13+ Things to Do in Kahului, Maui: Near the Cruise & Airport

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Kahului, Maui, is home to Maui’s airport (Kahului Airport), the gateway to the Road to Hana, Krispy Kreme, and Costco. The town is not known as a tourist destination. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to do in Kahului!

Whether you are looking for something to do near the cruise port or you have time to kill before your flight home, here is everything we find worth doing in Kahului. 

Kahului for Cruise Ship Passengers
Pride of America cruise ship passengers will be in Kahului Harbor for one night and two days. Cruise ship passengers can’t walk from the harbor to places of interest in Kahului. While we share things to do in Kahului, these activities require a rental car, taxi, or Uber to get to them safely. 

Cruise visitors should see our free Hawaii Cruise Guide for travel resources! Explore Maui with our favorite Maui Shore Excursions. We also share a one-page list of great, local shore excursions on all the islands here.

Are you leaving on a red-eye flight from Kahului Airport? See our itinerary day and 10 tips for planning your departure day on Maui.

Top Sights in Kahului

These are our favorite and the most popular things to do in Kahului, but we provide even more things to do below.

The only Costco on Maui is in Kahului, so it should be included on this list of top sights in Kahului. This is visitors’ first stop when they want to stock their Airbnb. While the award for the busiest Costco in the world goes to a store on Oahu, this Kahului Costco is a close second!

We recommend shopping local so you don’t start your vacation waiting in a Costco line. When we lived on Maui, we would go right before closing to skip the lines.  

While the Costco is popular, our top things to do in Kahului focus more on interesting attractions for visitors. Let’s dive into the Maui Swap Meet.

1. Maui Swap Meet

Welcome to the most popular thing to do in Kahalui, the Maui Swap Meet. Visitors and locals flock to the swap meet every Saturday morning, from 7 AM to 1 PM.  

Come explore a treasure trove of goods from tacky t-shirts to handmade, artisanal crafts. You will find vegan cupcakes, woodworkers plying their craft, and a wonderful collection of souvenirs to take home. The Maui Swap Meet really has it all! 

Entrance is $0.75 (a refreshing amount for Maui), and parking is free. Grab a shave ice and enjoy perusing the local crafts.

2. Costco Food Truck Park

Here is our go-to stop in Kahului on every trip to town. When we lived on Maui, we would do a Costco run with a stop at the food truck parks. Yes, plural. There are two food truck parks near Costco. 

We provide details on visiting them in our Maui Food Truck Parks. You will find a host of food options for the whole family or travel group. Plates are $18 to $22 each, and credit cards are accepted 95% of the time. The parks have trucks open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Click here for directions to the main Costco food truck park.

3. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens strives to protect the native plants and cultural heritage of the greater Maui islands: Lanai, Kahoolawe, Molokai, and Maui. 

You can reference the app and QR code to fully appreciate the story that accompanies the garden. Without that, the garden feels just like a park—good for relaxing, but not stunningly beautiful like botanical gardens on Kauai.

Self-guided tours are $10 per visitor, and children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM.

The gardens are located in Keopuolani Regional Park, also home to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Keopuolani playground, and the Maui Swap Meet. Click for directions to Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.

Erica and I find visiting Hawaii’s botanical gardens an educational and authentic way to visit Hawaii.

4. Kanaha Beach Park

Kanaha Beach Park is a famous Maui beach for kite and windsurfing, along with Ho’okipa Park, which is up the road. This is the closest beach to Kahului Airport.

This is not the place to go if you’re searching for a relaxing, beautiful Maui beach. You won’t find Kahana Beach in a sandal advertisement, but it is the best beach in Kahului.

I provide that disclaimer as cruise passengers are hopeful it is a great beach for snorkeling and spending the day, as it is close to Kahului Harbor. I’m afraid it won’t be the Maui beach of your dreams. 

It is a lovely beach for a picnic and exploring, but the high winds and rough surf make it poor for snorkeling and swimming. 

Kanaha Beach Park Facts:

• 40-acre beach park with a large sand beach
• Grills and picnic tables are available, with shade
• Lots of free parking!
• Public toilets are available
• Showers are available
• No lifeguard on duty

5. Tin Roof Maui

Tin Roof is the most popular restaurant in Kahului, after Chick-fil-A, of course. Chef Sheldon and his wife are local owners from Hilo who serve up island favorites. The prices are reasonable at this small, counter-service restaurant. 

Saimin, pork belly, garlic shrimp, mochiko chicken, and sandwiches are available for $14 or less. Get there early while the Chef Specials are still in stock. In our experience, the line moves fast.

Click for directions to Tin Roof Maui. It is in central Kahului, down the road from Costco.

Jordan’s Take on Kahului Things to Do
Kahului is a town on Maui. Locals visit Kahului for the big box stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Costco. Strip malls and fast-food restaurants are between the box stores to serve those running errands. Kahului is not a popular destination for visitors. You won’t find a charming downtown like that in the neighboring town of Wailuku. Most visitors go to Kahului for Costco and cheap gas at Costco or Safeway Express. But, there are things to do in Kahului that are worth stopping on your way to the Road to Hana, before your Maui red-eye flight, or if you’re looking for unique Maui things to do.

6. Things to Do Near Kahului Harbor

Cruise ship passengers, like those on the Pride of America by Norwegian Cruise Lines, can take a short taxi or Uber to these things to do in Kahului. 

All of these activities are within 2.5 miles (about a 45-minute walk) from the cruise port.

Things to Do Near Kahului Harbor for Cruise Ship Passengers:

• Maui Swap Meet
• Maui Arts and Cultural Center for shows and performances
• Aloha Hui Playground at Keopuolani Regional Park
• Kanaha Beach Park
• Queen Ka’ahumanu Center is a shopping center (mall) in Kahului. It is dated, but you can find some artisanal crafts and regular mall stores.
• Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

Other Things to Do in Kahului

We have you covered with more things to do in Kahului. For cruise ship passengers or those looking for things near Kahului Airport, these are ideas to fill your time on Maui.

7. Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum

Maui doesn’t have the large museums like Oahu, I’m afraid. The Maui Historical Society is near Kahului, in Wailuku, which is a wonderful place to visit! In Kahului, you’ll find the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum, dedicated to the sugar plantations. 

Sugar plantations dominated Maui’s dominant industry until the island shifted its focus to tourism. One can’t understand the current culture on Maui without understanding the history of sugar plantations. The migrants brought to work the fields, life on the plantations, and land ownership all revolved around sugar cane. 

Explore exhibits in different rooms with themes of The Founder, Immigration, Field Work, and more. See how King Sugar shapes Maui.

• Click for directions to the A&B Sugar Museum. Look for the old, rusting sugar cane factory in the central valley.
• Hours: 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday – Thursday
• Price: $10 per adult, $3 per child

8. The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course

With a lot of watering, The Dunes at Maui Lani is an oasis in Maui’s central valley. The links-style course provides a background of the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala. 

As most golfers head to the two courses in Kaanapali or to Kapalua, they drive right past The Dunes. Tee times are a bit easier to get here, and the price is reasonable.

If you’re not spending time in Kahului because a cruise ship has docked you there, chances are you’re catching a late flight. If that’s the case (or these things to do aren’t calling to you), see our guide to Spending the Day on Maui before a Red-Eye Flight.

9. Maui Helicopter Tour

The heliport for amazing helicopter tours up to Haleakala or out to Molokai is in Kahului. Start your tour on the Haleakala side of Kahului Airport’s main runway.

We share all our favorite Maui Helicopter tours here, and we only recommend the operators with the best safety records. 

10. Kahana Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the heart of Kahului, near the airport, is the Kahana Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary. This wetland is just off the main road through town, making for an easy stop to see native Hawaiian birds and wildlife. 

This was the first wildlife sanctuary established in Hawaii. I find it fascinating that it was once one of two ancient Hawaiian fishponds, originally built 200 years ago. 

This is a quick stop. Park and walk to the viewing hut to watch the wildlife and read the plaques. Stay longer to enjoy the bird watching! 

11. Things to Do with Kids in Kahului

We like to do two things in Kahului with our kids: a trampoline park with kids’ hours for safety, and the best playground on Maui.

Maui Trampoline Park (click for directions) is open daily from 12 PM to 9 PM. Check their website for special hours for young kids. A general admission ticket for one hour is $25, and toddler time is $9. This is a great rainy-day activity on Maui.

Hui Aloha Playground at Keopuolani Regional Park (click for directions) has the best playground on Maui, in our opinion. We like this playground and a small playground in Napili. Located near Kahului Harbor, the playground has large play structures for 5 to 12-year-olds as well as a toddlers’ structure. There is little shade, but there are public restrooms nearby, in the parking lot.

12. Kahului Restaurants

Kahului is not known for its food scene, but a celebrity chef runs one restaurant! 

As Kahului is a place for shopping, fast-food restaurants are widespread and abundant here. I share our favorite places to eat and fast-food options in case you don’t have time to sit down before your flight!

• Tin Roof (click for directions) is owned and operated by Chef Sheldon Simeon, a native to Hilo, Hawaii. He was the executive chef at Star Noodle in Lahaina and was on a cooking reality TV show. He serves up island-style classics from his small, counter-service restaurant in Kahului. You will find a line out front, but it moves fast.
• Maui’s Coffee Roasters (click for directions) is one of the best Maui coffee shops. Grab a cup of coffee if you’re tired after the flight.
• Kalei’s Lunchbox (click for directions) went from a food truck to brick-and-mortar locations. They are popular! They serve up classic Hawaii plate lunches. Come here for comfort food, Hawaii style!
• Zippy’s Kahului (click for directions) is a classic in Hawaii. The local chain serves up fried chicken, spam and eggs, chilli, and other island favorites. They are popular on Oahu, and this is the only Zippy’s on Maui.
• Krispy Kreme (click for directions) is located near Costco, and it used to be on the way out of Kahului Airport. When you see locals selling Krispy Kremes on Oahu, they have flown to Maui to get them that day! It used to be a big business.  
• Fast Food restaurants include Chick-fil-A, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, McDonald’s, Raising Cane’s Chicken, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and KFC.

13. Things to Do Near Kahului

I find the best things to do in Kahului are actually found just outside of Kahului. Maui’s Central Valley has hidden gem attractions that are worth checking out. Here are some of my favorites. Most are located in the Maui county seat of Wailuku, just a few minutes west of Kahului.

• ‘Iao Valley with the ‘Iao Needle is a state park located in a sacred valley. The lush, tropical valley was home to a massive battle with King Kamehameha the Great. See our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary on including this on a Maui excursion day.
• The Road to Hana unofficially starts as you leave Kahului. Our Road to Hana Guide is the best one on the internet. Start there for the best stops, routes, and how to drive this iconic road.
• Waihe’e Ridge Trail is a popular hike in the West Maui Mountains, on the north side of Maui. Hike up the ridge for a rainforest experience. This is a challenging hike with a steep, muddy climb. 
• Our friend Jon runs Maui Macademia Nut Farm Tours at Waihe’e Valley Plantation. This farm tour and food tour made our Best Maui Farm Tours list. Watch our video below on how to make this into a day trip!
• Maui Tropical Plantation is the closest thing Maui has to a cultural amusement park like the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. Stop here for half a day to go ziplining, do a farm tour on a tram, enjoy a farmers market, or have a lovely lunch or dinner. Our favorite Haleakala Sunrise tour (10% off!) stops here for breakfast, as it is a lovely spot.
• Maui Historical Society is the best museum on Maui for pre-western Hawaii history. The museum is located on the way to ‘Iao Valley. Stop to see Hawaiian artifacts, learn the history of Hawaii, and help preserve that history by donating.

Maui is full of wonderful things to do. While Kahului is more for locals and shopping, it does provide interesting activities and points of interest near Kahului Airport. 

You will enjoy exploring greater Maui, from Upcountry to Napili Bay in West Maui. Your days will be full of great things to do. See our related articles for more things to do in Maui.

• 31 of the BEST Things to Do on Maui
• 65 Things to Do on Maui with Kids
• 16 Things to do in Upcountry Maui
• 19+ Things to Do in Kaanapali

If you’re tired of piecing together a perfect Maui itinerary, grab our perfect Maui Wayfinder Itinerary. 

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