The magical island of Maui in the Hawaiian Archipelago
Maui Island is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, but it's probably the number one vacation and travel destination in the archipelago. The island features stunning volcanic landscapes in its eastern part and legendary beaches along the western coast. The Kaanapali and Napili beaches in the west are among the most attractive family vacation spots in Hawaii. The secluded beaches along the Wailea coastline offer the most luxurious vacation experiences in Hawaii, with deluxe five-star resorts. The eastern part of the island is dominated by the Haleakalā National Park, on the summit of a volcano. This is one of the most beautiful volcanic natural destinations in all of Hawaii and the top spot in the United States for astronomy enthusiasts.
How many days are needed for a trip to Maui?
For a trip on Maui Island itself, you should dedicate at least two full days. For a vacation on Maui, dedicate as many days as you can, because it's truly one of the most attractive vacation spots in the world.
Maui is one of the most famous and top-notch vacation spots globally, featuring luxurious resorts on Wailea's beaches and family-friendly getaways on Ka'anapali's shores.
Click here for a list of 10 dream resorts in Maui…
Click here to check availability and prices at Wailea's luxury resorts in Maui…
Click here to check availability and prices for vacations at Ka'anapali Beach resorts in Maui…
10 Must-See and Do Activities in Maui
- Explore the caldera and stargaze at Haleakalā National Park
- Enjoy luxury retreats and stunning beaches at Wailea Beach and Makena Beach State Park
- Take a dreamy road trip on the Hana Highway
- Discover the waterfalls and pools at 'Ohe'o Gulch – the Seven Sacred Pools
- Snap a selfie with the water spray at Nakalele Blowhole
- Family vacation with kids at Napili Bay Beach and Ka'anapali Beach
- Underground adventure in the Hana Lava Tube
- Diving in the crater of Molokini Island
- Cultivated tropical nature at the Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden
- Sailing to the island of Molokai
Click here for the complete travel guide to the Hawaiian Islands…
Click here for a traditional luau ceremony at the fabulous Marriott resort on Wailea Beach…
Click here to check availability and prices at the excellent hotels and resorts on Maui Island…
What is the island of Maui?
Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago after the Big Island, Hawaii. It covers almost 2000 square km, about a fifth of the size of the Big Island located to its south.
- The island is the largest of the four islands that make up Maui County, which also includes Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoʻolawe
- The four islands are the peaks of a giant volcano submerged under the ocean waters. The volcano last erupted twenty thousand years ago.
- The summit of the submerged volcano is the Haleakalā ridge in southern Maui. The mountain's peak rises just over 3,000 meters above sea level. The submerged part of the mountain plunges to a depth of 5,000 meters, making the volcano more than 8,000 meters tall, one of the largest volcanoes in the world (the largest is Mauna Loa in southern Big Island Hawaii, 50 km south by air from the ridge).
- On the northern slopes of the ridge, there's a fertile valley and in the western part of the island, another ridge, the West Maui Mountains.
Click here for a cruise from Maui to Lanai Island for a snorkeling and dolphin swimming experience…
Maui is almost the sole settlement in the county, with about 165,000 residents living on the island, while the other islands are sparsely populated (the largest and most populated of the three is Molokai, where only about eight thousand people reside).
- On the island, there are a few small towns, the largest of which is Kahului, home to about thirty thousand people. Kahului is the transportation hub of the island and houses the international airport.
- The other towns, Kihei and Kaanapali, are the tourist centers of the island. Near these small towns' beaches, there are resorts right next to breathtakingly beautiful beaches.
- Besides tourism, the island has developed agriculture, mainly focused on growing sugar cane, large pineapple fields, and cattle grazing areas.
Click here for a tour and pineapple picking at a farm in Maui…
Map of the island of Maui
How to get to Maui?
How to fly to Maui?
Kahului Airport (OGG) – The main airport of Maui island is secondary to the Hawaiian Islands. It is located adjacent to the city of Kahului, just an eight-minute drive east from the center. This airport serves tourist traffic to the island and is well connected to other airports in the islands and the major airports on the West Coast of the United States, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and more.
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Everything You Need to Know About Lodging and Hotels in Maui
Maui is one of the most attractive and luxurious vacation destinations in Hawaii. The island receives a large number of tourists every year, mainly coming to the wonderful resorts near the paradise beaches on the island's western coast. The resorts and vacations on the island are split roughly into three:
- Luxury resorts on the beaches of Wailea, south of the city of Kihei
- Family resorts on the beaches of Kaanapali, north of the city of Lahaina
- Small hotels with an urban vibe in Kahului
Click here to check availability and prices at Wailea's luxury resorts…
Click here to check availability and prices for resorts on the beaches of Kaanapali…
On the beaches of Wailea, from Kihei in the north to the Makena State Park, one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii, you can find an endless list of ultra-luxurious resorts. Along the coast, there are vacation villages from all the luxury chains, including Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, and more.
These are unique and especially indulgent hotels considered the best of the best in terms of resorts for vacations throughout the USA. The resorts have sandy beach access in paradise-like coves, giant pools, exquisite spa facilities, and fine dining. The hotels are designed as vacation villages with bungalows of high-quality construction in a wide variety of sizes.
Click here for a list of 10 excellent resorts for a romantic or family vacation in Maui…
The beaches of Ka'anapali and Napili on the westernmost part of the island are a great vacation spot for the whole family. These are wonderful resorts with three and four-star ratings, some built like vacation villages and others as large beach hotels. Unlike the Wailea coastline, both beaches feature a continuous and long shoreline that stretches along the resorts.
Click here to check availability and prices at the hotels on the island of Maui…
Map of Recommended Accommodation Areas in Maui
How to Plan a Travel Itinerary on the Island of Maui and the Neighboring Volcanic Islands?
If you're coming to Maui for a vacation, it's a good idea to spend most of your time staying at the resorts. This is mainly because Maui is one of the most expensive vacation spots in the USA. If you want to explore the island, it’s advisable to rent a car and reach some of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in all of Hawaii.
- The main travel destination on the island is the Haleakalā Volcano and the surrounding national park
- The northern part of the park is Highway 378 – the Haleakalā Highway, climbing right up to the summit of the mountain. From there, enjoy breathtaking views of the massive caldera and the stars. From the road, you can descend to hiking trails within the caldera.
- The southern part of the park is accessible via the Hana Highway, a stunning road that descends south from the island's capital, Kahului, towards the town of Hana and on to the southern section of the park. Along the highway are natural sites like the Garden of Eden arboretum, the Hana Lava Tube, the Kipahulu Valley Biological Preserve, and the spectacular sacred site of Ohe'o Gulch – the Seven Sacred Pools.
For a guided tour departing from Hana along the southern coast to the black sand beach, click here…
The trip in the northwestern part of the island includes relaxation and exploration at Napili Bay Beach and Kaanapali Beach, the family-friendly resort area of the island, and the unique Nakalele Blowhole at the northern tip of the island.
A blend of travel and luxury relaxation can also be enjoyed at Wailea Beach, including a visit to Makena Beach State Park just south of it and a cruise and dive in the Molokini Crater.
Click here to embark on a boat cruise and dive into the waters of Molokini Island's crater…
Everything to See and Do in Maui
Kahului
The city of Kahului is the largest among the towns on the island of Maui and serves as the financial and transportation hub of the magical island. The city houses about twenty thousand residents and is situated midway between the developed resort areas of Kaanapali Beach on the island's west and the town of Hana, which is the gateway to breathtaking natural sites in the eastern and southern section of the island.
In the small city, there are several attractions such as the popular Maui Swap Meet flea market favored by tourists and the large Queen Ka'ahumanu Center mall. Near the city is the island's main airport.
Click here for the big waterfall tour of natural sites and canyons near Kahului…
Iao Valley State Monument
The magnificent tropical Iao Valley Park is located about a ten-minute drive west up the ridge from Kahului. The park features a series of hiking trails amidst the stunning mountain scenery. From the trails, you can see The Needles, giant vegetation-covered boulders that rise 400 meters above the ground. The main trail in the park is the Iao Needle Lookout Trail, which is one kilometer long and leads up to the lookout point over The Needles.
Maui Ocean Center
The Maui Island aquarium is situated at the western edge of Maalaea Bay along the island’s west coast. It’s one of the perfect spots to enjoy with kids if a rain shower catches you during your island vacation. The aquarium features a fascinating display of all the marine and amphibious life of the Hawaiian Islands and the tropical expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
Address: Maalaea Rd. 192, Wailuku
To purchase online tickets for Maui's Ocean Center, click here…
For the latest operating hours of the aquarium and costs, click here…
The Hana Highway
The Hana Highway is a must-take road trip when visiting Hawaii. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the United States, featuring breathtaking ocean views along the southern and eastern slopes of the Haleakalā volcano. This is a very narrow and slow road that allows you to dive into the essence of Hawaii. The road heads south from Kahului towards the town of Hana. The drive time from the island's main city to the town at the eastern end of the island is about two hours.
From Hana, the road heads south along the coastline, down the slopes of the volcano to the village of Kaupo. The road runs through tropical forests, over ancient stone bridges above streams, pools, and waterfalls, and in stunning sections above the sea where basalt boulders formed from the hardening lava that flowed from the volcano thousands of years ago.
Along the road, there are plenty of stopping places:
- The rare beauty of Waianapanapa State Park just north of Hana
- Koki Beach Park
- The charming Hamoa Beach
- Waioka Pond (Venus Pool)
- Wailua Falls
- Ohe'o Gulch site
- The trails and sites of the Kipahulu Forest Reserve within the Haleakala National Park
Click here for a half-day guided tour of the waterfalls and nature reserves of Maui Island…
Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden
The Garden of Eden Botanical Garden is located right in the middle of the Hana Highway, halfway between Kahului and Hana, about an hour's drive from either city. It is a spectacular botanical garden trying to live up to its ambitious name. It’s a breathtaking piece of tropical nature transformed into a catalog of unique tropical plants. Next to the park are the impressive Nu'uenle'e Waterfalls.
Hana Lava Tube
The volcanic area on the eastern slopes of Haleakalā, along the Hana Highway, is filled with small, beautiful natural sites. Just a ten-minute drive from the popular Black Sand Beach, you’ll find the dormant lava tube, offering an underground walking adventure along a path down the tube. The accessible trail inside the tube is about 700 meters long.
Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā National Park is the northern extension of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It stretches along the slopes of the Haleakalā volcano. The unique feature of the volcano is its enormous caldera, which is over 11 kilometers long, more than three kilometers wide, and nearly a kilometer deep. Inside the crater, there's a series of volcanic cones (lava exit tubes) that are symbols of the state of Hawaii. The slopes surrounding the caldera were declared a national park in 1916 as part of Hawaii Volcanoes Park. In 1961, the two park sections were split into two official national parks.
The park is bustling around the clock. It's considered one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation due to the clear atmosphere above the summit. Route 378 is quite busy during the night hours with visitors coming especially to see the sunset from the peak and returning in the evening towards Hana, as well as early in the morning, when people climb the summit to watch the sunrise.
The park is divided into two sections:
- Route 378 (Haleakalā Highway) that runs along the western slopes of the caldera
- The Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve on the eastern slopes of the mountain
Click here for a guided daily tour of the national park and other sites in Maui…
The Haleakalā Highway
Route 378 offers an especially breathtaking driving experience and a high climb towards the summit of the mountain. It's one of the most scenic routes in all of the USA. Along the road, there is a visitor center. On the way, there are stops at designated lookout points:
- Leleiwi Overlook
- Kalahaku Overlook
- Pa Ka'oao lookout near the visitor center
The viewpoints are situated on the edge of the western rim of the massive caldera. The road continues up from the visitor center to an observation deck right at the mountain peak where you can park. The road finishes at the Haleakala Observatory, belonging to the University of Hawaii, not far from the summit.
Hiking Trails in the Caldera of Haleakala National Park
Keonehe'ehe'e Trail or Sliding Sands Trail descends from the visitor center into the caldera and runs along the path down the slopes of the southern rim. This is a long hiking trail that requires an overnight stay in the caldera, so you need to bring camping gear or stay at the park's cabins in the caldera (advance registration is necessary). Halemau'u Trail is another long trail descending into the caldera from the north.
Both trails lead to the center of the caldera, where the stunning cones are a sight to behold. Hiking in the caldera is among the most beautiful and unique hiking destinations in the entire USA, and it's packed with hikers (even though the trails are quite long). Make sure to gear up well for the hike, including camping gear, food, and drinks. At the summit, it can get really cold at night, and during the day, the sun beats down with little shade.
Kipahulu
The Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve is part of the national park, but it's a completely separate section from Highway 378. Access to the reserve's vicinity is via the Hana Highway or Route 360, Maui's legendary road that runs along the island's southern coastline on the southern slopes of the volcano. The reserve is true to its name and is closed to the public, but you can hike on breathtaking trails along its slopes.
The Kaupo Trail climbs from the village of Kaupo on the coast to the western part of the reserve. The trail continues onto what's called the Kaupo Gap Trail, a particularly challenging path that ascends to the caldera of the Haleakalā volcano from the south and connects to the hiking trails of the caldera. Another popular hiking trail is the Pipiwai Trail which climbs to Waimoku Falls.
Ohe'o Gulch – The Seven Sacred Pools in South Maui
The stunning site of the Seven Sacred Pools is technically still part of Haleakalā National Park. South of the Kipahulu reserve, which is part of the park, near the Kipahulu Visitor Center, begins the Kuloa Point Trail, an 8-kilometer circular path that runs along the sacred pools from the west to the seashore. From the trail, you can see the charming pools and the waterfalls that feed them along the gorge. It's one of the most beautiful and popular hiking trails in all of Hawaii.
The Resort and Nature Beaches of Maui
Napili Bay Beach and Ka'anapali Beach
North of the small town of Lahaina on the western coastline of Maui are resort beaches considered among the most attractive for family vacations in all of Hawaii. Ka'anapali Beach to the south and Napili Bay Beach to the north are simply stunning beaches with large resorts behind them. These beaches are perfect for snorkeling, lounging, and enjoying the resort pools. The beaches have wide sandy areas, towering palm trees in the background, and a paradise-like feel.
North of Napili Beach is Kapalua Bay Beach, along which stretches the Kapalua Coastal Trail, a path running between the beachfront resorts and the beach itself. Once a popular hiking trail, it is now absorbed by the tourist development of the coastline.
Nakalele Blowhole
At the northernmost point of Maui lies the stunning Nakalele coastline, just a half-hour drive from the Napili Bay beach resorts. This is where you'll find the seaside blowhole that has become a tourist attraction. Thanks to the currents and waves, the hole in the ground shoots seawater high up, and all the tourists around try to capture the spray with their cameras. The hole is accessible by a short walk from Highway 340.
Wailea Beach and Makena Beach State Park
The beaches south of the town of Kihei, along the western coastline of the south island, are also a stunning expanse of recreation and nature. The resort beaches of Wailea stretch south of Kihei in a section known as the Kama'ole Beach Parks along rare sandy coves beside luxury resorts. This is the most exclusive area on the island of Maui and one of the most luxurious holiday destinations in all the USA. The resort strip extends to the Makena Beach State Park, one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Maui.
Click here for a traditional Luau at Gilligan's Island (Grill Restaurant in Kihei)…
Ho'okipa Beach Park
Ho'okipa Beach Park, Maui – A dreamy strip of beach just a twenty-minute drive from Kahului towards Hana. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Maui (and the competition is definitely tough), and a very popular spot for surfers. The beach is one of the most photographed places in Maui, especially from the lookout on its eastern side, the Ho'okipa Lookout.
Molokini Crater
The Molokini Crater is one of the most spectacular geological formations in Hawaii. What is now technically a small, uninhabited, banana-shaped islet located three kilometers from the Makena Beach Reserve on Maui's western coast is actually a submerged caldera of a volcanic ridge, the island essentially being its peak.
For a snorkeling adventure at Molokini Crater (catamaran cruise from Maui), click here…
The underwater ridge stretches from the island of Kaho‘olawe to the island of Maui. The crater reveals the volcanic secrets of the island's formation and is a very popular destination for sailing from Maui. Within the underwater caldera, there is a developed coral reef, which is a popular spot for snorkeling from boats.
The Island of Molokai
Molokai Island is located three kilometers west of the island of Maui's tip and north of the small island of Lanai. It is the fifth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and administratively belongs to Maui County. The island spans around 670 square kilometers and is home to approximately 8,000 residents. The elongated island is divided between two volcanic ridges – the East Molokai Volcano and the West Molokai Volcano.
The island has almost no roads and settlements. Most of the residents live in the town of Kaunakakai on the southern coastline of the island.
The island is home to the Oloʻupena Fall, which is almost inaccessible. Its height is over 900 meters, making it the tallest waterfall in the United States and the fourth tallest in the world. The waterfall is located in the northern part of the island on the slopes of the eastern Molokai Range.
The island is not overly touristy and can be reached by ferry from Maui. The main attractions in Molokai are:
- Papohaku Beach – A stunning paradise beach on the western coast of the island
- The waterfalls of Halawa Valley at the eastern end of the island
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park in the north of the island, featuring remains of ancient Polynesian settlements
