Maui with its stunning landscapes, coastal roads, beaches, and warm tropical climates offers unforgettable cycling adventures. It perhaps is the best of the Hawaiian Islands with beautifully paved roads, dedicated bike paths, and scenic and amazing roadside pit stops to refuel and recharge. Paia, the hippy and quaint town is a perfect home base for those looking to combine their love for cycling through jungles, coasts, and volcanoes with unique hideaway spots to stay, eat and drink.

In this 2-day itinerary, start your trip by checking into the ultra-hip and cool Aloha Surf Hostel (will have a separate post for this alone!). It’s a short 10-minute ride from Lihue Airport. If you are like me coming from another island, you will likely arrive around 10 AM. Store your bags, relax, and enjoy the breezy beach house common area. Next up, walk a few blocks to fuel up with a cold brew and acai bowl at my favorite Choice Health Bar. Rent your road bike from Maui Sunriders, 2 blocks away, and get ready for your first ride touring the town of Paia, Makawao, and Haiku. Wrap Day 1 early with dinner at Paia Fish Market and get a good night’s rest. Day 2 is the big Sea to Summit ride up to Mt Haleakala. Start your day at 6:30 AM if you want to ride up to the Summit (10,000 Ft) or adjust to just go Summit Gate *6000 Ft) for which an 8 AM departure is fine. It’s a bucket list experience for any avid cyclist! Return your bike by 3 PM and then relax the rest of the afternoon in the Aloha Surf Hostels’ backyard with a well-deserved beer.

Tip -  Rental bike has to be returned by 3 PM , so plan your rides accordingly. I also had a departing flight at 9PM on Day 2, so factor that in. IF you miss returning the bike, you will have to saty an extra night, change flights...all that adds up!

Trip Highlights

Duration - 2 Days

Places - Paia, Maui, Hawaii

Activity - Cycling Adventure

Type - Solo

Season - Summer

Experiences - 2 self-guided road cycling rides. Tour Paia, Haiku (about 45 miles) through jungles and along the coast and Sea To Summit ride to the dormant volcano - Mt Haleakala (44 miles with 6,000 Ft elevation gain) and then downhill :)

Trip Cost - $313 for 2 Days / 1 night
Accommodation is $68/night (shared dorm)
Transportation: $ 40 RT Ride share from Airport to Paia
Bike Rental is $115/day for Carbon Road bike,
Food & Drinks $100

Trip Route

Itinerary

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN PAIA and CYCLE TOUR HAIKU

After a short 35-minute inter-island flight, arrive at Lihue (OGG) airport and take a 10-minute ride-share transfer to Paia. Once you arrive at the Aloha Surf Hotel, you will be transformed into this hip, surfy, cool hostel with travelers from around the world. Since Check-in is not until 2 PM, drop your bags for storage at the lobby desk and stroll around Paia town - grab an acai bowl and get your bike rental from Maui Sunriders - just 2 blocks from the hostel (how convenient!) Start your first ride in Maui by taking a tour of Haiku, riding through quiet jungle roads via the coast and back into Paia town (about 33 miles). Freshen up and grab a hearty dinner in town. Prepare for your big ride on Day 2 and get a good night’s sleep!

Duration: 4 Hours

Activity Level: Moderate

Good To Know: Rent your road bike from Maui Sunriders. It’s 5 minutes walking from the hostel which has a safe place to lock and store your bike overnight. Also, see the end of this post to reference the gear list you should bring with you for this trip

Getting There: 10 Minute Uber/Lyft ride from the airport to Paia. Walk to the bike rental place and start your Tour of Haiku right from the bike shop or the hostel (on the same street - Baldwin Avenue)

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

DAY 2 SEA TO SUMMIT RIDE TO MT. HALEAKALA

Today is a full day of intense riding up Mt Haleakala Summit. This is a bucket list ride for any avid road cyclist. Start early around 6:30AM if you want to climb up to the Summit (about 4-6 hours) to climb, and 1+ hour riding downhill :) Given my prior two days activities in Kauai, I chose to ride halfway to the Summit (6000 FT elevation) till Haleakala Park entrance gate. The ride is just simply beautiful with stellar views - which adds to the overall duration. Stop and enjoy along the way.
Wrap up the day and reward your self with healthy food at Choice Health Bar and relax with a longboard beer back at the Aloha Surf hostel backyard…before taking the night flight back to home (or in my case to the final stop in Honolulu - See separate post on diamond peak hike)

Tip:  Remember to have salt pills (1 before ride, 1 halfway and 1 after). You need this else in this summer warm weather you will dehydrate way too fast. 

Duration: 6-7 Hours

Activity Level: Advance

Good To Know: Maui Sunriders is a great place to rent but you need to be back by 3 PM and return your bike, especially if you are flying back that same night :) Shoutout to Xavier for amazing tips and suggestions on routes.

Morning - Afternoon

Evening

Before You Go

1. Book a Place to stay and Rent a bike - 1) Aloha Surf Hostel - is very popular. You will need to book directly by submitting an online form or call. You can also use Hostelworld. However, I prefer direct as rates are better. 2) Rent your road bike from Maui Sunriders - book at least two weeks in advance so they have the bike ready and fitted.

2. Pack - Hiking shoes, sunscreen, at least two rash guards and board shorts, hiking bag (like a Patagonia), and at least 32 fl oz Hydroflask and first aid. For the roadies, pack your clip-on shoes, lights, and helmet (even though rental companies give one). Finally, remember to pack your bike shorts, socks, and jerseys. Take at least two pairs.

3. Photo & Safety Gear - For solo adventure trips, you are the backup :). So make sure you take water, heat, dust resistant gear. Here is my must-have list.

   1. Apple watch ultra - life saver - 8-hour battery (with strava app on GPS), SOS, activity tracker, phone, music.

   2. Phone cases - Lifeproof, Joto (for kayaking), Phoozy - floats and prevents battery drainage in extreme heat or cold

   3. Action Camera - Go Pro (my Hero 7 froze on day 1 . So had to buy a new Hero 9 in Kauai!!), Floaty stick (very handing during kayaking as you can stick it in the lifejacket pocket) and mounts for your bike and helmet.

   4. Phone - iPhone (I am still using SE 2020 :)

   5. Power banks - ok I screwed up here. My mophie got wet during kayaking (since I was in Kauai before Maui). Suggest investing in a) solar-powered waterproof portable power bank ($20 to $100) b) Quadlock portable battery - attaches nicely to their sturdy phone case and you can use it on the bikes plus when hiking and away for many hours (its something I plan to buy).

   6. Bag packs and Dray Bags - Patagonia Blackhole (ultra-light, water resistant) - have been using it for the last 5 years! A Dry bag is a must for this trip.

Map It!

Plan Your Trip

Take this itinerary as is, or if you like to make some tweaks. You can consider swapping it with the recommendation additions above. If you have less time then pick and choose from the plan above to personalize your trip. If you have questions about planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.

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