Destinations Menu
RSS
UNITED STATES | Maui, Hawaii Travel Guide
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Maui, Hawaii
Fleming Beach, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii (cc)
Photo: Kasuga Huang
Maui
Maui is an incredible draw, and always has been. But the throngs of visitors have hardly dampened its appeal. In fact, the word from the islands is that Maui is "no ka oi!" ("the best")! Island residents and visitors alike will tell you that Maui has some of Hawaii's best beaches, best resorts, best golf courses, the best weather, with an average of 320 days of sunshine a year, and the sweetest pineapples on the face of the planet! And it's all true.
The Islands of Hawaii
Maui Orientation
Alternately known as the “Valley Isle” and the "Magic Island," Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands, encompassing 729 square miles. It comprises two distinct, volcanic land masses, West Maui and East Maui, joined together by a low central valley (or isthmus). West Maui, the smaller and drier of the two, owes its existence to the extinct Pu'u Kukui volcano, elevation, 5,788 feet, and boasts the island's premier resorts, Ka'anapali and Kapalua, and also the historic, tourist-alluring town of Lahaina. East Maui, larger and more varied, is home to Maui's principal towns, Kahului and Wailuku, and towering Mount Haleakala, elevation 10,023 feet (the highest point on Maui), the mid to lower reaches of which make up Upcountry, the fertile cradle of Maui's agriculture. East Maui also includes the southwest coast of the island where Kihei, Wailea and Makena spill over onto sandy, sun-drenched beaches, as well as the rain-soaked, lush countryside along the Road to Hana at the southeastern end of the island.
Maui has a population of more than 85,000, and is one of the most popular destinations in Hawaii, drawing more than 2.5 million visitors annually. It has no fewer than 13,000 hotel rooms and rental condominium accommodations, more than 200 restaurants, and a wealth of recreational opportunities, including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, whale-watching, hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing, and beachcombing.
The island lies approximately 35 miles northwest of the Big Island of Hawaii, with Molokai and Lanai to its north and west, respectively, each some 9 miles distant. The island of Oahu lies 75 miles to the northwest of Maui.
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Overview
Hotels(79)
Restaurants(76)
Attractions(29)
Activities(57)
Map 
Top Picks
Weather Forecast
- Reported on:
Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:54
- Reported on:
Trending Themes:
Guides to Popular Ski Resorts
-
Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More
-
Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More
-
Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More
-
Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More
-
Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More
-
St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More
-
Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More
-
St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More
-
Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More