Last updated on April 9th, 2024
Keawakapu Beach, Kihei Beaches
Visit Maui – Beaches
The beaches at Kihei are beautiful and a popular destination for winter visitors when they visit Maui. Although hotels aren’t as common, condos for rent are easily found. Many condos cater to tourists with ocean view and waterfront units. This area of Maui has a good selection of restaurants. A rental car is necessary to enjoy this area.
Ka’anapali has great beaches and a large selection of major hotels. The majority of tourists tend to concentrate in Ka’anapali. The beaches and the views are fabulous. Prices tend to be higher than in Kihei, because the accommodation is more luxurious.
Lahaina Coastline
Visit Maui – Lahaina
Lahaina is a great place to simply stroll the main street shops and waterfront. That’s what most tourists do in Lahaina. If you’re hoping for a waterfront view for lunch, starting trying to book in by 11 as it gets very busy. On a rainy, windy day on Maui, Lahaina can remain relatively sheltered, calm and dry. The banyan tree planted by William Owen Smith in 1873, takes up the entire central square. A short walk out of the downtown area brings you to the Lahaina Jodo Mission and its Buddhist temple. You can find some nice beaches in Lahaina, but they aren’t as impressive as Kihei and Ka’anapali.
Jodo Mission, Lahaina
Haleakela Crater
Haleakela Crater is a dormant volcano extending from sea level to just under 10,000 feet. Buses and car drive on pavement all the way up to the rim of the crater. Most days by noon, Haleakala Crater will be shrouded in clouds, but at the summit you are often above the clouds. The crater is a moonscape that is unlike anything else on Maui. Haleakela Downhill Bike Ride tours will drive you up the crater and then you can bike down. The 15 mph switchbacks for nearly an hour make for an exciting bike ride down. For cars, the route is quite tedious.
Iao Valley State Park, Visit Maui
Maui Value Pass
Combine a visit to all these attractions with a Maui Value Pass:
- Atlantis Maui Submarine Adventure
- Maui Ocean Center
- Maui Tropical Plantation
- Bailey House Museum
Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali
Visit Maui – Hotels
Hale Kai O’Kihei 219 – Kihei
Royal Lahaina Resort – Lahaina – cottages and a hotel tower
Westin Maui Resort & Spa – Ka’anapali
Castle Kamaole Sands – Kihei
Haleakela Volcano Crater, Visit Maui
Maui Ocean Center & Iao Needle
With a rental car, you can visit the Maui Ocean Center and the Iao Needle on the same day. The Maui Ocean Center is fabulous. The outdoor pools full of tropical fish are an interesting twist for viewing tropical fish. The walk through underwater glass tunnels surrounded by shark invested waters are great. Check out the turtle pool too.
The Iao Valley State Park is about a 20 minute drive from the Maui Ocean Center. The Iao Valley has lush vegetation from the clouds that get trapped along the hills. The Hawaii Nature Center has interactive exhibits and you get excellent views of the 1,200 pinnacle peak called the Iao Needle. Come early in the day before the clouds build up over the Iao Needle.
Iao Needle, Iao Valley State Park
Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is a popular drive, but you need to be ready for the twisty turning road. The Road to Hana has more than 30 miles of slow travel through more than 600 curves and switchbacks. You cross 46 one lane bridges. If you get motion sickness, the Road to Hana is not for you. Ocean views are extremely rare along the route. Clouds tend to back up against the Haleakela volcano, creating lush rain forest cross cut by gullies and streams. Along the way, many people have set up lean-tos or sheds in their yards to sell food to tourists. When you finally get to Hana, you are left wondering where the town actually is. Don’t miss the black sand beach, red sand beach, the lava tube, the caverns and Lindbergh’s grave if you make this driving adventure.
Road to Hana
Maui Weather
Maui weather is consistently comfortable all year. In the summer months from June – October Maui weather has average highs around 88 F (31 C) and average lows are about 70 F (21 C). In January and February, average highs are about 81 F (27 C) and lows are roughly 63 F (17 C). The summer months are dry. From October – March about 2 inches (60 mm) of rain falls each month. Summer is a popular vacation time in Maui for locals, but winter is when the tourist season peaks.
Kahului Harbor
Get to Maui
Most people get to Maui on several major airlines that fly direct to Kahului Airport (OGG). Many airlines schedule direct flights from US cities during the winter months. There are also regular scheduled daily flights from between other Hawaiian islands on Hawaiian Airlines.
Maui Ocean Center, Outdoor Pools
A rental car is a good option during a visit. From the airport it’s about 20 minutes to Kihei, 35 minutes to Lahaina and 45 minutes to Ka’anapali. Cruise ships typically tender offshore at Lahaina, but occasionally use the port at Kahului. Only a small portion of visitors get to Maui by cruise ship.
Visit Maui – Background
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian Island, after the Big Island. Around 150,000 people live there, but annual visitors exceed 2 million. In comparison to the desert landscape of Big Island, the vegetation in Maui is tropical. Maui has long been a popular choice for vacation home building by celebrities. Most tourists stay around Ka’anapali, Kihei or Lahaina.
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