How To Plan the Best Relaxation Day in Maui

How to plan the best relaxation day in Maui isn’t hard; but why would you want to? After all, you spent a lot of money to get here and there is so much to see and do. I’m also sure you’ve felt or even said it before, “Man, I need to go home and get a break from my vacation.” We have learned, the hard way, that a vacation can often feel like a trip if too much is packed in. Part of a great vacation is figuring out how to relax while also getting the most value from your trip.

At a Glance

🎯 What this covers

A full relaxation day on Maui: a morning spa pass at Kilolani Day Spa in the Grand Wailea, lunch at Paia Fish Market South Side, and an afternoon whale watching trip out of Lahaina

📅 When we did this

February 2, 2025

💰 Cost

$150 per person for a 2 hour Kilolani spa pass, with valet parking validated by the spa. Lunch for two at Paia Fish Market South Side was $59.86, and the whale watching raft tour was $215.78 for the two of us.

⏱️ Time required

A full day. Our spa slot was 8 to 10 am and the whale watching tour left Lahaina in the afternoon.

💪 Difficulty

Easy. The only physical part is a 5 minute walk from the Lahaina parking area to the dock.

🎯 Best for

Travelers who have packed the trip too full and need a day that gives value back without another early alarm

⚠️ Watch out for

Booking the spa late in the day. Go in the morning before it gets too busy.

How To Plan the Best Relaxation Day in Maui

Plan a Relaxation Morning to Start Your Day

Relax at the Kilolani Day Spa, Grand Wailea, Waldorf Astoria

The Kilolani Day Spa at the Grand Wailea, Waldorf Astoria was a great relaxation experience. We were not staying at the hotel but the spa got such great reviews we really wanted to go. So we booked a 2 hour spa pass! As one would expect, the staff, facilities, and experience were top notch. It was $150 per person for the pass and the valet parking fee was validated by the spa. Pro Tip: Go in the morning before it gets too busy. We had the 8-10 am slot and it was great.

The full-service locker room had all the towels, shower shoes, robe, hair care products, and other skin care items you could possibly need or want. There was a same gender section that had a initial cleaning shower and then the speciality spa experiences- cold shower, cold mist, hot shower, waterfall, dry sauna, steam sauna, and a hot soak. They had a recommended circuit to follow if you wanted a traditional experience.

In the joint use area were the same relaxing and refreshing experiences, minus the dry sauna and hot soak. Instead there was a large saltwater pool, not cold but not hot. It was quite relaxing for my wife and I to have the traditional circuit in our own areas and then come together in the multi use area.

As we were in Maui celebrating a special event, the staff poured us a glass of excellent Champagne in the special use room. Kudos and thank you for making our visit a most enjoyable one!

We didn’t take photos because, you know, its a spa! How creepy for someone to be walking around taking pictures in the facilities. Creepy. So you’ll have to trust us that this is worth a visit. If you are working out where to slot a day like this, put it after a hard one- the Turtle Town snorkel and Haleakala day is exactly the kind that earns a spa morning.

Plan a Relaxing Midday Break

Hilton Grand Vacation Club Owner’s Update

Okay, so yeah, this wasn’t terribly relaxing. As we were staying at the Maui Bay Villas on a promotion, we had to attend a Hilton Grand Vacation Club owner’s update. There are some neat things happening in the world of travel, especially as it relates to what were once called ‘time shares.’ The vision has morphed from the traditional ‘time share’ to a ‘vacation club’ and is now moving towards a ‘second home.’ I’m not much for sales and marketing, but I do find it interesting how the travel industry has been adapting to evolving travel attitudes.

Back to the fun part!

Find Your Chill Lunch at the Paia Fish Market- South Side

At the end of the owner’s meeting we told the representative this was our relaxation day and asked where we should go to get lunch a local favorite. We told him we had a whale watching tour leaving out of Lahaina in a few hours and didn’t want to get too far from that area.

That led him to recommend the Paia Fish Market, South Side location as the original in Paia itself was just too far. He was adamant it was just as good as the original and worth a visit. He strongly recommended any of the fish with the 50/50 side. So of course, that is where we went for lunch. It did not disappoint.

I had the mahi mahi fish tacos with 50/50 and my wife had the sautéd mahi mahi with 50/50. What is the 50/50, you ask? Well, it is the restaurant’s brilliant solution for those who can’t decide between the hash browns and rice. You can see it sneakily hidden under the main dishes. And a Mai Tai, because vacation.

It was too much food but was amazing. The flavor of the fresh fish with the locally sourced ingredients for the toppings and amazing slaw. Even the tartar sauce was fresh and had a bright flavor from what seemed to be a twist of lemon.

Plan A Relaxing and Fun Afternoon

Whale watching is, of course, a must-do activity when in Maui. As long as it is during certain times of the year! Otherwise you’re mileage may vary. As we were visiting in early February it was prime whale viewing. After scouring the available tours we settled on Hawaii Ocean Rafting. A native-owned company, with excellent reviews, we felt this was how we wanted to spend our money in Lahaina.

We were a little nervous about heading into Lahaina since it hadn’t been very long after the fires. The drive into town was sobering; you could easily see where the fire had decimated the town. We eventually made it to the parking area which isn’t at the dock but a 5 minute walk in a medium sized shopping plaza.

Hawaii Ocean Rafting- Eye-Level Whale Watching Eco Raft Tour

The location is set back from the street just a little. The waiting area is outside with chairs and some shade provided. The staff were very friendly and checked us into the correct group.

Our boat Captain was a professional, excellent boat handler, and very knowledgable. He was able to spot the signs and get us near enough to enjoy several whale displays- tail slapping, pectoral fin slaps, and a few breaches. A pair, calf and mom, decided to come closer which was pretty interesting to watch them swim and play as they approached the boat. Overall a fairly novel experience that was made more enjoyable by the Captain and deck hand.

As for the boat, it was certainly packed so bringing a bag with towels (not needed) and to store keys and a wallet (we didn’t get wet) wasn’t the best idea. We did appreciate having brought a waterproof phone bag with neck lanyard (frees up the hands), Croakies for the sunglasses, and a hat with a brim that won’t go flying in a stiff breeze.

Plan Ahead for a Relaxing Dinner

Of course, there are many excellent restaurants on Maui. And, if that is your jam, plan ahead and make those reservations. Regardless of the time of year restaurants will fill up, especially the more popular ones. So unless you like long waits or unknown eating times, reservations regardless of the time of year are your friends.

Or, maybe you want to give yourself a break from the high prices or crowds. If that fits you, and it certainly does for us on many nights, here is our best suggestion. First off, if you’ve never been to a grocery store or market outside of your home state you’re missing out on the local ambiance. It is like going to the grocery stores in Europe, or the gas stations in Ireland or Iceland … they’re just different. Well, the Safeway in Hawaii is like that, they just hit different. The ready made meals and deli counter selections will have local flavors and varieties. You travelled all this way, why not check out the local grocery or market to see what the locals eat!

What We’d Do Differently

We would not have put the Hilton Grand Vacation Club owner’s update in the middle of a relaxation day. We were staying at the Maui Bay Villas on a promotion and had to attend, and it was not terribly relaxing. We would also pack lighter for the raft. We brought a bag with towels and somewhere to store keys and a wallet, and it was not the best idea. The boat was packed, the towels were not needed, and we did not get wet.

Was It Worth It?

Yes. The Kilolani Day Spa was worth $150 per person even though we were not staying at the Grand Wailea, Paia Fish Market South Side did not disappoint, and early February was prime whale viewing from the Hawaii Ocean Rafting boat. The one change we would make is keeping the Hilton Grand Vacations owner’s update out of the middle of the day.

Wanderlog Guides

We maintain Guides for all our Trips over at our Wanderlog website profile page. You can find the guide for this trip, and others, on that page. If you enjoy, give us a like and follow. Thank you, and Happy Traveling!

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

If you’re looking for guided tours and experiences in Maui, we book through Viator, good range of operators and easy to compare options and pricing. (Affiliate link.)

For a sunset on the water, this sunset sailing cruise from Maʻalaea on GetYourGuide fits the relaxation vibe- two hours, open bar, no agenda. (Affiliate link.)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use the Grand Wailea spa if you are not staying there?

Yes. We were not staying at the hotel and booked a 2 hour spa pass at Kilolani Day Spa for $150 per person. The spa validated the valet parking fee. The staff, facilities, and experience were top notch.

What time should you book the Kilolani Day Spa?

In the morning, before it gets too busy. We had the 8 to 10 am slot and it was great. The locker room carries towels, shower shoes, a robe, and hair and skin care products, so you do not need to bring them.

When is the best time to go whale watching in Maui?

Early February is prime whale viewing. We visited then and saw tail slapping, pectoral fin slaps, and a few breaches, plus a calf and mother that approached the boat. Outside the season your mileage may vary.

What should you bring on a whale watching raft tour?

A waterproof phone bag with a neck lanyard, Croakies for your sunglasses, and a hat with a brim that will not blow off. Skip the towels. The boat is packed and we did not get wet.

Where should you eat lunch near Wailea and Lahaina?

Paia Fish Market South Side. A local recommended it over the original Paia location, which is too far from Lahaina. Order any of the fish with the 50/50 side, which is half hash browns and half rice. We had the mahi mahi fish tacos and the sauteed mahi mahi.

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