16 Most Instagrammable Spots in Maui, Hawaii
There are incredible locations allll over Maui for great photo opportunities, but sometimes the best photo spots are ones you find unplanned as you’re driving along the coast of the island!
This is a list of the best spots I’ve found myself and I know there are hundreds more I haven’t yet discovered!
As always, be mindful and respectful of all areas you visit on the Hawaiian islands and follow any posted signs.
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
West Maui
On the west side of the island you’ll find tons of gorgeous areas to take beachy and ocean photos. We have always stayed on this part of the island and naturally that is where most of my photo recommendations are!
Dragon’s Teeth
The black jagged rocks here combined with the turquoise water make for some stunning photos! My husband took some photos of me here on our wedding day before our elopement ceremony and it was magical.
Oneloa (Ironwoods) Beach
This beach will now always be special to us because it’s where we eloped! You can take photos on the gorgeous beach, up on the lava rocks, or on the trail at the top of the cliffs with some greenery.
All photos at this location were taken by our incredible wedding/elopement photographer, Samantha Dahabi!
Black Rock Beach
In front of the Sheraton Hotel is a beach with great snorkeling and a large black rock (unsurprisingly) that you can jump from!
This makes for some pretty epic adventure travel photos if you’re willing to make the jump. I did it once as a teen (pictured) and haven’t had the courage to do it since, but I’m thankful there is photographic proof, even if it is from 2014!
Honua Kai
We always stay at Honua Kai when we visit Maui, and the property is beautiful! There’s a long walking path along the coast that has tons of great opportunities for great photos.
You don’t need to be a guest at Honua Kai to walk this path. The little walkways from the path to the beach are my favorite.
Pohaku Beach
This small, secluded beach has a U-shape coast which gives you two different backdrops for photos. One side is full of palm trees with rocks below, while the other side has a large tree with a piece of the island in the distance.
Kapalua Coastal Trail
This trail runs along the coast from Merriman’s Maui to Oneloa Beach (Ironwoods). You get non-stop ocean views and can walk out along some lava for unique views!
There are plenty of stops along the way for perfect photos.
May’s Beach
This beach has the most beautiful water I have seen on the island. It’s incredibly aqua turquoise and has lots of beach to set up and spend the day.
The water is clear, warm, and we spotted a few sea turtles when they swam near us! (Always give sea turtles plenty of space and never approach them).
Central Maui
I have not spent a great deal of time in this area of the island and only have one recommendation for photo spots, but it is a must-visit!
Iao Valley
The Iao Valley is a lush green area home to the Iao Needle, a 1,200 foot rock covered in greenery.
Not only is the needle a great photo op, but there is also a small stream with a pool that we stopped to swim in and take photos. You do have to cross the stream to get to it, but it’s much smaller than the larger stream to the right of it.
South Maui
While we haven’t explored this area a ton, there are many great areas for photos. I recommend you explore around yourself to find some more!
Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
The wildlife refuge is a sanctuary for endangered water birds. There is a nice walkway with a pagoda-like structure for a unique photo backdrop you probably won’t find anywhere else on the island.
Ulua Beach
The day before our wedding we took some photos with Love + Water at sunset. The sunsets here are gorgeous, weather conditions were great (no wind), and we had such a great time!
Plus, the photos came out incredible. If you’re visiting Maui, you HAVE to book a sunrise or sunset session with Love + Water!
Upcountry Maui
Away from the coast there are some more adventurous areas to explore and get some incredible photos. Upcountry has higher elevations and is more mountainous than other areas of the island.
Haleakala National Park
Did you know Maui had a national park? It’s one of two in Hawaii, and the only one on Maui. Haleakala is a dormant volcano and has the highest elevation in Maui at 10,023′ above sea level.
The landscape looks otherworldly and at the peak, we were above the clouds surrounded by blue sky and red, unreal terrain.
O’o Farm
My favorite activity to book on Maui is a full tour of O’o Farm. It’s a coffee farm with an incredible farm-to-table menu for each tour. We’ve done both their breakfast and lunch tours and they’re incredible.
The farm itself is large with gorgeous greenery everywhere to take photos with!
Twin Falls
Stop here on the road to Hana for a moderate hike to the twin falls! There’s limited parking and it costs $10, so try and visit earlier in the day before it fills up.
You can also stop to take some photos in the bamboo along the trail! Once you reach the end, you’ll see the falls and large pool below them that make up the ultimate Maui photo spot.
East Maui
Since we have always stayed in west Maui, rarely have we ventured to the east side. I haven’t visited these areas myself, but they are ones I bookmarked for future trips!
Black Sand Beach
Kaihalulu Beach (Red Sand Beach)
Seven Sacred Pools (The Pools at 'Ohe'o)
