Maui Island

"The Valley Isle": watch the sunrise from Haleakala crater, drive the Road to Hana through rainforest and waterfalls, and go whale watching for humpbacks in winter.

Maui is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, with an area of about 1,880 square kilometers. It was formed by two volcanic masses, the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala on the east, joined by a central isthmus, and is called "The Valley Isle" for its many valleys. It is warm all year, with coastal temperatures mostly between 24 and 30°C; December–April is humpback whale season and also the big-wave season on the North Shore; May–October is drier, with calm seas suited to snorkeling. The island is divided into five areas: West Maui (Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua resort beaches and Honolua Bay); Central Maui (Kahului Airport, Iao Valley, Maalaea Harbor); South Maui (Kihei, Wailea and Makena beaches, and boat trips to Molokini crater); Upcountry Maui (Haleakala National Park, Kula lavender farm and the ranch towns); and East Maui (the waterfalls, black-sand beach and town of Hana along the Road to Hana). Getting there: Kahului Airport (OGG) has direct flights from the US mainland; from China you typically connect via Honolulu or the US West Coast, and a US visa is required. Public transport on the island is limited, so we recommend renting a car. We suggest staying 4–6 days. Notes: wildfires in August 2023 devastated the historic district of Lahaina, and rebuilding is still under way, so please follow local arrangements on which areas are open. Popular spots such as Haleakala sunrise, Iao Valley and Waianapanapa require advance online reservations. Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and similar ingredients, so use reef-friendly products when you enter the water, and keep your distance from sea turtles and monk seals.

Top sights

• Haleakalā National Park (Summit Sunrise) – A 3,055-meter “House of the Sun” where you can watch the sunrise above the clouds, peer into a Mars-like volcanic crater, and stargaze from…
• Kāʻanapali Beach & Black Rock – A resort beach stretching about 5 km along west Maui. Snorkel with sea turtles below Black Rock at the north end, and watch the nightly tor…
• Molokini Crater – A crescent-shaped, partly submerged crater off the south coast of Maui. Clear water and abundant fish inside a marine protected area make i…
• Road to Hana (Hana Highway) – The classic drive along Maui’s northeast coast, with over 600 curves and more than 50 single-lane bridges, and waterfalls, rainforest and b…
• Lahaina & Banyan Court – Former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and a whaling-era port, now rebuilding after the 2023 wildfire. The 150-year-old banyan tree has s…
• ʻĪao Valley State Monument – A deep valley wrapped in rainforest, where the ʻĪao Needle, a vegetation-covered volcanic spire about 370 meters tall, rises from the valle…
• Waiʻānapanapa State Park – A black volcanic sand beach near the end of the Hana Highway, with lava caves, sea arches and freshwater caves. It is the most photogenic s…
• Kapalua Bay – A crescent-shaped white-sand bay framed by lava headlands, with calm waves and clear water. Once rated the best beach in the United States…
• Māʻalaea Bay Whale Watching – Every winter, more than ten thousand humpback whales migrate south from Alaska to breed, and Māʻalaea Harbor is Maui's main departure point…
• Maui Ocean Center – An aquarium focused on Hawaiian marine life, featuring a walk-through shark tunnel and an immersive humpback whale exhibit.
• Honolua Bay – A marine life conservation area at the northern tip of West Maui, a snorkeling haven in summer and a site of world-class surf swells in win…
• Nakalele Blowhole – A natural blowhole on the lava coast at the northern tip of West Maui, where incoming waves can shoot water dozens of meters into the air.
• Waiheʻe Ridge Trail – A popular hiking trail in the West Maui Mountains, about 6.4 km round trip, offering views along the ridge of waterfalls in deep valleys an…
• Hoʻokipa Beach Park – A world-famous windsurfing spot where groups of green sea turtles often haul out to bask in the late afternoon, and a clifftop lookout offe…
• Pāʻia – A laid-back, hippie-style former plantation town on the north shore, lined with surf shops, galleries and cafés, and the last stop for supp…
• Mama's Fish House – A legendary seafood restaurant set among coconut palms on a north shore cove, where the menu names the fisherman who caught each fish and w…
• Big Beach (Mākena State Park) – The longest and widest golden-sand beach in South Maui, about 1.5 km long and undeveloped, with the Pu'u Ola'i cinder cone rising behind it.
• Wailea Beach & Beach Path – A golden-sand beach in South Maui's upscale resort area, where a roughly 2.5 km coastal path links many luxury hotels, and you can spot wha…
• ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu & La Perouse Bay – A barren coastline formed by the youngest lava flow on Maui, with black lava running straight into the sea, and abundant coral and fish ben…
• Pools of ʻOheʻo & Pipiwai Trail – The coastal section of Haleakalā National Park, where stacked waterfall pools and a bamboo forest trail lead to Waimoku Falls, about 120 me…
• Hāna – A quiet town at the end of the Hana Highway that keeps the easygoing rhythm of old Hawaii, and a base for overnight stays and supplies on E…
• Hamoa Beach – A crescent-shaped grey-white sand beach just south of Hāna town, backed by cliffs and palm trees, and hailed as one of the most beautiful b…
• Twin Falls – A farm waterfall near the start of the Hana Highway, about a 20-minute walk to the pools below, with fruit stands and a farm shop.
• Keʻanae Peninsula – A flat lava peninsula along the Hana Highway, where taro fields, a 19th-century stone church and crashing waves make up a classic scene of…
• Makawao – An upcountry Maui paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town, with wooden storefronts lined with galleries and boutiques, and an old bakery whose cream…
• Aliʻi Kula Lavender – A lavender farm on the slopes of Haleakalā at about 1,200 meters, offering views over the mountains of Central and West Maui.
• MauiWine at ʻUlupalakua Ranch – A historic ranch winery on the south slope of Haleakalā, where you can taste distinctive wines made from pineapple and local grapes.

Where to eat

• Mama's Fish House – A famous North Shore oceanfront seafood restaurant opened in 1973, featuring a menu that names the fishermen and catch…
• Tin Roof Maui – A takeout-only joint opened by "Top Chef" alumnus Sheldon Simeon, where the Mochiko Chicken bowl is the top seller.
• Sam Sato's – A Wailuku institution founded in 1933, famous for its dry noodles and manju that locals have loved for generations.
• Star Noodle – A popular Lahaina spot famous for fresh house-made noodles and shareable plates, now relocated from the industrial area…
• Merriman's Kapalua – A farm-to-table restaurant on the Kapalua point, renowned for its sunset ocean views and Hawaiian tuna dishes.
• Paia Fish Market – A counter-service seafood spot in the heart of Paia town, where fish tacos and fresh fish plates are a popular lunch ch…

Itineraries

• Maui & Lanai: Road to Hana & Island Escape – Drive Maui's volcanic sunrise and the Road to Hana, then take the ferry to Lanai for a two-night stay.
• Hawaii Three-Island Tour: Oahu, Maui & Big Island – Fly into Honolulu and out of Kona, connecting the main highlights of three islands with two inter-island flights.