Maui

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Maui Travel Guide

Visitor information on Where to StayBest Maui Things to Doand more...

07-06-2025

John C. Derrick

Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.

Aloha! This article may link to trusted Hawaii resources (like Discount Hawaii Car Rentals) at no extra cost to you. Mahalo for your support!

The Valley Island

Maui Visitor Guide

Maui has been a favorite tourist destination for decades because it represents the quintessential tropical getaway. With its beautiful coastal viewseclectic volcanoeswildlife sanctuaries nearbyand a wide majority of the island left wild and free from rampant developmentthere are countless things to do in Maui that will leave you authentically charmed!

Maui has a lot going for itespecially for such a small island. It combines some of the best foodshoppingand entertainment choices from several of the other Hawaiian islands while emphasizing outdoor fun rather than a late-night party scenelike Oahuwhich makes plenty of regular visitors happy.

Maui has several small townsespecially along the coastgiving much of the island a small but not rural vibe. Maui is not as large or varied in terrain as the Big Island or as weathered and verdant as Kauai. Stillits 10,000+ foot volcano Haleakalacombined with the incredible coastline views along the Road to Hana and unique places like the 'Iao Valley and Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach, make Maui a unique and special place to visit all on its own

Maui Sights

Maui Beaches

Maui Hiking

Maui's Ongoing Recovery

Maui is still healing from the devastating Lahaina wildfires of August 2023and while the island remains a place of immense beauty and alohawe encourage visitors to travel with mindfulness and respect. Many residents are still rebuilding their livesand your visit can make a meaningful difference when approached with care. Supporting local businesseschoosing responsible tour operatorsand being sensitive to the ongoing recovery efforts are all ways to give back while experiencing Maui’s incredible landscapes and culture. As the island continues to healwe ask that you travel with kindnesspatienceand an open heart.

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Haleakala

Haleakala at Dawn - Sunrise above the clouds

Often called the "Playground of the Wealthy," Maui definitely caters to those looking for more expensive accommodations yet is spared the crowds of Oahu. But don't fret if top-notch accommodations aren't in your plans - Maui caters to all typesincluding the budget-conscious. The island has a reputation for being a playground for all touristsnot just the super-rich. Whether you're looking for the best Maui beacha great bed & breakfastor even a bamboo forest hikewe've assembled all the Maui essentials here.

Everything you need to know about Maui is here in one convenient place:

Maui travel tips & information - everything you need to know about Maui
Determine when to travel to Maui - which time of year is the best?
Discover the perfect Maui hotels & accommodations or our excellent selection of Maui tours & activities
Explore Maui's landmarks & attractions

Maui Visitor Information

Our Top Valley Isle Travel Tips

Maui Travel Tips

Maui is the second-most-visited island in Hawaiiwith around 2.7 to 2.9 million visitors annually. Tourism greatly affects the island's characterand it boasts a wide assortment of accommodation and activity choices.

Maui is also the second-largest landmass in the Hawaiian island chainwhich consists of eight major islands and 124 islets. The archipelago comprises numerous volcanic islands in the central Pacific Oceanstretching in a 1,500-mile crescent from Kure Island in the northwest to the Big Island of Hawaii in the eastencompassing 6,459 square miles. The eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain arefrom west to eastNiihauKauaiOahuMolokaiLanaiKahoolawe, Mauiand the Big Island of Hawaii.

Maui Attractions

Maui vs. Other Islands

Maui Nui (Credit: Wikipedia)

Geologic History of 'Maui Nui'

Maui Nui or 'Greater Maui' is the geologic name given to a prehistoric Hawaiian Island built from seven shield volcanoes. Nui means "great/large" in the Hawaiian language.

A little over a million years agothe island was significantly large than the island we think of as Maui today. They didn't separate until around 200,000 years agopartially due to sea levels rising due to glacial melting. Once encompassing the islands of modern-day MauiMoloka'iLana'iKaho'olawe the ancient shield volcanoes slowly settled into the Pacific Ocean seafloor by subsidenceand the volcanoes were additionally weathered by erosion to slowly separate into the distinctly different islands as they appear today.

At their largestthe islands of Maui Nui were a combined 5,600 square miles in size (14,600 sq km) - giving them a land area over 40% larger than the Big Island today.

On the corresponding graphic'Ma' is an abbreviation for mega-annamillions of years ago. The light and dark shading show the extent of land during low and high sea stands of glacial cycles.

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Hana Hwy

Road to Hana - East Maui

Maui Transportation

Transportation on Maui is diverseallowing visitors to choose based on their preferences and the nature of their itinerary.

Car Rentals: Renting a car is a popular choice (we recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental)allowing you to explore the island at your own pace. Maui's attractions are spread outmaking a car a convenient choice.
Public Buses: Maui Bus operates a public transit system that covers various parts of the island. It's an economical choicethough it may be less convenient due to its schedule and route limitations.
Shuttle Services: Some resorts offer shuttle services to popular destinationsproviding a hassle-free option for guests.
Bicycling: Maui's picturesque landscapes make biking a delightful experienceand bike rentals are available in several areas.
Taxis and Ride-Shares: Taxis and ride-share services like Uber and Lyft operate on Mauioffering a convenient option for short distances or if you prefer not to drive.
Walking: In more compact areas like Ka'anapali and Waileawalking is a feasible way to get aroundenjoy the sceneryand immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

Considering the transportation options in advance can help visitors make the most of their Maui experiencewhether they prefer the flexibility of a rental carthe eco-friendliness of bikingor the convenience of public transit.

HawaiiGuide: Maui Map

View our Collection of Maui Maps

Maui Visitor Data

Maui 2024 vs 2019 Visitors

Maui 2024 vs 2019 Visitor Numbers

Maui Hotel vs Vacation Rental Rates

Maui 2024 Hotel vs Vacation Rental Rates

Published by: John C. Derrick

Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from some travel partners (like Amazon or Expedia) which helps us maintain this site. These links are at no extra cost to you and don't impact our honest & unbiased recommendations. Remove all the ads →

Maui Travel Guide

Visitor information on Where to StayBest Maui Things to Doand more...

The Valley Island

Maui Visitor Guide

Maui's Ongoing Recovery

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Maui Intro Visitor Guide

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