Island guide
Maui is two volcanoes joined by a low, flat isthmus. Haleakalā rises over 10,000 feet on the east side, with plants and birds found nowhere else. The West Maui Mountains are older and more worn down. Lahaina is still rebuilding after the 2023 wildfire. Avoid sightseeing in the burn area. The Road to Hāna is narrow, with blind curves and one-lane bridges, and people who live along it use it every day to get to work, school and the doctor. Pull over to let local drivers pass, yield at one-lane bridges as signed, and park only in marked spots. The reefs along the south and west coasts are under stress. Use reef-safe sunscreen and don't touch or stand on coral.
Central Maui
Deep green valley cut into the West Maui Mountains, with the 1,200-foot spire of Kūkaemoku, the ʻĪao Needle. Site of the 1790 Battle of Kepaniwai and a sacred burial place of Maui's chiefs.
Reservations are required for out-of-state visitors through Hawaiʻi State Parks. Stay on the paved paths and out of the stream; flash floods rise fast.
East Maui / Hāna
Flat lava peninsula below the Hāna Highway where Hawaiian families still farm loʻi kalo, flooded taro patches. A small stone church from the 1800s stands near the point.
A residential community, not a park. Drive slowly, park only in public spots, stay out of the taro patches and private yards, and do not climb on the coastal rocks in high surf.
East Maui / Hāna
Black sand beach, sea arches, lava tubes and freshwater caves just north of Hāna. Day visits require a reservation through Hawaiʻi State Parks.
Book ahead; reservations are required for out-of-state visitors. Stay off the cliffs and out of the water in rough surf, and do not take any black sand or stones.
East Maui / Hāna
Chain of pools and waterfalls flowing to the sea at Kīpahulu, inside Haleakalā National Park. Swimming is often closed because of flash flood danger.
Park entry fee applies. Obey closures; flash floods can arrive under clear skies. Stay off the rocks above the pools.
Haleakalā
The vast summit depression of Haleakalā, about seven miles across, filled with cinder cones in red, orange and black. Part of Haleakalā National Park; the summit is just over 10,000 feet.
Sunrise viewing requires a reservation from the National Park Service. Bring warm layers; it can be near freezing. Stay on trails to protect the silversword and nēnē.
North Shore
World-famous windsurfing and surfing beach on the north shore, with a lookout above the waves. Hawaiian green sea turtles haul out on the sand late in the day.
Stay behind any rope line and at least 10 feet from turtles; never touch them. The water is for experienced surfers and sailors only.
South Maui
Oneloa, long sand, a broad golden beach at Mākena State Park below the red cinder cone of Puʻu Ōlaʻi. Famous for its powerful shorebreak.
The shorebreak causes serious neck and back injuries; swim only when it is calm and stay near the lifeguard. Bring water and pack out everything.
South Maui
Rugged bay at the end of the road in South Maui, framed by black lava from one of Haleakalā's youngest flows. Spinner dolphins often rest here in the morning.
Stay at least 50 yards from spinner dolphins; it is the law. Wear sturdy shoes on the lava, bring water, and stay on marked trails.
Upcountry
Octagonal Catholic church in Kula completed in 1897, built by Portuguese immigrants and known for its carved and gilded altar from Austria. An active parish with views across central Maui.
An active parish. Visit quietly, dress modestly inside, and step out if a Mass is under way.
West Maui
Marine Life Conservation District at the north end of West Maui with a healthy reef and clear water in summer, and one of the world's great right-hand surf breaks in winter. Reached by a short forest trail from the road.
Nothing may be taken here. Enter from the rocky shore carefully, do not stand on coral, and wear a rash guard or reef-safe sunscreen. Park only in the turnouts.
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