You’ve decided to travel to Maui. You’ve booked your flights and now need to decide where to stay. South Maui, West Maui, Upcountry … what does that even mean? And the names of the towns all sound the same! Don’t panic, I’m here to help you figure out what part of Maui is best for YOU.
First, let’s get familiar with this map of Maui. Maui is shaped like an hour glass and was created by two major volcanoes coming together. They form a large valley in the middle, which you will fly over as you approach the airport in Kahului on the north end of the valley. Haleakala is the world’s largest dormant volcano and sits on the south east side of the island. Upcountry refers to the higher elevation towns residing on Haleakala like Kula and Makawao. Paia sits on the north shore and Hana (made famous by the Road to Hana) is located on the far east coast. Ka’anapali, Napili, Lahaina town and Kapalua all are found in West Maui. South Maui is the “dry side” and where you will find Kihei, Wailea and Makena.
Most visitors stay in either West Maui or South Maui and many people split their time between the two. I recommend this for stays of 10 days or more only, and especially if it is your first time on the island. Let’s take a look at the popular areas to stay and identify the best location for you.
Note: Resort communities are listed from north to south.
Kapalua features Kapalua Bay (one of my favorite Maui beaches), award-winning restaurants and accommodations like the Ritz Carton and Montage, and two world-class golf courses. There are moderate to high priced condos (depending on view of golf course and/or ocean) geared mainly to golfers.
Pros: It’s luxurious, has fewer kids and “touristy tourists” than other resort areas, and not many beaches on the island can beat Kapalua Bay. Golf is fantastic if you can hit a low drive to beat the wind. It is also close to many of the West Maui loop adventures like Nakalele Point, Blowhole & “Acid War Zone.”
Cons: It’s expensive, windy and rains a lot (but you can’t get rainbows without rain). It’s also pretty out of the way (about an hour or more, depending on traffic, from the airport), so Kapalua is not great for exploring the island. There are limited restaurants, so you will find yourself driving a lot if you aren’t staying in a condo.
BEST FOR: Couples, golfers, honeymooners, those seeking a little more privacy, and have high end tastes. Recommended for those that have already been to Maui and know what they want to do.
Nestled between Ka’anapali and Kapalua is Napili, home to the famous Gazebo breakfast and beautiful Napili Bay. Napili offers low to high priced condo communities nestled right on the water. Napili condos have great views but lack sandy beaches in front of most of the communities. Also, be sure to check if the property has A/C as many don’t allow them. Napili Point, Napili Shores and Napili Kai are three of the most popular.
Pros: Enjoy all that Kaanapali has to offer at a fraction of the price. Condo living means cost savings! Napili Bay is another gem of a beach and if you are agile on your feet and can navigate the rocky entrance into Honokeana Bay, you can find yourself snorkeling with the honu (sea turtles) just steps from your room.
Cons: Like Kapalua, Napili gets a fair share of rain, but you can often outrun it by driving a few minutes south to Ka’anapali. Do your research as some of the condo communities feel more like a motel than a home in paradise. There isn’t much around in terms of restaurants and amenities. Be prepared to drive daily either to Kapalua or Ka’anapali. Since Napili is basically just a few small oceanfront condo communities along a residential road, it doesn’t have too much charm or identity, but you will have privacy.
BEST FOR: Families that want condo living (sleeping separation, cost savings and ease of cooking at home) and access to all the touristy wonderfulness that Lahaina town and Ka’anapali offer.
If a friend recently got back from Maui, chances are they stayed in Ka’anapali — a lovely resort area with mid-range hotels (like the Hyatt Regency and the Westin) set alongside a beautiful beach, next to a mediocre golf course. Most end up at Whaler’s Village, an outdoor mall with a few ocean front restaurants, or Lahaina town for dinner.
Pros: Ka’anapali has a paved pathway that runs along the beach, perfect for morning jogs and evening strolls. You feel like you are “in Hawaii” with the tiki torches lit at night, luaus and parrots on display at the various hotels. Hotel pools are great with swim up bars and some have waterslides. A long sandy beach is right there so you can take a quick dip and then lay out by the pool.
Cons: It is one of the more touristy areas of the island. Don’t expect too much privacy at this lively, high energy resort area. Hotel living isn’t cheap when you factor in all the eating out and constant temptations to buy things, whether it be a drink by the pool, souvenir or tour. If you like to get up and go, prepare for a wait at valet or walk to your car every time you want to leave. The crowded beach fronting the huge hotels isn’t the best, but it is suitable for building sand castles or taking a dip. Plan to drive elsewhere for snorkeling or privacy.
BEST FOR: High energy families and couples who prefer the conveniences of hotel living, like being in the center of it all, plan to go on a lot of tours, and have a moderate to high budget.
About 80% of tourists that come to Maui visit Lahaina (2 million people every year), which is no surprise considering the popularity of Front Street. Lined with restaurants, bars, art galleries and a wide variety of shops, Lahaina town is definitely a top attraction. Most people come for dinner, sunset drink or dessert, but they usually end up strolling down Front Street, window shopping and visiting the massive banyan tree located in the town square. Accommodations are sparse compared to other locations, but there are a few condos and homes for rent. One of the best is the ocean front, hotel like mid-rise condominium complex called Lahaina Shores.
Pros: If you are into shopping and nightlife, Lahaina town could be a good option for you. Of all the places on the island, Lahaina is probably the easiest town to get away without a rental car. Home of two of the most popular luaus, Old Lahaina Luau and Feast at Lele, you can stroll home or take a short taxi ride home after partaking in the all you can drink part of the show.
Cons: Because of its popularity, Lahaina is almost always busy (except for early mornings) and traffic and parking are both often a nightmare. It feels more like a bustling small town vs. a sleepy beach community, so it doesn’t have the “get away from it all” vibe most are seeking in a Maui vacation. There are a few small beaches but you aren’t picking Lahaina for the beach scene.
BEST FOR: Singles, young couples and backpackers that want shopping and nightlife within walking distance and don’t care about beaches.
Ahh, Wailea…what’s not to love besides the price? Wailea is home to 90 holes of championship golf and world-class beaches, tennis, shopping and dining. Wailea includes high end beach front condos, moderately priced golf course condos and some of the finest (most expensive) hotels on the island including the Grand Wailea, Four Seasons and Fairmont Kea Lani. Also popular is Wailea Elua Village, a gated beach front condo resort that spans the length of Ulua Beach. All of these gorgeous resort properties sit along a meandering, ocean front, paved path perfect for morning runs and quiet sunset strolls.
Pros: Wailea has more beautiful beaches than you could visit in a trip, and if you did, you could continue on to the beaches of Makena. The beaches are rock free for swimming in the middle and you can’t beat the snorkeling at the lava points on the edges. Turtle sightings are almost guaranteed. Like Kaanapali, you “feel like you are in Hawaii,” but people move at a much slower pace and everything feels much more luxurious. Fine dining is easy to find at the various resorts and the high-end Shops of Wailea are a good place to treat yourself.
Cons: Hotel rooms during high season can cost more than $1,000 a night. If you want to stay in Wailea, you definitely want to price shop and consider going during low season for the best deals. Ocean front condos in Wailea can easily cost 2-4 times more than condos in Kihei and Napili, but they do offer world-class beaches and sunsets without having to get into a car or cross the street. A better deal can be found at the golf course condos, but those communities lack charm and are pretty far from the beach, so you may be better off with an ocean view condo in South Kihei for the same price or less. Some of the high end hotels are less family friendly than others on the island and parents might get tired of dressing in resort attire and keeping their kids quiet so you don’t disturb the other guests.
BEST FOR: Affluent couples, older families and those splurging for a special occasion that prefer the best of the best and a slower resort environment.
Kihei is a popular community for travelers that like to stay in condos and don’t like rain. It’s known for the wide variety of shops, restaurants and beaches that line South Kihei Road for miles. Kihei also has pretty lively nightlife for those that like to visit bars, breweries and casual restaurants after a day at the beach. It is divided into three parts — North, South and everything in between. Personally, I’d avoid most of Central Kihei, so let’s move on.
North Kihei is one of the closest places to stay near Kahului — where the airport and Costco are. For the most part, there are low to moderate end, beach front, high rise condo communities on the ocean side and locals’ homes and apartments across the street. You aren’t in a resort area or near anything touristy. Sugar Beach Resort is one of the nicest, with a beachside pool, but it’s expensive for the area.
Pros: One of North Kihei’s primary benefits is it offers low prices for big ocean views. People that have never been to Maui often end up there because of the lure of the view in the condo listing. I like to say that North Kihei “isn’t near anything, but it’s closest to everything.” If your plan is to explore every part of the island, North Kihei could be a great home base. It is also very convenient if you need to get to Kahului a lot.
Cons: On the flip side, plan on driving daily to find the best beaches, restaurants and things to do. Also be aware that it is incredibly windy there, the water at the beaches is often brown with runoff, and many of the communities do not offer A/C so be sure to check. When touring many of the communities, I often felt like I was in an apartment complex, not a Hawaiian resort. (Personally, it’s not my favorite area.)
BEST FOR: On-the-go couples and retirees that just want an affordable ocean view and a place to rest their heads.
South Kihei has the best beaches in Kihei with clear water. It’s relaxed and overall pretty casual, reminiscent of a small Californian surfer town. It isn’t as touristy as West Maui, so you’ll find a lot of repeat Maui visitors here avoiding the crowds and enjoying the great beaches. There are many moderately priced restaurants and condo complexes to choose from. Maui Kamaole, a low rise ocean view condo community, and Mana Kai Maui, a beachfront high rise, both have great amenities and locations.
Pros: South Kihei has the best of “both worlds.” You won’t break the bank with lodging and food, and you can enjoy all of Wailea’s amenities just down the street. You can stroll into a restaurant right off the beach or get dressed up for the night and enjoy fine dining at the Wailea resorts just minutes away. In a nutshell, South Kihei has great beaches, tons of affordable food and shopping options, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Cons: Kihei isn’t a resort area so at times you might not “feel” like you are in Maui since you don’t get the lush vegetation that you find in Wailea or Kaanapali. Most of the condo complexes are just across South Kihei Road from the beach so be sure you do your research when booking your unit. An ocean view in South Kihei might also come with road noise.
BEST FOR: Families and couples that don’t like rain, love the beach and snorkeling, and want condo living without the touristy vibe and expense of West Maui.
Only you can decide what part of Maui is best for you, but if you are still torn on what part of Maui is best, then take the two location quizzes below to help you decide!
My personal favorite area is South Maui. Wailea is amazing, but for cost reasons and a more family friendly atmosphere, we prefer staying in South Kihei and taking advantage of Wailea’s amenities during the day.
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