Top 15 Things To Do On Maui After Dark

Top  15 Things To Do On Maui After Dark

Maui evokes images of golden beaches, sparkling coral reefs, and hikes through sultry green rainforests. Nightlife? Not so much. However, while the island’s after-dark entertainment doesn’t hold a candle to the raging parties of Las Vegas, New York, or even Honolulu, Maui is home to a fair amount of entertaining, sometimes offbeat nighttime activities. From wheeling around oceanfront roller rinks to observing the Hawaiian slack-key guitar masters at work, here are the top 15 things to do on Maui after dark.

Read on to discover the top 15 things to do on Maui after dark.

1. Go to a luau.

Pulsing synth bass is traded for rhythmic Polynesian drumming on Maui. Luaus crop up nightly across the island, inviting visitors to enjoy spectacular Hawaiian sunsets, ancestral stories from across the Pacific, fire dances, and delicious island fares. There are few better ways to spend an evening on Maui than enjoying the sights, sounds, scents, and cuisines of Polynesia.

2. Listen to some live music.

An immensely talented crop of musicians call Maui home, and there is no shortage of nightly live music across the island! Finding a bar or restaurant with live entertainment won’t be hard- unless you’re staying in rural East Maui.  However, if you’re unsure where to start, check out Music2Nite. Music2Nite is run by Mana’o Radio and acts as one of Maui’s greatest resources for tracking down live music.

3. Bar hop in Lahaina Town.

Lahaina Town is one of the few places on the island that boasts a concentration of bars that stay open late- late for Maui standards, that is. Start with dinner and drinks at Fleetwood’s rooftop bar before heading down the street to the divey-beachy digs at Spanky’s Riptide. As the night wears on, mosey over to the always happening Down the Hatch- live music, trivia, karaoke, dancing, and the likes occur nightly.

However, no Lahaina bar-hopping adventure would be complete without visiting the Dirty Monkey- voted the best whiskey bar on Maui. Live music and DJs make regular appearances here, and the bar’s complimentary game room only adds to the fun. Just be sure to have a designated driver or grab a taxi back to your accommodations after a long night out!

4. Stargaze at Haleakala.

The University of Hawaii and the United States Air Force didn’t set up massive, high-powered telescopes on Haleakala for nothing. Rising to 10,023 feet, Haleakala’s high elevation, thin atmosphere, and lack of light pollution make the mountain one of the best places on earth for stargazing- or, if you’re an astronomer, viewing interstellar objects.

After sunset, the sky transforms into a vibrant quilt of stars. If you give your eyes enough time to adjust, you’ll see the Milky Way in detail, spread out above you like a giant stripe across the sky. Be sure to dress extra warm; the elevation and windchill can send nighttime temperatures into the 30s. Bring a star map or download a stargazing app to elevate the experience.

5. Catch a show at Da Playground.

When covid-19 shuttered many music venues and put a stop to live music across the globe, Maui’s newest concert venue, Da Playground, achieved the impossible and opened its doors. With covid safe protocols, tasty eats, arcade games, and regularly scheduled entertainment, Da Playground proved to be a success.

Today Da Playground is Maui’s premier live music venue, and it intends to stay that way. You’ll find performances by top artists from Hawaii and beyond on any given weekend, including Paula Fuga, Anuhea, Landon Macnamara, Eli Mac, and countless others.

6. Wine, dine and take in the sights on a sunset dinner cruise.

Panoramic sunset views, ocean breezes, and delectable feasts- it’s hard to beat an evening spent on a dinner cruise. These nightly affairs take place off Maui’s south and west coasts- ideal for picturesque sunsets. Departing out of Lahaina Harbor, Hawaii Ocean Project’s dinner cruise pulls out all the stops for an epic dinner at sea, including a three-course meal, two complimentary cocktails, guaranteed upper-deck seating, live music, and a sharply dressed staff. Alternatively, over in Wailea, Kai Kanani hosts the south side’s top dinner cruise. Local libations abound from the open bar, and guests enjoy a quality dinner from The Market Maui and fantastic onboard live music.

7. Indulge your sense of adventure with a night dive.

For the majority of Maui visitors, entering the ocean is strictly a daytime activity. But for the adventurous few, the inky nighttime seas beckon.

Scuba diving at night reveals a drastically different underwater environment, one ruled by reef sharks, eels, and invertebrates like crabs, lobsters, squids, and octopuses. Crimson nudibranchs flutter around the reef, fleshly blue mole cowries shed their shell and march along the seafloor and microscopic bioluminescent plankton light up the darkness. The bizarre nighttime underwater world is like a different planet entirely. Fortunately, there are numerous dive shops and tours on Maui that offer night dives- and as long as you have your open water certification, no previous night dive experience is necessary.

8. Hit the Triangle in Kihei.

The cluster of bars in the Kihei Kalama Village off South Kihei Road has been dubbed “the Triangle” by locals and serves as South Maui’s one-stop party shop. Live music, dancing, and mai tais proliferate here seven days a week and generate considerable crowds on the weekend. Get your beach bar fix at Life’s A Beach, dance the night away at South Shore Tiki Lounge, grab a good ole fashioned pint at Dog and Duck, and sample craft cocktails at VIBE bar.

9. Test your rollerblading chops at Kalama Park roller rink.

Maui’s only public roller rink is located at Kalama Park, mere feet from the ocean. The rink is managed by Maui Inline Hockey Association, which graciously opens the court to the public every Friday and Saturday from 5 pm to 9 pm. Don’t worry about packing your skates; MIHA volunteers run a skate rental stand on public skate nights. Jams are always pumping over the loudspeaker, and skaters who arrive before the sun goes down are treated to fabulous Kihei sunset views.

10. Paint a masterpiece at Island Art Party.

Parties aren’t necessarily confined to bars and clubs. Island Art Party offers a laid-back nightlife alternative in the form of cocktail-flowing painting parties. With your drink in one hand and paintbrush in the other, follow the step-by-step instructions from your “party artist” to create a masterpiece. Even if you’re the self-proclaimed “worst artist in the world,” you just might surprise yourself- in part thanks to liquid confidence and Island Art Party’s expert instructors.

11. Browse works of art at Lahaina Art Night.

Often called the “Art Capital of the Pacific,” Lahaina Town’s famous Front Street is home to over 20 art galleries in a four-block area. Every Friday night, the galleries come alive as part of Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s weekly Lahaina Art Night. Art enthusiasts can meet artists in residence, listen to live music, and even enjoy wine and pupus at select galleries.

12. Pay a visit to Maui’s newest brewery, Mahalo Aleworks.

Whether you’re staying Upcountry or not sure what to do after watching the sunset at Haleakala, Mahalo Aleworks is Pukalani’s answer to nightlife. Before you get too excited, you should note that Mahalo Aleworks is only open until 10 pm, which is quite late by Upcountry standards. However, the brewery is beginning to offer fun weekly events, like Monday night live music and Tuesday night trivia, with more events surely coming down the pipeline.

Here you can sample expertly crafted local beers, and designated drivers can sip local kombucha and purchase “crowlers” (canned growlers) to guzzle down later. While the brewery doesn’t offer food, you can munch on ono sausage sandwiches from the onsite sausage cart Upcountry Sausage Co. or hand-tossed Neapolitan pizzas from Restaurant Marlow.

13. Stop in Paia for laid-back, North Shore-style nightlife.

Charley’s in Paia was once a north shore hotspot for nightlife, hosting great live music, the famous monthly “90s night”, and scores of other weekend parties. Unfortunately, after decades of business, Charley’s closed its doors for good in 2020- and the void it left in its wake is palpable.

However, several Paia institutions are putting themselves on the nightlife map. And while you won’t find raging parties going into the wee hours of the morning like at Charley’s, the live music at Paia Bay Coffee and ʻAmakua Kava Lounge are second to none. Paia Bay Coffee’s outdoor garden setting hosts nightly live music and heaps of events, while ʻAmakua Kava Lounge’s small, tiki-esque space is a great place to catch up-and-coming local artists.

14. Laugh until your sides hurt at Warren and Annabelle’s comedic magic show.

Magic shows aren’t typically a go-to Hawaiian activity, but a visit to Warren and Annabelle’s is worth adding to the itinerary. Spearheaded by acclaimed sleight-of-hand magician Warren Gibson, Warren and Annabelle’s hilarious, mind-boggling entertainment has been awarded numerous honors and holds the title of Maui’s #1 rated show.

While you won’t find any big box tricks or disappearing animals, guests can expect top-notch close-up magic, side-splitting commentary, a gourmet dinner, and crafty cocktails. Once you take your seat in the 78-pax theater, prepare to laugh. Booking in advance is recommended; shows sell out nightly.

15. Listen to the masters at work at the Napili Slack Key Show.

Some of Hawaii’s top musicians gather for the Slack Key Show at Napili Kai Resort every Wednesday and Saturday night. Headed by four-time Grammy award winner George Kahumoku Jr, the Napili Slack Key Show offers visitors a peek into the world of Hawaiian music- featuring not only slack key guitarists but also ukulele players and hula dancers. Reservations are a must; this show sells out quickly! However, if you miss out on the concert while on Maui, you can purchase a ticket for a virtual show and be transported back to the islands from your home.

What did we miss?  Let us know in the comments below.  ALOHA!