Top tips

Image by Bettina Nørgaard from Pixabay

There are plenty of people who believe Maui is heaven on earth. Those people tend to be partial to a spectacular beach! Maui offers a choice of golden or pearlescent sand, clear oceans, lush rainforest and towns and villages with warmth and charm. It’s an obvious honeymoon destination, but it’s also perfect for families and groups, as well as those with an adventurous spirit, and those who just want to escape and relax. 

At around 80kms long, Maui island might be larger than you’re imagining. It’s divided into five regions, which are much larger than a neighbourhood; they all have several cities, resort towns and villages within them. If you hire a car it’s easy to travel around. The different regions all offer a slightly different version of paradise, and different types of accommodation. Here are the basics:

• South Maui is on the island’s leeward side. It’s known for being dry and sunny. This region has beautiful, golden beaches and a good range of accommodation, including great value options and some good family-friendly properties.
• West Maui has a fair share of resorts and resort towns, and is a region lots of visitors opt for. It’s known for having good weather year-round and white sandy beaches, and is great if you want to do some snorkelling or diving, or whale watching. It boasts good restaurants and shops, and you’re not far from some stunning hiking trails.
• East Maui is lush and tropical, perfect for hikers and anyone wanting to be slightly off-the-beaten-track. There's a good variety of accommodation with options for couples and families.
• Maui’s North Shore is on the windward side of the island, and is the place to look for a boutique hotel. It's a small and historic centre and also a fantastic sport for winter surfing.
• Central Maui is where the majority of locals live; it’s close to the airport and the seaport, and centrally located, so ideal if you want to explore the whole island, or if you’re on quite a tight budget. 

Our Guide to the Neighbourhoods of Maui

Kihei, South Maui

Image from Pixabay

A large, but relaxed town with a friendly atmosphere and a nice mix of locals and tourists, Kihei is a great destination for families and groups. There’s a huge range of accommodation here, lots with great access to the beach, shops, restaurants, bars and ice cream shops! There are even playgrounds.

Wailea, South Maui

By dronepicr - Wailea beach Park Maui, Hawaii, CC BY 2.0

Wailea is just to the south of Kihei, a bit closer to some of the region's best loved beaches, and with more of a luxury resort vibe. Wailea has some excellent shopping opportunities, and some great restaurants. There’s also a well-regarded golf course.

Lahaina & Ka’anapali, West Maui

By dronepicr - Sunset colors Kaanapali beach on Maui Hawaii, CC BY 2.0

Lahaina is an excellent choice if you want to spend much of your Hawaiian holiday in, or on, the water. Known for whale watching opportunities, and incredible underwater scenes, Lahaina is also good for surfers and sailors. There are some fantastic beachfront restaurants here, and the accommodation ranges from relaxed to luxurious and honeymoon-style. Ka’anapali is just to the north of Lahaina, and is where you’ll find some of Maui’s most famous barefoot luxury resorts — think waterfalls and lush tropical scenes just behind your beach cabana.

Napili Bay, West Maui

Flick user Rachel + Micah

Napili Bay has beautiful pale sand and bright turquoise waters, alongside a family friendly atmosphere. The beach has soft sand that dips gradually into the ocean, and there are some spectacular snorkelling spots that are easy to get to. This is a great place to try out paddle boarding or kayaking too, and has some of the few hiking routes of West Maui. Napili Bay has plenty of family friendly accommodation options, lots of condos, as well as resorts and hotels.

Hana, East Maui

Image by nlang06 from Pixabay

The Hana Highway runs along Maui’s eastern, windward shore. It's a road that will take your breath away with its beauty and its hairpin turns! East Maui gets the rain, so the landscape is lush, green, and dotted with tropical waterfalls. Hana is where most of the resorts and hotels on East Maui are, and there’s plenty of choice, including larger apartments and condos. Away from Hana, you’re more likely to find small inns and hotels set back from the Hana Highway. Hana is a popular spot for a honeymoon escape, while also being ideal for families and hikers.

Paia & Haiku, North Shore

Flickr user Jim Mullhaupt

Paia and Haiku are typical of Maui’s North Shore: pretty, peaceful and historic. Paia began as a fishing village, and flourished as a historic fish market town. Today, the winds attract world-class windsurfers, as well as devotees of incredible seafood and boutique hotels. Haiku is Paia’s neighbour, close to the rainforest and lush waterfalls of the area, and popular with hikers and those hoping for an island escape.

Kahului, Central Maui

By JeanTessmer, CC BY 3.0

Kahului is Maui’s largest hub, close to the airport and the seaport, and where the lion’s share of local Hawaiians live. This is a really central spot, so if you want to do some travelling around, you could stay here and see a lot of different parts of the island. Kahului beaches aren’t the island’s most popular or spectacular, but there’s lots of choice when it comes to eating and drinking. Especially if you’re on a limited budget.

Wailuku, Central Maui

Flickr user Jimmy Emerson DVM

Wailuku is a small town associated with the Iao Valley State Park. It is a really spectacular place to visit, and if you want to stay here, you’ll benefit from being away from the crowds. The town is historic, and the community itself is friendly. There is a nice collection of local shops, including antique stores and art galleries.