• Locations
• Sights & Beaches
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Activities
• Travel Tips
• Features

Sights & Beaches Overview

Maui is more than a sandy beach with palm trees. The natural bounty of this place is impressive. Puu Kukui, the 5,788-foot interior of the West Maui Mountains, is one of the earth's wettest spots -- annual rainfall of 400 inches has sculpted the land into impassable gorges and razor-sharp ridges. On the opposite side of the island, the blistering lava fields at Ahihi-Kinau receive scant rain. And just above this desert, paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys, herd cattle on rolling, fertile ranchlands reminiscent of Northern California.

But nature isn't all Maui has to offer -- it's also home to a rich and vivid culture. In small towns like Paia and Hana you can see remnants of the past mingling with modern-day life. Ancient heiau (Hawaiian stone platforms once used as places of worship) line busy roadways. Old coral and brick missionary homes now house broadcasting networks. The antique smokestacks of sugar mills tower above communities where the children blend English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portugese, Filipino, and more into one colorful language. Hawaii is a melting pot like no other. Visiting an eclectic mom-and-pop shop (like Komoda's Bakery) can feel like stepping into another country, or back in time. The more you look here, the more you will find.

Of all the Hawaiian islands, Maui's beaches are some of the most diverse. You'll find the pristine, palm-lined shores you expect with waters as clear and inviting as sea-green glass, but you'll also discover rich red- and black-sand beaches, craggy cliffs with surging whitecaps, and year-round sunsets that quiet the soul. As on the other isles, all Maui's beaches are public -- but that doesn't mean it's not possible to find a secluded cove where you can truly get away from the world.

The island's leeward shores (the South Shore and West Side) have the calmest, sunniest beaches. Hit the beach early, when the aquamarine waters are as accommodating as bathwater. In summer, afternoon winds can be a sandblasting force, which can chase even the most dedicated sun worshippers away. From November through March, the South and West beaches are also great spots to watch the parade of whales that spend the winter in Maui's waters.

Windward shores (the North Shore and East Maui) offer more adventurous beachgoing. Beaches face the open ocean (rather than other islands) and tend to be rockier and more prone to powerful swells. This is particularly true in winter, when the legendary North Shore becomes a playground for experienced big-wave riders. Don't let this keep you away completely, however, some of the island's best beaches are those remote slivers of volcanic sand found on the wild windward shore.