maui travel size

©Greg Elms/Lonely Planet

Maui lures travelers with an invigorating mix of natural beauty and outdoor fun, all shared with warm alohas.

Best Time to Visit

Best things to do, attractions, must-see attractions.

Piʻilanihale Heiau & Kahanu Garden

The Road to Hana

Probably the most significant stop on the entire Road to Hana, this site combines a 294-acre ethnobotanical garden with the magnificent Piʻilanihale Heiau…

Keawakapu Beach

From break of day to twilight, this sparkling stretch of sand is a showstopper. Extending from south Kihei to Wailea’s Mokapu Beach, Keawakapu is set back…

Kapalua Beach

For a long day on the beach, it’s hard to beat this crescent-shaped strip at the southwestern tip of Kapalua. Snorkel in the morning, grab lunch at the…

Waiʻanapanapa State Park

Wai'anapanapa means 'glistening waters', and the clear mineral waters in the cave pools here will leave you feeling squeaky clean. There's a natural lava…

Wailea Beach

Kihei & South Maui

Sunbathe like a celebrity at this sparkling strand, which fronts the swish Grand Wailea and ever-posh Four Seasons resorts and offers a full menu of water…

Hamoa Beach

Hana & East Maui

With its clear water, white sand and hala-tree backdrop, this famous crescent is a little gem; author James Michener once called it the only beach in the…

Three Bears Falls

Got your camera? This beauty takes its name from the triple cascade that flows down a steep rock face on the inland side of the road, 0.5 miles past the…

The crowning glory of Makena State Park, this untouched beach is arguably the finest on Maui. In Hawaiian it’s called Oneloa, literally ‘Long Sand.’ And…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Transportation

Ahh, Maui. So lush, so welcoming, so... full of cars. Here are the best options for getting around, whether you have your own wheels or not.

Free Things to Do

Travelers often find Maui an expensive destination, but filling the days can be both fun and free.

Best Road Trips

Driving in Maui is not for the faint of heart – yet the payoff is truly spectacular scenery. Here’s our guide to the island’s best road trips.

Latest stories from Maui

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Aug 10, 2023 • 2 min read

If you have upcoming plans to travel to Maui, the state of Hawaii’s tourism organization is asking you to postpone. Here's what you need to know.

Nov 23, 2022 • 7 min read

Feb 17, 2022 • 6 min read

Dec 3, 2021 • 4 min read

Dec 1, 2021 • 9 min read

Nov 30, 2021 • 7 min read

Nov 18, 2021 • 8 min read

Nov 18, 2021 • 6 min read

Sep 6, 2021 • 3 min read

Feb 22, 2021 • 9 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Maui

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.

Get to the heart of Maui with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Maui and beyond

Maui Trip Planning For Happy Travelers (2023): Step-by-Step Guide

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here .

Share with your friends!

Congratulations on picking which Hawaiian Island to visit . With whale watching, the Road to Hana, phenomenal beaches, and so much more, Maui trip planning can be stressful. Here are the essential details on how to plan a trip to Maui.

We called Maui home for numerous years and now our family returns every few months. Here are the steps we take, plus extra details, to plan your trip to Maui. Whether this is your first trip or your 50th, we have you covered.

Planning a Quick Trip? We have you covered. Jump into Maui trip planning with quick links to all of our best Maui information: Our full Maui Travel Guide Maui Done-for-You Itineraries A curated list of our favorite tours & activities Your guide to Maui Whale Watching

Maui Trip Planning: What You Need to Know Before You Book

With this step-by-step guide, we will have you confidently finish your Maui trip planning. With ways to save, videos, and insider tips, we have your back for the best trip ever to the Valley Isle.

If you’re a visual learner, see our Maui Travel Guide video below. At a minimum, the video will get you excited about planning your trip to Maui.

1. Best Month to Visit Maui

The best month to visit Maui is September for the best prices on hotels, rental cars, and flights. You will also find the fewest visitors on the island and excellent weather in September.

The best times to visit Maui are the shoulder seasons of September and October and May and April. With schools in session and decent weather on the mainland, demand goes down for a Maui vacation so hotels and rental car companies drop their rates. If you don’t have the ability to visit during the shoulder season, here are ways to have a Maui vacation for less .

We go back and forth on the worst time to visit Maui . You be the judge if a holiday vacation is worth it for your family: How to Plan a Hawaii Christmas Vacation . 

Many Maui trip planners want to visit Maui for whale season. Officially, whale season on Maui is from mid-December till the end of March. See our Maui Whale Guide for details.

For more details on the best month to visit Maui, see our Is There a Best Time to Visit Maui? Yes, and Here’s Why .

2. Cheapest Time of Year to Visit Maui

Maui is by no means a cheap vacation. But there are times when costs are high and other times when your dollar can stretch a bit further. 

The cheapest time to visit Maui is May, September, October, and November. Those months offer the lowest rates on accommodations. 

September has historically been the cheapest time of year to visit Maui due to low hotel rates.

Maui is the most expensive Hawaiian Island to visit ( here is the cheapest Hawaiian Island ). Maui is ranked third in the world as the most expensive sun and sea destination . 

You can save money when planning a trip to Maui by finding a good deal on a hotel. Here are ways to save on hotels in Hawaii !

When are the cheapest flights to Maui? Based on the data, this is the cheapest time to fly to Maui .

3. How Many Days Do You Need on Maui

We recommend staying for a minimum of 5 days on Maui. The average trip to Maui is 8.1 days per the Hawaii Tourism Authority .

Do you want to go-go-go each day and do every activity on Maui? Do you need some days to sit on the beach and do nothing? Or are you purely coming to relax with your feet in the sand and sip a tropical drink?

Once you know the pace you’re going for, you can start building your list of activities to decide how many days you’ll want to stay on Maui .

Our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary includes 8 excursion days that take you all over the island, from Lahaina Town in West Maui to Upcountry Maui . To be honest, it would be exhausting to do all eight days on your trip (pick your favorites!). Hence, figure out what you want to do in the Things to Do Section to better gauge how much time you need on Maui.

Maui Wayfinder Itinerary

Get the maui itinerary.

The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.

Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.

4. How Far in Advance to Book a Trip to Maui

We recommend booking six months in advance for a trip to Maui. When traveling during Maui’s busy seasons of Christmas and summer, book nine months in advance. 

A caveat, if you’re reading this two months before your trip then don’t sweat it. Our advice here will help you with your Maui trip planning.

We recommend booking six months in advance to secure the best prices for rental cars and hotels. Plus, you will be able to pick your preferred hotel room for the dates you want. 

Things do sell out on Maui so book ahead for peace of mind. As we share in our newsletter often, Book Early is our motto at The Hawaii Vacation Guide. As visitor demand increases to Maui, you will find prices will skyrocket. 

For a nice restaurant, like Mama’s Fish House , then book six months in advance for a table and your preferred date. 

Want something that doesn’t require a booking far in advance? Book a Hawaii lei greeting at the airport. A lei greeting is a fun way to start your vacation!

Our favorite Maui snorkel tours and guided tours don’t sell out until weeks in advance (depending on the time of the year), but you want to ensure your whole family can go on the date you prefer.

Final booking tip: By booking early in your Maui trip planning, you can check to see if prices have changed. Lock in a price and then check to see if the price of the discount rental car or hotel has dropped. Then you can cancel and rebook.

5. Where Should You Stay on Maui?

While there are five main areas on Maui, most visitors stay on either West Maui or South Maui to maximize their odds of sunshine, warm weather, and lack of rain. 

Whether you should stay in West Maui (Ka’anapali, Lahaina, Napili, Kapalua) or South Maui (Kihei, Wailea, Makena) is often a heated debate. We try to help you make the right decision for you with these two articles:

• Where to Stay on Maui: your accommodation guide
• Ka’anapali vs. Wailea: pick your perfect spot

Watch our Where to Stay on Maui video (or our 6 Best Maui Luxury Resorts video ) for an overview of the places to stay on Maui for your Maui trip planning.

6. Should you stay in a hotel or vacation rental on Maui?

Go for a hotel if you’re looking for the traditional resort experience with big pools, nearby beaches, and restaurants within walking distance. Opt for a vacation rental if you want access to a kitchen, are looking for space, or are looking to save money. 

We routinely stay in both. When doing our Maui trip planning, we’ll book a vacation rental for the majority of our stay so we have access to a kitchen and a little more space for the kids. Then we’ll treat ourselves to a great resort for a few days to enjoy the pool and other amenities. This has been a winning combo for us recently. 

If you’re still not sure what you want to do, we break down the difference between choosing a hotel and a vacation rental in Hawaii . We also share how to spot an illegal vacation rental .

7. Do You Need a Rental Car on Maui?

We get this question asked a lot. Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for not having a rental car . We believe you need a rental car in Maui to do the best things to do , especially things to do with kids on Maui . 

A rental car will be more cost-efficient than using Uber, Lyft, or taxis to navigate Maui. We recommend using Discount Hawaii Car Rental as they have the lowest prices and no pre-payment (tip: book early and watch prices) or a local Maui rental car company .

You can get by without a rental car on Maui by staying in the resort areas of Wailea and Kaanapali. Enjoy a more casual beach vacation with Uber or taxi rides to restaurants or beaches in the area. Here are 11 Tips for Getting Around Maui Without a Rental Car .

8. What to Pack for Maui Vacation

We are all about packing light for a Maui vacation. Erica loves to bring packing cubes to keep us organized and I like to bring sandals (slippers in Hawaii) and t-shirts. 

We witness visitors packing sweatshirts and jeans for their tropical vacation to Maui. The temperature in the resort areas gets down to the low 70s during the night. Maui is a warm place. Unless you’re easily cold, save room in your suitcase with only the essentials.

Here is your essential list of what to pack for Maui:

• Shorts and T-shirts
• One Gorgeous Island Style Outfit
• Comfortable Footwear: sandals and hiking or walking shoes
• Swimsuit (of course)
• Sun-Protective Clothing
• Mineral-Based Sunscreen
• UV-Protective Sunglasses
• Water Bottle

See our What to Pack for Your Hawaii Vacation for our full list. Browse our Travel Gear for recommendations on sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and snorkel gear.

Trip Planning When You’re on Maui

The main elements of your Maui trip planning are now complete (airlines, flights, and rental car), here is what to consider once you’re on Maui. 

9. Understand the Geography

Geography on Maui is important because it will affect the weather you experience and what you do while on vacation. One big thing to understand about geography is that each island has a windward (wet side) and a leeward side (dry side)

On Maui, the leeward side of the island includes some great beaches, like Wailea Beach and Ka’anapali Beach. Hence, the resorts are located here to soak up the sunny days as rain is less frequent. 

The windward side of the island is home to the Road to Hana and a lot of beautiful waterfalls. The Road to Hana is a jungle drive thanks to all the rain on the windward side of the island. While mentioning the Road to Hana, decide here if it is worth driving during your Maui trip.

10. Eat Local on Maui

No Maui trip planning is complete without where to eat. Maui has some of the best food in the Hawaiian Islands. Here are some tips on where to eat on Maui. Eating local is one way to have an authentic Hawaiian experience .

• Fresh, locally caught fish : If you’re a seafood fan, don’t miss out on the fresh fish. You can enjoy it at either a restaurant or at a fish market. You’ll see options like Mahi Mahi, Ono, Opah, Ahi, and more.
• Maui food trucks are the best in the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy fresh ingredients, experimental chefs, and food truck parks for the whole family. See our Ultimate Maui Food Truck Guide on where to eat.
• Locally grown produce : Enjoy dragon fruit, coconut, lilikoi, pineapples, locally produced honey, and more. We love doing Maui farm tours , but if that’s not part of your vacation itinerary, try a farm-to-table restaurant like Pacific’O in Lahaina or Ula’Ula Cafe . You’ll get to sample some island flavors while supporting the agriculture industry here. There is a large farmers market in Kula on Saturdays and another in Napili.
• Traditional Hawaiian food : You don’t need to go to one of Maui’s best luaus to sample some traditional Hawaiian dishes. Look for dishes like poi (taro that has been pounded into a paste), laulau (meat wrapped and cooked in taro leaves), kalua pig (slow-roasted pork cooked in an underground oven), and poke (diced, raw fish that is wonderfully flavored).
• Shave ice : Not shaved ice. You may think that this is like a snowcone, but it couldn’t be further from it. Soft fluffy ice shavings that are flavored with different syrups and creative flavor combinations. You might also have the add-on of fruit and ice cream. It’s so, so good. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is our favorite on Maui and is located all over the island.

Want to know the best Maui restaurants? Here are our Kihei and Wailea restaurants and Lahaina restaurants to eat at.

For a local experience, watch our 5 Favorite Maui Food Experiences for ideas to wow your partner.

11. Things to Do on Maui

Perhaps you jumped straight to this one for your Maui trip planning. Understanding what you want to do on your Maui vacation helps decide where you want to spend your time and money, and even where you want to stay. 

Here are the most popular things to do in Maui.

• Humpback whale season is from mid-December till the end of March. We found Maui to be the best Hawaiian island for whale watching. Our Maui Whale Guide will tell you how to do it right or enjoy one of our seven favorite Maui whale tours .
• Haleakala National Park is a stunning destination. See the endangered Nene bird and Silversword (‘ahinahina in Hawaiian) that only grows at the summit. Go hiking for the day and decide if the Haleakala sunrise or sunset is right for you.
• Napili Bay is a beautiful bay on Maui’s northwest shore. Come for the day to swim and snorkel with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (stay 10 feet away in the water). As a bonus, The Gazebo is great for breakfast and the Sea House is excellent for happy hour and dinner to end your day. Both are located on Napili Bay.

See the articles below for so many more things to do on Maui!

• 33 Things to Do on Maui: Leave the Crowds Behind
• 68 Things to Do on Maui with Kids
• 14 Things to Do on Maui on a Budget
• 16 Things to Do in Lahaina, West Maui

12. Can’t-Miss Activities and Tours

A tour is not required for your Maui vacation. Maui is full of things to do that are free or low cost. But, Maui has some amazing tours and excellent tour companies to take you out on the water or explore the island. 

See all our researched and vetted Maui tour companies here . We also have Hawaii Vacation Guide Coupons for many Maui tour operators. 

Here are the most popular Maui tours:

• Road to Hana is best done with a local guide. The dangerous road is now more challenging with traffic and no parking tickets (see our Road to Hana Etiquette ), so let an expert take you to all the best stops. Save 10% with promo code HVG10 at checkout.
• Molokini Crater is a unique Hawaii snorkel destination. The crystal clear water and vibrant reef are worth a morning snorkel trip. Let our favorite catamaran crew take you out from South Maui for a sunrise or mid-morning tour .
• Whale Watching is a must when you visit Maui from December through March. See our seven favorite whale-watching tours to pick the tour right for you.

13. Use the Right Sunscreen on Maui

Starting in 2021, Hawaii required only reef-safe sunscreens to be sold in the state. We share Hawaii reef-safe sunscreen brands here .

Maui has taken further action to protect the reefs around the island. Maui requires only mineral-based sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) to be sold on the island. We share our two favorite mineral-based sunscreens in our Travel Gear , one is a local Maui brand.

14. Learn About Maui Culture

The people of Maui are what makes the island such a special place to visit. From the Hawaiians to the plantation migrants who came in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the culture is uniquely Hawaii. 

Check out the museums and cultural activities below during your vacation as the icing on the cake for your Maui trip planning.

• Hale Ho’ike’ike at the Bailey House in Wailuku to learn Hawaiian history, local history, and see original artifacts.
• Hawaii Wildlife Discovery Center to learn about the ocean and Maui’s reefs at this interactive exhibit in Kaanapali’s Whalers Village.
• Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Ride – learn how the Polynesians travel the Pacific and between the island while you paddle as a team on an outrigger canoe. See Ali’i Outrigger Canoe in West Maui.

15. The Ultimate Maui Trip Planner

Maui trip planning is not easy. We hope this step-by-step guide has helped you feel confident in planning the best honeymoon, anniversary, or family vacation to Maui. 

If you’re looking for an easier way to plan your days on Maui, our Maui itineraries will do 80% of the work for you. We don’t book your rental car, flights, or hotel for you but our guides will tell you how to have the best Maui vacation ever with what to do and how to do it!

Even experienced Maui trip planners get our itinerary!

I just wanted you to know that my family and I purchased the Maui itinerary and we are wrapping up 12 days on the island. We did so much of what you recommended and it was awesome for everyone. We have three college-age kids and everybody enjoyed the things you suggested, including the restaurants. Thanks for all of the work that you put into this. Mahalo. Gunnar A.

Thanks for reading The Hawaii Vacation Guide! I'm the co-founder, with my wife Erica, of the best Hawaii travel guide on the internet in our biased opinions. We enjoy traveling throughout Hawaii after living on Maui and Oahu. We share our adventures, travel tips and resources, and honest reviews so you can easily plan your dream vacation to Hawaii. Editing our videos, teaching the kids how to snorkel, and learning about the 'aina (land) and Hawaii culture are my favorite things to do. Have a wonderful trip to the Aloha State.

Similar Posts

1 Perfect Day in Hilo: Things to Do in Hilo for the Day

Mama’s Fish House: Is the Best Time Lunch or Dinner?

Kona vs Waikoloa: What’s the Best Place to Stay on the Big Island

Manta Ray Snorkel and Dive in Hawaii: Read Before You Book

31 of the BEST Things To Do On Maui (2024 Update)

Here’s How We Book our Hawaii Travel (and beyond)

This is the most comprehensive Hawaii vacation planning resource on the internet!

TOP RESOURCES

• Join Our Newsletter
• Hawaii Itineraries
• Tours & Activities
• Top Travel Gear
• Discount Car Rentals

ISLAND GUIDES

• Planning A Trip To Hawaii
• Oahu Island Guide
• Maui Island Guide
• Hawai’i (Big Island) Guide
• Kauai Island Guide

Your use of the information provided in our Content, Itineraries, Site, and Services is for your informational purposes only and is subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Your use of the information described in, your participation in activities presented in, and/or your engagement of any Travel Service Providers presented in our Content, Itineraries, Site, and/or Services may carry the risk of illness, bodily injury, disability, death, or property damage. You voluntarily and freely assume all risks and dangers that may occur pursuant to your access, use, purchase, or participation in any information, activity, good, or service described in our Content, Itineraries, Site, and Services or provided by any Travel Service Providers.

Don’t start planning without our cheat sheets

You’ll get:

• 4 can’t-miss activities on each island,
• a map with the main sights in town,
• and famous local grindz (eats)!

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Destinations A-Z

This U.S. Island Has 120 Miles of Shoreline, 80 Beaches, and Some of the Most Beautiful Water You've Ever Seen

Best Time to Go

Things to know, how to get around, best hotels, best restaurants, things to do, areas to know, apps to download.

Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Its nickname is "The Valley Isle," which describes its geography as a large valley between two dormant volcanoes — Haleakala in the east and Mauna Kahalawai in the west. Haleakala's name means "House of the Sun," and it's the largest dormant volcano in the world at 10,023 feet high, 4,000 feet deep, and 21 miles across its crater. Mauna Kahalawai, an eroded volcano, is referred to as the West Maui Mountains.

Maui is known for its beaches, with over 120 miles of shoreline and 80 beaches — more than any other island in Hawaii. Maui's beaches vary from gentle surf to crashing waves, with fine white sand and even rare black and red sand beaches near Hana.

Kahului Airport is located in Central Maui on the northern edge of the land between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. Five regions define the island. West Maui is home to the resort areas of Kaanapali, Kapalua, and the town of Lahaina. The resort communities of Kihei, Wailea, and Makena are located in South Maui.

The road to Hana and Haleakala State Park are in East Maui. Upcountry is located on the higher elevations around Haleakala, where farms, dairies, and ranches take advantage of the volcanic soil and wetter weather. In Central Maui, Iao Valley State Park offers hiking trails, forests, and running streams.

Hawaii follows Hawaii Standard Time (GMT-10 hours), which is five hours behind Eastern Standard Time and two hours behind Pacific Standard Time. Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so add one extra hour to the time difference during this period (March through November).

The summer season, mainly April through November, sees higher temperatures and less precipitation. June, July, and August are popular with vacationers when schools are generally out, and the weather is warm and dry.

Winter, from December through March, is cooler, but still warm and sunny although there's a bit more rain. The weather varies across different areas of the island, and the western and southern shores are generally drier. Lahaina and Kaanapali in West Maui get around 10 inches of rain annually, compared to higher elevations that can see more than 300 inches of rain each year.

Winter is a popular time for visitors to get away from cold weather at home and enjoy Maui's mild winter. Whale watching season from December through May, peaking from January through March, is also a great attraction during winter.

Read More : The Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Low Prices and Beautiful Weather

Haleakala is a dormant volcano, but it's not extinct. It last erupted between 1480 and 1600, according to the USGS, and is expected to erupt again in the future. At more than 10,000 feet in elevation, its summit sometimes receives snow in winter.

Honokohau Falls plunges 1,119 feet, dropping in two tiers. The tallest waterfall on Maui and one of the highest in the world, Honokohau Falls is located in an inaccessible valley in the West Maui Mountains. A helicopter tour is the best way to see it.

Formerly a whaling port and center of the whaling industry in the early- to mid-19th century, Lahaina was the original capital of Hawaii until 1850.

Maui is the name of the island as well as the name of a county. Maui County includes the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.

Charles Lindbergh, aviator and explorer, is buried on Maui in a grave at the Palapala Ho'omau Church along the road to Hana.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires a declaration form for each person arriving in Hawaii in connection with rules regarding uninspected plants and animals. When departing, your luggage will be screened for uninspected fruits and plants, but you may take inspected fresh flowers and fruits home.

The main airport on Maui is Kahului Airport (OGG), and there are smaller commuter airports in Kapalua and Hana. Molokai and Lanai are served by their own airports.

Every year, as many as 10,000 humpback whales travel more than 3,500 miles from Alaskan waters to Hawaii for their winter migration. Maui is one of the best places to see them as they feed, give birth, and nurture their young. Many can be seen from the shore, and whale watching boat cruises are also available.

The official languages of Hawaii are English and Hawaiian, although Hawaiian is not commonly spoken. Major resort areas often have customer service representatives who speak Japanese.

You can get around Maui by shuttle, tour bus, taxi, or public transportation. But to really experience all that Maui offers, you should consider reserving a rental car in advance from the Kahului or Kapalua Airport.

The Maui Public Bus system consists of 13 bus routes that provide service in and between various communities throughout the island. All of the routes operate daily including holidays.

Westin Resort Ka'anapali

Address: 2365 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-2525

Steps from the ocean, the hotel has recently opened the Hōkūpaʻa at The Westin Maui, a luxury beachfront tower offering guest rooms, suites, ocean views, and a private lounge with exclusive amenities. A variety of dining experiences include several al fresco restaurants.

Ka'anapali Beach Hotel

Address: 2525 Ka'anapali Parkway, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 661-0011

Set along a three-mile stretch of sandy beach, Ka'anapali Beach Hotel offers a range of recently renovated guest rooms and suites. Its new water activity center features ocean and beach activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, and more.

Montage Kapalua Bay

Address: 1 Bay Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (833) 779-7951

The Montage offers accommodations including one, two, and three-bedroom residences, two restaurants, Mahana Market, and Hana Hou Bar. A spa, pools, and access to golf and ocean activities are available.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Address: 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 669-6200

Set on 54 acres, the hotel offers 466 renovated rooms, suites, and Club Level accommodations. There's a spa, six dining venues, tennis, and two 18-hole championship golf courses, including the Plantation Course, home of the annual PGA Tour Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Address: 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 661-1234

The completely reimagined hotel is set on 40 acres on Ka'anapali Beach, offering 831 guestrooms including 31 suites, eight dining and beverage venues, six pools, and an oceanfront full-service spa and salon.

Royal Lahaina Resort

Address: 2780 Kekaa Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 400-7554

The resort offers 441 contemporary rooms and suites with custom teak furnishings, artwork, and private lanais. Accommodations include two-bedroom suites and the oceanfront Molokai Suite. Guests enjoy the oceanfront restaurant, poolside beach bar, and three swimming pools.

Sheraton Maui Kaanapali

Address: 2605 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 956761 Phone: (808) 661-0031 Website

The hotel offers 508 newly renovated rooms and suites, most featuring ocean views. Set on 23 lush oceanfront acres on Ka'anapali Beach, the resort boasts a lagoon-style pool, spa, and its traditional sunset cliff dive ceremony.

Aston Kaanapali Shore

Address: 3445 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-2211

Condominium accommodations include rooms ranging from standard to expansive suites with ocean views. All suites offer a fully equipped kitchen and private lanai. Two pools, including a freshwater oceanfront pool, and Camp Ka'anapali for kids make this a family-friendly spot.

Plantation Inn

Address: 174 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-9225

The 18-room adults-only bed and breakfast is located in the heart of historical Lahaina Town, less than a block from the ocean. Hawaiian decor, modern amenities, lush tropical gardens, a walkable location, and a fine dining restaurant make it a great place to stay in town.

Hotel Wailea

Address: 555 Kaukahi Street, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 874-0500

This luxurious Relais & Chateaux resort offers 72 suites spread over 15 acres, with ocean and garden views. The Restaurant is set on a hillside overlooking the ocean, a stunning al fresco setting with "culinary casual" fare and three- or five-course prix fixe menu.

Andaz Maui at Wailea

Address: 3550 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 573-1234

Guests can choose one of 301 rooms, including 35 suites and 11 luxury villas, each with a private lanai. Set on 15 beachfront acres, the resort offers a variety of dining venues including The Feast at Mokapu Luau and Morimoto Maui, helmed by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Four Seasons Resort Maui

Address: 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Maui, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 874-8000

The resort offers luxury accommodations from guestrooms to expansive ocean view suites, spa, adults-only infinity pool, and three 18-hole golf courses. Dining venues include Wolfgang Puck's Spago, casual poolside Duo Steak and Seafood, and oceanfront Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante.

Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Address: 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 875-1234

Accommodations range from guest rooms to suites and two- and three-bedroom villas with tropical and ocean views from private lanais. Enjoy a poolside meal or a cocktail in the stunning Botero Lounge amid Hawaii's largest collection of the artist's work.

Makena Surf

Address: 4850 Makena Alanui, Kihei, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (855) 676-2061

This luxury condominium resort is set on Paipu Beach adjacent to the Wailea Gold Golf Course. Accommodations are equipped with full kitchens, and all offer ocean views and use of two outdoor pools, tennis courts, and barbecue area with two herb gardens.

Fairmont Kea Lani

Address: 4100 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea-Makena, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 875-4100

Steps from Polo Beach, the hotel offers suites and villas ideal for family vacations. The two- and three-bedroom villas offer 1,800 to 2,000 square feet of living space including a full gourmet kitchen, dining area, private courtyard with plunge pool, and barbecue grill.

Upcountry, East Maui, and Kahului

Hana-maui resort.

Address: 5031 Hana Highway, Hana, Hawaii 96713 Phone: (808) 400-1234

Set on 66 acres on the eastern tip of Maui, the 74-room oceanfront resort is a luxury oasis on the picturesque road to Hana. Choose a guest room, suite, bungalow, or family residence with full or partial ocean views and private lanais. Dine poolside or at the casual Hana Ranch Restaurant.

Heavenly Hana Paradise

Address: 4575 Hana Highway, Hana, Hawaii 96713 Phone: (808) 248-8442 Website

This small inn offers a convenient place to rest along the highway, just 10 minutes from Hana town and Hamoa Beach. Covered terrace, kitchens in some rooms, and tropical surroundings among fruit trees and flowers make it a comfortable stop.

Courtyard by Marriott Kahului Airport

Address: 532 Keolani Place, Kahului, Hawaii 96732

Conveniently located less than five minutes from the airport, the hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, and casual bistro open for breakfast, dinner, and cocktails.

Address: 2435 Ka'anapali Parkway, at Whalers Village, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-6636 Website

The restaurant features local fresh fish, Maui-grown produce, meats, and raw bar in a scenic setting. Guests enjoy views of the Pacific and islands of Lanai and Molokai as they dine.

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

Address: 2435 Ka'anapali Parkway, at Whalers Village, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 878-6763 Website

One of several Hawaii restaurants helmed by chef Peter Merriman, Monkeypod features fresh local produce, meats, and fish creatively prepared and presented. An extensive wine list, craft beers, and culinary cocktails are offered along with lunch and dinner. (Reservations suggested)

Duke's Beach House

Address: 130 Kai Malina Parkway, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 662-2900 Website

Named for Olympic gold medal winner Duke Kahanamoku, beloved Hawaiian swimmer and surfer, Duke's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with ocean views and a range of dishes from burgers and poke tacos to seafood risotto and filet mignon. (Reservations suggested)

Pulehu, an Italian Grill

Address: 6 Kai Ala Drive (Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas), Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-3200 Website

The restaurant serves a selection of pasta, fresh seafood, meats, salads, and appetizers. Pizzas and flatbreads baked in their woodstone oven are house specialties. Cocktails and an extensive choice of wines are on the menu. (Reservations suggested)

Banyan Tree

Address: 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 665-7096 Website

In a lovely outdoor setting with ocean views, Banyan Tree's "Hawaiian Coastal" menu includes Hawaiian cioppino, steamed mahi mahi, and grilled New York steak. Their dessert specialty is Ban-nan-yas Foster, with banana macadamia nut ice cream and a malasada (Hawaiian donut). (Reservations suggested)

Merriman's Kapalua

Address: 1 Bay Club Place, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 669-6400 Website

The stunning oceanfront setting is just the beginning of a memorable dining experience. The four-course prix-fixe menu options include ahi ginger poke, caesar salad, pan-seared mahi mahi, prime rib, and desserts like Maui pineapple bread pudding and white chocolate-filled malasadas. (Reservations are recommended)

Address: 2000 Village Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-2426 Website

A favorite with locals and visitors, Taverna serves wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, and other Italian dishes in a rustic open-air restaurant. Dine on their spacious patio with golf course and ocean views or enjoy their expansive bar with a cocktail, glass of wine, or local brew. (Reservations suggested)

Mala Ocean Tavern

Address: 1307 Front Street, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-9394 Website

This oceanfront restaurant features excellent cuisine in a casual-chic setting overlooking Mala Wharf. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., they serve brunch until 2 p.m., happy hour (with music) 2 to 4 p.m., and dinner from 4 p.m. until closing. Seafoods, salads, flatbreads, and desserts are on the dinner menu. (Reservations suggested)

Son'z Steakhouse

Address: 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-4506 Website

Located at the Hyatt Regency Resort, this fine dining restaurant features premium steaks, chops, and seafood. Overlooking the lagoon and Swan Court, the dinner-only spot also offers a happy hour and bar menu. (Reservations recommended)

Fleetwood's on Front Street

Address: 744 Front Street Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 669-6425 Website

Owned by music icon Mick Fleetwood, this two-level restaurant serves excellent food, cocktails, and wine. The menu includes a variety of appetizers, salads, and entrees as well as a side dish named Fleetwood Mac & Cheese. Happy hour offers special prices and an appealing menu. (Reservations suggested)

Lahaina Grill

Address: 127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 667-5117 Website

This attractive restaurant is known for delicious cuisine and fresh ingredients from local farms and dairies. Their beautifully detailed menu descriptions cover an extensive list of appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, meat entrees, and luscious sounding desserts like Road to Hana chocolate layer cake with macadamia nut caramel. (Reservations recommended)

Kimo's Restaurant

Address: 845 Front Street, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 661-4811 Website

A favorite since 1977, Kimo's serves fresh fish, their signature prime rib, classic Hawaiian cuisine, and famous Hula Pie (macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate cookie crust, hot fudge, and whipped cream). Local beers, wine, and cocktails (try Kimo's Grog) are on the menu. (Reservations suggested)

Address: 174 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 661-8939 Website

The Plantation Inn is home to this fine contemporary restaurant that combines French cuisine and Maui's fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the slopes of Haleakala and just-caught local fish. Dine indoors or on the veranda or garden patio. (Reservations suggested)

Tommy Bahama

Address: 3750 Alanui Drive, Kihei, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 879-7828 Website

This restaurant at The Shops at Wailea serves lunch and dinner as well as a special happy hour menu in their dining room or spacious lanai. Share ahi tuna tacos or coconut shrimp as you want for your entree or sip one of their specialty cocktails. Happy hour every day from 2 to 5 p.m. (Dinner reservations recommended)

Longhi's Wailea

Address: 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kihei, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 981-8883 Website

This Maui favorite has been around since 1976 serving Italian cuisine with an extensive wine list and full bar. Located in the Shops at Wailea, Longhi's serves breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. (Reservations suggested)

Matteo's Osteria

Address: 161 Wailea Ike Place, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 891-8466 Website

Located at the Wailea Town Center, the award-winning restaurant serves pastas, pizzette, and classic Italian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The dinner menu includes lasagna and bolognese made with Maui Cattle Company beef, and traditional desserts include affogato and tiramisu. (Reservations suggested)

Nick's Fishmarket

Address: 4100 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 879-7229 Website

Located at the Fairmont Kea Lani, the restaurant offers a menu of the freshest fish and island-style cuisine. In a lush setting with elegant service, the restaurant requires resort attire for nightly dinners, served from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Appetizers and specially priced drinks are offered at the nightly happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Reservations recommended)

Ruth's Chris

Address: 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 874-8880 Website

Enjoy delicious sizzling USDA prime steaks, fresh seafood, and delicious side dishes in a stylish atmosphere. Their selection of cocktails, wines, and desserts add to the experience. (Reservations recommended)

Address: 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 879-8800 Website

The exciting menu of chef de cuisine MiJin Kang Toride combines flavors from the cuisines of Guam, Korea, China, and Hawaii. Dishes include Korean fried chicken, garlic Szechuan noodles, and steamed local fish. There's also an extensive selection of teas, sake, beer, handcrafted cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Upcountry and East Maui

The wooden crate.

Address: 1813 Baldwin Avenue, Makawai, Hawaii 96768 Phone: (808) 446-8823 Website

Set on a boutique property offering educational experiences, the restaurant uses only fresh local ingredients from the area. Dine on the lanai overlooking their gardens or enjoy sunset on their covered back terrace.

Polli's Mexican Restaurant

Address: 1202 Makawao Avenue, Makawao, Hawaii 96768 Phone: (808) 572-7808 Website

Set in the heart of Maui's ranching country, the restaurant serves Mexican dishes with an island touch. Guacamole made with Maui avocados, tacos, burritos, and favorites like baby back ribs and Mexican fish are on the menu as well as wine, beer, and margaritas.

Kula Bistro

Address: 4566 Lower Kula Road, Kula, Hawaii 96790 Phone: (808) 871-2960 Website

This casual Bistro near Haleakala National Park serves comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their breakfast menu includes crab cake Benedict, and lunch specialties are panini, pizza, and Italian-style entrees, all created from fresh, local ingredients. Alcohol is BYOB with no corkage fee.

Mama's Fish House

Address: 799 Poho Place, Paia, Hawaii 96779 Phone: (808) 579-8488 Website

The freshest daily catch comes to Mama's Fish House and it's served within 24 hours along with salads and side dishes made from local produce, such as Maui onions, Kula strawberries and watercress, and Hana papaya. Desserts include Lilikoi creme brulee and Hana banana crisp. (Reservations are suggested)

Hali'imaile General Store

Address: 900 Haliimaile Road, Makawao, Hawaii 96768 Phone: (808) 572-2666 Website

Set in a historic building and billed as "Maui's Original Farm-to-Table Restaurant," they have been featuring local produce, meats, and products since 1988. Asian influences are evident in dishes like sashimi Napoleon, Korean BBQ ribs, and Asian duck steamed bun. (Reservations are recommended)

Thai Food by Pranee

Address: 5050 Uakea Road, Hana, Hawaii 96713 Phone: (808) 419-503

This popular spot on the road to Hana serves traditional Thai dishes like pad Thai, green papaya salad, pineapple fried rice, and spring rolls with a changing menu each day.

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park features a wide array of landscapes and ecosystems from the coast to the summit. Plan your trip at one or more of three visitor centers. Hike along some of the 30 miles of trails, enjoy a stunning sunrise or sunset from the crater, visit at night to take advantage of the dark skies, or camp overnight in the park.

The Road to Hana

Drive the 60-mile road to Hana to see waterfalls, lush tropical landscapes, pools, and more. Plan ahead for the drive and allow plenty of time to enjoy the trip which includes 620 curves, 59 bridges, and often dramatic weather changes along the way.

Visit Lahaina Town

Spend some time in the historic town of Lahaina, once the center of the whaling industry and capital of Hawaii. Take a walking tour and see the huge Banyan tree that provides nearly an acre of shade. Stop for a meal, snack, or shave ice and enjoy the view.

Maui Ocean Center

Address: 192 Maalaea Road, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 Phone: (808) 270-7000 Website

Learn about Hawaii's marine life through exhibits like the Living Coral Reef, Open Ocean exhibit, and see sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, tropical fish, and more at this aquarium and oceanography center on Maalaea Bay.

Molokini Crater

This tiny, crescent-shaped island off Maui's southwestern coast offers spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving. The area is rich in coral and tropical fish as well as green sea turtles. A boat tour is the best way to reach the crater which is the remains of a volcano eruption that occurred more than 200,000 years ago.

Visit Upcountry Maui

There's much to see in Maui's rustic higher elevations. Tour the Surfing Goat Dairy , taste their cheese, and even milk a goat if you want a unique experience. Visit Maui Wine for a tour and a taste of their pineapple wine. They produce wine from grapes as well. Nearby Kula Botanical Garden features eight acres of unique plants, rock formations, waterfalls, aviary, and koi pond.

Stop in the historic paniolo town of Makawao or Pa'ia, a turn-of-the century plantation town.

Whale Watching

Take a boat trip to enjoy the antics of the humpback whales during their annual visit to Maui from December through May, with peak activity from January through March. A sunset or daytime cruise is pleasant any time of year, and there are dolphins and seabirds as well as spectacular scenery.

Haleakala Bike Ride

This bike ride of a lifetime takes you 23 miles downhill — at your own pace — from the summit at 10,023 feet above sea level. Haleakala Bike Company takes you to the top, and you do the rest, or just tour the park with them. Self-guided or guided tours are available.

Horseback Riding

Mendes Ranch , on the north shore, a family owned and operated ranch, offers morning and afternoon trail rides. You'll ride down the edge of the valley to the coastline for magnificent views of the Pacific and many Instagrammable moments.

Iao Valley State Park

This 4,000-acre park located in Central Maui is home to one of the island's great landmarks, the 1,200-foot Iao Needle, a pinnacle covered in lush green, named for Iao, daughter of Maui. Paved pedestrian paths provide views of the valley, and hiking trails also lead to viewpoints. This valley is a historical site where King Kamehameha I defeated Maui's army in a bloody battle.

Enjoy a Luau

If you haven't been to a luau at least once, you should experience the Hawaiian foods and entertainment of this tradition . A few favorites are the Old Lahaina Luau and the Royal Lahaina Luau on Ka'anapali Beach. In South Maui, the Grand Wailea Luau and the Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz Maui are popular with visitors.

Some of the world's most beautiful golf courses are on the island of Maui, and there are many to choose from. A favorite of pros and visitors is the Plantation Course at Kapalua, the site of the annual PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions each January.

Explore Maui's Beaches

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Find your perfect beach , whether you want to surf big waves, swim in quiet waters, share the sand with a crowd, find a secluded spot, or just sunbathe, Maui has what you're looking for. Snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, and more await you on Maui's shores.

Read More : 20 Best Things to Do on Maui — Gorgeous Beaches, Delicious Seafood, and Scenic Hikes Included

Best Shopping

Outlets of maui.

Address: 900 Front Street, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 661-8277 Website

The world's only oceanfront outlet shopping destination features more than 30 designer and brand-name shops as well as restaurants like Ruth's Chris. Warren and Annabelle 's comedy and magic venue is located there as well.

Whalers Village

Address: 2435 Ka'anapali Parkway, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 771-4567 Website

Both well-known brands and one-of-a-kind specialty retailers can be found at this oceanfront retail center. Fast food and full-service restaurants like Hula Grill and Monkeypod by Merriman add to the pleasure of a visit.

Moana Glass by Ryan Staub

Address: 1000 Limahana Place, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 Phone: (808) 763-6338 Website

Take home a piece of art glass or try your hand at glassblowing with guidance at Moana Glass.

Other Locations

The shops at wailea.

Address: 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii 96753 Phone: (808) 891-6770 Website

Stroll through this beautifully landscaped outdoor mall and shop at designer stores, specialty shops, and local favorites like Honolulu Cookie Company and Maui Clothing Company. Stop for a snack at Lapperts or a meal at Longhi's or Lineage.

Address: 70 East Kaahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaiki 96732 Phone: (808) 877-8952 Website

Five minutes from the airport, this mall includes Longs Drugs, Maui Candy, TJ Maxx, and other clothing stores. In addition, shoppers can grab a quick lunch or ice cream.

The resort area of Kapalua is located in the northwest section of the island featuring luxury hotels, marine sanctuaries, and two world-class golf courses. In the southwest section of the west coast, the town of Lahaina offers shops, hotels, and its history as a whaling center and early settlement. The Kaanapali resort area features three miles of prime beachfront and a range of hotels and restaurants.

Upcountry Maui

This area includes Haleakala National Park as well as rustic towns, ranches, agricultural sections, and an artists' community. In contrast to the developed coastal areas, Upcountry remains rural, with different weather and vegetation based on its higher elevations.

This area is the driest part of the island, sheltered by Haleakala, and the resort communities of Kihei, Wailea, and Makena feature upscale hotels, condominium developments, and popular tourist destinations. Miles of beaches, views of other islands, and Kihei's Kalama Beach Park are attractions in the area.

This rural, undeveloped area is home to the Hana Highway and the towns of Pa'ia and Hana. Lush scenery, waterfalls, pools, and beautiful coastline attract visitors.

Central Maui

Maui's main airport, Kahului Airport, is located in this area. Central Maui also includes state government offices, residential developments, and agricultural areas. Sugar and pineapples are grown in the area.

Maui weather varies significantly around the island, with rainforest, desert, and mountainous climates. The higher elevations are humid and rainy, while other areas receive little or no rainfall.

Lahaina, Kihei, Wailea, and Haleakala have desert microclimates. Haiku, Hana, Makawao, and West Maui Mountains are rainforest microclimates. Mountainous microclimate areas include parts of Haleakala, Kula, and Ulupalukua.

Hurricane season in Maui is from June through November, but hurricanes are rare, occurring only about once every 10 years.

Lahaina/West Maui Temperature Average Lows and Highs in Fahrenheit

January 64 - 82 February 64 - 82 March 65 - 83 April 66 - 84 May 67 - 85 June 69 - 86 July 70 - 87 August 71 - 88 September 71 - 88 October 70 - 87 November 68 - 85 December 66 - 83

Average Annual Precipitation: 13.54 inches, with heaviest rainfall in December and January.

Hana/East Maui Temperature Average Lows and Highs in Fahrenheit

January 65 - 78 February 64 - 78 March 65 - 78 April 67 - 78 May 68 - 80 June 70 - 82 July 71 - 82 August 72 - 83 September 70 - 83 October 70 - 82 November 69 - 80 December 67 - 79

Average Annual Precipitation: 79.23 inches, spread fairly evenly throughout the year with March seeing the heaviest rainfall.

Lahaina Historic Trail : Walking tour of historic Lahaina. (Android)

Gypsy Guide : Guide for driving tours, commentary, local tips. $9.99. (iOs and Android)

Haleakala Maui Gypsy Guide : Driving tour with audio narration. $4.99

Lahaina (Maui) Offline : Detailed map and search. (iOs and Android)

Maui Travel Tips: START HERE If You’re Planning a Trip to Maui

In early August 2023 devastating wildfires swept through the historic town of Lahaina in West Maui.

Here’s what you need to know: 1) Lahaina is almost completely gone and the area is 100% off limits to visitors. 2) The resort areas of West Maui north of Lahaina (Ka’anapali, Napili & Kapalua) are undamaged from the fires but are still slow to reopen to tourism. Reopening is happening in phases (already underway) and likely to still take several months. 3) The rest (majority) of the island is unaffected and open to visitors. 4) Locals on the island (both those personally affected and not) are grieving this tragedy and likely will be for a long time to come. Even though the return of tourism for the economy is largely necessary, your compassion and kindness during your interactions go a long way. 

I’ll keep this updated as the situation progresses. Right now, all of the information on this site either remains unaffected or has been updated. 

They say “Maui No Ka Oi” (Hawaiian for “Maui is the best”), and honestly…they’d be right ; ) 

Don’t tell the other islands, but Maui is my favorite. It was the first Hawaiian Island I ever visited, I spent some time living there, and it’s still my favorite place to travel. 

It’s a BIG island with a lot going on…natural wonders, luxury resorts, local towns, and I’ve written quite a bit about it. 

Seriously, I’ve got over 20 posts on this blog just about Maui, but this is the best place to start. 

Maui Travel Tips

Here’s a quick “table of contents” for what’s in this post:

When to Go to Maui

How many days to spend on maui.

• Flying to Maui (Which Airport)
• Lay of the Is(land)

Where to Stay on Maui

• Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui

Maui Itineraries

• Do You Need a Rental Car?
• When to Book Activities

What to Pack

Good news…there’s never a bad time to go to Maui! The weather is pretty much consistent within a few degrees (air and water temperature) all year round. 

The seasons follow the seasons in the northern hemisphere (mainland US) and “winter” means more rain and slightly cooler temperatures. Summer means less rain and slightly warmer temperatures. August/September is when it’s the muggiest/most humid but this is Hawaii and humidity is pretty much nonexistent compared to places like Florida. 

Locals are very attuned to subtle shifts in weather/temperatures but whether it’s winter or summer, most resort areas are built on parts of the island that are sunny and dry 90% of the time. 

Whale season is December through April with peak season being February. 

Any time kids are out of school is high season. The winter holidays (mid December through New Years) are obscenely expensive and book out FAR in advance. Summer is the high season. 

January through mid March is technically less crowded and not “high high” season, but it’s still the optimal time to leave cold weather on the mainland to head for warmer weather so it’s not inexpensive. 

Generally speaking, I’ve found April/May and September/October to be the best months to find deals.

September/October is my personal favorite time to visit because it’s when I find the best deals on resorts and there are fewer kids/people in general on island since the kids have just gone back to school. They call it “couples season” for a reason. 

August through October is also technically hurricane season, but they’re pretty rare. Again, it’s not like Florida. 

Well, you’ve only got however many days you’ve got, but if you’re wanting the best overall vacation, I wouldn’t suggest less than one week (probably 6 full days, but you could do a lot in 5 full days too). 

If you’re short on time (doing a quick long weekend getaway from the west coast), you can still have a great trip just as long as your expectations are more about resting and relaxing. And if you’ve got weeks to spend, you’ll find plenty on Maui to keep you busy. 

But in general, if you’re wanting to explore the island and still feel like you’ve had a relaxing vacation, you’ll want at least 6 full days. I also don’t recommend splitting up a one week vacation between two different islands. Just stick to one and really experience it. 

Flying to Maui

Maui’s main airport is the Kahului Airport (OGG). This is where you’ll fly in coming from the mainland and on 99% of interisland flights. 

From Kahului, it’s about a 25 minute drive to the Kihei/Wailea area (South Maui) and about a 40 minute drive to the Kaanapali/Kapalua are (West Maui). 

There is a small airport in Kapalua on the west side and an even tinier airport in Hana on the east side but they are for very very tiny planes. 

Lay of the (Is)land

Maui is a BIG island. 

Most people either stay on the west side (Lahaina, Ka’anapali, Kapalua, Napili) or the south side (Wailea, Kihei, Ma’alaea). Central Maui (Kahului) is where you’ll fly into and do your grocery shopping. The north shore (Paia, Haiku) has a local, surfer town vibe. Upcountry (Makawao, Pukalani, Kula) is where the farm/ranch land and Haleakala National Park are. And East Maui (Hana) is basically the jungle. It’s where all the waterfalls are, the black and red sand beaches, etc. Most people visit as a day trip driving the “Road to Hana.”

For me, this is where it all starts whenever I’m planning a trip. 

Like I said before, you’ll likely either stay in south or west Maui where the two main resort areas are (Wailea and Kihei in the south and Ka’anapali and Kapalua on the west side) because that’s where the majority of resorts, hotels, and condos are. 

The west side seems to be more popular and has some of the best beaches on the island, but I prefer the south side because it’s quieter, a little more upscale (Wailea, not Kihei), and more centrally located. But you won’t go wrong with either. 

One of the best posts on my site is a full breakdown of Wailea vs Kaanapali . 

The other post you need to read is Where to Stay on Maui . It’s got specific recommendations for resorts, hotels, and condos in all price ranges on all different parts of the island so you can find exactly what works best for you. 

And then I’ve got EVEN MORE DETAILS FOR YOU…

If you’ve narrowed down your search to the Wailea area, good news. I’ve stayed at all the big beach resorts in Wailea and I’ve ranked them in this post >> The Best Resorts in Wailea

Plus I’ve got these detailed resort reviews:

Four Seasons Maui

Fairmont Kea Lani  

Wailea Beach Resort

And a few comparison posts too:

Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui

Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here . Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money. 

Things You can ONLY Do on Maui

If you’re in the early planning stages (even trying to figure out if Maui is the island for you), I think the best way to figure it out is by looking into the things that you can ONLY do on Maui. 

So many things (beaches, snorkeling, golf, zipline, surfing, luaus, etc) you can do on every island. I mean seriously, whatever your “dream version” of a Hawaii trip is…you can get it on any of the main Hawaiian islands. 

So to break it down, here are the things you can ONLY do on Maui (plus a few that I think are must dos even if there’s something similar on another island):

Road to Hana

Driving the road to Hana (from Paia to Hana on the east side of Maui) is easily the #1 must do thing on Maui. Block out an entire day and drive the 50 or so miles along the winding road to Hana. 

Spend the day hiking through bamboo forests, waterfall spotting, and gazing at black and red sand beaches. I’ve got several posts specifically about driving the Road to Hana including the best stops, which ones to skip, when you should start out on the road, if it’s safe to drive the whole road around, driving etiquette and more. 

But here are a couple of things worth mentioning twice. Since March 2021, you now NEED RESERVATIONS TO STOP AT THE BLACK SAND BEACH. That’s Waianapanapa State Park, and you can make reservations 14 days in advance here . 

Also, while driving along this BEAUTIFUL road is considered one of Maui’s top attractions, it’s still an actual road and there are people that live in these remote communities that use it everyday. They’re driving to work, taking their kids to school, going to doctor appointments, etc. They’re not on vacation. And while they’re very welcoming, they’re getting increasingly frustrated at the huge numbers of visitors coming to Maui (and the current infrastructure’s inability to handle them). 

So a few simple rules: Don’t trespass on private property. Even if you’ve read about a waterfall that you think you should be able to access or heard about a pond to swim in. If there’s a sign and you have to climb around a gate, don’t do it. Don’t park illegally on the road. There are now MANY signs making it clear where you can’t park. Don’t stop in the middle of the road to take a picture of a waterfall, a rainbow eucalyptus tree, a gorge, an ocean view, a mongoose, a rainbow, or anything else. If you’re driving slowly and there’s a local behind you, pull over and let them pass. They have somewhere to be. 

Road to Hana posts: 

My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary

Tips for Driving the Road to Hana

Should You Drive the Backside of the Road to Hana? 

Haleakala National Park

Visiting Haleakala National Park is without a doubt the most unique experience you’ll have on Maui. It’s completely unexpected. When you’re up at the summit/crater, you’ll feel more like you’re on Mars than Maui. 

Sunrise is by far the most popular time to visit the park and seeing the sun rise through the clouds at the summit of Haleakala is a moving experience for many people. 

But you need to be prepared. It is COLD! Think 20-30 degrees with a strong wind. Bring winter clothes and take blankets. Also, drink plenty of water and have snacks as the quick 23-mile drive from sea level to summit has been known to give some people (ahem, me) altitude sickness. You’ll also need to make reservations to enter the national park for sunrise (3AM-7AM) 60 days in advance here . 

Read more about sunrise and sunset at Haleakala here . 

Whale Watching

Whales can be seen throughout all of the Hawaiian Islands in season, but they’re most prevalent in the shallow waters between Maui and Lanai and Molokai. Whale season is officially December 15 through May 15, but these whales rarely carry a calendar with them. February is HIGH SEASON though so if you’re a super whale fan, that’s when you want to go. You’ll be able to see them from many of the beaches.

All islands have some form of whale watching tours you can go on, but it seems like for every one whale you’ll see on another island, you’ll see 5-10 on Maui. So if you’re visiting multiple islands, definitely go whale watching on Maui. 

More info on whale watching here .

Snorkeling Molokini Crater

Maui’s most popular snorkeling spot is a partially submerged volcanic crater that’s home to not only amazing species of fish but also some of the best visibility in Hawaii. 

Where to find turtles on Maui

The slopes of Haleakala are home to an area called the “upcountry.” It’s by far the largest area of Maui, it’s a predominantly local area, and if you couldn’t look out and see the ocean you’d probably think you where in the Texas Hill Country or Colorado high meadows instead of Hawaii. The lava rock has created super fertile soil and that combined with the moderate climate make for spectacular agricultural conditions. You’ll find every type of farm tour you can think of here. 

On my “don’t miss” list is the Ali’i Lavender Farm, Maui Wine, and Maui Pineapple Tour. 

Read all about my favorite things to do upcountry here . I really can’t say just how much I loved the Maui Pineapple Tour. I don’t think it’s talked about nearly enough, but I would say it’s a “don’t miss.” Skip that tourist trap at the Dole Plantation on Oahu and come here instead. 

Old Lahaina Luau

Not only my favorite luau on Maui, but my favorite luau in HAWAII. While I don’t think a luau is necessarily a don’t miss item (you know whether or not it is for you), IF you’re going to do one, this is the one to do. And if you’re going to multiple islands and trying to decide which island to do the luau on, make it the Old Lahaina Luau. 

Dinner at Mama’s Fish House

As funny as it sounds, this is pretty much the only thing I do EVERY TIME I’m on Maui ; ) By far the most popular restaurant in Hawaii, if you tell 10 people you’re going to Maui that have been there before I bet the first thing 9 of them will tell you to do is make reservations at Mama’s Fish House. It’s not cheap, but it never disappoints. Read my full review here . 

Okay, that’s the quick rundown…read my full post about things you can ONLY do on Maui with way more details here >> Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui  

I’ve noticed that people either seem to book their airfare and hotel first and then figure the rest out, or they want to lay out an itinerary and then decide how to book their flights (how long to stay) and where to stay. 

Either way, having a solid itinerary (even if it’s just a lot of built in relaxation time peppered with some activities) can make your vacation sooooo much better. 

I’m working on a whole suite of Maui itinerary options for different lengths and interests, but for now check out this one:

4 Day Maui Itinerary

Do You Need a Rental Car on Maui?

You absolutely will need a rental car. Hawaii is not an all-inclusive destination where you’ll arrive by shuttle and never leave your resort (I mean you could do that…but it’s pretty expensive just to get to Hawaii so most people want to actually see Hawaii. If you want a cheaper resort only vacation, just go to Mexico). 

It’s a pretty large island, and it can take a while to get around. Driving from Wailea to Lahaina can take around 40 minutes. Kahului to Lahaina can take around 30-40 minutes, and Kahului to Wailea can take around 30 minutes. And that’s not to mention destinations on the north shore, upcountry, or towards Hana. So taking Ubers and Lyfts if you’re going from place to place isn’t really feasible (you’re probably talking $100 one way). Maui also does not have a very good bus system.

So you’ll most definitely want a rental car for your stay even if you’re staying in a resort area. I always book through Discount Hawaii Car Rentals . They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

When to Book Activities?

One of the top questions I get asked is when the best time to book activities/tours/excursions is. Honestly, if there’s something you know you want to do for sure…you should book it as soon as you can. 

There’s no advantage to waiting until the last minute. You won’t find better deals and more than likely you’ll end up missing out because things sell out. In the post COVID landscape, so many activities and tours in Hawaii (luaus, snorkeling tours, ziplining, atv rides, even RESTAURANTS) are fully booked 2-4 months in advance. 

You’ll want the usual beach vacation clothes, but a trip to Maui also means a lot of exploring and there are some odd/specialty things you won’t want to forget (do you really need a fleece jacket? Yes ; ) 

Read my full Hawaii packing list plus tips on what to wear here . 

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui

Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

Reservations You Need to Make BEFORE Your Hawaii Trip

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii so a lot of state and national parks used the closure and reopening to institute reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.

Haleakala National Park (Maui)

To visit Haleakala National Park for sunrise at the summit, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to enter the park gates between 3AM and 7AM (sunrise hours).

Online reservations are $1 per reservation/vehicle PLUS you’ll pay the park entrance fee of $30/vehicle when you arrive (National Park annual passes are also accepted at the gate).

The reservation booking window opens 60 days in advance at 7AM HST. There are also a limited number of tickets released two days before.

You can make one reservation every three days with the same account. So if you want to make reservations for back to back days (in case of weather/conditions), you’ll need to do so with separate accounts (email addresses).

If you can’t get reservations for sunrise, you can enter the park anytime after 7AM without reservations. The summit is spectacular during the day and you don’t need reservations for sunset.

I strongly recommend creating an account before and making sure you’re logged in at 7AM HST because it’s not uncommon for reservations to sell out quickly.

Waianapanapa State Park (Maui)

To visit Maui’s famous black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park on the Road to Hana, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to visit the beach and are distributed in windows from 7AM-10AM, 10AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-3PM, and 3PM-6PM. And they are pretty strict about exiting by the end of your window time (you can arrive anytime within your window).

It’s $5/person to enter plus $10/vehicle to park and those fees are paid when you book your time slot.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Iao Valley State Park (Maui)

To visit the lush, green mountains and hike at Iao Valley State Park, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered for 90 minute time slots beginning at 7AM and ending at 6PM. They ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your time slot.

Entry is $5/person plus $10/vehicle to park.

Diamond Head (Oahu)

To hike to the top of Waikiki’s famous Diamond Head, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered in two hour increments beginning at 6AM (6AM-8AM, 8AM-10AM, etc.) and ending at 6PM. If you’re parking onsite, they ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation window.

Tip: I recommend booking one of the first two time slots because there isn’t much shade on this hike and it gets pretty hot.

Hanauma Bay (Oahu)

To snorkel at Oahu’s pristine Hanauma Bay, you must make reservations in advance here.

Entry times are staggered in 10 minute increments from 7AM to 1:20PM with roughly 1000 slots being assigned in advance every day.

Reservations can be made two days in advance and they open at 7AM HST. They’re usually gone in minutes (if not seconds).

If you’re unable to get an advanced reservation, you can try for a day of, walk in ticket. They open at 6:45AM and they only have a limited number available. Everyone in your group needs to be present when you purchase your tickets in person.

There are no reservations for parking and it’s first come, first serve. $3/vehicle.

It’s $25/person to snorkel at Hanauma Bay (12 and under, active military, and locals with HI ID are free).

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday (CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY) from 6:45AM-4PM. Last entry is at 1:30PM, the beach is cleared at 3:15PM and you have to leave the facility by 4PM.

Jellyfish patterns can also affect whether or not the bay is open so double check the day before/day of.

USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor (Oahu)

If you want to take the boat tour at Pearl Harbor out to the USS Arizona, it’s recommended to make advance reservations here.

Online reservations are guaranteed a specific boarding time to go out to the USS Arizona. If you’re unable to get an advance reservation, you can wait standby when you arrive. The line could be short (15 minutes or so) or long (hours) and it just depends on the day (if they’re having problems with the loading dock sometimes they don’t take many from the standby line) and the time of day.

Reservations are supposed to open up 60 days in advance, but keep an eye on your exact dates, because lately they’ve actually been opening up about 57ish days in advance???

They also release a small batch of tickets the day before.

The boat ride out to the USS Arizona is free, but it’s $1 to make the reservations online.

They recently started charging $7/vehicle for parking at Pearl Harbor.

Haena State Park / Kalalau Trail (Kauai)

If you want to hike Kauai’s famous Kalalau Trail, you must make advance reservations here. You’ve got three options here:

1) Parking & Entry: This is the most flexible option and also the most limited. THESE RESERVATIONS SELL OUT IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. There are three time slots available: 6:30AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-5:30PM and 4:30PM to sunset. You can purchase multiple time slots if you want to stay longer. It’s $10/timeslot (parking) plus $5/person and you have to reserve every person when you initially book. Everybody has to arrive in the same car and your ID needs to match the reservation.

2) Shuttle & Entry: If you can’t get parking at the trailhead, there’s also a shuttle option. Shuttle reservations are $35/person (16+), $25/person (ages 4-15), 3 and under can ride free. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes 6:20AM to 6:40PM.

3) Entry Only: If you’re a Hawaiian resident (with HI ID) or someone WITH a Hawaiian resident, you can purchase entry only for $5/person with no advance reservations. Also, if you’re walking or biking to the trailhead you can do this option. But there is NOWHERE to park in the area to walk in. So this really only works for those with bikes or who are staying close enough to walk. They will tow your car if you park outside the designated areas.

The reservation window opens 30 days in advance at 12AM HST. The parking & entry option usually sells out in a minute, but the shuttle availability will last longer.

There are a TON of FAQs here including the possibility of snagging a canceled reservation.

Other Things to Book in Advance

Hawaii is a busy place these days! Besides the state and national parks above, here’s a handful of miscellaneous things you should make reservations for in advance (if they’re on your radar):

Mama’s Fish House (Maui) : The iconic spot is the most popular restaurant in Hawaii and dinner reservations usually start filling up about 6 months in advance (they open up bookings 18 months in advance). Make reservations through their website and if the dates you want are already booked, you can join a waitlist. Most people have pretty good success getting in on the waitlist (even if it’s for lunch).

Old Lahaina Luau (Maui) : Honestly, any luau you’re planning to attend you should book early, but most people are usually shocked how far out the Old Lahaina Luau books out. Book it as soon as you know your dates (I think they open at the six month window). They also have a waitlist.

Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour (Oahu) : Everybody loves Jurassic Park so getting to ride UTVs where they filmed the movies is very popular. The ranch offers a lot of different tours but the UTV tours usually book out a couple of months in advance.

Spa Reservations : If you’re staying at a resort with a spa (or planning on visiting one), don’t wait until you arrive to make your reservations. I’d make them at least a month in advance.

Tee Times : Same for golf, reserve your tee times well in advance.

Dining Reservations : Any “fancy” or resort restaurant is likely to be booked up these days so if you like having a nice dinner every night, make your plans in advance.

P.S. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here . I’m there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share!

Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@ caitylincoln ). My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! Your support really helps me keep this blog running!

How Big is Maui? Plus Other Amazing Facts About the Island

Nick Spieth

June 14, 2023

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Hawaiian islands yet, I sincerely hope you do at some point. For folks flying to Hawaii, flying from Los Angeles’s LAX airport is usually the way to go. Flight time from LAX to Hawaii’s Honolulu airport (HNL) is just under 6 hours.

Once you arrive in Maui, what can you expect? Let’s take a look at some important factors for your visit or just some interesting facts for those of you that want to learn more about this beautiful island.

Table of Contents

How Big is Maui?

Maui is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The 735 square miles make Maui the 17th largest island in the United States. In more practical terms, Maui measures 48 miles long and 26 miles wide.

Hawaii as a whole is larger than New Jersey, yet it would fit inside the state of Texas 25 times!

What is the Population of Maui?

Population estimates as of July 1st, 2021 come in at 164,000. That is a very small drop of 0.3% from estimates on April 1st, 2020.

Maui’s population had been pretty healthy since the 1970s. Prior to then, World War 2 attributed to a decline in the population of the island during the 1940s and 1950s.

Between 1970 and 1990 Maui’s population actually doubled, going from roughly 46,000 people to over 100,000.

What is the Biggest City in Maui?

The city of Kahului and its population of 26,337 makes it the largest city in Maui. This accounts for roughly 25% of the total population of Maui island.

What Other Cities are in Maui?

A close second to Kahului is Kihei’s 20,881 population. These two cities account for about 45% of the total population on the island.

Here is a look at the largest cities on Maui by population:

What is the Weather Like in Maui?

Maui’s climate can range wildly because of its physical environment characteristics. Half of Maui island is within 5 miles, or 8 kilometers of the coastline.

Maui’s daytime temperatures average between 75 F (24 C) and 90 F (32 C) year-round. In the evening, a drop between 15-18 F is common depending on the region and elevation of the island.

What is the Meaning of Maui?

The island of Maui was named after a Polynesian demigod recently made more famous by the Disney animated movie Moana. The shape-shifting Maui character (see also ‘ How Tall Is A Hobbit? ‘) was voiced by actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The movie was released in late 2016 and grossed over $640,000,000 worldwide. The film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% and with a PG rating and 1 hour and 47-minute runtime, I highly recommend you watch it, even if you don’t have any kids.

Native Hawaiian culture describes Maui as a “trickster” with a powerful fish hook named Manaiakalani. The mythology is that Maui created the Hawaiian islands by tricking his brothers into going fishing with him.

Does Maui Have any Volcanoes?

There are two volcanoes located on the Hawaiian island of Maui, though only one, Haleakala, is an active volcano. Haleakala has erupted at least ten times in the past 1,000 years.

Mauna Kahalawai is the other, which is more well known as the West Maui Mountains.

Can you see the Big Island from Maui?

The big island of Hawaii is visible from the east side of Maui as well as the top of the Haleakala volcano.

Read More : 9 Everyday Things That Are 6 Inches Long

How Many Golf Courses Does Maui Have?

Maui has 14 golf courses to choose from with some being ranked among the world’s best. Golf elites such as Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw are among notable contributors that have helped design some of these courses.

• Recent Posts

• What Size is Regular Printer Paper? Quick Guide for Paper Dimensions - June 18, 2023
• What Size is My Monitor: A Comprehensive Guide - June 18, 2023
• How Big is Italy Compared to the US? A Concise Comparison - June 16, 2023

Privacy Policy

Affiliate disclosure, what size is it, this site and its contents are for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. though the information on this site is intended to be up-to-date and accurate, there may be errors., links on this site may be part of the amazon affiliate program in which commissions are earned., © copyright 2023. whatsizeisit.com , all rights reserved..

36 Hours on Maui

By Shannon Wianecki April 25, 2024

• Share full article

By Shannon Wianecki Photographs by Michelle Mishina Kunz

Shannon Wianecki grew up in Hawaii and writes about the islands regularly.

Maui is the Goldilocks island: It is neither too big nor too small, and for its three million annual visitors, its perfect year-round temperature, rainbow-splashed volcanic summits and sugary beaches are just right. But last August, Maui’s equilibrium met disaster. Catastrophic wildfires reduced the historic town of Lahaina to ash, claiming more than 100 lives . Conflicting messages urged visitors to stay away and let the island heal, but also to come and help sustain the economy. Eight months later, the message is more unified that Maui is ready to greet tourists again. Housing remains a critical need for displaced residents. Lahaina will take years to rebuild. But Maui’s inherent beauty and hospitality remain as vibrant as ever. It’s a great time to explore Central and South Maui, where new cocktail bars, outrigger canoe tours and Indigenous art exhibits reveal the community’s creativity and resilience.

Recommendations

• The 10,000-foot summit of Haleakalā National Park (pronounced with an emphasis on “la”) has a view of the rising sun, volcanic vistas and some of the planet’s rarest plants and birds.
• The Hale Hō‘ike‘ike museum showcases Hawaiian artwork, carved deities and a redwood plank surfboard owned by the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku.
• Balai Pata is a new restaurant that celebrates Filipino flavors with savory soups, desserts big enough for two and monthly karaoke nights.
• The Wailea Beach Path meanders along South Maui’s photogenic coast between posh resorts and the deep blue Pacific.
• The hiking trails at ‘Īao Valley State Monument (pronounced EE-ow) penetrate the lush West Maui Mountains, winding past waterfalls and taro patches.
• Enormous murals by Small Town Big Art , a public art project, in colorful and historic Wailuku town, are worth taking a stroll to see, and they’re navigable by an online map.
• Blue Water Rafting ’s exhilarating tours of the Kanaio Coast explore hidden coves, sea caves and charismatic marine life.
• Ho‘okipa Beach Park , one of the world’s top surf spots, is also a great place to spy on napping sea turtles.
• Oao Sushi Bar & Grill offers beautifully prepared Japanese fare, such as inventive sushi rolls and purple-yam pot de crème, in a Wailea shopping center.
• Tikehau Lounge serves seasonal craft cocktails made with local spirits and garnished with tiny katana swords and surfboards.
• Kaohu Store is a mom-and-pop grocery that produces the island’s best poke, raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed.
• Tails Up Maui , a partnership between a local chef and a fisherman, serves excellent fish sandwiches and chicken plates.
• Wailuku Coffee Co. is the place to stop for Maui-grown coffee or espresso while exploring Wailuku.
• Esters Fair Prospect , a charming tropical bar on Wailuku’s Main Street, serves daiquiris made with a choice of three dozen rums and appetizers featuring fresh marlin.
• Mama’s Fish House , a celebrated restaurant on a secluded lagoon, lists the names of the fishermen who caught the snapper and octopus on its menu.
• On Saturday mornings, the Upcountry Farmers Market is a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a bounty of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods.
• ‘Oko‘a Farm Store sells a cornucopia of organic tropical fruits and vegetables in fresh, dried and powdered form.
• T. Komoda Store and Bakery , which has served the Maui community for more than a century, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily.
• Sabado Art Gallery is where the local artist Philip Sabado paints, teaches workshops and sells his color-saturated impressions of Maui landscapes and hula dancers.
• Native Intelligence offers a wealth of Hawaiian art and fashion: Locals come here for Aloha shirts and sarongs, fine jewelry and fresh flower leis.
• Four Seasons Resort Maui sets the standard for service with poolside spritzes, immaculate housekeeping and a terrific complimentary kids’ camp. Guests can book spa treatments in oceanfront huts and outrigger canoe excursions that launch from the resort’s adjoining beach. Rooms start at $1,095 a night.
• Hotel Wailea is an adults-only boutique hotel on a hill overlooking South Maui. While not directly on the beach, it’s only a short shuttle ride away. Elegant suites are spacious (750 square feet with kitchenettes) and the Birdcage lounge is a prime spot for toasting the sunset. Rooms start at $799.
• Maui Kamaole is a condo complex across the street from Kama‘ole Beach Park III, between Wailea and Kihei on Maui’s south shore. One- and two-bedroom units feature full kitchens, laundry facilities and lush landscaping. Rooms start at $500.
• Since the recent fire intensified the housing shortage, visitors should avoid short-term rentals in residential areas. Instead, book hotels that offer in-room kitchens, such as Fairmont Kea Lani or Mana Kai Maui .
• The best way to explore the island is by car . The major rental companies each have kiosks at Kahului Airport. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available, but long distances between destinations make this an expensive option. Maui’s public transit is limited. The Maui Bus operates 12 routes, including two that stop at the airport. One-way fares cost $2; day passes are $4.

Wailea Beach Path

The Wailea Beach Path , which meanders along the island’s southern coast, reflects Maui’s almost contradictory personas: On one side, opulent resorts flaunt swim-up bars and nightly torch-lighting ceremonies. A subtler drama unfolds on the opposite side, where native flora like honey-scented naio bushes, spiky hala trees and hibiscus blossoms flourish along the rocky shoreline. Sit and listen to the sea rush through the lava rocks as the sun drops between three islands: Lanai, Kahoolawe and tiny Molokini. In the 1970s, nine Native Hawaiians occupied Kahoolawe in defiance of the U.S. military, which had been using the island as a bombing range for decades. Their daring protest sparked what is now known as the Hawaiian Renaissance — a revival of Indigenous culture that continues today.

Head to Oao Sushi Bar & Grill in the Wailea area for beautifully prepared Japanese fare. The owner and head chef, J.R. Oao, sharpened his knife at Maui’s best sushi bars (including a stint at Nobu Lana‘i) before opening his first brick-and-mortar restaurant last year (he also has a food truck in Kihei, a few miles north). His signature rolls are balanced and inventive: Try the baked California roll ($22), served hot and loaded with shrimp and scallops. Juicy seared lamb chops rest on a smear of umami-rich red miso ($42). Even the salads impress — bright cilantro vinaigrette with a hint of horseradish enlivens a simple mix of Maui-grown greens, roasted corn and goat cheese ($16). For dessert, the ube pot de crème ($14), made from purple yam, is luscious, light and almost cartoonishly bright.

The name of Tikehau , a new lounge in Wailea, means “peaceful landing.” The bar, which opened in November and is quietly raising the standard for craft cocktails statewide, was true to its name for Mari Howe, its manager, and other staff who came to work here after losing jobs or homes to the Lahaina fire. Everything is thoughtfully selected, from the gold-leaf wallpaper to the crystal stemware. Garnishes are coveted souvenirs; a tiny surfboard floats atop the Thousand Peaks ($19) — a lagoon-blue Paloma topped with jasmine-tea “sea foam.” The Hawaiian Samurai ($50), a top-shelf-whiskey libation, comes with a miniature katana sword. Ms. Howe’s seasonal menu incorporates local spirits and mixers: fresh pineapple juice, Kō Hana rum and okolehao, a moonshine made from Hawaiian ti plants. Upscale snacks include poisson cru, a raw-fish dish ($25), and smoked taro hummus ($15).

Explore the rugged Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves with a rafting tour.

This morning mission requires preparation. First, book a sunrise reservation at Haleakalā National Park well in advance ($1 permit, $30 park entrance). Then pack really warm clothes. In the darkness, drive slowly up the 10,000-foot volcano; fog often obscures cattle and native geese loitering in hairpin turns. Your efforts will be rewarded at the peak — first by the velvet sky awash with stars, then by the sun’s rays spilling across the fire-forged mountain. Notice how the silverswords (hedgehog-like plants that grow only here) sparkle in the golden light. As you descend, stop at Hosmer Grove , where a short hike leads to a forest full of Hawaiian honeycreepers , birds that are among some of the planet’s rarest.

Midway down Haleakalā, stop at the Upcountry Farmers Market . Every Saturday morning, the Kulamalu Town Center parking lot turns into a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a dizzying array of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods. You’ll find things to eat immediately — fresh coconut, vegan sweet-potato cheesecake and Venezuelan arepas — as well as things to stash in your suitcase, like passion-fruit butter and macadamia nuts. Don’t miss the ‘Oko‘a Farm Store , which migrated from the market into an adjacent storefront. The store’s 46-acre farm supplies a cornucopia of tropical fruits and vegetables; its shelves teem with jars of pickled, powdered, and freeze-dried treats and tonics.

Baldwin Avenue

Take the scenic drive back to sea level through historic Makawao and Paia towns. Bordered by a rodeo arena and a polo field , Makawao is the charming headquarters of the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys who continue to rope and ride across the island’s lush ranchlands. On the corner of Makawao and Baldwin Avenues you’ll see T. Komoda Store and Bakery ; this beloved family-run business, which has served the community since 1916, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily. Follow Baldwin past the defunct sugar mill to Paia. Once a busy sugar plantation hub surrounded by green cane fields, it’s now home to surfers and artists. As you pass Baldwin Beach, admire the view of the rain-carved West Maui Mountains. The morning light often reveals the hidden interior of ‘Īao Valley, your next destination.

Wailuku River

Head to Kaohu Store in Wailuku for lunch to go. This mom-and-pop grocery offers the island’s best poke — raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed (from $18 a pound). Add two scoops of rice and crunchy fern salad for a truly local meal. If you prefer a cooked lunch, visit Tails Up Maui for a classy fish sandwich ($19) or mochiko (rice flour) fried chicken ($17). Take your picnic to Kepaniwai Park , where model houses commemorate the diverse cultures of Hawaii’s sugar plantation era, and dip your feet into the Wailuku River. Continue to ‘ Īao Valley State Monument (out-of-state visitors need reservations; $5 entrance fee, $10 parking). Paved walkways wind through a traditional lo‘i kalo (taro patch), past multiple waterfalls and up to a stunning lookout.

Peruse the art and artifacts at Hale Hō‘ike‘ike , a captivating repository of Hawaiian culture in the former home of the missionary-artist Edward Bailey. Exhibits showcase Hawaiian feather work and quilts, carved deities, and paintings depicting 19th-century Maui. Imagine trying to paddle the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku’s redwood plank surfboard into the waves (entry, $10). From there, stroll through Wailuku, Maui’s somewhat sleepy seat of local government. Narrow side streets yield many treasures: See enormous street murals (use the online map by Small Town Big Art , a public art project), admire the color-saturated paintings at Sabado Art Gallery and find refreshment at Wailuku Coffee Co. or Esters Fair Prospect , a cocktail bar. After shopping for Hawaiian books and clothing at Native Intelligence , buy yourself a fragrant flower lei to wear for the duration of your trip.

At Balai Pata , a new Filipino restaurant in Kahului, a celebration of the flavors that the chef and owner Joey Macadangdang grew up with is a welcome addition to Maui’s restaurant scene. Plump Kauai prawns sauteed in garlicky fish sauce ($17) set the stage for savory sinigang ($30) — tamarind broth loaded with long beans, okra and fish. For dessert, two can share the halo-halo ($18) — crushed ice topped with avocado, ube ice cream, coconut cream and fruit jellies, served in a coconut shell. The décor reflects a bright, homespun aesthetic, and once a month, local families fill the restaurant for late-night happy hour and karaoke battles — check Instagram for dates.

Jumping into a pool in Kepaniwai Park.

Blue Water Rafting

A trip to Maui isn’t complete without ducking underwater to spy on clouds of striped manini fish, eagle rays and turtles. While most snorkel tours start at Mā‘alaea Harbor, Blue Water Rafting boards at the Kihei boat ramp — offering easier access and one of the only tours of Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves ($179, four hours). Climb into the rigid-hulled raft beside two dozen other passengers (fewer than the big tour boats) and watch for dolphins. In winter, close encounters with whales are common. As you peer into the pristine bay formed by Maui’s youngest lava flow, imagine the Polynesian wayfinders sailing here centuries ago, followed by the French explorer La Pérouse in 1786. The ride is exhilarating but bumpy.

Don’t be shy: Wear your flower lei to lunch at Mama’s Fish House . Old-style hospitality reigns at this celebrated restaurant on a sheltered lagoon. Servers greet you in vintage Aloha wear and offer complimentary bowls of poi (pounded taro — a staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet). The menu is pricey but worthy; long before it was fashionable, Mama’s listed who caught each fish and where. A recent menu featured sea bass hooked by Ivan Ventura in Hana ($68). If you ordered only dessert, you’d still leave happy; the Polynesian Black Pearl ($24) is an edible version of “The Birth of Venus”: chocolate mousse and passion fruit ensconced in a cookie seashell. Tables can book up a year out. After lunch, drive two minutes east to Ho‘okipa Beach Park , where surfers carve waves and sea turtles bask on the sand.

More From 36 Hours

Have a weekend to explore a destination we’ve got the perfect travel itinerary..

Paris: A different side of the French capital reveals smaller museums, under-the-radar spots in Montmartre and a diverse performance scene .

Montreal : Climb a mountain, wander the waterfront and enjoy a smoked-meat sandwich  in a city with a surprise around every corner.

Cartagena: With a limonada de coco in hand, explore two walkable neighborhoods over a weekend  in this coastal Colombian city.

Glasgow:  Take in Gothic architecture, green riverside walks and a global banquet  in Scotland’s largest city.

Chicago:   ​​ Cycle miles of urban trails, tour a restored Frank Lloyd Wright masterwork and catch golden hour  along Lake Michigan.

Advertisement

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Hawaii Top Things to Know Explore Now →

Kauai Guide

Big island guide, essential travel tips.

• Which Island to Visit? →
• Best Time to Visit →
• Hawaii Must See & Do →
• Hawaii Itineraries →

Travel Information

• Hawaii Weather →
• What to Pack? →
• Best Hawaii Island to Visit →
• Hawaii Safety Tips →

Hawaii Resources

• Hawaii Airports & Terminals →
• Hawaii Maps →
• Hawaii Travel News & Blog →
• Hawaii Visitor FAQ →

View our Hawaii Visitor Guides →

Hawaii Accommodations →

Lodging by island.

• Oahu Lodging
• Maui Lodging
• Big Island Lodging
• Kauai Lodging

Where to Stay

• Where to stay on Oahu →
• Where to stay on Maui →
• Where to stay on Big Island →
• Where to stay on Kauai →

When to Visit

• Best Time to Visit Oahu →
• Best Time to Visit Maui →
• Best Time to Visit the Big Island →
• Best Time to Visit Kauai →

Explore Hawaii Hotel Deals & Specials Search Now

• Hawaii Things to See & Do →

Tours by Island

• Big Island Tours
• Kauai Tours

Hawaii Attractions

• Oahu Attractions →
• Maui Attractions →
• Big Island Attractions →
• Kauai Attractions →

Hawaii Must See & Do

• Oahu Must See & Do →
• Maui Must See & Do →
• Big Island Must See & Do →
• Kauai Must See & Do →

Explore all Hawaii Tours Search Now

Hawaii Travel Advisories & Restrictions

Information on restrictions in hawaii including hawaii related travel advisories.

Handpicked Tours & Activities

Discount Hawaii Car Rentals

Current Travel Advisories, Restrictions, & Updates

What are the travel restrictions & requirements in hawaii, last updated:  march 2, 2024.

We've covered all of the latest Hawaii travel news and announcements below, including the steps travelers should follow to safely visit Hawaii in the future.

Maui Travel Updates

Lahaina remains closed.

Lahaina will remain fully closed to the public until further notice out of respect to the town's residents. County, state, and federal emergency responders continue with efforts to identify victims and the missing, and conduct clean-up efforts of debris and hazardous materials resulting from the wildfires.

— article continued below —

Garden of Eden - East Maui

Before you visit…

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority advises travelers to check with individual accommodations, activities and businesses in West Maui for their availability and hours of operation. As travelers return to Maui after the devastating August wildfires, they will help to sustain jobs, keep businesses open, and support the community.

We urge all visitors to be especially mindful and respectful in the islands as the community continues through this tragedy.

Maui Wildfires

In August 2023, wildfires damaged a significant portion of West Maui, many lives were lost, and 2,200+ structures were destroyed -  making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century and Hawaii's worst natural disaster in modern history . 

More information can be found on our   August 2023 Maui wildfire  page.

Remainder of West Maui Reopened November 1, 2023

In late September 2023, Maui's Mayor, Richard Bissen,  released brand-new details  about how the island will go about reopening the resort areas surrounding Lahaina, which will remain closed indefinitely.

The plan initially involved three phases, but the Mayor  reopened the rest of West Maui on November 1, 2023 .

Latest Pandemic Developments in Hawaii

Last updated:  december 16, 2022.

At this time, there are no pandemic travel-related restrictions for domestic travelers, and neither the Governor's office nor island mayors have indicated they plan to reintroduce any restrictions.

Travelers can check the state of Hawaii's confirmed cases here .

'Safe Travels' program & mask mandate both officially ended March 26, 2022

According to Governor Ige, the state of Hawaii dropped the 'Safe Travels' program for domestic U.S. travelers at midnight on  March 25, 2022 . Governor Ige has also announced the indoor mask mandate has ended as of March 26, 2022 . Masks may still be required on public transportation, such as buses, and within Hawaii’s airports.

That now means domestic travelers to Hawaii will no longer need to fill out online forms via Safe Travels, no longer have to worry about QR codes, no longer have to provide proof of vaccination, and ultimately, there won't be any additional requirements or restrictions to fly to Hawaii on a domestic flight.

On the county level, the County of Kauai, the County of Maui, and the County of Hawaii have repealed their COVID-19 Emergency Rules. The City and County of Honolulu's Safe Access Oahu program ended on Sunday, March 6, 2022.

" Safe Travels is one part of a multi-layer approach to COVID safety. The program played a key role in keeping Hawaii's residents safe before vaccinations were widely available, and during the surges we've seen through this pandemic ," said John De Fries, Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO. " Bringing the Safe Travels program to a close reflects the progress we have made as a state , and Governor Ige’s decision is a good balance of maintaining reasonable health precautions while reopening our society and economy ."

Hawaii Events

Hawaii Health Protocols

We encourage all travelers to review the Health & Safety Protocols for all of your travel planning resources within the Islands of Hawaii:

Airlines Health Policies

• Air New Zealand
• Alaska Airlines  
• American Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• China Airlines
• Delta  Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Korean Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas/Jetstar
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

Airport Health Requirements

• Hawaii Department of Transportation

Activity & Tour Policies

Transporation.

• Roberts Hawaii
• Alamo/Enterprise/National
• Avis/Budget

Meetings & Conventions

• Hawaii Convention Center
• Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association
• Stay Safe Hawaii

Restaurants 

• Hawaii Restaurant Association
• Retail Merchants of Hawaii

Visiting Hawaii

Upcoming months of travel.

We think it is safe to say that any month of the year you will not be disappointed when you visit the Hawaiian islands. Here's an overview of what to expect in the coming months. Not sure when to visit? Read about the  Best Month to Visit , where we present an overview of each month OR take the quiz on our  Best Time to Visit Hawaii  page.

Information Disclaimer:  Details and information on this page, including dates, may change on a day-by-day basis. While we will be making every effort to keep these pages relevant and up to date, the decision to travel is ultimately your own responsibility.

Terms of Use & Disclosures

This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms , conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. All partners and related links comply with our Advertising Disclosures . For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not cost you anything and help provide the necessary funding to maintain this website. Mahalo!

Download our Hawaii Map Packet

Includes most major attractions, all major routes, airports, and a chart with estimated driving times for each respective island..

Our popular Summary Guidesheets are now included.

Download your copy of our... 2024 Hawaii Travel Guide

Hawaii-Guide.com has been featured in...

Hawaii Visitor Information...

Try out our new AI Powered Search & Chatbot →

Plus & Premium Benefits

Donate and remove ALL the ads

Mahalo for your support!

By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms . Mahalo!

Trans-Siberian Railway Prices

• Trans-Siberian Railway Tickets
• Trans-Siberian Railway Ticket Booking
• Trans-Siberian Railway Car Classes
• Travel Procedure
• Trans-Siberian Railway Route
• Guides & Gadgets

Home » Prices and Trans-Siberian Tickets » Trans-Siberian Railway Prices

Ticket prices for the Trans-Siberian Railway also depend on the current ruble exchange rate.

Is the Trans-Siberian Railway expensive?

Before starting on your Trans-Siberian Railway adventure you naturally want to know what the entire trip will cost. Although this sounds like a simple question, it is pretty difficult to answer. The Trans-Siberian Railway price of travel depends on the following factors:

• Which travel class do I want to use? The price for a first class ticket is about three times the price of a 3rd class ticket
• Am I willing to buy the tickets myself and assume responsibility for the organisation of the trip?
• How many stopovers do I want to make? The more breaks, the higher the total price.
• What sort of accommodation do I want? Will it be a luxury hotel or will a hostel dormitory be sufficient?
• What tours and excursions would I like to go on?
• What is the current exchange rate for rubles?

Basically, everything from a luxury to a budget holiday is available. If you buy yourself a 3rd Class nonstop ticket at the counter, a few hundred Euros will cover the price. All you will experience is a week on the Trans-Siberian train and will see nothing of the cities on the way. There is, however, any amount of room for upward expansion. Everyone makes different choices about which aspects they are willing to spend money on. I personally prefer to save money on accommodation and railcar class, visit as many cities and do as many trips as possible. To enable better classification of your travel expenses I have contrasted two typical traveler types. In the third column you can calculate the total cost of your own journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that these are only rough estimations and not exact prices.

The all-in costs seem fairly high at first. However, they cover everything and it is quite a long journey taking four weeks. Many people forget to consider that when looking at the list. We should also deduct the running costs for food and leisure at home. I think most visitors to this page will classify themselves somewhere between the two categories, that is around the € 2,000 – € 2,500 range. When comparing these prices with other travel packages, you get the impression that it is hardly worthwhile travelling individually on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that most packages last no more than 14 days and you are herded like cattle through the most beautiful locations.

If you spend less time on the Trans-Siberian Railway you will, of course, pay less. I chose this particular travel length because I prefer not to do things by halves. If you fulfill your dream of travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, enjoy it and don’t rush things. But it’s up to you, of course. Try playing around with the form a bit to find the appropriate price for your trip.

• Trans-Siberian Railway Tickets »