on Maui. Book a tour, request a late check-out, and plan a day so you and your travel companions don’t get salty, figuratively and literally. You may not be able to shower before your flight.

8 Tips for Planning Your Last Day on Maui

Here are obvious (but worth repeating) and not-so-obvious tips for planning your Maui departure day. Let these tips set your expectations before your red-eye flight.

1. Late Checkout

You are right to assume that planning a Maui departure day is tough when you have a red-eye flight. The obvious first step is to request a late checkout from your hotel or vacation rental. Most of the time, this isn’t available or is cost-prohibitive. 

I wish you all the best in getting a late checkout. Nothing is better than relaxing at the pool on your last day on Maui.

2. Premium Credit Card Perks

Premium travel credit cards usually include a late checkout option, especially when you book a luxury hotel through their portal. Thanks to a free late checkout option, we were able to enjoy the Grand Wailea on Maui for 36 hours. 

At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on Kauai, I booked our stay through my credit card’s luxury travel portal, which allowed us to stay for 36 hours and receive several resort credits (in real dollars). I then went on to buy too many drinks and fancy sunglasses. I live my life with no regrets. Here are our featured travel cards for this month.

3. Luggage Storage

If you can’t get a late checkout, we’ve had good luck with having the resort store our bags. You are paying top dollar for your Maui hotel so they can accommodate holding your bags. 

Ask when you reserve the room or check in if they will store your bags on your last day. I will discuss bag storage options in more detail below.

4. Resort Pass

You can check Resort Pass (we’re not partnered with them) to see if a Maui resort offers pool passes. These are usually $100 per person, but it gives you peace of mind that you can relax for the whole day at the pool.

If you haven’t booked your Maui place to stay, we are here to help!
– Kaanapali Guide: The Maui Beach Resort Place to Stay
– 9 Best Vacation Rentals in Kihei
– 7 Best Vacation Rentals in Wailea
– 12 Best Maui Beach Hotels
– 10 Best Maui Resorts for Families: A Maui Mom’s Review
– Maui Where to Stay Directory – all our favorite hotel and vacation rental reviews

5. Showers

A shower is not guaranteed before your red-eye flight. There are no hotel facilities or shower facilities at Kahului Airport. You can shower at a beach park before you head to the airport. Plan your day around the level of cleanliness you want for your red-eye flight home.

We have recently discovered Island Lockere Life in Kahului. We have not visited their facility or heard others who have, but they offer a shower with soap and towels for $20. We will check them out on our next Maui visit.

6. Rental Car Tip

You will likely have to store your luggage in your rental car. When you book your discounted rental car, consider a trunk to keep your bags out of sight.

Most rental cars have tinted windows, so looking in the back of a Jeep or SUV is hard. 

7. Book a Tour

Really, book a tour! A farm tour or guided tour is a great way to enjoy your last day on Maui. What better way to eat up some hours than to enjoy a farm-to-table lunch! 

• See our Maui Farm Tours for our favorites
• Here are the tours that are near the Kahului Airport:
• Maui Volcanoes Tour with Iao Valley
• Maui Gold Pineapple Farm Tour
• La Kahea Community Farm Tour and Farm Lunch
• Maui Macadamia Nut Farm Tour

8. Keep Track of Time

Watch your time! The day will move from “we’re killing time” to “oh my gosh, we’re going to miss our flight!” If you’re in West Maui or Wailea, you can expect traffic to the airport.

My parents missed their red-eye flight when they got stuck in two hours of traffic on the Honoapiilani Highway when they left Lahaina. 

Maui Red-Eye Flight Itinerary Day

Here is what to do the day before your Maui red-eye flight. I give this advice to folks on our newsletter when they email me this question.

I hope my ideal Maui red-eye flight day helps you plan your last day on Maui!

• Enjoy your departure day at your hotel! Walk the Kaanapali Boardwalk, enjoy the cafe at your resort, or take that sunrise yoga class that is part of your $55 resort fee. There are many things to do in the morning before you check out. We have our kids enjoy the pool one last time before we leave, tires them out a bit.

• Check out of your hotel and put your bags in the trunk. Keep them out of sight, not because Maui has more car break-ins than the rest of the country, but because it is good practice. Maui hotel and vacation rental checkouts are usually at 10 AM or 11 AM.
• Stop at a scenic overlook, museum, or other quick thing to do that was on your Maui list. See our Things to Do on Maui and Things to Do on Maui with Kids for ideas.
• Head for lunch! Grab a long Maui lunch.
  • If I stay in Ka’anapali Beach Resorts, the last two things I would do are go to Kapalua Bay to walk the Kapalua Coastal Trail or sit at the beach. I’d then go to the Sea House for lunch.
  • If I stayed in Kihei, I’d go to Kalama Park to walk the boardwalk and then to Kihei Caffe for lunch. The Kamaole Beaches are also great places to chill.
• Maui Tropical Plantation is my go-to place for my last day on Maui. This is a destination for a farm tour tram ride, zipline course, local Maui souvenirs, restaurants, a farmers market, and a plantation museum. 

There is a lot to do here for a few hours. We enjoyed it all and often returned when we lived on Maui. The main restaurant is locally owned and has superb service. You can wander the gardens, feed the ducks, and relax.

You can spend a lot of money or not spend any at Maui Tropical Plantation.

The parking lot has security guards who will watch your car, giving you the peace of mind you want when you have luggage in the back.

• You can have dinner at Maui Tropical Plantation, or you can go to the Costco Food Truck Parks. The parks are located near Costco, by the Costco Gas Station. There are two parks, and they offer a plethora of dining options. See our Maui Food Truck Parks article for details. 
• Head to Kahului Airport with plenty of time to check in, go through security, and relax at the gate. Thank you for visiting Maui!

In our video below, we share best practices for storing your bags and things to do on your last day on Maui.

10 Things to Do Before a Maui Red-Eye Flight

Here is a quick list of things to do on your final day on Maui. This list is focused on activities that don’t get you too sweaty or dirty before your flight. 

While I cannot guarantee the safety of your bags being stored in your car, these activities have historically had secure parking lots or a low likelihood of break-ins. 

1. Zipline Course! Choose from Kapalua Zipline in Kapalua or Skyline Zipline in Kaanapali.
2. Maui Farm Tours are plentiful, off-the-beaten-path, and a lovely day outside on Maui without breaking a sweat. 
3. Halfway to Hana Private Tour: Have the guide store your bags in the car and then enjoy a halfway trip to Hana. You will have plenty of time to get to the airport!
4. Enjoy an airplane tour above Maui. As you’re heading to Kahului Airport already, you might as well take a scenic flight.
5. The heliport is next to Kahului Airport. Book a Maui helicopter tour.
6. 16 Things to Do in Upcountry Maui! Upcountry is about 30 minutes from Kahului Airport. There are numerous restaurants, historical towns, farm tours, and more on the slopes of Haleakala. 
7. Enjoy horseback riding in Upcountry Maui
8. Go whale watching on Maui! Whale season is from December to mid-April. You won’t get wet on a two-hour whale watching tour. The parking lots at the harbors are busy, and I haven’t heard of break-ins.
9. Haleakala National Park is great for a light stroll and to explore the visitor center during the day. The high elevation means you won’t get sweaty! See our Hawaii’s National Park article for tips on visiting.
10. Maui Tropical Plantation: This is my top recommendation for something to do on your last day on Maui. The numerous activities, restaurants, and gardens make for a lovely Maui red-eye flight day activity.

Where can I store our luggage before a Maui red-eye flight?

Kahului Airport does not currently provide baggage storage, but private companies have responded to the demand for it on Maui.

There are more luggage storage options than there used to be! Here are some for your last day on Maui.

Disclaimer: We have not used these luggage storage services. The reviews are good, and none of our readers have had an issue. If you choose to book a Maui luggage storage company, email us with your experience!

Island Locker Life provides baggage storage five minutes from Kahului Airport. Rates are $10 per bag or $10 for a locker. They also offer bag pickup and delivery. Reservations are recommended. 

Bounce is a global company that offers luggage storage in select cities. Kahului, Maui, is one such place. Make a reservation on their website to store your bags with Bounce.

You can decide not to store your bags on your last day on Maui. 

This article is focused on things to do that provide relative peace of mind that your bags are stored safely in your car. Maui does not have a high rate of car break-ins. 

I used to religiously check the Maui police reports, which were published by the Maui Now newspaper. Car break-ins were lower than in mainland cities, and visitor rental cars were not targeted. 

Take the same precautions as you do at home to prevent a car break-in:

• Lock your doors
• Leave valuables out of sight
• Avoid trailheads and parking lots that have low foot traffic and are isolated

Is there a place to shower before our Maui red-eye flight?

The most popular option for a shower before your flight is to use a beach shower. The county and state beaches have shower facilities to rinse off after the beach.

You will also find showers at the resorts, along the shoreline. These are readily available for non-guests. 

The closest beach to Kahului Airport (Maui Airport) is Kanaha Beach Park. There are shower and toilet facilities at Kanaha to use before your flight. Click for directions to Kanaha Beach Park.

I don’t recommend shampooing and conditioning at these showers, but a rinse off will feel refreshing before your Maui red-eye flight!

Island Locker Life provides baggage storage and shower facilities. For $20, you can shower before your flight. The shower is fully stocked, and towels are provided.

Final Thoughts on Your Maui Red-Eye Flight

Don’t be dismayed about finding things to do on your last day on Maui. You will have a great time! Store those bags in the back of the car and enjoy the activities I mentioned. 

As you sound like an excellent trip planner, you must be looking into your final day on Maui well before your trip to Maui. Erica and I take pride in planning perfect days out in Hawaii. 

Explore our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary below for excursion days, a video guide to Maui, where to eat, and the best beaches. We will make your trip to Maui memorable!