Culture Lover's Guide to Maui

While most people associate Maui with lazy beach days and endless evening cocktails, the island offers plenty for culture lovers too. Here are a few ways to get your culture fix during your next trip to Maui.

Attend a Luau

For a glimpse of traditional Hawaiian culture, attend a luau, a restaurant that combines live entertainment with traditional food. Expect to see hulu and fire dancing performances set to music while you dine on traditional food such as poi (taro paste) and roasted Kalua pig. 

Check out Local Museums

Maui has a number of small museums, many of which are housed in historic buildings. Highlights include archaeological artifacts and memorabilia-filled exhibits that showcase life on the islands in the 19th and early-20th centuries.

Set Sail on a Traditional Outrigger Canoe

Used by Polynesians since ancient times, outrigger canoes were instrumental in migration during the Austronesian period. To experience how ancient people sailed the seas, take a boat trip out in a modern incarnation of these sea canoes.

Take an Art Class

With its beautiful scenery and laid-back vibes, Maui has long been popular among artists; many have set up shop on the island and now make a living creating and teaching art. If you’re the crafty type, consider taking an art class; options range from glass blowing classes to paint-and-sip parties.