Maui

Makawao town in Upcountry Maui at the top of Baldwin Ave. Old cowboy ranch town now a shopping, eating and Art destination.

• 🌍 Hana — the town at the end of the Highway to Hana. An isolated community on Maui's eastern tip surrounded by dense rain forests.
• 🌍 Haiku — an old plantation town, located on the north slope of east Maui.
• 🌍 Kahului — the commercial and transportation center, with Maui's two largest malls, the main airport and a deep-water port.
• 🌍 Kaanapali — a small town located on Maui's Western shore, close to Lahaina.
• 🌍 Kapalua — in the northwest corner of Maui, showcasing championship golf courses, ten miles of pristine shoreline and luxury accommodations.
• 🌍 Kihei features condos and beaches on the southwest coast, but cheaper and less luxurious than Kaanapali.
• 🌍 Lahaina — an old whaling port and former major tourist center, sadly mostly destroyed in the Maui Fires of 2023.
• 🌍 Napili — a beach town on northwest shore near Kapalua which offers calm waters protected by an offshore reef.
• 🌍 Paia — a small town with interesting shopping and world renowned beaches for windsurfing and surfing.
• 🌍 Waikapu - small town with a working plantation
• 🌍 Wailea and Makena are master-planned resort areas located just south of Kihei.
• 🌍 Wailuku — the seat of the county government, home to several historic buildings listed on both state and gateway to the Iao Needle.

• 🌍 Haleakala National Park

Maui nō ka 'oi. "Maui is the best." Many visitors have heard this Hawaiian phrase said about the island, and many of those same visitors, having visited, say it to others. It's no wonder that the readers of Conde Nast Traveler have voted Maui the best island in the U.S. for 22 years, and have given it top honors in the world in many of those polls.

Maui was formed from the merger of two volcanoes, Haleakala to the east and the West Maui volcano to the west. Between the two volcanoes is a narrow isthmus of land on which the major population centers of Wailuku and Kahului lie; this feature gives Maui its nickname, "the Valley Island."

See Talk in the Hawaii section.

Kahului Airport (OGG ^IATA) is the main airport for the island of Maui, and the second largest commercial airport in the state. It is a secondary hub for Hawaiian Airlines, which provides interisland service to Kahului from the other major airports in the state. Several major U.S. airlines also provide non-stop service to Maui from the West Coast and beyond. Kahului airport can be reached non-stop from Anchorage, Bellingham, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Hana, Hilo, Honolulu, Hoolehua, Kamuela, Kapalua, Lanai City, Lihue, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver.

To get to Lahaina and Kaanapali, where most major hotels are located, exit the airport and follow Kuihelani Highway (route 380) to its junction with Honoapiilani Highway (route 30), and turn left on route 30 toward Lahaina. For Kihei and Wailea, turn left on Puunene Avenue, which becomes Mokulele Highway (state route 311) and eventually turns into Piilani Highway (state route 31) when you reach Kihei. Continue on route 31 for Wailea.

When departing from Kahului Airport for the U.S. Mainland, all baggage must be inspected by Hawaii State Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airport. Fresh fruits (with the exception of pineapples and treated papayas) are prohibited from leaving the islands to prevent the spread of fruit flies. This inspection occurs before you get to your gate, so you won't be able to enjoy your last fruit while waiting for your departing flight.

There are smaller general aviation airports Kapalua (JHM ^IATA) and Hana (HNM ^IATA) with some scheduled local flights.

While Maui has a basic public transportation system, many places are not accessible by bus, and most visitors rent a car. Renting a car in Hawaii is relatively inexpensive. The resort areas around Kihei, Wailea and Lahaina also have a trolley that connects the towns with nearby shopping and attractions.

Haleakala National Park offers alpine wilderness and stunning views of Maui and beyond (from the summit you can see five of the eight main islands, more than are visible from anywhere else in Hawaii). Two entrances, one from Highway 36 and one from Highway 37, go to separate parts of the park.

Wainapanapa State Park has black sand beach, sea arch, sea caves, a small blowhole to see. In Hana at end of Wai‘anapanapa Road off Hana Highway (Highway 360), 52.8 miles (85 km) (3 hour drive) east of Kahului Airport.

Iao Valley State Monument is very green. You can climb up 0.6 miles (1 km) on paved trail to a view of the ocean, Iao Needle, etc. or climb down to a garden, stream, etc. From Kahului go west on ‘Iao Valley Road (Highway 32) through Wailuku to the end of the road.

As one would expect from a tourist mecca like Maui, there are several areas to find good shopping. Also as one would expect, the prices can be quite inflated. ABC Stores can be found all over Maui and the other Hawaian Islands and offer souvenirs and beach junk (such as sunscreen and straw mats) at potentially lower prices than tourist traps. In Lahaina, a good place to "walk the shops", find Old Lahaina Book Emporium. Kaanapali has Whaler's Village Shops and Restaurants, home to lots of stores and restaurants, including plenty of high-end merchandise such as Coach and Tiffany. Paia is a small artist and aging hippie colony with a reasonable and varied mix of shops and galleries worth your time, as well as restaurants. It is just before Mama's Fishhouse Restaurant. A nice open air mall can be found in the Wailea luxury area. On the way you can stop by Kihei at one of two flea market type shopping areas. Makawao town in Upcountry Maui is hidden gem of a place to shop. Mom and pop stores, boutiques, art galleries, good restaurants and an outdoor market.

Check the Eat section on the pages for the various towns listed under Cities above

Fresh produce is widely available at farmer's markets and road side stands. Banana bread, coconut candy, smoothies and seasonal fruit are all highlights of a drive around Maui.

Check the Drink section on the pages for the various towns listed under Cities above. Also consider the bars at the hotels and resorts, which may have happy hour specials.

Before choosing an accommodation consider where you would like to spend your time. Also consider whether a hotel, resort, condominium or bed-and-breakfast best match your style and budget. Then check the Sleep section for the many towns on the island under Cities above.

In general, the largest and most expensive resorts and hotels are concentrated in two areas, Lahaina-Kaanapali and Kihei-Wailea. Both areas are on the western shore of the island, sheltered from the moisture-bearing trade winds.

While quite rare, there are a few cases of rat lungworm disease on Maui and the Big Island. This is an extremely serious parasitic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, and can be fatal. Despite the name, very few, if any, victims acquire the disease directly from rats. Most often, it's food poisoning from uncooked or under-cooked snails, slugs, crabs, shrimp, or frogs. If you have a taste for these types of foods, make certain they are properly cooked and that produce such as lettuce (which attracts snails and slugs) is thoroughly washed.

Getting from Maui to the other Hawaiian Islands usually involves a short plane flight. If you want to go to Honolulu you will find frequent non-stop service. Most other destinations offer a couple of non-stop flights a day or a stop in, you got it, Honolulu.

Ferries run 5 times a day between Lahaina and the island of Lanai. Each way takes approximately 45 minutes, and costs $25 per person per direction. During high winds the boat ride can be particularly rough, so bring something for seasickness if you don't do well on boats. Cruise ships are also an interesting option.

When leaving Maui for the U.S. Mainland, all baggage must be inspected by U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airport. Fresh fruits (with the exception of pineapples and treated papayas) are prohibited from leaving the islands to prevent the spread of fruit flies. Consult the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more details. Bags are inspected by X-ray. At Kahului Airport, be prepared to submit to three checkpoints on the way to your Mainland flight: having your checked bags X-rayed for agricultural items in the ticket lobby, the TSA security checkpoint, and inspection of your carry-on baggage for agricultural items on the way to your gate.