When I was in high school, someone I knew took a trip to Hawaii by himself and I remember feeling really bad for him, because a solo trip to such a romantic destination must be terrible, right?
That was before I had experienced the benefits of solo traveling firsthand, and after years of doing it, I started to envy him for going to such an amazing destination on his own. Ultimate freedom in a place as raw and adventurous as Hawaii sounded like a dream come true.
When the opportunity came up for me to work on a photography project in Hawaii, I jumped at the chance to check it out solo, confident that more than a honeymoon destination, Hawaii can be a great solo female travel destination, too.
Turns out that it totally is! These are some of the best activities in Maui, plenty of which will give you opportunities to meet other travelers, and enjoy a few solo adventures too:
Road to Hana
This famous road has over 600 turns, and though some of them are hairpin turns on a one-lane road, as long as you take it slow and go before the other tourists are on the road, you’ll be just fine.
The Road to Hana has quickly become one of the most popular activities on Maui since it takes you through some of the dreamiest landscape on the island, including waterfalls, black sand beaches, jungles, and a bamboo forest.
I did this one alone, and was glad to have all of the time and space that I needed to really do it justice in the way that I wanted to.
You won’t have cell service out there, so I recommend getting the Gypsy Guide for the Road to Hana as it’s synced to satellite. The voice on the app, I named him ‘Bill’ because he seemed like a Bill, gives really good suggestions on the must-sees, gives some historical background, and will let you know in plenty of time before you get to each landmark. Without a navigator, that help was invaluable.
I have a bunch of tips here for how to do the road right, to get away from other tourists, and to have a more pleasant drive!
Maui Surfer Girls
I’m so very glad that I gave surf lessons on Maui a try. I’ve been resisting surfing for so long and I honestly don’t know why. I guess I just assumed it would be difficult and I’d be battling it out with a bunch of guys who are way better than I am.
Maui Surfer Girls made me feel so comfortable with the whole experience. The waves on the side of Maui that they teach on (Olowalu Beach near Lahaina) are nice and small, the views of the green mountains as you ride the waves in are beautiful, plus I had plenty of room to learn.
To my surprise, I was already standing by my second wave, and rode two all the way in during my two-hour lesson. Having the female-friendly, non-competitive environment that these lessons provided just made me feel good, and the surf camps they offer make it easy to meet other female travelers too! Try some Maui surf lessons out, it’s a blast, really!
Snorkeling the Molokini Crater
This was actually my first activity on the island and I was surprised by how easy it was to make friends on the boat. Even though people were there with their significant others, they were friendly and I ended up chatting with and making friends with people right from day one. I also found the crew to be particularly friendly and easy to talk to, which made the whole experience great as a solo traveler.
The Molokini Crater is a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater that is pretty famous for snorkeling and even diving. For me, the boat ride was the best part as being on the ocean is one of my favorite things in life. Jumping into the warm water, spotting an octopus, and swimming around just added to the fun.
You have a few options for booking a trip like this, but I’d suggest a smaller boat. I saw some that appeared to have hundreds of people, while the Alii Nui’s max is 60 (but there were only 24 when I went last Monday). The food was excellent, the wine and beer were free-flowing, and it included a pickup and drop off at my hotel.
A few solo female travel tips:
- Safety: Thankfully Maui is pretty safe and most crime is limited to petty theft. That said, plenty of people on the island don’t even lock their doors so that’s a pretty good indication that it’s a safe place for solo female travelers. Just make sure that you lock your rental car (book here! By the way, despite what the guy at the rental place tries to upsell you, a compact car on Maui will do you just fine).
- Meeting others: It might be easier than you think. I hadn’t realized I already knew plenty of people in Maui. Post on your Facebook page that you’re heading there and you may be surprised who knows whom!
- Consider using social media: If you have an active social media account like Instagram or Snapchat, you might be able to find people that way. If not, use sites like Couchsurfing.org or meetup.com.
Where to stay and eat:
- If you fancy:
- The Grand Wailea: The rooms and grounds are out of this world, and the staff will customer-service you all day. It’s awesome. The Grand Wailea also has some of the best food I’ve ever had. I’m being completely serious. Their restaurant, Humuhumu had delicious eats. Even if you don’t stay at this hotel, splurge on the dinner. It’s SO worth it!
- Mid-range:
- Kaanapali Beach Hotel: Talk about a great sunset spot! This hotel is intimate without being tiny and is a great mid-range option.
- Budget: Camping in Hawaii is awesome, and you can save tons of money if you’re willing to brave the occasional rain. If not, check out AirBnB for options. Definitely eat at Ono Tacos, a taco truck in Lahaina, for some cheap and seriously delicious fish, al pastor, pollo, and asado tacos.
So if you’re thinking of visiting Hawaii and are tired of waiting for the perfect opportunity, or person, to go with you, look no further than your own reflection. Seriously, I was so surprised at how easy and enjoyable it has been to meet people in Hawaii, whether it’s locals or other tourists. Don’t fear a solo trip here, rather embrace it and enjoy the adventure!
*As mentioned in the intro, I was here on a photography assignment and therefore partnered with the Hawaii Tourism Board to bring you this article. Some of these links are affiliate links. I only promote the things I love think you’ll love too. Your trust always comes first.
Sarah says
Great list of things to do on this island. Hawaii is on my “to travel to” list in the near future. The surfing school you suggested looks awesome. I too have never tried surfing but, would definitely want to give it a try in Hawaii 🙂
Also, what camera are you using for your underwater shots? They look very clear. Thanks.
Kristin says
It’s a GoPro Hero 4 with a dome: http://amzn.to/2ed4qQJ <- that's the one I have but I think it's pretty crappy and would consider getting a better quality one if you think you'll use it much. The top already broke and my friend had to fix it. The dome is necessary to get the half in half out of water shots 🙂
Brooklyn Murtaugh says
Hawaii has never been high on my “go to” list, but the older I get the more I want to go! I lived in Australia for a bit and had planned to try surfing, but for some reason I never did it. I think due to being nervous. The company you went with sounds great!
Kristin says
I was nervous too and then once I tried I was like, okay that was way more fun and less scary than I thought. What was I actually worried about?
Mel says
Love this. Have always wanted to go to Hawaii but whereas I’m still travelling and refusing to ‘settle down’, all of my friends have. This has gI’ve me the confidence to go by myself. So New Zealand (again) next year and Hawaii for 2018 i think. Thanks!
Kristin says
Sweet! I was surprised at how easy it was to meet people. I thought it might be a little bit lonely but found that the alone times didn’t bother me at all because I was so stimulated by the surroundings and people are in such a good mood on Maui -they’re on vacation!
John Parker says
Thanks for sharing your solo travel experience with us.
Serhat Engul says
Breath-taking beauty of nature and great photographs. Thank you.
Jocelyne says
Wow. You’ve done some serious travels and yes I’ve gone to Mexico by myself and let me tell you it was amazing! Love every bit of it.
Ijana says
Sounds like an awesome trip! I would definitely love to go there, Hawaii is a great destination for honeymoons but boasts just as much for single people. I feel like I’d have to take it one island at a time though, or there wouldn’t be enough time to see everything there!
Kristin says
Yeah definitely give the islands their time! I wish I’d had longer but then again I almost always do.
Lauren Will says
What a great guide! Maui is so much fun…. HumaHuma is one of my fave spots!!! The spa at The Grand Wailea is incredible as well 🙂
Kristin says
I heard the spa is amazing! I’m not usually a spa person because I want to be outside exploring but if I’d had more time there I think I would have had to check it out.
Dave Briggs says
Fantastic things to do on the island. Glad to find that you’ve found it completely safe. The snorkeling bit is appealing to the adventurer in me tremendously! And trekking to that incredible jungle would be perfect as well!
Kristin says
Tons of great snorkeling in Maui and Hawaii in general!
Alex says
Great tips! My first trip to Hawaii I spent six weeks there solo and loved every minute. There are some great hostels on Maui in particular including Banana Bungalow and Aloha Surf Hostel which include free tours every day. It’s an awesome way to meet other travelers and also to cut costs as you won’t need a car rental (which can add up when you don’t have someone to split it with.) Mahalo <3
Kristin says
Thanks for the hostel ideas! I wouldn’t have even thought of that (which is silly, because why not?)
Carrick says
Hi Kristin!
Lovely post and beautiful photos. Maui is such a fantastic island, isn’t it? We just returned from visiting in October and we fell in love. We didn’t spend much time there, but we got up early (like, should’ve just stayed awake early) and drove up to Haleakla National {ark to catch the sunrise. It was totally worth it.
Maybe some day you can make it up there and I can take some surfing lessons!
Safe travels!
Carrick
Kristin says
That’s something I missed that I’d wanted to do. Something to go back for!
Lisa Williams says
I’m thinking about heading back to Maui, solo this time. I love snorkeling but would be afraid to go it alone. Any recommendations on groups? Besides Molokini…..
Kristin says
I’m guessing any tour you take would be able to accommodate you.
Marirose says
This post is exactly what I was looking for! I’m thinking about doing a solo trip to Maui. Thanks so much for the tips. Even more excited for it now.
How long did you stay there? I have 10-11 days to plan for. Considering island hopping. Would this be something you’d recommend, or do you think there’s enough to do on the island for 10 days?
Thanks!
Kristin says
I was in Hawaii for the same amount of time and also visited Molokai https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/off-the-beaten-path-hawaii-molokai/
and Lanai: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/lanai-hawaii-activities/
Loved that mix but wished for more time. Who doesn’t want more time in Hawaii?
Girl says
How long did you go to Hawaii for? I am looking at going during Easter break.
Kristin says
It was 10 full days between Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.
Silvia says
Hi!
Thanks for all the tips and inspirations 🙂
I was wondering though if it’s impossible to visit Hawaii without renting a car: since I’ll be by myself, it will be quite expensive renting one all alone :-/
Many thanks in advance!
Silvia
Kristin says
There’s a bus system and lots of people hitchhike. I actually picked up a couple of hitchhikers myself!
Serena Belluschi says
Hi!, did you rent a car on your own? did you manage to find someone to share with? I am planning to do solo trip to maui but not sure on which side of the island to stay. The cheapest is hostels in Kahului or paia but then I have to go around from there!
Kristin says
I rented it on my own. I did give rides to people but they were hitchhikers so I didn’t ask for money or anything like that. It’s an expense for sure but the good news is you don’t need the Jeep they’ll try to upsell you. Just get the cheap car!
Stephanie says
Hello,
I’m will traveling to Hawaii in Oct. and for the first week I will be with a friend in Oahu and the second week I will be by myself. I would like to go to another island, but wasn’t sure which one would be the best for a female traveling alone. I came across you blog and I have read everything you posted about Hawaii, and found it to be interesting. Is there an island that you would recommend over the others? I was thinking of going to Maui. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Kristin says
I love them all for different reasons. Lanai and Molokai are both tons of fun too but you’ll spend more time solo there, I imagine. Maui will have lots of other people as would Kauai. The big island is super adventurous and fun as well but, well, bigger. I’d base it on how much you’d like to be alone and what kind of scenery speaks to you the most. They’re all different!
Eleasabeth says
I also spent a really good time there during my last summer holidays and came back with a lot of pleasant memories.
Micaela says
Were you able to capture your ‘selfies’ alone or did you typically ask other travelers, etc?
Kristin says
I took all of them alone: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-take-travel-selfies/
Nick says
Hi Kristin!
After visiting the island a few times with family, I now want to travel their alone
Great reading your article.
I would like to know more about your assignment and how you partnered with the Hawaiian tourism board. I myself am a professional wedding photographer who travels on off seasons.
Thanks!
Kristin says
They contacted me to help them promote Hawaii to my audience. I think they were particularly interested in that part of it.