One Week: Maui

Maui, Hawaii is one of my all-time favorite travel destinations—and one I recommend to anyone planning a tropical getaway. Whether you’re visiting Maui for a long weekend before venturing to other islands, or staying for a full week (or longer!), read on for my favorite places to visit, hopefully helpful personal tips, beach recommendations, and must-do activities. If you’re wondering how to spend a week in Maui, read on for a diverse mix of ideas to fit any length of stay.

I’ve been traveling to the Valley Isle for more than 20 years (!). With every trip, I find new favorites and re-explore old ones. In fact, I’ve taken several of my old Maui posts, refreshed and reformatted them here for a little easier reading and reference. I’ll keep making updates with future trips, so keep checking back!

As someone who loves the island, the summer 2023 fires on Maui, and Lahaina in particular, were—are—heartbreaking. For folks who call it home, it’s been absolutely devastating. And while it’s ill-advised to gawk at or get in the way of the clean up and recovery (which is very much still ongoing in 2025 and 2026), the rest of the island is very much open, and the vast majority of Mauians are eager to welcome visitors.

If you haven’t already read my write-up from a van camping trip in November 2019 or my more comprehensive round up of Maui’s beaches, be sure to circle back and check those out. For even more, read on…

Know Before You Go

If you’re wondering if it’s okay to visit (as least in the areas not directly impacted by fire), the answer is yes. One shouldn’t even need to remind travelers to be especially thoughtful and considerate but it’s worth saying again, because you’ll likely run into folks who were impacted or have friends and loved ones whose lives are forever changed. While it’s great to see rebuilding underway in 2025 and 2026, many folks who were displaced are still waiting to be able to come back home.

Of course, keeping things local is also always a worthwhile endeavor, so keep reading!

On a more fun note, if you’re a Facebook user, join the Maui Vacationers Pass it Along group before you go. You might be able to score some free food and gear for your trip, and if you have leftovers at the end of your vacation, it’s a good way to avoid sending it to the landfill.

In addition to the Facebook group, at the end of your trip, non-perishable items can be donated to the Maui Food Bank and a few minutes from the airport, the pups at Maui Humane Society will love your items like peanut butter, cheese, and hot dogs. Your hotel or condo might even have a donation bin. As well, other unopened items may be appreciated by your housekeeping crew, though I’d suggest checking with your host or hotel so it’s not just trashed.

Getting There

Kahului (OGG; fun facts below) is Maui’s primary airport with direct service from a number of west coast cities (including Vancouver, B.C.) and a few other U.S. hubs. Service from elsewhere typically connects through the larger Honolulu (HNL) airport, with interisland flights operated by Hawaiian or Southwest. Fares from the mainland vary widely depending on season, time of day, and occasional sales, so extra shopping could be valuable here.

Maui has two other commercial airports, Kapalua (JHM; north of Lahaina) and Hana (HNM), but you likely won’t come across flights to these airports unless you’re specifically looking or have a private plane. Kapalua is only served to/from Honolulu and Hana is only served to/from Kahului.

Three other good-to-know airport tips:

• Kahului airport can have long security lines at peak times. Give yourself a little extra time to clear security, including TSA PreCheck or Clear lines.
• If you’re flying from Hawaii back to the mainland, you’ll need to clear an agricultural inspection for checked and carry on baggage (regardless of which airport you head back to the mainland from). Unless you’ve purchased specially tagged produce like a Maui Gold pineapple, any agricultural items will be confiscated, including fresh fruit, flowers, seeds, etc.
• If you’re looking for a lounge, don’t bother. Even though Hawaiian Airlines opened a new Premier Club lounge here in 2024, it’s still even more sad than Wall Street Journal’s saddest airport lounge.

Why is Maui’s airport code OGG? Well, that comes from Jim Hogg, a former Hawaiian Airlines pilot. In 1946, Hogg became the Chief Pilot for the airline and when the code was established, they named it after him, although it was his choice to use OGG rather than HOG.

LGBTQ Safety

Maui County only scores an 86 in HRC’s database of LGBTQ legal protections, as most of Maui’s protections are at the state level. But statewide, Hawaii is in the Top 5 U.S. states for LGBTQ safety, earning a A grade from Safehome.org—their rating is a mix of legal protections and reported hate crime statistics (the data available to them and the fact that it’s statewide mean the ranking is imperfect, but few other resources include hate crime statistics in their formulas).

While Hawaii’s LGBTQ community flies a little more under the radar in laid-back Maui, the island has always felt welcoming and accepting to me. Maybe that’s because of the acceptance of LGBTQ folks in historic native culture (or maybe just the Spirit of Aloha).

Besides Little Beach, the de facto Maui gay bar and hangout (more below), and Sunday drum circles on Secret Beach, I don’t recall a lot of public affection around Maui. But especially in resort, tourist, and urban areas, there are plenty of LGBTQ folks around. As well, Aloha Maui Pride—besides organizing the island’s annual Pride festival—hosts regular hikes, brunches, and other meet-ups. Their Facebook page is much more up-to-date with events compared to their website, FYI.

Sightseeing Highlights

One of the things I love about Maui, and the reason it’s my favorite of the Hawaiian islands, is because Maui has a bit of everything: beaches, mountains, hiking, water sports, food, nature, relaxation. Maui isn’t necessarily all about the quietness or solitude of the Big Island, the lushness of Kauai, or the tropical urban atmosphere of Oahu, but you can find most all of this on Maui if that’s what your after. (That’s not to say you shouldn’t visit all the other islands or it’s not okay to have a different take on favorites, but then you’d have to write your own post!)

First of all, if you’re headed to Maui, hopefully the beach is on your agenda. They’re such a treat that I wrote a full post about Maui’s beaches, but favorite beach tips include:

Makena State Park (pictured above) in South Maui encompasses the beaches generally known as Big Beach and Little Beach. While lovely white sand beaches abound in Maui, these are a couple of the best, in my opinion. Little Beach is Maui’s one unofficial nude beach (technically nudity is illegal, but it’s generally not enforced here—except at closing time, see below). A few tips:

• There’s a big parking lot at the entrance to the park and beach. Parking plus per-person visitor fees are charged and enforced—including the number of visitors in your vehicle—but I think it’s a small price to pay to keep the parks funded and maintained. Download the ParkMobile app to pay your parking before you arrive to save a little time when you get there (cell signals are spotty at the park).
• The surf and shore break at both beaches can be intense. Don’t turn your back on the ocean, be mindful of currents and your swimming ability, and never underestimate the ocean. The waves can be fun, but Mother Nature doesn’t mess around.
• The beach and the park “close” at 7pm every day. From 2020 to early 2023, more strict hours for Little Beach were pretty strictly enforced, with park rangers citing beachgoers who didn’t pack up or cover up swiftly. As of late 2025, the enforcing gate between Big Beach and Little Beach has been removed and no enforcement was present, thankfully. Remember, nudity is technically illegal, so if as bare as you dare is your motto, it’s probably still a good idea to keep your suit close: forewarned is fair warned.
• Related to the note above: Little Beach used to have a drum circle on Sunday afternoons/evenings, but that seems to have moved permanently up the road. Don’t expect much in this regard any time in the near future.

The internet delivered an awesome emoji-focused guide I’ve shared here to help narrow down the best beach, whether you’re snorkeling, swimming, whale watching, or whatever. Other beaches I’ve enjoyed include:

• Papalaua Wayside Park is a unique spot along the road toward (but before you get to) Lahaina. It’s a great spot to sit on the sand and eat the lunch you got from Leoda’s (see below), but if anyone tells you it’s a great place to snorkel, I swear they’re trying to kill—or at least injure—you. Yes, there’s amazing coral and typically calm surf. But the water is shallow and even the slightest undulations in the water put you precariously close to shredding every part of yourself on the coral (and technically, it’s not good for the coral either).
• Kapalua Beach near Kaanapali and Napiili is a stunning, mostly protected cove that’s picture perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Note that the main parking lot is a paid one and it’s not cheap ($30+), but payment is good all day, so it’s a better deal if you’re planning to stay a while.

Pre-COVID, Maui held Friday evening community events and I’m happy to see they’re returning. Fourth Friday in Kihei is the one event currently happening, but I hope the three or four other events in Wailuku, Lahaina, and Makawao—and occasional fifth Fridays in Lana’i—return soon as well. The events are a fun mix of local craft and food vendors, as well as live entertainment. It might be a 30-minute excursion, or maybe a few hours, depending on what you’re into, but it’s still a fun event.

The Maui Swap Meet has what I’d consider as an unfortunate name. When I hear “swap meet,” I generally think “yard sale.” But in this case, it’s a more like a mix of a farmers market and a makers mart (some of it original and cool, some of it mass-produced on the other side of the Pacific). Heads up that there’s a small admission charge ($0.50-$0.75, depending on where you look) that seems to me like more of an inconvenience than any attempt to help sustain the event, but bring some small bills or change.

Maui has a number of adorable towns, and in particular it would be a shame to skip Paia town. You could make it a stop on your return trip from Hana, but it’s worth making your way there just for its own merits as well. With a number of delicious restaurants, a couple bars featuring live music and a stroll-worthy town center, it’s a great place to spend a few hours. As well, don’t miss Mana Foods, the local grocery, which has an amazing selection of Maui-grown produce as well as a fantastic deli where you can pick up some sustenance on your way toward Hana.

Speaking of the Road to Hana, it’s a trek most Maui visitors probably have on a might-do list. I’ll say this: it can be fun. It will be a full day. And most folks will probably only need to do it once, although there may be specific parts that will draw you back—perhaps for an overnight so you have more time to spend at Kipahulu and ‘Ohe’o Gulch just past Hana town (where camping is also allowed). If you choose to do the Road to Hana, the Gypsy Audio Guide is worth the modest cost. You’ll learn some fun things and the guide will break up the long drive. A couple other highlights, besides those in Paia town before or after the rest of the drive, are Coconut Glen’s Ice Cream and Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread (but be forewarned: their batches are small and go fast, so your chances of getting some, especially without waiting, are hit or miss).

If you’re not going to or coming from Hana, bonus points for making the short excursion upcountry from Paia town or as a detour heading up or down the mountain from Haleakalā. In Makawao, the art and glass-blowing galleries are beautiful, there are good restaurants, and the Komoda Store and Bakery (closed on Sundays and Wednesdays, FYI) is an institution for its baked goods.

Part of the magic of Maui for me is that with each trip, I find something new to see, do, or explore. In January 2024, that included Maui Wine in Kula. The views are beautiful. To my tastes, some wines are better than others, but it’s a great destination just the same.

While we were in Upcountry (as the area which includes Kula is often called), we took the opportunity to stop in Hali’imaile after the winery. Hali’imaile doesn’t have much of a downtown to stroll through, but is home to Maui Gold pineapple farm (the tour was interesting but something you’d only do once, in my opinion). The pineapple tour ends with guests getting a box of fresh whole pineapples, but also ends conveniently at Hali’imaile Distillery, where the spirits are made from pineapple juice. Fortunately, pineapple vodka, rum and whiskey taste better (to my palate) than pineapple wine. Folks can do the distillery tour without the pineapple plantation tour. Or just hit the gift shop. There’s also a glass blowing studio and gallery next door. And across the street is the Hali’imaile General Store. Read below in Food and Drink for more on that.

Haleakalā National Park includes a lot of different areas (including Kipahulu and ‘Ohe’o Gulch near Hana, as noted above), but most notably, the namesake volcano and its 10,023-foot high summit. A trip to the summit means a bit of driving from most places on the island, but rewards visitors with stunning panoramic views and some really awesome hiking trails with unique views with each trail’s twists and turns. Some day I’ll make reservations to check out the sunrise atop Haleakalā (I’ve heard it’s beyond stunning), but to date, I haven’t quite rationalized the idea of getting up by 3am to go sightseeing. (NOTE: regardless of time of day, remember that with 10,000’ in elevation gain comes a corresponding drop in temperature. Bring layers—and sunscreen.)

Eating and Drinking

Maui’s location in the middle of the South Pacific lends it a special place in the food scene. If you’re looking for good ‘ol American food, you can find it here. But you’ll also find some great chefs serving everything from Hawaiian and Asian street food to inspired white-linen eats.

My favorites for food and (/or) drinks include:

• Monkeypod Kitchen is one place I typically won’t miss on a trip to Maui. Their food is good, but their namesake mai tai topped with lilikoi foam is the real draw. Be careful, they go down easy and are delicious. Live music many evenings (at the Wailea location as well as Kaanapali) just adds to the appeal.
• Fred’s Mexican. Admittedly this is the closest spot to the condo where we usually stay, but their Taco Tuesday is a deliciously good deal, and their Moco Loco (rice topped with a hamburger patty, eggs, and brown gravy) is my favorite. Moose McGillicuddy’s upstairs is related with a similar menu and sometimes has a shorter wait at night (and is open later most nights).
• Lahaina Brewing Company (formerly Kohola Brewing) got its start in the namesake town of Lahaina, but after having their brewhouse burned in the 2023 fires, opened a new restaurant and taproom in Wailea, trading the warehousey charm of the old location for a swanky restaurant and patio. The beer is good and the food is great—and they have a happy hour from 2-5pm. I haven’t been to their upcountry location, but based on my other experiences, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
• Maui Brewing has their main brewhouse in Kihei and besides offering fresh brews (including taproom-only choices), they’ve got some delicious food, a big gorgeous patio, and, most nights, live entertainment. A new location is also open in Ka’anapali too, if you’re there.
• The South Shore Tiki Lounge isn’t fancy, but their kalua pork and pineapple pizza is my favorite. Skip the mai tais here, in my opinion, but don’t miss this spot for a reasonably-priced bite to eat, good happy hour deals, and their outdoor patio.
• Mama’s Fish House, just outside of Paia town, is a Maui institution. You’ll pay a (significant) premium for the location, so save this for a special occasion. But the location and views are glorious, and the food and service are solid.
• Sam Sato’s Dry Noodle in Wailuku is an unassuming place in an industrial park, but it’s a great lunch staple. Plan for a wait, but take out is available too.

Maui also has a great collection of options for casual and grab-and-go as well. A few of my go-to’s include

• You can thank Hawaii for the poke bowl restaurants popping up across the country, but this is its home. Grocery store poke is usually quite good (though often with previously-frozen fish), including at Foodland and Times Supermarket in Kihei, as well as Island Gourmet Market in Wailea. And Tamura’s Fine Wines & Liquors (also in Kihei) serves up some of the very freshest fish despite the unlikely liquor store location.
• Fans of Top Chef will recognize Tin Roof in Kahului for its chef/owner Sheldon Simeon (he’s also Executive Chef at a few other Maui restaurants). As you’d expect, it’s delicious. It’s take-out only (though there are a few spots to sit in the parking lot outside), but don’t let that deter you from getting delicious saimin or incredibly crispy mochico chicken. If you’re looking for a sit down option, check out sister restaurant Tiffany’s run by Sheldon and his wife Janice Simeon (the pickled cucumbers were my favorite).
• The Kihei Food Oasis at South Maui Gardens is a good size food truck park in central Kihei full of games like cornhole, a concert stage, and of course, food trucks. Everything looked and smelled delicious, but on this stop, we got a double Waygu smash burger from Burger Boys Hawaii. The burger was great—I’ll be back, although there’s some Thai food, fried chicken, and poutine calling my name that I didn’t yet try…
• 808 Deli (previously tucked behind Fred’s Mexican, but now with a much better storefront just a few doors down) makes great sandwiches and has a bunch of other delicious options too. Grab some Mac salad and/or pudding while you’re there!
• Saving one of my other favorites for last … Kihei’s Cinnamon Roll Place. Their cinnamon rolls aren’t cheap (and nuts, raisins, or extra icing is an additional cost), but they’re freshly made every day. As well, their fluffy egg sandwiches are huge and filling as well as delicious. Online ordering is available to help shortcut the often lengthy line in the morning.

As I noted above, if you’re in Hali’imaile, the Hali’imaile General Store is a magnificent place to stop, and it’s worth the drive if you’re not already here. This restaurant launched Chef Bev Gannon’s career and helped put Hawaiian cuisine on the fine dining map.

Lodging

Maui has all variety of lodging options, though where you’re going on the island and how long you’re staying might narrow down the options easily. Pick a spot that’s easy to get to most of what you want to do for your week on Maui, because 15 miles could be an hour or more drive. A few tips and highlights that are more universally applicable:

• Resort hotels are expensive (and don’t forget about those sneaky resort and parking fees which add an extra $100+ per night at the Grand Wailea, for instance)
• For vacation rentals, double check that your host lists—and charges—Hawaii lodging taxes. This is a quick, if imperfect, way to help ensure your rental is legal and legit. Also note that on-island rental management companies usually have their own site where you can often book the same condo you see on AirBnB, but less expensively.

Two areas that are most common for lodging in Maui are South Maui (Kihei and Wailea, primarily) and West Maui (Lahaina and Kaanapali, primarily). Slightly less common options are Paia and Haiku, Hana, or Kahului (nearest to the airport).

South Maui, where I typically stay, has traditional hotels and posh resorts, all of which can be exorbitantly expensive, particularly in Wailea. Short-term vacation rentals tend to be less expensive per night, but cleaning and booking fees can be disproportionately expensive for shorter stays. Some tips and highlights:

• A couple hotels are more reasonable, such as the Days Inn and Maui Coast. If you’re only there for a night or two, they’re probably good options, saving the resort and cleaning fees of vacation rental condos. Note that Maui Coast tacks resort and parking fees on top of their nightly rates. And while the Days Inn doesn’t, the internet (and cell service) was all but unusable there, so think twice about staying there if you’re planning a remote-work day.
• Kihei has a lot of vacation rental condos and the extra space and kitchens are great for a longer stay. Do pay attention to the vacation rental’s fine print, though: most condo complexes charge a fee on arrival (separate from your rental company’s fees) some rental companies include the condo property fees at the time of booking, others don’t. You’ll probably pay one way or the other, so this is more about expectations than the expense, though fees can vary wildly: Kihei Akahi is about $35/stay; nearby Kamaole Sands was $70/stay last time I checked.
• Kihei Akahi, the condo development where I usually stay is directly across the street from the ocean and Kamaole Beach Park II (check it out in this reel). It’s also walkable to restaurants and some shopping and is generally easy to get to other places in South Maui and to/from Kahului and Paia. (PS: you can book our studio through Stay Aloha)
• Kamaole Sands is relatively close to Kihei Akahi, but isn’t as easily walkable to food and shopping. It is a beautifully landscaped property (with EV chargers that actually worked, which is not easy to find), but the condo I stayed at here reminded me that there’s a lot of variety in terms of how updated a place might be. I guess that’s to say, read the reviews carefully because every rental is a little different.
• Vacation rentals are a huge economic driver for Maui, but a sometimes controversial one. Check to see if yours publishes the Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) tax numbers or makes mention of the property’s zoning. And then there’s Maui’s Bill 9 that ends vacation rental status for many properties not zoned for hotel use. While it won’t take effect for a couple years (and will likely spend much longer than that in court), thoughtful rental companies will be clear about this status in their listings.

West Maui, including Lahaina and Kaanapali, are about 20 miles from Kihei as the crow files, but are an hour drive. If there’s a lot you intend to do in West Maui, staying here could help you spend more time vacationing and less time driving. If this isn’t where your activities are, it’ll likely be the opposite.

• Large resorts are the predominant option in Kaanapali and they’re relatively spread out. If you’re staying here, you may be within walking distance of the resort next door, but anything further afield would likely require a car.
• Some vacation rentals are available in Kaanapali or nearby Napili. Note that Kaanapali and Napili both typically list addresses as Lahaina, though they’re some distance from Lahaina’s historic old town and the areas burned in summer 2023.

Paia and Haiku are mostly limited to vacation rentals, but if you find one you like, the windward side of the island is generally quieter and incredibly lush. It will be more rainy over here, but the rains are occasional and are punctuated by sunshine as well.

Kahului (where the airport is located) and adjacent Wailuku have a few hotels and vacation rentals, though my experience has been that they’re every bit as expensive as the oceanfront resorts, so you may not save money staying near the airport. The handful of vacation rentals available in the area are less likely to be zoned for short-term rentals, so pay attention to whether your host is registered to do so (see notes above).

One Last Note

Make note that as of 2021, Hawaii banned the sale of several types of sunscreen that can be toxic to its coral reefs. You can learn more HERE and HERE, but the two big take-aways I’ll leave you with are: you’ll be a jerk if you bring products from home containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. On the flip side, keep in mind that on-island, you’re not likely to find much of anything that’s not zinc-based (you know, the stuff that goes on white, doesn’t rub in, and coats everything you touch).