Maui

Haleakalā, "house of the sun", is the heart of Haleakalā National Park. From the summit area and the visitor centre, you look across a huge eroded crater of red, ochre and black cinder cones, and on clear days to the Big Island's peaks. Sunrise here is famous, but sunset and the night sky are just as striking and need no reservation. Trails such as Keonehēʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) lead down into the crater; remember the climb back is at high altitude.

TipA sunrise reservation is required for vehicles entering the summit district between 3am and 7am. Book on Recreation.gov 60 days ahead or in the smaller release 2 days ahead; they sell out fast. Bring warm layers, as it's often near freezing before dawn.

On Haleakalā's western slopes, Kula is Upcountry farmland of lavender, protea, onions and cattle pasture, with sweeping views down to the isthmus and the West Maui Mountains. It's a natural stop on the way up or down the mountain, with farm stands and a gentler, cooler climate.

A paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town of wooden shopfronts with galleries, boutiques and a long-standing bakery. The paniolo tradition on Maui goes back to the nineteenth century, and the town's rodeo around the Fourth of July keeps it alive.

On the North Shore near Pāʻia, Hoʻokipa is one of the world's best-known windsurfing and big-wave spots. The lookout above the beach is the place to watch, and green sea turtles often rest on the sand in the afternoon.

TipStay well back from basking turtles; they are protected, and volunteers often rope off a viewing area.

The Hāna Highway winds about 80 kilometres along the windward coast, with hundreds of bends and many one-lane bridges, past waterfalls, bamboo and rainforest. Keʻanae Peninsula, a flat tongue of black lava with taro patches and a stone church, is one of the loveliest stops; nearby Puaʻa Kaʻa and Wailua Valley state waysides are easy short halts.

TipStart early, fill up with fuel before Pāʻia, pull over to let locals pass, and park only in marked areas. Many roadside pools sit on private land; respect closed gates.

A small black-sand beach framed by lava sea arches, caves and native hala trees, with a coastal trail along the old King's Highway. It's one of the island's most photographed places, and visits are managed to protect it.

TipOut-of-state visitors need a timed reservation for entry and parking, booked in advance through gostateparks.hawaii.gov.

The town at the end of the road is quiet and rural, with Hāna Bay, a small church and a few places to eat. Most visitors pass straight through; staying a night lets you see the road without rushing and the town as it really is.

The coastal district of Haleakalā National Park, about 20 kilometres past Hāna. The short Kūloa Point Trail overlooks the pools of ʻOheʻo stepping down to the sea, and the Pīpīwai Trail climbs through a giant bamboo forest to the 120-metre Waimoku Falls. Your park entrance receipt covers both districts for three days.

TipThe ʻOheʻo pools are closed to swimming for safety; flash floods here can rise very quickly.

A lush, steep-sided valley in the West Maui Mountains above Wailuku, with the green pinnacle of Kūkaemoku, the ʻĪao Needle. In 1790, the valley was the scene of a decisive battle in Kamehameha's campaign to unite the islands. A paved path leads to a lookout and a garden of plants brought by early Polynesian voyagers.

TipNon-residents need an advance entry and parking reservation; check for temporary maintenance closures before you go.

South Maui's resort area, with a string of crescent beaches such as Wailea, Ulua and Polo linked by a paved coastal path. Calm mornings bring good snorkelling around the rocky points, and the dry, sunny climate makes it a reliable base.

Big Beach (Oneloa) is a long, wide sweep of golden sand backed by the cinder cone of Puʻu Ōlaʻi, with Little Beach just over the rocks. It's undeveloped and beautiful, but the shore break is powerful and causes many serious injuries.

A partly sunken volcanic crater off the south coast, protected as a Marine Life Conservation District and seabird sanctuary. Its clear, sheltered water is home to abundant reef fish, and morning snorkel tours leave from Māʻalaea and Kīhei. Landing on the islet is not allowed.

Lahaina was once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and later a whaling port. On 8 August 2023, a wind-driven wildfire destroyed most of the town and took more than a hundred lives. Recovery and rebuilding continue: the County of Maui reopened much of Front Street to vehicle traffic on 1 August 2026, with fencing around private property and off-limit areas, and some streets near the harbour still closed for work. A growing number of businesses have returned.

TipThis is a place of grief and remembrance. Stay out of fenced areas, don't photograph burned properties or residents, and check mauirecovers.org for current access before you go.

West Maui's long resort beach, with a paved beachwalk and Puʻu Kekaʻa (Black Rock) at its northern end, a sacred place in Hawaiian tradition and a popular snorkelling spot. Spending time and money in West Maui supports its recovery.

At the island's north-western tip, the sheltered bays of Nāpili and Kapalua are among Maui's best for gentle swimming and snorkelling on calm days. The coastal trail between them crosses old lava and has views of Molokaʻi across the channel.