Live Maui - An Online Travelers Guide

Town - Kahului

2012-04-12T13:51:00.002-10:00

The largest community on Maui hosts both the Island’s airport, several malls and major stores. Serving as Maui’s retail center, it does have several attractions visitors and kama’aina find of interest, such as museums, art centers and beach parks.

Recommended places to go:

Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center: Kahului’s largest mall with tons of places to shop, get a bite to eat and catch a flick. A few restaurants I recommend there are Koho’s, Ruby’s, Ramen Ya & Maui Taco’s.

Maui Mall: A smaller shopping center but still popular among locals and tourist for its dining, specialty retail stores and Movie Theater. Places I would recommend there are Genki Sushi, Whole Foods Market & MauiFoam Company for local surf apparel.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center: Lots of bands perform here, you can check out their website for info on upcoming shows.

Other recommended areas in town:

Costco: Cheapest place to get food, must have a membership card

Da Kitchen: The best local food on the island
Krispy Krèmes: Donuts served fresh daily
Zippy’s: Another place to eat local favorites

General Map:

Town - Front Street, Lahaina

2012-04-12T12:15:00.000-10:00

Once known as Lele, which means “relentless sun” in Hawaiian, Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hot spot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants.

Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century, Lahaina was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800’s. Up to 1,500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel Moby Dick. Source

Lahaina is a great spot for tourist to eat and shop while enjoying the beautiful ocean scenery. It gets hot there during the day so you might want to dress down a bit. You can also enjoy a local favorite called “Shaved Ice” to deal with the heat.

The best time of the year to go to Lahaina is during Halloween. Thousands of people walk the street in cool looking costumes while enjoying food and entertainment from local vendors.

In another post I'll let you know which night clubs in Lahaina provide the best entertainment.

Trip to Hana

2012-04-12T08:08:00.001-10:00

Hana, isolated from the rest of the island, is truly the last undeveloped tropical paradise on Maui. Picturesque views of spectacular waterfalls, the rugged Hana shoreline, and some of the best beaches on the island can only begin to describe what awaits you on this journey. The 52 mile trip from Kahului Airport will take 2-4 hours depending on how often you stop along the Narrow, Winding Hana Highway (560). Explore the various parks and lookouts as you drive through Maui’s only coastal rainforest accessible by car. The charm of Hana is the fact that little has changed over the last 20 years. Untouched by the major developments of the other side of the island, the Hana community has managed to perpetuate the small town atmosphere, Hawaiian culture and most of all, its natural scenic beauty. Source

I will attest that Hana is a must see for anyone visiting Maui but I will also warn you about the dangers of making the drive out there. First of all the drive is very long, not only because of the distance but in most areas the road becomes narrow making it hard to navigate with oncoming traffic. The guard rails which protect the vehicle from going off the cliff are outdated so the dangers will be apparent the further you drive. Also be careful which areas you pull off to, some beaches may require 4 wheel drive and you could end up stranding yourself if you're not prepared. I’d recommend doing some research before you make the drive or taking someone experienced to guide you. If you love the untouched country scenery and want to see Maui in its purest form, Hana is the place to visit.

Trip to Haleakalā

2012-04-12T07:37:00.001-10:00

Stretching across Maui’s southern and eastern coastline, Haleakalā National Park is home to Maui's highest peak. Rising 10,023 feet above sea level, Haleakalā's graceful slopes can be seen from just about any point on the island. Haleakalā means "house of the sun" in Hawaiian, and legend has it that the demigod Maui lassoed the sun from its journey across the sky as he stood on the volcano’s summit, slowing its descent to make the day last even longer. Source

By far one of the best attractions on Maui, usually both locals and tourist flock to this mountain to watch a breathtaking sunrise in the morning. Be sure to factor in drive time if you plan to make it before the sun begins to break over the horizon. Also, dress up with very warm clothes or bring a blanket because it will be freezing. The atmosphere can be very romantic if you plan it right.

Trip to 'Iao Valley

2012-04-11T22:42:00.001-10:00

ʻĪao Valley (English: Iao, Hawaiian: ʻĪ-ao: "cloud supreme", pronounced similar to "EE-ow") is a lush, stream-cut valley in West Maui, Hawaii, located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Wailuku. Because of its natural beauty and historical significance, it has become a popular tourist location. Source

If you would like to go sightseeing on Maui, this place is highly recommended. Locals will usually go there to swim in the river. Be prepared for some minor hiking.