Maui travel questionsMaui FAQ: 100 answers before your trip

April to May and September to early November. The weather is warm and dry on the south and west coasts, crowds are smaller and prices drop. December to April is whale season and the most expensive time to go.

Five to seven days lets you do Haleakalā, the Road to Hāna and a Molokini snorkel trip without rushing, with beach days in between. With three days, pick two of the three big days and keep one for the beach.

Roughly November to March. Most of the rain falls on the windward (east and north) side, around Hāna, and in the mountains. Kīhei, Wailea and Kāʻanapali stay much drier all year.

Warm all year at sea level, with daytime highs from the high 70s to the high 80s °F. The summit of Haleakalā is a different world: it can be near or below freezing before dawn.

Around 75 °F in late winter and around 80 °F in late summer. Most people snorkel without a wetsuit, though a thin top helps on long boat trips.

Hawaii Standard Time (HST), UTC minus 10. Hawaii does not use daylight saving time, so the difference with the mainland changes between summer and winter.

Yes, it is one of the most expensive places to visit in the US. Most tours cost $100 to $300 per person. You can save with shorter boat trips, food trucks and plate lunch spots, and a condo with a kitchen in Kīhei.

Very. Kāʻanapali and Wailea have calm beaches, short snorkel trips work for young kids, and the Maui Ocean Center is a good rainy-day plan. Skip the full Road to Hāna with toddlers, or do half of it.

It is one of the classic honeymoon islands. Couples love the sunset sails, the Haleakalā sunrise, a helicopter flight and a quiet stay in Wailea or Kapalua.

Choose Maui for beaches, nature and a slower pace. Choose Oʻahu for Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, nightlife and more to do without a car. Many first-timers do both, with a short flight in between.

Kahului Airport (OGG) in central Maui. It is about 30 minutes from Kīhei and Wailea and 45 minutes to an hour from Kāʻanapali, without traffic.

Most visitors rent one, because the island is spread out. You can manage without a car if you stay in Kāʻanapali or Wailea and book tours with hotel pickup for Haleakalā and the Road to Hāna.

Yes, both work in Maui, including at Kahului Airport. There are far fewer drivers in Hāna and Upcountry, so do not count on a ride back from remote areas.

The Maui Bus runs 12 routes for $2 a ride or $4 for a day pass. It is built for residents, allows limited luggage and is not practical for sightseeing.

No. There is no passenger ferry between Maui and Oʻahu, so you fly. Inter-island flights are short and frequent.

Mostly no. Roads are quiet outside Kahului. The Road to Hāna and the road up Haleakalā are slow and winding, and the coastal highway to West Maui can back up at rush hour.

Fill up in Kahului, Kīhei or Pāʻia before the Road to Hāna, and in town before driving up Haleakalā. There is no gas inside the national park and very little on the way to Hāna.

Yes. Snorkel trips cross to the reefs of Lānaʻi, and helicopter flights pass the sea cliffs of Molokaʻi. Check current ferry schedules if you want to spend a day on Lānaʻi on your own.

At trailheads and beach parking lots, yes. Never leave bags, phones or passports in the car, even in the trunk. Locals leave their cars empty.

No. Every road most visitors use is paved. The unpaved back road past Kīpahulu is the main exception, and most rental contracts forbid it anyway.

A crescent-shaped, half-sunken volcanic crater about 2.5 miles off the south coast of Maui. The inside is a protected Marine Life Conservation District with some of the clearest water in Hawaii. The islet itself is a seabird sanctuary, and landing is not allowed.

No. You need a boat. Trips leave from Māʻalaea Harbor or the Kīhei boat ramp, and the Kīhei trips are much shorter.

Early morning. The water is usually calmest and clearest before the trade winds pick up around midday, so the best boats leave between 6 and 7:30 am.

Kīhei if you want more time in the water and less on the boat, or if you get seasick. Māʻalaea if you want a big catamaran with shade, a bathroom and meals.

Yes. Boats moor inside the crescent, where it is calm and you can see the reef from the surface. Crews hand out flotation and give a safety briefing. The back wall is for experienced snorkelers and divers only.

Yes, with a flotation vest or noodle, and most crews keep an eye on beginners. If you are not comfortable in the water at all, the submarine trip off Lahaina shows you the reef without getting wet.

A stretch of reef off Mākena where green sea turtles feed and rest. Many Molokini trips stop there second, and kayak tours paddle to it from the beach.

Very likely. Green sea turtles are common at Turtle Town, off Kāʻanapali and at many south coast beaches. Keep at least 10 feet away and never touch them: they are protected by state and federal law.

Black Rock at Kāʻanapali, Kapalua Bay, and Ulua and Mokapu beaches in Wailea are easy entries. Honolua Bay is beautiful in summer but gets big surf in winter. Always check conditions and never snorkel alone.

Mineral sunscreen only. Maui County has banned the sale and use of non-mineral sunscreens since October 2022. Look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the only active ingredients, or wear a rash guard.

The massive volcano that forms most of East Maui and the heart of Haleakalā National Park. Its summit stands at 10,023 feet and looks out over a huge crater landscape.

Yes, if you drive yourself. Every car entering the summit area between 3 and 7 am needs a $1 sunrise reservation from recreation.gov, plus the park entrance fee. Guided sunrise tours bring their own permits.

60 days ahead at 7 am Hawaii time, with a second batch released 2 days ahead at 7 am. Popular dates sell out within minutes.

$30 per private vehicle, valid for three days. The same pass covers the Kīpahulu area at the end of the Road to Hāna.

Often near or below freezing before sunrise, and windy. Bring a warm jacket, long pants, a hat and gloves, even in summer.

About 1.5 hours from Kīhei and Wailea and about 2 hours from Kāʻanapali. The last stretch is a winding mountain road with no lights, so allow extra time in the dark.

Many locals prefer it. Sunset needs no reservation, it is a little warmer and you are not driving at 3 am. You still need the park entrance pass.

No. Going to 10,000 feet within 24 hours of diving risks decompression sickness. Plan the summit before your dive trip, not after.

Yes. The Sliding Sands Trail drops from the summit into the crater. Going down is easy; climbing back up at that altitude is hard, so turn around well before you are tired.

Yes, with a guided bike tour. They start below the national park boundary and roll down through Upcountry, often after watching the sunrise.

About 64 miles from Kahului to Hāna town, with roughly 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges.

2.5 to 3 hours each way without stops. With stops for waterfalls, beaches and food, plan a 10 to 12 hour day.

Not for the road itself. You do need a timed reservation for Waiʻānapanapa State Park, the black sand beach, and some private gardens charge entry.

For visitors, $5 per person plus $10 parking for a timed slot. Reservations open 30 days ahead and there are no same-day bookings.

Garden of Eden Arboretum, the Keʻanae Peninsula, Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Wailua Falls, Hāmoa Beach and the Pīpīwai Trail at Kīpahulu.

Drive if you are a confident driver and want to stop where you like. Take a small-group tour if everyone, including the driver, wants to see the waterfalls instead of the road.

The road past Kīpahulu has rough and unpaved stretches, and most rental contracts forbid it. If you break down there, you pay. Most people return the way they came.

Yes, if you love rainforest, waterfalls and dramatic coastline. Skip it if you get carsick, have very young kids, or only have a few days: a helicopter flight over Hāna shows you the highlights in about an hour.

Banana bread and fruit stands around Keʻanae, and food trucks in Hāna. Bring cash and snacks, because options are few and far between.

A hike of about 4 miles round trip through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls, which drops about 400 feet. It is in the Kīpahulu area of Haleakalā National Park, so the park pass applies.

Roughly December to April, with the most sightings from January to March. Thousands of humpback whales come to the warm channels between Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi to give birth and raise their calves.

Often, yes. In peak season you can spot blows and breaches from the beaches of South and West Maui and from lookouts along the coastal highway.

Federal law forbids approaching humpback whales within 100 yards, by boat, kayak, swimmer or drone. Whales sometimes come closer to boats on their own.

A big catamaran is cheaper and steadier. A small boat or sailboat feels more personal and gets everyone a spot at the rail. Two hours is enough for most people.

In January to March sightings are almost certain. Some operators offer a free trip if you see no whales; check the tour page before you book.

No. Federal law forbids swimming with or approaching Hawaiian spinner dolphins within 50 yards. You often see them from the boat on trips to Lānaʻi.

Stay at least 50 feet away, and 150 feet from a mother with a pup. Monk seals are endangered and often rest on beaches. Never touch or feed them.

Yes, as in all Hawaiian waters, but bites are rare. Avoid swimming at dawn and dusk, in murky water and near river mouths, and swim where others are swimming.

Sometimes, at Molokini and off South Maui, but sightings are not reliable. The famous manta night snorkel is on the Big Island, near Kona.

Not in Haleakalā National Park, where drones are banned. Elsewhere, follow FAA rules, stay well away from whales and wildlife, and respect people's privacy.

Kāʻanapali Beach and Kapalua Bay in the west, Wailea Beach and Mākena (Big Beach) in the south, and Baldwin Beach on the north shore. Each has a different mood, from resort calm to wild and empty.

Only for strong swimmers on calm days. Its shorebreak is powerful and causes serious neck and back injuries every year. Watch the waves for a few minutes before going in, and never turn your back on the ocean.

Only some do, mostly the larger county beach parks and Big Beach. Most resort beaches and small coves have no lifeguard, so check conditions and swim with a buddy.

North- and west-facing shores, like Honolua Bay and Hoʻokipa, get big surf from about November to March. South-facing beaches get their swells in summer.

At Waiʻānapanapa State Park on the Road to Hāna. Visitors need a timed reservation.

We do not recommend it. The access trail crosses private land and is crumbling, and people get hurt there. There are safer beaches nearby, like Hāmoa.

At some beaches. Since July 15, 2026, visitors pay $10 a day to park in the paved lots at Kamaʻole Beach Parks I and III in Kīhei. Mākena State Park charges visitors $5 per person and $10 per car.

No. Taking sand from Hawaii beaches is illegal, and removing rocks from Haleakalā National Park is prohibited. Leave them where they are.

Stay calm, do not swim straight against it, and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. If you cannot, float and wave for help.

No. Streams in Maui can flood within minutes after heavy rain upstream, even when the sky above you is clear. If the water turns brown or starts rising, get out and move to high ground.

The Old Lāhainā Lūʻau is the classic, focused on traditional Hawaiian hula. The Feast at Mōkapu in Wailea is a farm-to-table luau by the ocean. Resort luaus in Kāʻanapali are easy if you stay nearby.

Usually about $200 to $300 per adult, depending on seating. Front-row seats cost more.

Yes. The popular luaus sell out weeks ahead in peak season. Book as soon as your dates are set.

Poke, a plate lunch, loco moco, kalua pig, shave ice, malasadas and banana bread from the Road to Hāna. Fresh fish tacos from a food truck are a Maui classic.

Food trucks in Kīhei and Kahului, local plate lunch spots, and the poke counters at supermarkets. Kahului also has the island's big grocery stores.

Yes, Maui's public tap water is safe unless a local advisory says otherwise. Bring a reusable bottle: there are refill stations at many hotels and parks.

As on the mainland: 15 to 20 percent in restaurants. For tour guides and boat crews, 10 to 20 percent of the tour price is normal.

Hello and goodbye, but also love, kindness and respect. Living with aloha means treating people and the land with care, and visitors are welcomed in that spirit.

Aloha (hello, love), mahalo (thank you), ʻohana (family), pau (finished), and mauka and makai, which locals use for directions: toward the mountains and toward the sea.

Stay off private land, obey closures, keep your distance from wildlife, use mineral sunscreen, shop and eat local, and treat Lahaina as a community that is still rebuilding.

South Maui (Kīhei and Wailea) is sunny, central for Molokini boats and has options for every budget. West Maui (Kāʻanapali, Nāpili and Kapalua) has classic resort beaches and easy sunset sails.

Kāʻanapali has a long, lively beach walk with restaurants and shops. Wailea is quieter and more upscale, and closer to Molokini and the airport.

Yes, especially on a budget. Kīhei has condos with kitchens, beach parks and food trucks, and it is the closest town to the Kīhei boat ramp for Molokini.

Partly. Kāʻanapali and Kapalua are open as normal, Lahaina Harbor began a phased reopening in December 2025, and Front Street reopened to traffic on August 1, 2026. Much of the town is still being rebuilt.

You can drive Front Street, but this is a place of remembrance, not a tourist attraction. Stay out of fenced areas, do not photograph homes or people, and support the businesses that have reopened.

Some do. Lahaina Harbor has been reopening in phases since December 2025, and several operators also leave from Kāʻanapali Beach or Māʻalaea. Your tour page shows the exact meeting point.

Yes. Makawao, Kula and the slopes of Haleakalā have farms, cool air and views over the whole island. A pineapple farm or lavender farm visit makes an easy half day.

A laid-back surf town on the north shore and the gateway to the Road to Hāna. Nearby Hoʻokipa is famous for windsurfers and for turtles resting on the beach in the afternoon.

Yes, if you can. You avoid driving the road twice in one day and get the waterfalls and beaches early, before the day-trippers arrive. Lodging is limited, so book early.

Generally yes. The main risks are the ocean and car break-ins. Respect the surf, never leave valuables in the car, and use normal city sense at night.

Yes for Molokini trips, luaus, helicopter flights and Haleakalā sunrise tours, especially from December to April. Many sell out days or weeks ahead.

Most tours we list offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The exact policy is shown on each tour page before you pay.

The operator cancels and offers a new date or a full refund. That is why we suggest booking snorkel trips early in your stay.

For many people, yes. In about an hour you see waterfalls, rainforest and sea cliffs that take days to reach by road, or that no road reaches at all.

It depends on the tour. Most boat trips welcome all ages, while some helicopter flights, surf lessons and hikes have minimum ages. Each tour page lists its rules.

Check before you go. ʻĪao Valley State Monument has had several closures in 2026 for repairs and weather. When it is open, visitors pay $5 per person and $10 parking and need a reservation.

Hawaii's state transient accommodations tax rose to 11 percent on January 1, 2026, the so-called green fee. County and general excise taxes are added on top, so check the full total before you book.

Many do, often a daily fee on top of the room rate. Compare the full price, including fees and taxes, before you book.

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