• Where to stay:

  • The West Maui region remains one of the most popular destinations to stay on Maui. Here you’ll find the whaling village of Lahaina and the Kaanapali resort area stretching along the coastline.

    • Lahaina - a popular seaside town featuring shopping, oceanfront restaurants, and stunning mountain scenery.

    • Kaanapali - is a famous beach resort just a few miles north of Lahaina.

  • The South Region of Maui, includes the towns of Kihei and Wailea. Here the beaches are less crowded.

    • Weather: The climate here is drier than in West Maui, translating to more sun and less rain during your vacation.

    • Wailea is a fantastic place to stay; it’s incredibly upscale - but there’s not much else to do there.

    • Staying in the south region translates to more of a long drive to reach the island’s most popular destinations like Haleakala and the Road to Hana.

• Destination Maui Vacations-is a leading vacation rental outfit.

• Maui Revealed Guidebooks - a “must get” travel guide. Best Seller!

DAYS 2-4

• Best beaches of Maui:

  • Beach Bucket list (detailed information) - make an effort to go to a few.

  • Kaanapali beach - one of Maui's most popular strips of coastline is immediately north of Lahaina.

    • Kaanapali beach stretches across 3-miles along the island's northwest coast.

  • Wailea beach - Wailea feels much less rugged than some of Maui's other beaches.

    • The orange brown colored sand is lined by palm trees and a paved walkway connecting the shoreline to the area's hotels, shops and restaurants. —Great location.

  • <Monthly beach water temperature>

• Enjoy a sunset cruise.

• Haleakala National Park - towering over the island of Maui and visible from just about any point, Haleakala Crater is a force of nature in every way.

• At 10,023 feet elevation, this dormant volcano is the stage for a breathtaking range of landscapes. (Be aware, at this elevation, there's less oxygen in the air. Your hike will feel more difficult, and you'll get tired more quickly.)

  • Sliding Sands Trails - trail starts at the bulletin board by the entrance to the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot.

    • GPS coordinates: 20°42'52.9"N 156°15'01.2"W

    • Just doing part of the trail is worth it ! The Martian-like scenery makes this trail very unique.

  • For a pleasant half-day hike (and yet still moderately strenuous), we recommend the first 2.5 miles of the Sliding Sands trail leading to the Ka Lu'u o ka O'o cinder cone before turning around and taking the trail back out. Best hike on island!

  • Bring layers of clothing. The temperatures at Haleakala summit are cold (32°F to 55°F) and windy especially at sunrise. Bring hat and gloves as the weather can change very quickly. <Read more>

  • There is now a permit lottery system for access to popular sunrise viewing. Even if you’re just hiking and not viewing the sunrise, you still need a permit to access the park before 7am.

• Upcountry Maui - Vegetable truck farms, protea farms, lodges, galleries and Kula botanical gardens. At Makawao town–is Paniolo (cowboy) country. Here you will find boutiques, shops & restaurants after returning from a busy day at Haleakala N.P.

• Horseback riding - Maui Mountain Activities LLC and Circle M Ranch offer rides.

• Bike down Haleakala. - You drop 3,000 ft. in 10 miles and curve around 29 switchbacks.

  • Stop often and enjoy the incredible vistas of west Maui surrounded by the Pacific. 

-Lahaina ---> Haleakala Park, 2 hrs.

-Wailea / Kihei ---> Haleakala Park, 90 min.

-Wailea/ Kihei ---> Lahaina, 45 min.

-Wailea or Lahaina ---> Hana, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 5

• Journey on the winding scenic Hana Highway.

• The Hana region consist of lush coastline, waterfalls, and vast rainforest. 

• Hana is a small town, quiet and beautiful.

  • It is considered "Authentic Hawaii" by virtue of remaining unchanged relative to the rest of Hawaii's development.  

• Red Beach (Kaihalulu Beach) - in Hana, the trailhead is near the cliff edge of the shoreline at the end of Uakea Road. <map>

• Beyond the town of Hāna, the Hāna Highway becomes Hawaii State Road 330 and leads to the ʻOheʻo Gulch where the Seven Sacred Pools are located.

  • Don’t swim if you have open cuts. Bacteria causing the Leptospirosis disease are present in Hawaiian streams. Open cuts and wounds are an easy way for it to enter your body.

• On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, you'll encounter less traffic when driving to Hana. If you start your journey at 7 am or 8 am you'll have ample time for the drive and can make a few interesting stops along the way.

• Driving time: Wailea or Lahaina ---> Hana, 2.5 to 3 hrs.

• Adding a extra day….Is it worth staying overnight in Hana Maui?

• If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, Hāna is a great place to do it. It’s a small, rural town with a local feel, and although there are definitely tourists, it does not feel overrun. This is the place to unwind and appreciate the natural beauty.

• The Back Road

• If you like the road less traveled, continue on past Hana around Haleakala, an adventure worth taking. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to return the way you came, you can see a spectacular back side of Maui many visitors miss. The road is unpaved but well-graded dirt for five (5) miles, and at no point is a 4WD needed. <route>

  • The trip will proceed through several climate zones as the scenery transforms from the lush jungle of Kipahulu, through ranchland, dry grasslands, lavascapes and back into lush green views of cloud-forest. <Learn more>

DAY 6

• Depart Maui for your flight home or hop to another Hawaiian Island.

Climate Guide:

• Historical Weather Data.

• On average, the temperatures are always high...80's during the day, 60's at night.

• Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in December and January.

• Maui has dry periods June through September.

• The warmest months are June, July and August.

• The coolest months are December through February.

• In general, the rainfall is greater in the Windward side of islands.

• The rainy season does NOT impose a real issue to visit the Hawaiian Islands.

• Monthly beach water temperature.

• Sunrise/sunset times.