Hawaii: Maui

Maui is an island of variety, from the dormant volcano Haleakala, to the topical Hawaiian beauty of Hana, to its many swimmable beaches.

Quick Facts:

Maui is known as The Valley Isle or The Magic Isle.
Maui is the second-most visited Hawaiian island after Oahu.
The Haleakala Observatory sits on top of the dormant Haleakala volcano. Also called the Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site, it is the location of Hawaii’s first astronomical research observatory.
Maui us forty-eight miles long and twenty-six miles across.
Maui has more swimmable beaches than any of the other islands.

Transportation

Getting to Maui

By Air

Kahului Airport (OGG) in central Maui. The island’s main airport receives both overseas and inter-island flights. A connecting flight to Honolulu takes about thirty minutes.

Hana Airport (HNM) is in eastern Maui. Only single-engine propeller planes fly in or out of this tiny airport.

Kapalua Airport (JHM) in western Maui. It accepts only propeller planes and has no flights in or out after dark.

By Sea

Cruise ships dock at Kahului Harbor in north Maui or anchor off Lahaina on the island’s west side, depending upon their itineraries. Kahului Harbor is an industrial terminal without the accommodations or amenities of a more tourist-focused area. At Lahaina, passengers must be tendered to the pier, but they arrive conveniently in the town’s tourist area.

Getting Around Maui

Most visitors rent a car, which is the best way to see Maui. Buses and shuttles are available, however, and the adventurous can rent a bicycle.

Hotel shuttles, taxis, tour vans, and local bus services provide alternatives to a rental car. The Maui Bus public transit routes provide service in and between Central, South, West, Haiku, Kula, and Upcountry communities. Schedules and fares are available on the Internet.

Pro Tip: Travelers under age twenty-five either cannot rent a car in Maui or have to pay an extra fee.

Accommodations

Maui’s range of accommodations includes high-rise resorts, hotels, condos, B&Bs, and rentals.

Attractions

Maui’s attractions are spread out across the island, accounting for an array of terrain and scenic vistas.

West Maui

Maui’s northwest coast offers some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, with the best in accommodations, golf, tennis, and just about any amenity you can imagine. At Lahaina, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and the island’s liveliest nightlife present a vibrant and active scene.

Did You Know?
Kaanapali Beach’s most famous attraction occurs each evening on the beach’s northernmost cliffs. Torches signal the beginning of the ritual of Lele Kawa (cliff diving) off Black Rock. An old Hawaiian chant announces a young warrior’s procession; the echo of the conch shells tells his arrival.
On reaching the rock’s summit, he sends his torch to the ocean below, casts his lei into the sea, and takes a breathtaking dive into the surf. The ceremony is a recreation of one done by the last Maui chief who jumped off Black Rock to prove his spiritual strength.

Kaanapali

Once a royal retreat for the chiefs, Kaanapali features white sand beaches and a garden-like atmosphere. Hotels and condominium villages face the ocean and packages and rates are available to suit every budget.

Whalers Village, the shopping center in the middle of Kaanapali Beach, is centrally located amid the hotels. Whalers Village is home to the Whale Center of the Pacific, which balances an honest look at history with ecological insight.

The Sugar Cane Train is both an attraction and a means of slow travel between Kaanapali and Lahaina. The train passes Kaanapali’s golf courses, sugarcane fields, and old plantation communities in the shadow of the West Maui Mountains.

Kapalua

Kapalua is one of Maui’s premier resort areas. Reaching from mountain to sea, the resort is home to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, restaurants, shops, historic sites, and golf courses.

Pro Tip: Kapalua’s Plantation Course is home to the PGA’s Tournament of Champions, and the Bay Course is home to the Kapalua LPGA Classic.

Lahaina is about a 45-minute drive from Kahului Airport. It was once the capital of the Kingdom, then a busy whaling port, then plantation settlement. Visitors can follow the Lahaina Historic Trail to walk back through time, exploring Buddhist temples, 19th-century churchyards, a block-large banyan tree, 1831 fort, and an 1850 prison, many of which have been designated National Historic Landmarks. Souvenir shops and fine dining are also nearby.

Pro Tip: Every Friday night is Art Night, when the streets come alive with the talents of artists and musicians at work. Gourmet restaurants offer Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC), and the Old Lahaina Luau features a sunset feast on oceanfront grounds right off Front Street.

Lahaina

Lahaina Harbor, once the whaling center of the Pacific, is lined with pleasure boats today. Sunset cruises; snorkel-and-dive sails; all-day outings to Lanai, Molokai, and Molokini; and whale watching in the winter keep the ships busy.

South Maui

South Maui is home to gorgeous beaches and upscale resorts. Wailea and Makena are planned resorts, while the town of Kihei offers more budget-friendly accommodations.

Kehei

Kehei’s white beaches stretch for miles and offers views of nearby Molokini, Kahoolawe and Lanai. At night, karaoke and sports bars offer various types of live entertainment. Once a remote village of idyllic Hawaiian charms, today Kehei is home to several research facilities: Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, DeKalb Genetics Corporation, the Maui Research and Technology Park, and the Pacific Disaster Center.

The Makena Beach and Golf Resort is renowned for awe-inspiring views overlooking the ocean at Maluaka Beach. The Makena Beach State Park, also called Big Beach, is set between two black lava outcroppings that offer protection from the trade winds.

Wailea is on the southwest coast where Haleakala meets the ocean. The master-planned resort is known for its beaches and golf courses, with the luxurious Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, and the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. An oceanfront walkway connect all of Wailea, including The Shops at Wailea, which features restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment programs.

Other South Maui attractions & activities:

Wailea Beach, often named America’s Best Beach
Polo Beach with swimming and snorkeling
Ulua Beach Park, a mecca for morning joggers and sunset walkers
Snorkeling, diving, and windsurfing
Body treatments at fitness centers and health spas
Luaus & fine dining at the resort restaurants
The Maui Film Festival

Two miles off Maui’s south coast, Molokini is a crescent-shaped partially submerged volcanic crater designated as a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Its crescent shape protects divers from waves and powerful currents. To protect its reefs, tour boat operators have been allocated fixed mooring points. It’s perfect for an all-day snorkeling adventure!

Central Maui

Iao Valley State Park—Just outside Wailuku, Iao Valley State Park is home to the Iao Needle, a foliage-covered, natural rock pinnacle surrounded by the walls of Puu Kukul Crater. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972.

Pro Tip: Bring mosquito repellent and visit early in the day, as the Needle is often hidden behind clouds in the afternoon.

The Maui Tropical Plantation is a working farm outside Wailuku offering craft demonstrations, historical exhibits, and a tram ride through cane fields. During the ride, guests learn about the pineapple growing process and plant varieties. A coconut husking demonstration is part of the tour. The Plantation’s gift shop offers food and gift products made in Maui.

Looking for a Wedding Venue?
The Maui Tropical Plantation would be a beautiful venue for a wedding or any event that requires a South Pacific setting amid exotic flowers and swaying palms.

Wailuku

Just west of Kahului at the mouth of the Iao Valley, Wailuku was Maui’s main tourist destination in the early 1900s. Many of its historic buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Kaahumanu Church, temples, and the Bailey House Museum. Market Street is a great place to shop for antiques.

Upcountry

The west-facing upper slopes of Haleakala (house of the sun) are locally called Upcountry. Responsible for much of Maui’s produce, the fertile slopes are home to ranches, botanical gardens, and farms with seemingly limitless views.

The summit of Haleakala is an unforgettable sight, and many visitors wake up early to drive or take tours to the Haleakala Visitors Center, the best (and very popular) spot to watch the sunrise. The crater and its surrounding lands collectively make up Haleakala National Park, of which 30,183 acres are wilderness.

Hiking

Two main trails lead from the summit into the crater: Sliding Sands Trail and Halemauu Trail. If you plan to go hiking, here are some tips:

No food or gas is available in the park.
Weather can be severe and is always changeable.
Water is scarce, altitude can be a factor, and seasonal restrictions may apply.
Be aware that Upcountry weather is entirely different from that of the coast. The temperature near the summit tends to vary between about 40° F and 60° F° and, given the thin air and the possibility of dehydration at that elevation, the walking trails can be more challenging than one expects.

Horseback Riding and cycling are also available. Tour companies will pick up visitors from their hotel and outfit them for a day of exploration.

Kula

Home to flower and vegetable farms, Kula spreads across the higher elevation landscape. The Kula Botanical Garden is tucked into the slopes of the volcano. Near Kula is MauiWine, a producer of pineapple wine. Tours and tastings are provided.

East Maui

The eastern, or windward side, of Maui is the wetter side. Here, the serpentine Hana Highway curls for fifty-two miles between Hana and Kahului. The road includes fifty-six one-lane bridges, 620 curves, and steep drop-offs and can take anywhere from two to four hours, depending upon other visitors. In 2000 the road was designated the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hana

The small town of Hana has one hotel, red- and black-sand beaches, and a handful of stores and restaurants. Visitors can drive or fly into Hana, entering a place that seems appropriately frozen in time.

The ranch-style Hana Maui Resort is in the hills on the coast, overlooking Hana Bay.
The Hana Cultural Center is a block from the resort, offering a look back into Hana’s history.
The hotel has a formal dining room, luxury rooms and cottages, and activities ranging from a luau to horseback riding and hiking.

Oheo Gulch

Past Hana is the Oheo Gulch – the Seven Sacred Pools. The Gulch, part of Haleakala National Park, is a series of pools descending from a tropical rainforest in the mountains to eventually end at the ocean. The Kuloa Point Trail provides an easy walk from the visitor center to the freshwater pools.

Pipiwai Trail

One of the island’s most popular self-guided trails, Pipiwai Trail is a three- to five-hour hike leading to Waimoku Falls. Visitors should expect to get muddy and should heed all warning signs. Many people enjoy swimming in the pools, but this can be dangerous, especially if it has recently rained.

Activities

Golf
Horseback Riding
Helicopter Rides
Hiking
Tennis
Ziplining
Water Sports
Whale Watching

Pro Tip: Mid-December through mid-May is prime whale-watching season in Maui and, much to the joy of spectators, their daily activities can be enjoyed right from the shore.