Maui By Car

Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands with over 120 Miles of easily accessible shoreline, inviting a host of ocean activities, as well as many "must sees".  It is composed of two volcanoes on separate ends of the island and connected by the Central Valley. 

Maui is a popular beach destination for tours and sight-seeing purposes. For tour and navigation purposes, the Island is usually spit into East and West Maui.  With its abundance of thrilling activities for the entire family, it's no wonder that it was voted "Best Pacific Island" by readers of Conde Naste Traveler.

East Maui:

Kahului, the starting point for many vacationers, as it is the location for the main airport and where all Cruise Lines dock, is centrally located and from here it makes it easy to tour either East or West Maui.

East Maui features many sight-seeing activities.  The famous and dormant Volcano of Haleakala is capped by a huge crater and comprises most of East Maui.  There are many hiking and biking tours through the Haleakala National Park.  A great way to experiencethe awe of Haleakala Volcano and the rest of East Maui is with a helicopter tour.  Other "must sees" are the beautiful sights along the famous Road to Hana.  Within this region some of the Maui activities you will find are snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding, and sportfishing.

Driving The Road to Hana will allow you the opportunity to stop and see waterfalls, tropical rain forests and black, red and white sand beaches.  Honomanu Bay is a favorite spot for surfing.  Other "must sees" along the way are the Waikanoi Ridge Trail, the gardens at Keanae Arboretum, Piilanihale Heiau, Waianapanapa State Park, Ka Iwi O Pele, Oheo Gulch and Kaiki Head.

On the opposite side of East Maui and to the south along the Piilana Hwy you find beautiful beaches, world class resorts and championship golf courses. Because of the mild ocean conditions and the abundant sunshine, this area is a playground for activities.  Some of the famous beaches of Kihei, Wailea, and Maulaka are great for swimming, snorkeling,
kayaking and scuba diving.  During the winter months and early spring, Maui is a great place for whale watching tours. Many snorkeling and scuba dive charters leave the area and head just off the coast to the famous crescent shaped Island of Molokini. This area is abundant with marine life and coral reefs, making it a great place for such water activities, allowing you to make the most of your Maui Vacation.


West Maui:

While the diversity and numerous climate zones of East Maui make for great touring, West Maui, in its own right, has much to brag about.  Although most of Maui's shoreline is accessible by car, the interior of Maui is sparsely populated and made up of rugged terrain, leaving almost 80% of the Island inaccessible by car.  Maui helicopter tours are great for sight-seeing the West Maui Mountains, which are made up of an extinct volcano that has eroded over time.  Mother Nature has carved steep canyons, which has made way for beautiful waterfalls. Other sights that you may witness on helicopter tours are the Iao Valley and Needle, Nakalele Point, Honokohau Valley, Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua and some tours even venture over to Molokai Island.  If you prefer to stay on the ground, renting a car is a great way for sight-seeing and exploring all that Maui has to offer. The many activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, sportfishing, luaus and much more.

As you make your way along Hwy 30 and around West Maui make sure you explore the popular town of Lahaina along with its quaint shops, restaurants and rich culture. Another famous town and just north of Lahaina is Kaanapali, Here your activities include sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, whale watching (seasonal), and much more.  Kaanapali is Maui’s largest resort area with two golf courses and a beautiful shopping center.  Kapulua, another resort area has 54 championship golf fairways and beautiful resorts.  Nearby you will find Honolua and Mokuleia Bays, which have designated marine life conservation districts, where scuba diving makes for a great activity.  Further along Hwy 30 you will reach Nakalele Point which is the northern most point and where the first lighthouse on Maui was built.  The area
is also known for the Nakalele Blowhole that creates an ocean geyser that can spew water as high as 100 feet into the air.  Other areas of Kahakuloa Village, Kahakuloa Head, and Wailuku are great places if you are into the Hawaiian history and culture.  Maui includes many "must-sees" and fun activities that make it a great beach vacation choice.