Most people visit as a day trip driving the “Road to Hana.” It’s where all the waterfalls are, the black and red sand beaches, etc. And East Maui (Hana) is basically the jungle. Upcountry (Makawao, Pukalani, Kula) is where the farm/ranch land and Haleakala National Park are. The north shore (Paia, Haiku) has a local, surfer town vibe. Central Maui (Kahului) is where you’ll fly into and do your grocery shopping. Most people either stay on the west side (Lahaina, Ka’anapali, Kapalua, Napili) or the south side (Wailea, Kihei, Ma’alaea). There is a small airport in Kapalua on the west side and an even tinier airport in Hana on the east side but they are for very very tiny planes. This is where you’ll fly in coming from the mainland and on 99% of interisland flights. Maui’s main airport is the Kahului Airport (OGG). Just stick to one and really experience it. I also don’t recommend splitting up a one week vacation between two different islands. And if you’ve got weeks to spend, you’ll find plenty on Maui to keep you busy.īut in general, if you’re wanting to explore the island and still feel like you’ve had a relaxing vacation, you’ll want at least 6 full days. If you’re short on time (doing a quick long weekend getaway from the west coast), you can still have a great trip just as long as your expectations are more about resting and relaxing. Well, you’ve only got however many days you’ve got, but if you’re wanting the best overall vacation, I wouldn’t suggest less than one week (probably 6 full days, but you could do a lot in 5 full days too). They call it “couples season” for a reason.Īugust through October is also technically hurricane season, but they’re pretty rare. September/October is my personal favorite time to visit because it’s when I find the best deals on resorts and there are fewer kids/people in general on island since the kids have just gone back to school. January through mid March is technically less crowded and not “high high” season, but it’s still the optimal time to leave cold weather on the mainland to head for warmer weather so it’s not inexpensive.Īpril/May and September/October are probably the best months to find deals/visit when it’s less crowded but that’s all relative because tourism on Maui has been BOOMING since the pandemic. The winter holidays (mid December through New Years) are obscenely expensive and book out FAR in advance. Whale season is December through April with peak season being February.Īny time kids are out of school is high season. Locals are very attuned to subtle shifts in weather/temperatures but whether it’s winter or summer, most resort areas are built on parts of the island that are sunny and dry 90% of the time. August/September is when it’s the muggiest/most humid but this is Hawaii and humidity is pretty much nonexistent compared to places like Florida. Summer means less rain and slightly warmer temperatures. The seasons follow the seasons in the northern hemisphere (mainland US) and “winter” means more rain and slightly cooler temperatures. Good news…there’s never a bad time to go to Maui! The weather is pretty much consistent within a few degrees (air and water temperature) all year round. I’m going to give you the lay of the land, answer some FAQs and link you out to other posts so you can find exactly what you’re looking for: Seriously, I’ve got over 30 posts on this blog just about Maui, but this is the best place to start. It’s a BIG island with a lot going on…natural wonders, luxury resorts, local towns, and I’ve written quite a bit about it. It was the first Hawaiian Island I ever visited, I spent some time living there, and it’s still my favorite place to travel. They say “Maui No Ka Oi” (Hawaiian for “Maui is the best”), and honestly…they’d be right )ĭon’t tell the other islands, but Maui is my favorite.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |