Haleakalā National Park
A pleasant half-mile loop trail (20-minute walk) winds through Hosmer Grove, which is home to non-native tree species – including pine, fir and eucalyptus…
Must-see attractions in Maui
Kihei
Philosopher David Malo, who built this church in 1852, was the first Hawaiian ordained to the Christian ministry. He was also co-author of Hawaii’s first…
Kihei
In ancient Hawaii, coastal fishponds were built to provide a ready source of fish for royal families. The most intact fishpond remaining on Maui is the 3…
Kahului
You wouldn’t expect a wildlife sanctuary to be so close to the main road, but a short walk leaves the traffic behind. This shallow marsh is a haven for…
North Shore & Upcountry
This family-run studio and gallery has produced some amazing pieces over the years, particularly the sand-blasted glass in natural forms (eg seashells)…
West Maui
Manicured golf courses and ritzy enclaves drop away and the scenery gets wilder as you drive toward Maui’s northernmost point. Ironwood-lined Punalau…
Kihei
Athletes, skateboarders and toddlers who need to roam will appreciate this expansive seaside park. Sports facilities include tennis and basketball courts,…
Lahaina
A remnant of the whaling era, this shady coral-stone jail was built in 1852 and looks much as it did 150 years ago thanks to a 1988 restoration. One of…
Lahaina
A 12ft-high bronze Buddha sits serenely in the courtyard at this Buddhist mission, looking across the Pacific toward its Japanese homeland. Cast in Kyoto,…
The Road to Hana
When the sea is ferocious, on the early part of the Piʻilani Trail and just north of Pa'iloa Beach you'll find this dramatic blowhole (it's signposted)…
North Shore & Upcountry
Extending west from HA Baldwin Beach, this 2-mile stretch of sand is a good walking beach. Its nearshore reef makes it less than ideal for swimming, but…
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company Mill
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
Fields of cane expand out from the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar (C&S) Company’s rusty old mill, the last of its kind in Hawaii. Its industrial hulk looms…
Kihei & South Maui
In front of the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, Polo Beach is seldom crowded. When there’s wave action, boogie boarders and bodysurfers usually find good…
Lahaina
Kamehameha III had this building erected in 1833 to give seamen and whalers a place to congregate away from the baleful stares of the missionaries in the…
West Maui
Two miles north of Lahaina, Wahikuli Wayside Park occupies a narrow strip of beach, with three separate parking areas, flanked by the busy highway…
North Shore & Upcountry
For a quiet 100yd stretch of sand, try this unmarked beach a short drive northeast from downtown, just beyond mile marker 7. Things liven up on weekends,…
Hana & East Maui
Need cash? Or maybe some screws? How about a bottle of Jim Beam? Or Ben & Jerry's Half-Baked Froyo? The narrow aisles inside this tin-roofed store are jam…
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
North Shore & Upcountry
On the upper slopes of Haleakalā, this remote and heavily forested park is the place for solitary forest hiking. Check the park website or call before you…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
This beachside county park isn't as stunning its neighbors, but you will find picnic tables, barbecue grills and portable toilets here. It also has a…
The Road to Hana
For a superb bird’s-eye view of the lowland peninsula and village, including the patchwork taro fed by Keʻanae Stream, stop at the paved pull-off just…
Kihei & South Maui
This long and lovely crescent-shaped beach, south of the resorts, is a favorite of local families on weekends. It's rarely crowded though, and the shallow…
Haleakalā National Park
With a name meaning 'water that recognizes no friend,' this cascade crashes from a height of 200ft through a cathedral-like jungle setting into the Ohe’o…
Kahului
For botanophiles interested in native Hawaiian plants, this garden on the grounds of a former zoo has a wealth of knowledge. An excellent new audiotour (…
Hana & East Maui
Reached via a short 4WD trail that's also walkable, this gorgeous empty bay is punctuated by a black-sand beach, archaeological sites and a protected…
Lahaina
The hard-to-miss Pioneer Mill smokestack is a local icon. Outdoor exhibits spotlight equipment and vehicles used on the company's sugar plantation, in…
North Shore & Upcountry
For a time Sun Yat-sen, father of the Chinese nationalist movement, lived in Keokea. He’s honored at Sun Yat-sen Park, found along the Kula Hwy (Hwy 37),…
Lahaina
Adjacent to the Waiola Church, this cemetery holds several notables, including Governor Hoapili, who ordered the original church to be built; Reverend…
North Shore & Upcountry
Walking paths wind through themed plantings, including native Hawaiian specimens and a ‘taboo garden’ of poisonous plants. Because a stream runs through…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
Maʻalaea Bay is fronted by a 3-mile stretch of sand running from Maʻalaea Harbor south to Kihei. Access is from several places along N Kihei Rd, including…
The Road to Hana
A waterfall with a split personality, Hanawi Falls sometimes flows gently into a quiet pool and sometimes gushes wildly across a broad rock face. No…
Lahaina
Just 2 miles north of the heart of Lahaina and right on the road to Ka'anapali, this multi-section county park follows the shore and is great for walking…
Kihei & South Maui
This lovely, postcard-size swath of sand, with a straight-on view of Kahoʻolawe island, is worth a peek – although it’s no longer much of a secret. The…
Lahaina
Well, that doesn't look entirely comfortable. At the northern shoreline of the small plaza behind the Lahaina Public Library, look beneath the water’s…
The Road to Hana
Surrounded by palm trees, and marking the heart of the village, is this church built in 1860. Enter over the steps of the adjacent cottage. The church is…
Hana & East Maui
This picturesque tan beach sits at the base of red cliffs with views toward tiny ʻAlau Island. Bodysurfing is excellent here, as it's shallow for quite a…
The Road to Hana
Immediately after the 11-mile marker you’ll pass Puohokamoa Falls. This waterfall no longer has public access, but you can get a glimpse of it from the…
Lahaina
Built in the 1830s, this coral block and stone building was used by ship captains as a club for hanging out between seafaring adventures. Restored in 1970…
North Shore & Upcountry
On a hillside between the Kula Hwy and Lower Kula Rd, this grassy park is a nice place to enjoy a picnic while soaking up the sweeping views of the West…
West Maui
This shady beach park, 1.5 miles south of Lahaina, is rocky but sometimes has good conditions for beginner surfers – otherwise it’s mostly a quick stop…
Hana & East Maui
This field of black ʻaʻa (rough, jagged lava) dates from the last volcanic eruption on the island, 400 to 500 years ago. The flow drops down the southeast…
