A Complete Travel Guide to Maui, Hawaii [2026]

Maui, Hawaii is one of the most popular islands in the Hawaiian chain, known for beaches, scenic drives, resort areas, whale watching, and Haleakalā National Park. You can also read our guides to Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island.

Maui has some of Hawaii’s most beloved beaches, especially along the West Maui and South Maui coasts. Beach conditions can change quickly, so always check surf, wind, and lifeguard guidance before entering the water.

West Maui has long been one of the island’s major resort areas, including Kaʻanapali and Kapalua. After the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, visitors should check current local guidance, respect recovery areas, and support local businesses responsibly.

South Maui is home to the superb Wailea Beach, an affluent neighborhood and world-class golf course area, which is home to some of the most upscale resorts on all of Maui, such as the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Maui, and the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Resort Maui, to name a few.

The best way to visit Maui, Hawaii is to choose to stay at a Maui resort and spend 2 to 3 days on the West Coast of Maui, 2 to 3 days on the South Coast of Maui, 1 day at Haleakala Volcano, and 1 day at Road to Hana.

While staying at the resort, you might consider playing on the beach, swimming in the ocean or pool, snorkeling, watching a Luaus show, going whale watching, and more.

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Maui’s Top Attractions + Activities

The entire island of Maui looks like a lady reclining in the Pacific Ocean. Maui has great highways, and there are very good quality roads along the entire coast of the island.

However, public transportation is not as developed as on Oahu, so renting a car and driving around should be your best bet.

Four main attractions

• West Maui (near Kāʻanapali Beach ): West Maui was the first to be developed, so hotels, restaurants, and entertainment are well-developed, making it a great choice for a relaxing vacation.
• South Maui (Wailea Beach, where the nude beach is located): South Maui is a must-visit destination because of its affluent neighborhoods, world-class golf courses, and the most upscale resorts.
• Road to Hana: A rare glimpse of rainforest and black sand beaches with challenging roads.
• Haleakala Volcano: The world-famous “House of the Sun”, at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, the sunrise from the summit is an absolute must-see.

Three main activity programs

• Whale Watching Tour: Whale watching is a seasonal activity that takes place from December 15 to March 31 every year at Lahaina Harbor on Kāʻanapali Beach.
• Kalua Pig Feast + Luaus: This is a must-see event in Hawaii, where you can immerse yourself in Hawaii’s flavors by eating Hawaiian specialties and watching torchlight performances and other Hawaiian specialties. Maui Luaus performances are often held at major resorts such as the Grand Wailea Luau, Andaz Luau, Sheraton Luau, and Marriott Luau, with specialties such as Kalua Pig, mashed taro, chicken noodle, laulau, and Hawaiian seafood rice bowls.
• Snorkeling: Maui’s blue waters and crystal clear waters make it the perfect place for snorkeling, and Maui’s Half Moon Bay (Molokini Crater) is a great place for snorkeling. In addition to Half Moon Bay, Black Rock, La Perouse, Honolua Bay, Coral Gardens, Ahihi Bay, Kapalua & Napili Bays, Turtle Town, Ulua & Mokapu, and Lana’i Island are also good snorkeling spots. Embarkation is at various harbors around Maui. Snorkeling prices range from $150 to $160 per person, and children three and under are free.

Maui Pre-Trip Information

• What is the best time to go to Maui? Maui has four seasons, so any time of year is the best time to go. If you live in Texas or Arizona, where the summers are hot, then it’s quite nice to go in the summer, or if you live in a city with cold winters like New York or Boston, then consider going in the winter.
• Do you need to rent a car? It’s best to rent a car, Maui’s scenery is truly beautiful, often the sun rises in the east and rains in the west, on one side there is a beautiful ocean view and sunshine, on the other side there are rolling hills, and rain. Just driving around Maui is a worthwhile trip. Also, several of Maui’s must-see attractions are out of the way and require a drive. Note that if you’re staying at a resort, such as Grand Wailea, you’ll also need to cover the cost of Valet Parking.
• Do I need a special visa to go to Hawaii? No, Hawaii is a U.S. territory, and is the same as visiting any other U.S. state.
• What else do I need to prepare for Maui? You will need to download an Apple APP called Shaka Maui, which is about $6 and is used primarily for the Hana Road and Haleakala Volcano tours. The app lists all the important points of interest along the road and tells the driver in real-time when to turn around and stop to view them, making the tour easy and simple. In many places, such as the Road to Hana, your cell phone is likely to have no signal and regular cell phone navigation may not work at all, so this app becomes very necessary.
• It’s best not to forget to bring sunscreen and enjoy the beach to the fullest!

• It’s a good idea to get an upper-body bathing suit; Maui isn’t particularly hot, so the water isn’t particularly warm, and an insulated upper-body bathing suit will keep the water from getting too cold.

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What to expect when you go to Maui

1. Completion of the Plants and Animals Declaration Form

30-60 minutes after landing, the flight attendants will give you a “Plants and Animals Declaration Form”, one for each family, as shown below:

You are required to fill in details of plants, fruits, and animals that you plan to bring into Hawaii to prevent the introduction of certain invasive plant pests and diseases into Hawaii. Please be truthful.

If you don’t finish the fruit you brought with you, just leave it on the airplane so you don’t have to declare it.

There are two sides to this form, the front side is the Plants and Animals Declaration Form, which must be filled out and returned to the flight attendant. The reverse side is a questionnaire, which can be filled in or not.

2. Do not take any fruits or plants from Hawaii.

For the same reason, you can’t take any Hawaiian fruits or plants on the airplane when you leave from Hawaii.

So, even before you go to the Hawaii airport, check your suitcase and bag to make sure you’re not carrying any fruits or plants.

What is the weather like in Maui, Hawaii?

Maui’s weather is seasonal throughout the year, and the temperature distribution for the year is shown below:

• The highest temperatures of the year occur in August, with highs near 30 degrees Celsius and lows around 16 degrees Celsius;
• The coldest days occur in January and February, with maximum temperatures at 21 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures are around 13 degrees Celsius.

We’ve been to Maui in both August and November, and both are swimmable, and it’s still a little chilly when we go in the water in November, so a bathing suit on top is still helpful.

So, all year round is the prime season to visit Maui.

How do I fly directly to Maui (OGG Airport)?

Maui’s airport is called Kahului Airport, Kahului Airport, Airport Code: OGG, and is located on the north side of Maui.

There are direct flights to OGG from many U.S. cities, such as: Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Dallas (DFW), Phoenix (PHX), and Las Vegas (LAS) all have direct flights to Maui.

Direct flight times from US domestic airports to OGG are listed below:

If your city doesn’t have direct flights to Maui, you can fly to Oahu’s airport (HNL) and then connect to Maui, which takes about 30 minutes from Oahu to Maui.

Or you can connect to Los Angeles or Dallas and then fly directly to OGG.

Maui Attractions and Activities in Detail

There are four major sights and three activities on Maui that are not to be missed, and the video below will take you on a quick tour of all four:

Maui West Coast

Maui’s west coast is dominated by three famous beach clusters: Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina Beach, and Kapalua Beach, where it is recommended that you stay for 2 to 3 days.

The main activities here include playing on the beach, snorkeling, enjoying local Hawaiian shows, and more.

Maui’s west coast is home to many famous resorts with great amenities and proximity to the beaches, with views such as:

• Hilton Resort: Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa (highly recommended)
• The Westin Resort:The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
• The Ritz-CarltonResort:The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
• The WestinKa’anapali Ocean Resort Vill as
• Kāʻanapali Alii, a Destination by Hyatt Residence
• Montage Kapalua Bay Resort: Montage Kapalua Bay
• AstonMaui KāʻanapaliVillas

We’ve been to Maui twice, the first time on Thanksgiving and the second time in the summer.

Thanksgiving is not high season and the resorts are all about $400~500/night. Our second visit was in August 2022, and due to inflation as well as high season, the resort prices were up to $800~1000/night.

The Westin Resort would be a bit cheaper in total price comparison, but the Hilton Resort’s beach has a black cliff jumping program, which is a beautiful way to eat dinner at sunset and look at the ocean view with the island and sunset in the distance.

Hilton Maui Resort (Details)

This is the most recommended resort on Maui’s west coast, and the most important features are listed below:

• The beach is especially beautiful and not too crowded
• Sea-view rooms are plentiful and all face the ocean
• The outdoor Lagoon pool is the most beautiful pool on Maui!
• Exclusive Black Cliff Sea Jumping Show
• Complimentary tennis courts at the resort

Here’s what to do at the resort and around it:

1. The most beautiful beaches

The ocean in front of the Hilton Resort is crystal clear, the sand is fine, the waves are not too big, there are very few people and it’s very quiet. So it’s a great place for swimming and snorkeling (snorkeling) and the kids will have a blast.

The beauty of the beach is naturally not to be missed, and it doesn’t matter what camera you use or what level of photographic ability you have, you will be able to capture a beautiful view of the ocean.

2. Black Cliff Sea Jumping Show

The Hilton Resort’s most famous, and most unusual, is the Black Cliff Jumping Show, in which a tribal warrior lights torches in sequence on The Hague at half-past midnight before plunging into the sea, drawing countless rounds of applause.

3. Hawaiian specialty shows

At the Hilton Resort, in the evening, you’ll also be able to enjoy a local Hawaiian specialty, the Luaus show, right on the plaza in front of the hotel, on the beach side of the ocean.

4、Outdoor Lagoon Pool

The Hilton Resort’s outdoor pool is arguably one of the best in Maui.

Its best feature is that the pool is very long and faces the sea, with man-made rockeries and waterfalls, where children can play for half a day.

Westin Resort (Details)

The Westin and Hilton resorts are very close to each other, so the beach views are basically similar.

Inside the resort, you can also see black swans and talking parrots, as well as beautiful early morning views of rolling green hills in the distance, with the sunlight pouring down on the land in lush greenery.

In addition to the Hilton Resorts and Westin Resorts described above, you may also want to consider:

• The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
• The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas
• Kāʻanapali Alii, a Destination by Hyatt Residence
• Montage Kapalua Bay
• Aston Maui Kāʻanapali Villas

These resorts are good choices.

After 2 to 3 days on the West Coast of Maui, you can drive to the South Coast.

You keep driving along Highway 30 and it takes about an hour and a half to drive to the South Coast.

All along the way are beautiful scenery, one side of the rolling green hills, the other side of the vast sea; one side of the rain, the other side of the bright sunshine.

Sunrise in the east and rain in the west are expressed here, so rainbows are very common here and double rainbows are a frequent sight.

South Maui – Misplaced Nude Beach

The south side of Maui is the affluent area of Maui with many world-class golf courses and resorts, and the beaches are kept even more pristine.

It is recommended to spend 2-3 days here, the more famous beaches are concentrated in Wailea and Makena.

There are several resorts on South Maui as listed below:

• Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort (Highly Recommended)
• Four Seasons Res ort Maui at Wailea
• Wailea Resort:Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort – A Concept by Hyatt

The most recommended resort on South Maui is the Waldorf Astoria for family fun.

Waldorf Astoria Resort (Details)

Address: 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI 96753

This Grand Wailea is a top choice on South Maui with the following key features:

• The outdoor pool here is arguably one of the best on Maui and is like a water park;
• There are 6 pool slides, one of which is 10 meters long and is a favorite among children;
• The beaches are super beautiful and the water is super clear;
• The resort is very well equipped with over six restaurants, shopping centers, doctors, and car rental companies (Enterprise);
• The room was spacious and the toilet was spacious;
• Complimentary bicycles, and umbrellas for the beach, and lounge chairs;

There are two full days of fun just at the resort, with activities that include: playing on the beach, playing in the water park, and snorkeling.

Note that there is a $65/day Valet Parking fee for parking at Grand Wailea. If you plan to stay at Grand Wailea for a few days, consider renting a car at OGG Airport (Enterprise) and returning it to Grand Wailea. When you arrive at the hotel, simply tell the receptionist to return the car at Enterprise and they will help you return it. This will save you the $65 per day parking fee.

If you need to drive to Road to Hana or Haleakala Volcano halfway, you can rent a car directly from the hotel, it’s very convenient, you’d better book the car in advance, you may not have much choice or it’s very expensive when you finish.

You can get a fuller picture of Grand Wailea in the video below.

Besides Grand Wailea, there are many other resorts to choose from, such as:

• Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
• Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort – A Concept by Hyatt

Several other locations in the Wailea area are worth visiting:

One of the most interesting tidbits of information was the accidental entry to a nude beach called Little Beach, which is located inside Makena State Park, next to Big Beach.

That day, we just wanted to go to the beach park to see the beach, parked the car, and walked a short distance to a beautiful beach called Big Beach, which is the beach in the picture below. That’s when a hill was noticed in the distance and there was a trail hidden behind it while people came and went.

We followed the trail up the hill and soon realized that there was a path leading to another vast beach, so we went along to take a look and suddenly realized that things were not right, it turned out that this was Maui’s famous nude beach (Little beach), and we didn’t dare to stay, and returned right away…sweaty!!!!

Road to Hana

Hana is a small town on Maui that sits on the northeast tip of the island, and the road from the OGG Airport neighborhood to Hana, known as the ” Road to Hana,” is a must-see on Maui because of the constant scenery.

The Hana Road is a very challenging drive, about 50+ miles one way, but with 620 turns and 59 small bridges, many with 180-degree turns, it’s a thrill and takes about 10 to 12 hours to complete.

There are two main paths to choose from when touring the Hana Highway:

• The drive to Hana and back takes 10 to 12 hours.
• Drive to Hana, keep going, and drive to Highway 37, 10-12 hours for the whole trip

Note: Please be sure to return before dark, otherwise it is more challenging to drive the Hana Road at night.

The Road to Hana travels through the rainforest, with lots of wildlife and beautiful waterfalls to see along the way, as well as beautiful ocean views and the famous black sand beaches.

At the beginning of the Hana Road, there is a highly recommended restaurant called “Mama’s Fish House”, the seafood is excellent but very expensive, so consider enjoying a meal on your way back from the Hana Road. Please note that reservations are required (you may not believe it, but reservations are now required 3-6 months in advance), and the menu is here.

You’ll need to schedule an entire day on Hana Road, and again, you’ll need a cell phone app called Shaka Maui so you don’t miss any of the great sights.

A few of the important points of interest on the Road to Hana are listed below:

1. Ho’okipa Beach ⭐: Best to see it on the way back, you can see tons of sea turtles at the beach at 6-7:00 PM;
2. Jaws: You need a 4-wheel drive car to drive there, every year from December – March, the waves can reach up to 70 feet, so you can check out the huge waves, other times, it is not recommended to go there;
3. Twin Falls: A very beautiful waterfall, worth seeing;
4. Waikamoi Nature Trail: A short hike of about 0.75 miles, great for families;
5. Garden of Eden Arboretum: Superb botanical garden where the movie Jurassic Park was filmed, open from 8:00 am-4:00 pm, price is $20 for adults, $10 for kids, and free for under 5 years old;
6. Kaumahina State Wayside Park: great place to use the restroom, the restrooms here are clean;
7. Nua’ailua Bay Viewpoint: From this viewpoint, you can see the cliffs and the bouncing waters;
8. Ke’anae Arboretum: This is a free botanical garden and a good place to stop if you need a break from driving;
9. Ke’anae Overlook: this is a nice lookout point, parking is on the left side of the road;
10. Wailua Valley State Wayside Park: A full view of the Ke’anae Valley;
11. Waikani Falls (Three Bears Falls): Three waterfalls that resemble a family of three, also known as “Three Bears Fall”;
12. Pua’a Ka’a State Park: there are restrooms where you can rest your feet as well, and there are beautiful waterfalls and ponds to swim in;
13. Makapipi Falls: you don’t need to park, it’s on your right as you drive;
14. Kahanu Gardens: paid gardens, adults $16, under 12 free, reservations;
15. Wai’anapanapa State Park ⭐: The famous Black Sand Beach is located here, it used to be free, but now you need to pay ($10/car), and make reservations in advance, note: you can register 30 days in advance;
16. Hana Town: There is a Hana Bay Beach Bay that is worth a visit, the sand here is also black, a black beach no less;
17. Koki Beach Park: A very quiet beach;
18. Hamoa Beach: at the same time a beach for the whole family;
19. Venus Pools: the best place to swim, don’t forget to bring your swimsuit;
20. Wailua Falls: This is also a waterfall down the road and is worth seeing;
21. Ohe’o Gluch (Seven Sacred Pools): This is in Haleakala National Park and costs $30 per vehicle to enter;
22. Pipiwai Trail: This is a 3.5-mile trail that takes about 2 hours to complete and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the rainforest;
23. Alelele Falls: You will need to hike to see this, it is also part of the Haleakala National Park and costs $30 per car to enter;
24. Huakini Beach: This is a rocky beach and it is full of black stones, completely preserved from the volcanic eruption;

Here are a few videos and pictures of the key attractions:

Garden of Eden Arboretum

There is a wide variety of rainforest plants and you can also see peacocks as well as a variety of birds of prey.

Waikani Falls

This is a pool with crystal clear water and a beautiful waterfall for the family, remember to bring your bathing suit and you can also swim in the pool.

Black Sand Beach (Wai’anapanapa State Park)

Below is a description of Black Sand Beach (Wai’anapanapa State Park).

Below is a strong wave we photographed at Waianapanapa State Park.

We also captured a rainbow here:

see a turtle

If you head to Ho’okipa Beach halfway through the night, you’ll see large sea turtles, lounging on the sand.

The beach here is also very nice, with a large parking lot, and public restrooms, and is the place to be after all when you come back from the Road to Hana.

Haleakala Volcano

Haleakala is the largest dormant volcano in the world, and the sunrise from its crater is one of the wonders of the world, considered one of the best sunrises in the world, hence the name “House of the Sun”.

Sunrise viewing time is from 4:30 am ~ to 7:30 am, which needs to be booked in advance, and the earlier the better, you can click Haleakala Sunrise to book the sunrise viewing time. The road is a winding road, gradually traveling through the clouds. If you are planning to watch the sunrise, please make sure to also arrive early.

There are beautiful views along the way: seas of clouds, rainbows, and volcanoes. The summit is about 10,023 feet above sea level, or over 3,000 meters. There are two Visitor Centers on the way, both not far from the summit, with a nice selection of souvenirs. You’ll need to plan for one or two days, and for about $30 admission, you can enter again and again over three days.

Continuing to emphasize the previously mentioned mobile app called Shaka Maui, it’s a combination of driving navigation and sightseeing introduction app that provides real-time alerts on the location of famous sights so that you won’t miss any of them.

The main attractions of Haleakala Volcano are listed below:

• Hosmer Grove Loop Trail
• Halemau’u Trailhead
• Leleiwi Overlook 👍
• Kalahaku Outlook
• Pa Ka’oao Trail 👍
• Sliding Sands Trail 👍
• Red Hill Summit 👍

Hosmer Grove Loop Trail

This trail is located at an altitude of 6,800 feet above sea level where you can see trees from all over the world and the path is about 0.5 mile long.

Halemau’u Trailhead

This hiking trail is approximately 8 miles long, and some sections feel like you’re walking amongst the clouds and are sure to be memorable for a lifetime. Remember to always bring plenty of water and clothing.

Leleiwi Overlook

Here you will feel surrounded by clouds and is a number view not to be missed.

Kalahaku Outlook

The Kalahaku viewpoint is similar to the Leleiwi viewpoint, but it puts you in the clouds and gives you a great view of the volcano.

Pa Ka’oao Trail

The Pa Ka’oao trail begins at the Visitor Center and has a large parking area and bathrooms.

The Trail is about .5 miles long and is also great for kids.

Sliding Sands Trail

Red Hill Summit

This is the best place to see the sunrise, so if you don’t have a reservation to see the sunrise, you should check it out.

You can see a great view of the sunrise from the video below.

Summary

Overall, Maui, Hawaii is a beautiful, serene, and relaxing island with ocean, black sand, rainforest, volcanoes, and rainbows. There, one can dive in the sea, hike in the rainforest, and enjoy the beaches to the fullest.

If you want to check out travelogues for other islands in Hawaii, check out: Oahu, Big Island, and Kauai.

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Reader’s Message

What do you think is the most beautiful part of Maui? If we missed any, please leave us a comment in the “Post a Comment” section at the end of this article.

Each of the four islands of Hawaii has its character, Oahu is the most developed and lively island, where the famous Honolulu (Halanunu) is located. Check out our write-up “Oahu Tips: Hawaii’s most mesmerizing beaches and the turquoise sea, blue skies, sandy beaches, and seagulls that make for an unforgettable experience”.

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