Independent travel guide to the island of Maui, Hawaii. New guides, itineraries and field reports on the Haleakala summit, the road to Hana, Molokini, the beaches of Kaanapali and Wailea, and day trips around the island from Kahului.https://www.maui-trip.com/en-ushttps://www.maui-trip.com/blog/haleakala-sunrise-reservation-system-history/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/haleakala-sunrise-reservation-system-history/The story behind Haleakala's sunrise reservation system: why it exists, what the 3-7am window solves, and how it differs from the park entry fee.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalasunrisenational parkreservation system2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/hawaiis-beaches-are-all-public-what-that-means/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/hawaiis-beaches-are-all-public-what-that-means/Every Hawaii beach is public to the high-water mark, even at Wailea and Kaanapali resorts. Here's what that access does and doesn't include.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbeach accessHawaii lawWaileaKaanapaliplanning2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/kahoolawe-the-island-you-cannot-visit/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/kahoolawe-the-island-you-cannot-visit/Kahoolawe sits south of Maui but stays closed to visitors. Here's why, and what you're actually looking at from a boat or a south-facing beach.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTkahoolawemauiisland historyplanning2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/lahaina-rebuilding-after-the-fire/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/lahaina-rebuilding-after-the-fire/What's rebuilt in Lahaina since the August 2023 fire, the real state of Front Street, and what it means for a West Maui visit in 2026.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLahaina2026West MauiWildfire RecoveryTravel Planninghttps://www.maui-trip.com/blog/life-in-paia-a-surf-towns-culture/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/life-in-paia-a-surf-towns-culture/A first-person look at Paia's surf and wind culture, next to Hookipa's expert-only break, before the Hana Highway starts.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTPaiaHookipasurf cultureMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-after-the-fire-how-tourism-is-adapting/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-after-the-fire-how-tourism-is-adapting/What the Lahaina fire changed for visitors to Maui, and what elsewhere on the island kept running normally the whole time.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmauilahainatravel planning2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-reef-safe-sunscreen-law-explained/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-reef-safe-sunscreen-law-explained/Maui bans the use, not just the sale, of oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens since October 2022. What that means for your suitcase.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsunscreenreef safemaui lawpacking2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-single-ferry-route-to-lanai/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/maui-single-ferry-route-to-lanai/Maui has exactly one ferry route, to Lanai. Every other inter-island trip from Maui is by plane out of Kahului. Here's what I learned booking it.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTferrylanaiinter-island travel2026transporthttps://www.maui-trip.com/blog/molokini-crater-how-it-formed/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/molokini-crater-how-it-formed/The geology behind Molokini's crescent shape, why it sits half-submerged off Maui, and why no boat ever lets you step onto it.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmolokinigeologysnorkelingmaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/resort-fees-and-taxes-in-maui-hotels/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/resort-fees-and-taxes-in-maui-hotels/The nightly rate you see for a Maui hotel isn't what you pay at checkout. Here's the tax and resort fee math I wish I'd known first.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbudgethotelstaxesresort feesmaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/road-to-hana-through-the-eyes-of-locals/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/road-to-hana-through-the-eyes-of-locals/A personal look at the Road to Hana beyond the stops: Paia, Hookipa, empty gas gauges, and a village with no supermarket.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTroad to hanapaiahanamaui culture2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/sea-turtle-viewing-distance-law-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/sea-turtle-viewing-distance-law-maui/Maui's honu are protected by a federal 10-foot distance law. Here's what it covers, why it exists, and how to snorkel or beach-watch without breaking it.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTturtlessnorkelingfamilysafetywildlifemaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/whale-season-in-the-auau-channel/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/whale-season-in-the-auau-channel/Every winter, humpback whales fill the Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Here is why this stretch of water, and not the open ocean.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTwhalesauau-channelhumpback-whalesmaui-wildlifewinter-season2026https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/why-lahainas-historic-banyan-tree-survived/https://www.maui-trip.com/blog/why-lahainas-historic-banyan-tree-survived/How Lahaina's 1873 banyan tree survived the August 2023 fire, and what its current, still-restricted state means for a visitor today.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLahainabanyan treeMaui firehistory2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/accessible-tours-and-attractions-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/accessible-tours-and-attractions-maui/A guide to mobility-friendly tours and attractions on Maui, with the vehicle and terrain questions to ask before you book any activity.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTaccessibilitymauitoursplanning2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-beginner-surf-spots-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-beginner-surf-spots-maui/Where to learn to surf on Maui: the calmest bays by region, and why Hookipa is not one of them.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsurfingbeginnersMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-luau-in-kaanapali/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-luau-in-kaanapali/Compare the luau shows based in Kaanapali by setting and atmosphere, so you can pick without the drive to Lahaina.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTkaanapaliluauwest mauithings to do2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-maui-activities-for-toddlers/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-maui-activities-for-toddlers/Calm, short outings on Maui for toddlers and preschoolers: beaches, an aquarium, a train ride, and what to skip until they're older.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTtoddlersfamily travelMaui with kids2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-month-to-visit-maui-for-snorkeling/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-month-to-visit-maui-for-snorkeling/Which months suit Maui snorkeling best, weighing calmer seas against whale season, without inventing water temperatures or visibility numbers.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsnorkelingseasonsmolokiniwhale-seasonmaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-snorkeling-beaches-kaanapali/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-snorkeling-beaches-kaanapali/Where to snorkel from shore in Kaanapali, from Black Rock to the quieter bays north of it, without booking a boat.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTKaanapalisnorkelingBlack Rockshore divingMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-spots-to-see-turtles-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-spots-to-see-turtles-maui/Where green sea turtles turn up around Maui beyond Makena: Kaanapali, Napili, Kihei, Wailea, and the 3-meter law that applies everywhere.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTturtleshonusnorkelingMauiwildlife2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-sunset-cruise-for-families/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-sunset-cruise-for-families/How to pick a family-friendly sunset cruise in Maui: what to look for, what to skip, and which boats suit kids best.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsunset cruisefamily travelmaui with kidsboat tours2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-for-whale-watching-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-for-whale-watching-maui/When to book a Maui whale watching tour: the December-to-April season in the Auau Channel, and how to pick a favorable month without false guarantees.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTwhale watchingMauihumpback whalesAuau Channel2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-of-day-molokini-snorkel/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-of-day-molokini-snorkel/Why almost every Molokini boat leaves at dawn: wind, water clarity and a calmer channel explain the morning departure logic.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMolokinisnorkelingbest timeMaalaeaMaui boat tours2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-maui/Maui has two seasons, not four. Here's how whales, surf, rain and the Haleakala summit chill shape when to go.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmauiplanningbest-time-to-visit2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/budget-snorkeling-options-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/budget-snorkeling-options-maui/Cheaper ways to snorkel in Maui: gear rental, shore access and lower-cost boat trips, without booking the priciest Molokini tour.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMauisnorkelingbudgetgear rentalKaanapaliMolokini2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/cheap-eats-in-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/cheap-eats-in-maui/Plate lunches, food trucks, farmers markets and grocery runs on Maui for travelers who want to eat well without paying resort prices.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbudgetcheap eatsmaui foodplate lunch2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/do-you-need-a-rental-car-in-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/do-you-need-a-rental-car-in-maui/No interstate, limited buses, and a summit bus can't reach. Here's when a Maui rental car is essential and when tours cover you instead.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmauirental cartransportroad to hanahaleakala2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/downhill-bike-tour-safety-tips/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/downhill-bike-tour-safety-tips/Braking, cold-weather prep, and road-sharing rules for any Haleakala downhill bike tour, sunrise or daytime.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakaladownhill bikingsafetyUpcountry Maui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/family-friendly-snorkel-tours-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/family-friendly-snorkel-tours-maui/How to pick a Maui snorkel tour that suits swimming-age kids, from calm boat sails to trips that need real comfort in open water.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfamilysnorkelingmauikidsboat-tours2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/food-tour-lahaina-town/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/food-tour-lahaina-town/A guide to culinary tours in Lahaina town, what they cover as the town rebuilds, and how they differ from Maui's countryside farm visits.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTlahainafood-tourwest-mauicacaochocolatefarm-to-table2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/free-things-to-do-in-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/free-things-to-do-in-maui/A budget traveler's list of free activities on Maui: trails, beaches, viewpoints and towns that cost nothing beyond gas and a rental car.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMauibudget travelfree activitieshikingwhale watching2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/full-day-maui-circle-island-tour/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/full-day-maui-circle-island-tour/What a full-day Maui circle-island tour can realistically show in one day, and why Haleakala and Hana each need a day of their own.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTisland-tourscircle-islandmauiday-tours2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/guided-tour-vs-self-drive-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/guided-tour-vs-self-drive-maui/Guided tour or rental car in Maui? Compare cost, flexibility and stress for a first visit, before you book any single activity.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmauiplanningrental carguided tours2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-bike-tour-without-sunrise/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-bike-tour-without-sunrise/Skip the 3-7am sunrise reservation. How the daytime Haleakala downhill bike tour works, what it costs, and why the summit stays cool anyway.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalabike tourUpcountry Mauicyclingdaytime activities2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-crater-helicopter-tour/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-crater-helicopter-tour/What a helicopter flight over Haleakala's summit and crater actually shows, how it compares to driving up, and which flight to book.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalahelicopter tourMaui2026volcanosunrisehttps://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-crater-hiking-trails/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-crater-hiking-trails/Trail-by-trail guide to hiking inside Haleakala Crater: distances, elevation, permits, altitude and cold-weather planning.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalahikingUpcountry Mauinational park2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-observatory-stargazing/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-observatory-stargazing/How to see the stars from Haleakala's summit at night, separate from the sunrise permit and the crater trails, with real cold-weather numbers.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThaleakalastargazingupcountrynight-sky2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-parking-and-access-guide/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-parking-and-access-guide/How to drive to Haleakala's summit, what the entry fee covers, where to park, and why paying it does not book your sunrise slot.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalaUpcountry Mauirental carnational park2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-bike-tour/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-bike-tour/How the guided sunrise bike descent from Haleakala's summit works, from the cold pre-dawn wait to the ride down through Upcountry.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThaleakalasunrisebike-tourupcountrymaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-guided-tour-vs-self-drive/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-guided-tour-vs-self-drive/Guided van or your own rental car for Haleakala sunrise? Compare logistics, comfort and who each option actually suits.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalasunriseguided tourself-driveMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-reservation-how-to/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunrise-reservation-how-to/How to book the required Haleakala sunrise reservation on recreation.gov: the 60-day window, the 3-7 a.m. slot, and the separate park entrance fee.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalasunrise reservationnational parkMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunset-tour/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/haleakala-sunset-tour/See Haleakala's summit at sunset with no advance permit. The park entrance fee still applies, the summit sits at 3,055m, and it gets cold.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaleakalasunsetHaleakala National ParkUpcountryMaui2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hawaiian-cooking-class-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hawaiian-cooking-class-maui/A hands-on Hawaiian cooking class on Maui: what you cook, where classes run, cost, and how it differs from a farm tour or food walk.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHawaiian cooking classMaui workshopscultural experiences2026family activitieshttps://www.maui-trip.com/guides/helicopter-tour-doors-off-vs-doors-on/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/helicopter-tour-doors-off-vs-doors-on/Doors off or doors on for a Maui helicopter flight: what changes for wind, cold, cameras, and who each option actually suits.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThelicopterdoors offmauihaleakalaphotography2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hidden-waterfalls-near-haiku/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hidden-waterfalls-near-haiku/Haiku's back roads hide waterfalls away from the Road to Hana crowds. What to expect, what's off-limits, and how to visit with respect.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTwaterfallshaikuroad to hanahikinghidden gems2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/honolua-bay-snorkeling-guide/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/honolua-bay-snorkeling-guide/Honolua Bay snorkeling for confident swimmers: reef layout, turtle-distance rules, entry conditions, parking, and when the reserve is too rough.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHonolua Baysnorkelingwest mauimarine reserve2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/how-many-days-do-you-need-in-maui/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/how-many-days-do-you-need-in-maui/From a rushed one-day stop to a slow ten-day trip: how many days Maui actually needs, region by region, once real drive times are counted.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMauitrip lengthitinerary planninghow many days2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hurricane-season-maui-what-to-know/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/hurricane-season-maui-what-to-know/Maui's hurricane season runs June through November. What to know about tracking storms, trip insurance, and flexible planning before you go.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThurricane seasonmaui weathertravel planningtrip insurance2026https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/iao-valley-state-monument-hike/https://www.maui-trip.com/guides/iao-valley-state-monument-hike/Iao Valley's short paved trail to the Iao Needle, plus the online reservation and time slot every non-resident visitor now needs.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTIao ValleyWailukuCentral MauihikingIao Needle2026