The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727.2 square miles and is the 17th largest island in the United States.
13 pictures of Maui from guille pozzi, Natasha Miller, Anton Repponen and other travelers
To get to Maui, fly into the Kahului Airport (OGG), which is the main airport on the island. Direct flights are available from major cities in the United States and Canada. Alternatively, you can fly into Honolulu on Oahu and take a short connecting flight to Maui.
It is recommended to book certain activities in advance, such as the famous Road to Hana guided tours, whale watching tours (during the season from December to April), and the sunrise experience at Haleakalā National Park. Popular luaus, like the Old Lahaina Luau and Wailele Polynesian Luau, should also be booked in advance, as they tend to sell out.
Costs in Maui can be quite high, as it is a popular tourist destination. Expect to pay around $150-$250 per night for mid-range accommodations, and $5-$15 for meals at casual restaurants. Car rentals are a popular option to explore the island and can cost around $40-$60 per day. Activities such as guided tours, snorkeling excursions, and luaus can range from $50-$150 per person.
The best things to do in Maui include driving the scenic Road to Hana, watching the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park, snorkeling at Molokini Crater, attending a traditional Hawaiian luau, and exploring the historic town of Lahaina.
For great dining experiences, try Mama's Fish House for fresh seafood, Star Noodle for Asian fusion cuisine, and The Gazebo for amazing breakfast options with an ocean view.
Recommended places to stay in Maui include the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, which offers a great beachfront location and a unique cultural experience, the Fairmont Kea Lani for a luxury stay in Wailea, and the Napili Kai Beach Resort for a more secluded and tranquil experience.
Off the beaten path:
For an unusual travel experience on Maui, consider visiting the Wai'anapanapa State Park, located along the Road to Hana. This park features a striking black sand beach, a blowhole, and a lava tube, offering a unique landscape to explore. Additionally, take a guided hike to the lesser-known Waimoku Falls in the Kipahulu area of Haleakalā National Park. This 4-mile round trip hike takes you through a bamboo forest and ends with a stunning 400-foot waterfall.
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The Haleakalā Observatory, also known as the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site, is Hawaii's first astronomical research observatory.
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Visit Maui’s famous snorkeling and diving destinations Molokini Crater and Turtle Town (or Coral Gardens) on a snorkeling catamaran! Molokini is an extinct volcanic cone and the snorkeling visibility is usually 100 feet or more! Many different species of marine life live within Molokini. Green sea turtles, fish, urchins, harmless sharks, manta rays and coral surrounded by crystal clear water all year around make Molokini a must do on your vacation activity list. This boat tour is on all tourist must see lists, and it's one of Maui's favorite activities. This is also one of Maui's most family-friendly activities.
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Haleakalā, or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai, also referred to as the West Maui Mountains.
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Our lead boat, Kaulana, is the largest, most UNCROWDED whale watching boat on Maui! We offer each guest plenty of room to roam around, for the very best view of Maui's humpback whales. Our big, spacious boat and can follow the whales in comfort, no matter where they roam, throughout the Humpback Whale Sanctuary. This is the SAFEST and MOST COMFORTABLE way to experience up-close whale encounters. Every 2 hour trip includes LIVE NARRATION from one of our whale experts, and conveniently departs from Lahaina Harbor, close by to all West Maui resorts. Hawaii Ocean Project is Maui's premier supporter for WHALE RESEARCH, giving back to legitimate organizations that help both the humpbacks and all marine wildlife. Experience the thrill of Maui whale-watching. This educational and informative adventure is great fun for the entire family and offers spectacular sightseeing and photo opportunities. Your whale watch cruise comes with a whale sighting GO-AGAIN-FREE-GUARANTEE!
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Peʻahi is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws.
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Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum is located in the small sugarcane growing and milling community of Puʻunene, Hawaii, Kahului, Maui.
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The Hāna Highway is a 64.4-mile long stretch of spectacular views of rainforest, waterfalls, beaches and coastline. On the east after Kalepa Bridge, the highway continues to Kīpahulu on the Piilani Highway. Although Hāna is only about 52 miles from Kahului, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive when no stops are made as the highway is very winding and narrow and passes over 59 bridges, 46 of which are only one lane wide. There are approximately 620 curves along Route 360 from just east of Kahului to Hāna, virtually all of it through lush, tropical rainforest. Many of the concrete and steel bridges date back to 1910 and all but one are still in use. This full-day trip to the Hana coast has the best scenic drive along the shorelines of Maui.
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The Hana Highway is a 64.4-mile-long stretch of Hawaii Routes 36 and 360 which connects Kahului to the town of Hana in east Maui. To the east of Kalepa Bridge, the highway continues to Kipahulu as Hawaii Route 31.
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Hoʻokipa is a beach on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii, United States, perhaps the most renowned windsurfing site in the world.
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Eye-level whale encounters onboard our low-to-water small group adventure rafts! Native Hawaiian owned and voted TripAdvisors Traveler's Choice, Hawaii Ocean Rafting has been Maui’s original ocean rafting experience for more than 30 years. Our small group tours of 16 guests or less make for a fun, family style experience. Although whales are protected in Hawaii and we do not approach them closer than federal regulations, they often approach our small rafts for those up close and eye level whale encounters.
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Haleakalā National Park is an American national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. Named after Haleakalā, a dormant volcano within its boundaries, the park covers an area of 33,265 acres, of which 24,719 acres is a wilderness area.
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Wailea is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 5,938. Prior to 2010, the area was part of the Wailea-Makena census-designated place. The community was developed in 1971 by a partnership of Alexander & Baldwin and Northwestern Mutual.
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Our small group snorkeling tours are locally owned and operated, making you feel like a part of our Maui ohana! Since 1982 we have offered snorkeling trips on our quick and safe rafting vessels to the island of Lanai where we find secret coves, sea cliffs, tropical reef, marine life and dolphins! This trip includes whale watching during whale migration months (December-April). Every ticket supports active marine research and our efforts as part of the whale entanglement response team here on Maui!
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Lahaina is the largest census-designated place in West Maui, Maui County, Hawaii, United States and includes the Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a resident population of 12,702.
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Kihei is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 21,423 at the 2020 census.
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Paia is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States, on the northern coast of the island of Maui. The population was 2,668 at the 2010 census.
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Keoneʻōʻio Bay is located south of the town of Wailea, Hawaii at the end of Mākena Alanui Road at 20°35′54″N 156°25′12″W. The bay's Hawaiian name is Keoneʻōʻio.
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Kula is a district of Maui, Hawaii, that stretches across the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakalā, from Makawao to Kanaio. Most of the residential areas lie between about 500 to 1,100 m in elevation.
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Iao Valley is a lush, stream-cut valley in West Maui, Hawaii, located 3.1 miles west of Wailuku. Because of its natural environment and history, it has become a tourist location. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972.
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Molokini is a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater which forms a small, uninhabited islet located in ʻAlalākeiki Channel between the islands of Maui and Kahoʻolawe, within Maui County in Hawaiʻi.
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Haiku is an unincorporated community in Maui County on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. For United States Census purposes, it is part of the Haiku-Pauwela census-designated place, which also includes Pauwela.
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Lanai is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain. It is colloquially known as the Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation.
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The best way to get to Maui is to fly locally on Hawaiian Airlines.
This airline usually has a daytime schedule to Maui and the earlier you leave, the cheaper the fare. A round trip ticket costs between $110 and $150, plus $25 for an extra bag.
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