Why Stay in Maui?
Maui is often called the best island in the world, and it's easy to see why. The Valley Isle offers an almost unfair concentration of natural wonders — the 10,000-foot volcanic crater of Haleakalā, the winding Road to Hana through lush rainforest, pristine beaches ranging from white to red to black sand, and waters teeming with humpback whales in winter.
Ka'anapali Beach on Maui's west coast is the island's most famous resort area, with a string of beachfront hotels along a 3-mile golden sand beach. The Black Rock cliff-jumping spot and nightly torch-lighting ceremony create iconic Hawaiian moments. Wailea, on the sunnier south coast, offers upscale resorts like the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea, with five crescent beaches and manicured tropical gardens.
Paia, on the north shore, provides a bohemian surf-town alternative to the resort areas. This colourful old plantation town is the starting point for the legendary Road to Hana drive and has excellent restaurants, boutiques, and Ho'okipa Beach's world-class windsurfing. Hotels in Lahaina (old whaling town) offer historic charm and front-row seats for sunset.
The Haleakalā sunrise experience — driving to the volcanic summit in darkness and watching the sun rise above the clouds at 10,023 feet — is consistently ranked among the world's most spectacular sunrise views. Whale watching season (December-April) sees humpback whales breaching and playing in the channels between Maui and Lanai.