Where to stay · Maui · United States
Where to stay in Maui
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Katie (alaskahokie) from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Kāʻanapali. Planned resort strip on West Maui's main beach with a shoreline walkway. Best alternatives — budget: Kīhei.
Key facts
- First visit
- Kāʻanapali
- Families
- Kāʻanapali
- Budget
- Kīhei
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Kāʻanapali | Planned resort strip on West Maui's main beach with a shoreline walkway |
| Families | Kāʻanapali | Planned resort strip on West Maui's main beach with a shoreline walkway |
| Couples | Kapalua and Nāpili | Quieter bays, condos and the island's northwestern resorts |
| Budget | Kīhei | Long, sunny south-shore town of condos, beach parks and casual food |
| Luxury | Kāʻanapali | Planned resort strip on West Maui's main beach with a shoreline walkway |
| Food lovers | Pāʻia and the North Shore | Former plantation town turned surf hub with wooden shopfronts |
| Solo travellers | Kīhei | Long, sunny south-shore town of condos, beach parks and casual food |
| Quiet stays | Kapalua and Nāpili | Quieter bays, condos and the island's northwestern resorts |
| Beach | Kāʻanapali | Planned resort strip on West Maui's main beach with a shoreline walkway |
Maui neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, beach and luxury
Kāʻanapali
Kāʻanapali has large resort hotels and condos along about 5 km of sand, joined by a paved beach walk, with Whalers Village shopping centre and Black Rock's snorkelling at the northern end. Sunsets face Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. It is about 45–60 minutes' drive from Kahului airport.
- Good
- Walkable resort strip with restaurants; Calm summer swimming and good snorkelling; Sunset views across the channel
- Watch out
- Long drive to Haleakalā and Hāna; Resort and parking fees add up
- Nearby
- Black Rock, Kāʻanapali Beach, Honolua Bay, Kapalua
$$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, luxury and beach
Kapalua and Nāpili
North of Kāʻanapali, Nāpili and Kapalua have small crescent bays such as Nāpili Bay and Kapalua Bay, low-rise condos, a luxury resort area and the coastal trail. Honolua Bay's marine reserve is a short drive. It is greener and breezier than the south side and the furthest area from the airport.
- Good
- Sheltered bays for swimming and turtles; Quiet and scenic; Condos with kitchens
- Watch out
- Furthest from the airport and Haleakalā; Rainier in winter
- Nearby
- Kapalua Bay, Nāpili Bay, Honolua Bay, Kapalua Coastal Trail
$$$ · Best for budget, families, beach and solo travellers
Kīhei
Kīhei stretches about 10 km along the dry south shore, with a string of beach parks, condos and moderately priced hotels, food trucks and shopping plazas along South Kīhei Road. It is central for Haleakalā, Molokini boats and the airport, and generally the best-value base on the island.
- Good
- Best value on the coast; Sunny and dry most of the year; Central for driving around the island
- Watch out
- Strip-mall feel along the main road; Afternoon winds
- Nearby
- Kamaʻole Beach Parks, Keālia Pond, Wailea, Māʻalaea Harbor
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, families and beach
Wailea
Wailea is a master-planned resort area of luxury hotels, villas and golf courses south of Kīhei, with five crescent beaches linked by the Wailea Beach Path and upscale shopping and dining at The Shops at Wailea. Mākena's wilder beaches are a few minutes south.
- Good
- Polished resorts and calm morning seas; Excellent sunsets and whale views in winter; Close to Mākena beaches
- Watch out
- Among the highest prices on the island; Little local character
- Nearby
- Wailea Beach Path, Mākena State Park, Molokini
$$$ · Best for solo travellers, couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Pāʻia and the North Shore
Pāʻia is the gateway to the Road to Hāna, with surf shops, cafés and galleries in old wooden buildings, and Hoʻokipa Beach's windsurfers and turtles just east. Accommodation is mostly small inns and holiday rentals spread towards Haʻikū's green hills.
- Good
- Head start on the Road to Hāna; Local, creative atmosphere; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Rougher sea for swimming in winter; Traffic through town at peak times
- Nearby
- Hoʻokipa Beach Park, Road to Hāna, Makawao
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and food lovers
Upcountry (Makawao and Kula)
On the western slopes of Haleakalā at roughly 500–1,000 metres, Upcountry has paniolo (cowboy) town Makawao, lavender and vegetable farms in Kula and the ranch and winery at ʻUlupalakua. Nights are cool and views stretch over the isthmus. Stays are B&Bs and cottages, and it is the shortest drive to the Haleakalā summit.
- Good
- Closest base for Haleakalā sunrise; Cool, quiet and rural; Farm stands and bakeries
- Watch out
- No beaches; 45 minutes to the coast; Few restaurants open late
- Nearby
- Haleakalā National Park, Makawao, Kula, ʻUlupalakua
$$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Kahului and Wailuku
Kahului has the airport, big-box stores and harbour; neighbouring Wailuku is the older county seat at the mouth of ʻĪao Valley, with local diners, antique shops and a few small hotels. Few visitors stay long, but both are useful for groceries, local food and a first or last night near the airport.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Local restaurants at local prices; Central for driving
- Watch out
- Little beach life; Not a resort atmosphere
- Nearby
- Kahului Airport, Wailuku, Kanahā Beach Park
$$$ · Best for quiet stays and couples
Hāna
Hāna is a small, mostly Native Hawaiian community at the end of the Road to Hāna, about 85 km from Kahului but around 2.5–3 hours' drive. Staying overnight in its single resort or small rentals lets you explore Hāmoa Beach, Waiʻānapanapa and the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā when the day-trippers have gone.
- Good
- Peaceful and lush; Avoids the long return drive; Early access to Pīpīwai Trail
- Watch out
- Very limited dining and shops; Frequent rain
- Nearby
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Hāmoa Beach, Kīpahulu
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Kāʻanapali | $$$$ | Black Rock, Kāʻanapali Beach, Honolua Bay, Kapalua |
| Kapalua and Nāpili | $$$$ | Kapalua Bay, Nāpili Bay, Honolua Bay, Kapalua Coastal Trail |
| Kīhei | $$$ | Kamaʻole Beach Parks, Keālia Pond, Wailea, Māʻalaea Harbor |
| Wailea | $$$$ | Wailea Beach Path, Mākena State Park, Molokini |
| Pāʻia and the North Shore | $$$ | Hoʻokipa Beach Park, Road to Hāna, Makawao |
| Upcountry (Makawao and Kula) | $$ | Haleakalā National Park, Makawao, Kula, ʻUlupalakua |
| Kahului and Wailuku | $$ | Kahului Airport, Wailuku, Kanahā Beach Park |
| Hāna | $$$ | Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Hāmoa Beach, Kīpahulu |
Getting to your hotel
Kahului Airport (OGG) handles almost all flights, including direct services from the US mainland. It is about 30 minutes by car to Kīhei and Wailea and 45–60 minutes to Kāʻanapali and Kapalua. Small Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui has limited inter-island flights.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Maui for first-time visitors?
Kāʻanapali. Kāʻanapali has large resort hotels and condos along about 5 km of sand, joined by a paved beach walk, with Whalers Village shopping centre and Black Rock's snorkelling at the northern end.
+Where should families stay in Maui?
Kāʻanapali: Walkable resort strip with restaurants.
+Which area of Maui is best for a budget stay?
Kīhei ($$$): Long, sunny south-shore town of condos, beach parks and casual food.