Explore Maui by area
Areas worth building a Maui trip around, from Kaanapali and Wailea to the Haleakala summit and the Road to Hana.
Must-visit areas
The areas every first-time visitor should build a trip around — the West Maui resorts of Kaanapali and Kapalua, and the South Maui coast around Kihei and Wailea.
Haleakala & Upcountry
Haleakala's summit and the Upcountry farms around it: sunrise, sunset, cold air, and where to base yourself in Kula and Makawao.
Hana & the Road to Hana
Hana and the windward coast: Paia, Hookipa, waterfalls and black sand along the Hana Highway, and why the drive takes a full day.
Kaanapali
Kaanapali's resort beach, Beach Walk and Black Rock snorkeling, plus catamaran departures and what a stay here actually offers.
Maui Travel Guide: Understanding the Island's Six Regions
Maui explained region by region: West Maui, South Maui, Central Maui, Upcountry, Hana, and the boats that sail to Molokini.
More to explore
Areas for a second trip or a longer first one — the Upcountry towns below Haleakala, the Road to Hana on the east coast, and a full circuit of the island.
Kihei: Maui's Most Affordable South Shore Base
Kihei is Maui's budget-friendly south shore base: beach parks, condos, and calm water near Molokini's morning boats.
Lahaina, Maui: What the Historic Town Is Today
Lahaina after the 2023 fire: what has reopened, what hasn't, and how to visit the historic town on Maui's west coast with respect.
Molokini Crater
Molokini crater snorkeling explained: what it costs, when to go, and why no boat ever lets you set foot on the rim.
Wailea & Makena: Maui's Resort Coast and Big Beach
Wailea's resorts and Makena's wild coast: what a stay here costs, why Big Beach is beautiful and dangerous, and where the pavement ends.
Off the beaten path
Kahului & Wailuku: Where Maui Begins
Kahului is Maui's arrival point: OGG airport, rental car counters, and the road to every region. Here's what to know before you drive on.
Maalaea
Maalaea is Maui's south shore harbor for Molokini snorkel trips and whale watching, not a place to stay. Here's what to know before you book.
Good to know about destinations around Maui
Base yourself in West Maui or South Maui and this hub explains where to look next, covering the island's six regions arranged around Maui's coastline, connected almost entirely by rental car. West Maui covers the leeward coast around Lahaina, Kaanapali, Honokowai, Napili and Kapalua, with catamarans, sunset sails and inter-island flights. South Maui groups the dry, sunny stretch from Kihei to Wailea and Makena, the harbor at Maalaea, and the lava coast out to La Perouse Bay, where the water stays calmest for morning snorkel trips. Central Maui is the isthmus around Kahului and its airport, Wailuku and Iao Valley — where most visitors land and pick up a rental car.
Upcountry-Haleakala climbs the slopes of Haleakala through Kula and Makawao, past lavender and goat farms, up to the 3,055-meter summit for sunrise and downhill cycling. East Maui-Hana covers the windward side: Paia, Hookipa, the roughly 100 kilometers of the Hana Highway, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, Hana itself and the Kipahulu pools at Oheo Gulch. Island-wide covers whole-island tours, Molokini, and departures toward Lanai, Molokai, the Big Island and Kauai. Neighbor islands sit too far for a day trip from Maui, reachable only by air or, for Lanai, a single ferry, so this hub leaves them mostly out of scope.
Each destination page below sets out realistic driving times from West and South Maui and whether the trip suits a morning, a full day or an overnight.
Frequently asked questions about destinations around Maui
How far are Upcountry-Haleakala and East Maui-Hana from West Maui?
Both take close to an hour or more by road, close enough for a single day trip but long enough to plan around. Upcountry-Haleakala centers on Kula, Makawao and the Haleakala summit, while East Maui-Hana follows Paia and the Hana Highway out to Hana and Kipahulu.
What's the difference between South Maui and the other regions here?
South Maui covers Kihei, Wailea and Makena along the calm, sunny coast, plus Maalaea and the lava shoreline toward La Perouse Bay. West Maui, Upcountry-Haleakala and East Maui-Hana sit on other sides of the island, each roughly forty-five minutes or more away and best treated as a separate day.
Which region suits a day trip better, Upcountry-Haleakala or East Maui-Hana?
Upcountry-Haleakala suits travelers drawn to farms, cooler air and the volcano's summit, about an hour from West or South Maui. East Maui-Hana suits those wanting waterfalls and black-sand beaches along the Hana Highway, though the drive itself takes most of a day.
Can I combine several of these destinations in one day?
It's possible within a single region, such as pairing Kihei with Wailea, but crossing between South Maui and Upcountry-Haleakala or East Maui-Hana in one day leaves little time on the ground. Most visitors pick one destination and one region per outing rather than chaining several together.
Are Kauai or the Big Island covered by this hub?
No, they sit beyond Maui and can only be reached by air, so they fall outside this hub's scope. The destinations covered here are grouped into West Maui, South Maui, Central Maui, Upcountry-Haleakala, East Maui-Hana and Island-wide, all reachable and back within a single day except East Maui-Hana, which fills a full day on its own.
Road to Hana tours on GetYourGuide
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GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
