Itinerary of the Month: Polynesian Cultural Center

Welcome to Kīhei—sunny days, salty hair, and laid-back aloha.

Kīhei is Maui’s easiest 3-day “sun + beach” base: it’s on the dry South Maui coast with quick access to the Kamaʻole beaches, Wailea shopping, and Māʻalaea boat harbor/aquarium. The itinerary below focuses on Kīhei mornings (best ocean conditions), relaxed midday resets (wind often picks up), and simple sunset dinners close to where you’re staying.

3-day itinerary (Kīhei-first)

Day 1 — Kamaʻole beaches + Kīhei night

Morning: Start at Kamaʻole Beach Parks (Kam I/II/III); pick the park that matches your vibe (more sand, more lawn, or more amenities) and swim early.
Afternoon: Take a break during the windier hours—lunch, nap, or pool time—then do a short second beach session late afternoon.
Evening: Dinner in central Kīhei (great casual choices) and a sunset stroll along the shore.

Day 2 — Māʻalaea + aquarium (easy day)

Morning: Quick beach walk or coffee, then head to Māʻalaea for Maui Ocean Center (family-friendly and a solid choice if trade winds are strong).
Afternoon: Return to Kīhei for beach time at a calmer spot, or keep it simple with shopping/errands and an early dinner.
Evening: Low-key night in Kīhei—save energy for an early start on Day 3.

Day 3 — Big “iconic Maui” day + Wailea shopping
Choose one anchor, then end with shopping/dinner in Wailea (close to Kīhei).

Option A (bucket list): Haleakalā National Park sunrise/summit day (sunrise entries require reservations for certain hours—book ahead).
Option B (beach + luxury): A full South Maui beach day plus The Shops at Wailea for late-afternoon shopping and dinner.
Option C (car-light day): Use Maui Bus for limited, practical hops and keep your day close to Kīhei/Wailea corridors.
Evening: Sunset dinner and a last walk.

Top 10 activities (best from Kīhei)

Swim and relax at Kamaʻole Beach Parks (three adjacent beach parks).
Use the County facility pages to choose Kamaʻole Park I/II/III based on amenities (showers, accessibility, picnic tables).
Maui Ocean Center visit (good for wind/rain or family days).
Haleakalā National Park day (sunrise or daytime hikes; plan for altitude/cold).
Haleakalā sunrise reservation planning (if going between 3:00–7:00 a.m.).
Wailea shopping + dinner night (easy from Kīhei).
Kīhei breakfast tradition (Kihei Caffe).
Casual “local plate lunch” dinner (Da Kitchen Kīhei).
Live-music casual night (Nalu’s).
Pizza + bar night in Kīhei (South Shore Tiki Lounge).

Top 10 attractions (places)

Attraction

Why go

Official link

Kīhei region overview

Official orientation to beaches, viewpoints, nearby areas.

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/south-maui/Kihei

Kamaʻole Beach Parks

One of the best Kīhei beach clusters for swimming + amenities.

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui/things-to-do/beaches/kamaole-beach-parks-maui

Kamaʻole Park I

County page lists facilities (lifeguards, picnic, grills).

https://www.mauicounty.gov/facilities/facility/details/Kamaole-I-202

Kamaʻole Park II

County page lists accessibility and amenities.

https://www.mauicounty.gov/facilities/facility/details/Kamaole-Park-II-232

Kamaʻole Park III

County page lists facilities (lifeguards, picnic tables, grills).

https://www.mauicounty.gov/facilities/facility/details/233

Maui Ocean Center

Maui’s major aquarium in nearby Māʻalaea.

https://mauioceancenter.com

Haleakalā National Park

Maui’s flagship national park.

https://www.nps.gov/hale/

Haleakalā sunrise reservations

Required for certain entry hours (per vehicle).

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/253731

The Shops at Wailea

Premier retail/dining center close to Kīhei.

https://theshopsatwailea.com

Shops at Wailea directory

Helps you pre-plan exact stores/dining in one stop.

https://theshopsatwailea.com/directory

Top 10 restaurants (Kīhei-area, official sites)

Kihei Caffe —

https://kiheicaffe.com

Nalu’s South Shore Grill —

https://naluskihei.com

Da Kitchen (Kīhei) —

https://www.dakitchenkihei.com

South Shore Tiki Lounge —

https://www.southshoretiki.com

Paniolos Steak & Seafood Bar & Grill —

https://paniolosmaui.com

The Shops at Wailea dining options (directory-based planning) —

https://theshopsatwailea.com/directory

Maui Ocean Center (pair your visit with on-site/nearby options; confirm on official site) —

https://mauioceancenter.com

Go Hawaiʻi (Kīhei) for nearby food planning context —

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/south-maui/Kihei

Go Hawaiʻi (Maui) for official “where to eat” discovery —

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui

If you do Haleakalā sunrise, plan a “post-sunrise breakfast” in Kīhei to avoid searching hungry in Upcountry —

https://kiheicaffe.com

Top 10 shopping (Kīhei + nearby Wailea)

The Shops at Wailea (main shopping anchor near Kīhei).
Shops at Wailea hours + location details.
Shops at Wailea directory (pre-plan your stops).
Combine shopping with dinner for one easy “no beach gear” evening.
Buy beach essentials early so you don’t lose morning water time later.
Use the County facilities pages to plan “park days” with picnics (saves money).
Gift strategy: one dedicated shopping block on Day 3 prevents last-day scramble.
If you’re using Maui Bus, keep shopping near the core corridors for simpler logistics.
Choose compact, packable items; South Maui days are easier without extra bags.
For additional shopping hubs, consider a quick run to Kahului on a non-beach morning.

Split-stay suggestions (best 2)

Option A (most balanced): 2 nights Kīhei + 1 night West Maui to reduce drive time for West Maui beaches and activities, while keeping Kīhei as your sunny base. Use Go Hawaiʻi Maui for the most current regional guidance.
Option B (Hāna or Haleakalā focus): 2 nights Kīhei + 1 night closer to your “big day” (Upcountry for Haleakalā convenience or Hāna corridor if doing Road to Hāna), then return to South Maui for the beach finish.

Travel tips (Kīhei-specific)

Expect trade winds to pick up midday; plan beach swims/snorkel earlier, then do shopping, naps, or aquarium time when it’s windier.
If you’re doing Haleakalā sunrise, reservations are required for vehicles entering 3:00–7:00 a.m., and tickets are per vehicle; set up your Recreation.gov login ahead of time.
Maui Bus can be useful for limited corridors, but it’s best for simple “town-to-town” plans rather than remote trailheads; confirm schedules on the County bus pages.