Headed to Maui? Here are 3 Reservations You Need to Make Now 🌺📆💻
Some of Maui’s most popular activities now require a reservation. What to know before you go!
From the lush trails of the Iao Valley and the Road to Hana to the sun-kissed sands of Wailea and Ka’anapali, Maui is a tropical paradise.
Whether you’re diving with sea turtles in Molokini, exploring the rugged beauty upcountry, or simply enjoying a sunset on the beach in Kihei, every moment here is a special experience.
If you’ve never been to Maui – or haven’t visited in a few years – you might be surprised to learn that some of the island’s most popular places and experiences now require an advance reservation.
And it’s not just Maui. All of the main Hawaiian islands now have reservation systems in place to avoid overcrowding at top state parks and attractions.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice. All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you.
Read More: 3 Essential Reservations to Book for the Perfect Oahu Vacation 🌺📆💻
So if you’re planning a visit to Maui soon, there are a few things you’ll want to book before you get on that plane.
Two of these are Hawaii State Parks and one is part of the National Park Service so it has a different reservation system.
If you plan to do any of the following, mark your calendar to make those reservations as soon as you’re allowed to:
1. Haleakalā National Park Sunrise Viewing
Watching the sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā is one of Maui’s most awe-inspiring experiences.
And while sunset is open to everyone, if you want to see the sunrise, you’ll need a reservation to enter the park between the hours of 3:00am – 7:00am.
Assuming you’re arriving by car, you’ll need two things:
- A Private Vehicle Pass ($30)
- A specific Sunrise Reservation (additional $1 fee).
The vehicle pass is good for 3 days and allows access to the park for up to 14 people in a private (non-commercial) vehicle. It can be purchased upon arrival or online in advance.
I recommended booking in advance to save yourself some time at 3:00am!
The key to experiencing the sunrise is scoring that pesky $1 sunrise reservation. Parking or park entry (if you don’t arrive in a vehicle) can be purchased on arrival. But you cannot enter the park between 3:00am – 7:00am without the Sunrise Reservation.
Note: The Sunrise Reservation is per vehicle (not per person) so you only need one reservation no matter how many people are in your car.
To purchase both, you’ll need to create an account at Recreation.gov.
When to Book: Sunrise reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance beginning at 7:00am HST and often sell out in minutes. 50 additional tickets for each day are released 48 hours in advance at 7:00am HST (so you have a 2nd chance if you miss it the first time!).
However, those 50 tickets go in the blink of an eye (I’ve had zero luck scoring one). So if sunrise at Haleakala is important to you, be sure to book at the 60-day mark.
Where to Book: Haleakala National Park Summit Sunrise Reservations
2. Waiʻānapanapa State Park
While the Road to Hana itself doesn’t require reservations, you will need a reservation for this popular state park along the road.
The park’s black sand beach is the top attraction here and one of the best beaches on Maui. The reservation system ensures visitors have access to parking and facilities without overcrowding.
In my opinion, one of the most difficult things about driving the Road to Hana is timing your day with your Waiʻānapanapa State Park reservation time.
You must arrive in the first 30 minutes of your reservation time and because travel times on the Road to Hana are wildly unpredictable, that can be a real challenge.
There are 4 reservation time slots:
- 7:00am – 10:00am
- 10:00am – 12:30pm
- 12:30pm – 3:00pm
- 3:00pm – 6:00pm
By far, the two most likely to sell out are the 10:00am and the 12:30pm time slots. That’s because they’re generally the easiest to work into your day.
Reservations here are much easier to get than for sunrise at Haleakala but I’d still recommend booking at least a week or two in advance, just to be safe.
A quick check of the reservation system today shows 1 of 4 time slots still available for tomorrow and all 4 time slots available every day after that.
The entry fee is $5 per person and parking will cost you another $10. You’ll need both a parking reservation and an entry reservation for each person in the vehicle.
When to Book: Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance
Where to Book: Hawaii State Parks Website
3. ʻĪao Valley State Monument
Advance reservations are also now required for the ʻĪao Valley State Monument. The entry fee is $5 per person, parking is $10.
Reservations are available in 90-minute windows. The first time slot is 7:00am – 8:30am and the last reservation slot is 4:30pm – 6:00pm.
Note that if you book parking, the vehicle must arrive within the first 30 minutes of the reservation time.
Of the 3 state park reservations on this list, ʻĪao Valley State Monument is by far the easiest to get. In fact, I just did a quick check for tomorrow and all reservation times were still available.
It’s also the quickest and easiest to visit.
It’s just a 5-10 minute walk up to the Iao Needle lookout point. After that, there’s a small botanical garden area to explore and another trail that leads down to the river.
If you’re short on time and want to squeeze this one into your itinerary, you can easily see the highlights in 30-45 minutes.
When to Book: Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance.
Where to Book: Hawaii State Parks Website
Can’t Score a Reservation?
Let’s say you did not read this post before your trip and didn’t make a reservation for one of the above.
Now what?
Not to worry! If you can’t score a reservation for sunrise or Waianapanapa State Park (you won’t have a problem with Iao Valley), you can still visit both by booking an organized tour.
Here are the top-rated tours for those two experiences:
Tip: If you’re looking for more fantastic tours on Maui, here are all of my top picks:
BONUS! 3 More Reservations to Book in Advance
Now that we’ve covered the mandatory reservations at Maui’s state and national parks, let’s talk about some optional reservations I also recommend booking in advance!
1. Mama’s Fish House
For an unforgettable dining experience on Maui, Mama’s Fish House is truly one of a kind. At Mama’s, the fresh local catch of the day is transformed into exquisite seafood dishes night after night.
The restaurant’s picture-perfect setting in a coconut grove on a secluded beach only adds to the appeal.
Ironically, this reservation is even tougher to get than sunrise at Haleakala.
Regular Maui visitors know to book their reservations at Mama’s Fish House as soon as their flights are booked.
If you’re trying to book a reservation less than 3 months in advance, you’ll likely have to settle for something in the mid-afternoon.
Within 30 days? Forget about it. (But you can call and get on the wait list for any cancellations.)
Is it really worth all this fuss? I think so, but only you can decide. But if you do want to go, you better plan ahead.
Reservations must be booked directly through the Mama’s Fish House website.
2. Whale Watching
If you visit during whale season, a whale-watching trip is another thing I recommend booking in advance.
Maui is one of the best places to watch humpback whales in their natural habitat.
The peak season runs from December to May and if you visit during those months, a whale-watching boat trip is a must.
Planning to visit Maui over the holidays? Definitely reserve your whale-watching trip in advance.
There are plenty of tour options from small-group rafts to larger boats and even sunset sails. Most whale-watching trips now depart from West Maui’s Maalaea Harbor but you’ll find some that depart from Ka’anapali and Wailea.
Read More: The Everything Guide to the Best Maui Whale Watching Tours
I like morning boat tours like the terrific Eye-Level Whale Watching Eco-Raft Tour for the smoothest ride and the highest likelihood of sightings.
3. A Day Trip to Lanai
A ferry trip to Lanai is a fantastic way to spend a day when you visit Maui. There are no traffic lights, few tourists, and plenty of things to see and do to fill a day.
My favorite stop is the amazing Lanai Cat Sanctuary but you’ll also find hikes, beaches, and a charming main town that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
With tourism numbers still lower than usual in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, you don’t necessarily have to book your ferry tickets to Lanai in advance.
But this is one day trip that does require a bit of advance planning.
Lanai has a very limited tourist infrastructure (which is a big part of what makes it great!) so you’ll need to book your transportation around the island in advance.
You can either rent a car or book an island shuttle but don’t get on that ferry without your ground transportation reserved.
Read More: How to Plan a PURRfect Day Trip from Maui to Lanai ⛴️🍍🐈
Don’t wait, make those reservations today!
Maui is an incredible destination and some of the island’s top experiences do now require a reservation.
So make your Maui vacation everything you’ve dreamed of and mark your calendar to book those reservations as soon as they’re available.
And for more great things to see and do on Maui (plus where to stay and eat!)…
Start here: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Maui Hawaii (2024)