Drive times you should plan around
| From | To | Typical drive |
|---|
| Kahului airport (OGG) | Kaanapali | 45 to 60 min |
| Kahului airport (OGG) | Kihei / Wailea | 20 to 35 min |
| Kaanapali | Kihei Boat Ramp | 40 to 50 min |
| Kaanapali | Kapalua | 15 min |
| Wailea | Haleakala summit | 1 hr 45 min |
| Kahului | Hana (one way) | 2.5 to 3 hrs |
Traffic bunches up on the Honoapiilani Highway (the pali road between Maalaea and Lahaina) in the late afternoon. If you have a 10:30 am departure in Kihei and you are staying in Kaanapali, leave by 9:15.
Leeward coast
West Maui: Kapalua, Kaanapali, Lahaina
Sunniest resort coastMost beach-launched tours45 to 60 min from the airport
The west side is where most visitors stay and where most of this list leaves from. Kaanapali Beach is a three-mile stretch of sand backed by resorts and the Whalers Village shops, and because the water is sheltered from the trade winds, boats load straight off the sand. Parasail flights, jet skis, snorkel sails, sunset cruises and whale-watch rafts all check in within a five-minute walk of each other.
North of Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua are quieter, with the Kapalua Coastal Trail and Honolua Bay (a world-class summer snorkel site and a famous winter surf break). South of Kaanapali is Lahaina, the old whaling town that was devastated by the August 2023 wildfire. Rebuilding is ongoing; the resorts, beaches and tours north of town are open, and the ATV course is in the hills above Lahaina.
Driest, calmest coast
South Maui: Kihei, Wailea, Makena
Molokini departuresLuxury resorts in Wailea20 to 35 min from the airport
South Maui gets the least rain on the island. Kihei is the laid-back condo town with the Kamaole beach parks and the Kihei Boat Ramp, which is where the fast Molokini rafts leave from. Wailea is the manicured resort strip with a beach path linking five golden-sand coves. Makena, at the end of the road, has Big Beach and the lava fields of La Perouse Bay.
Molokini Crater sits about three miles offshore. If you are staying in West Maui, it is a 40 to 50 minute drive to the ramp, so a late-morning departure is friendlier than a dawn one.
The isthmus
Central Maui: Kahului and Wailuku
Airport, Costco, cruise portIao Valley
The flat neck of land between the two volcanoes holds the airport, the harbor, the big-box stores and most of the island's year-round residents. Visitors pass through, stock up, and visit Iao Valley State Monument (non-residents need a reservation). Maalaea Harbor on the south edge is where the big catamarans leave for Molokini.
Up the volcano
Upcountry and Haleakala
Sunrise reservations requiredCool, green, farm country
Kula, Makawao and Pukalani sit on the slopes of Haleakala at 2,000 to 4,000 feet, where it is cool enough for lavender farms, protea and a winery. The summit at 10,023 feet is above the clouds; sunrise requires a reservation from recreation.gov, booked up to 60 days ahead, and a jacket because it is often near freezing. The classic way to experience the mountain without the 3 am alarm is the downhill bike ride from 6,500 feet to Paia.
Windward side
North Shore: Paia and Hookipa
Surf townTurtles at Hookipa
Paia is the bohemian surf town on the way to Hana, good for lunch and shopping. Hookipa Beach Park just east of town has the island's most reliable turtle-watching from the lookout in the late afternoon, and windsurfers and kitesurfers when the trades are up.
Rainforest coast
East Maui: the Road to Hana
Full-day drive600+ curves, 50+ bridges
The Hana Highway hugs the wet, jungled side of Haleakala for 52 miles of waterfalls, bamboo and black-sand beaches. Waianapanapa State Park needs an advance reservation. Most people drive it as a loop day from the west or south side and are back after dark. Leave early, pack food, and fill the tank in Paia, or let a guide drive and handle the reservations.