Travel tips for Maui
Everything you need to know before visiting Maui — money, transport, weather and when to go.
Planning essentials
Visas, budgets, packing, eSIMs and the cultural etiquette worth knowing before you land.
Getting around
Kahului Airport (OGG) as the main gateway, and why a rental car is nearly essential to reach West Maui, South Maui, Upcountry and the Road to Hana.
When to go
Warm weather year-round, with a drier, sunnier leeward coast in West and South Maui and wetter conditions on the east coast and along the Road to Hana. Winter brings north-shore swell and humpback whales offshore from December to April. Month-by-month guides to what to expect.
Good to know about planning a trip to Maui
gov. 5% general excise tax on goods and activities, plus a hotel night carries an additional lodging tax that brings the total to around 18% once the state and county surtaxes are combined, and most resorts add a daily resort fee on top. Getting around is where the real planning sits: there is no interstate highway on Maui, so the main roads are the Honoapiilani, Piilani, Hana and Haleakala highways; a rental car isn't strictly needed for a resort-only stay in Kaanapali or Wailea, but it suits trips to Haleakala, the road to Hana or a full island loop; and the Maui Bus covers much of the island cheaply but slowly and doesn't reach the Haleakala summit.
The one realistic way in is Kahului Airport (OGG), about twenty-five to forty minutes from West or South Maui by car depending on traffic. Weather shapes the trip less than in cooler destinations: the dry season runs May to October with warm, sunny days, the wetter season runs November to April with cooler, more humid days and the best humpback whale sightings in the Auau Channel, and the tropical cyclone season runs June through November, when the steady trade winds can drop and humidity can build. The emergency number is 911, and the legal drinking age is 21 with identification checked routinely. Tap water is safe and drinks perfectly well straight from the tap.
Driving is on the right, and distances on the ground are given here in kilometres with miles noted where they help behind the wheel. Tipping is expected in restaurants, typically 18-20%, plus a dollar or two per bag and two to five dollars per night for housekeeping. Bargaining isn't expected anywhere — prices in shops, restaurants and markets are fixed. One county rule stands out: Maui bans the sale, distribution and use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene — bring mineral, zinc-based sunscreen instead of assuming your own bottle will do.
Frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Maui
Do I need a visa to visit Maui?
Most visitors from visa-waiver countries don't need a visa, but they do need an ESTA approved before departure, requested only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and checked against passport validity for the whole trip. Requirements and exemptions can change, so confirm the current rule for your own passport well ahead of booking.
What currency should I bring, and do I need cash?
The US dollar is the only currency used, and prices are shown before tax, with the general excise tax and a lodging tax added at the till or on the hotel bill. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keeping a little cash on hand helps for tips, parking attendants and smaller roadside stalls.
How do I get around Maui without a rental car?
A rental car is the easiest option for reaching Haleakala, the road to Hana or a full island loop, since public transit is slow to cover them and doesn't reach the summit at all. Around Kaanapali, Lahaina and Kihei, the Maui Bus and hotel shuttles cover shorter trips within each resort area.
When is hurricane season, and will it affect my trip?
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk in late summer, and it can bring flight disruptions with only a day or two of warning. Outside that window, the dry season runs May to October with warm, sunny days, while the wetter season from November to April brings cooler, more humid days and the best chance of seeing humpback whales.
Is tap water safe to drink, and what plugs do I need?
Tap water across Maui is safe to drink straight from the tap, including in hotel rooms, so bottled water isn't necessary. Outlets use standard US plugs, so visitors from outside North America will need an adapter, and often a voltage converter for larger appliances.
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