There are plenty of things for seniors to do on Maui.
Maui Ocean Center – The Maui Ocean Center is a collection of large aquariums and exhibits of marine life native to Hawaii. The hands-on tide pool has always been a favorite attraction for the kids. There is a large glass aquarium with a tunnel designed into it allowing you to walk “through” the aquarium with sharks and fish swimming around you. It’s all great fun.
`Ioa Valley State Park – This park has one of the most recognizable landmarks on Maui—the `Ioa Needle, which is just a short hike up from the parking lot. In this valley, King Kamehameha conquered the Maui defenders and changed the course of the Hawaiian islands.
Hilo Hattie – If you have never been to a Hilo Hattie, you gotta go. If you have been to one, I’ll let you judge if you want to go back or not. This shop covers every Hawaiian stereotype you might have. You can buy a bright bold Hawaiian shirt, a coconut bra, or a can of macadamia nuts. Some call the place cheesy and I would probably agree, but I still love the place. We stop there every time we visit a Hawaiian Island. Unless they have changed their policy since the writing of this guide, you will get a free seashell lei upon entry to the store. There are two Hilo Hatties on Maui. One is in Kihei (297 Pi’ikea Avenue). The other is in Lahaina (900 Front Street).
Kula Botanical Gardens – This is a great place, located upcountry and off the beaten path, for families to visit. Pick up a coconut macaroon while you are there. The common thought is to plan on visiting this location while seeing the Haleakalā crater. It is not enough on its own to warrant the potentially long travel distance.
Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens Park – This is a public park with exhibits that show the different cultures that contribute to Maui today. This is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch or dinner after visiting `Ioa Valley.
The Hana Highway is a great way to spend a day or two. Something else to consider is to take in a luau.
There are plenty of beaches to explore. If you visit during the winter months, you can take a boat tour dedicated to whale watching. If you get lodging on the west side facing the ocean, you can often watch the humpback whales breaching from your own personal deck.
Another consideration would be Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm. This is another place to visit on your way to or from the Haleakalā Crater, especially if you are a fan of lavender. This 1.5-acre farm grows approximately 55,000 lavender plants of forty-five different species. You can go and tour the grounds or just pick something up in the gift shop. Here’s a quick tip if you want to just pop into the gift shop and not take the tour: They charge a parking fee to get in, but it is often waived if you mention you are not taking the tour. There is also a slight reduction in ticket price for the tour for senior citizens, and if you bring your own coffee cup, you can get a free cup of their tea.
If walking around the island is not your cup of tea, then maybe you would like to be whisked around on a zippy, sleek Segway. Segway Maui offers guided tours around Lahaina.
You can also charter your own private tour if you would like. They also offer electric bike self-guided tours through historic Lahaina. These bikes offer you the options of pedaling exclusively, pedaling with some motorized assistance, or running purely on their motor.
