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With So Many Options, What is the Best Area To Stay in Maui?
If you haven’t been to Maui before, you will likely be wondering where the best area to stay on Maui is. If you have been here before, you may already have a preferred area to spend your time or are now considering trying a new location.
Maui has several different zones where you can find nightly Airbnb rentals or hotels and they do vary quite a bit. Where you stay on your vacation in Maui is an important decision and can be pivotal to enjoying yourself to the fullest depending on the types of things you’re interested in doing while you’re here.
I’ve lived on Maui since 2010 and have spent a lot of time in all of Maui’s diverse areas, in this article I will cover the different areas of Maui where you can stay and the pros and cons of each. Keep reading to discover the best area of Maui to stay on your next Hawaiian vacation.
Maui is Bigger Than It Seems
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While Maui is only 26 miles wide and 48 miles long, in its entirety the islands covers more than 730 square miles. While there is not a single road that takes you across the island and you'll need to take several different roads to see all of Maui, the Road to Hana is among the most famous roads for sightseeing.
The Road to Hana is widely known as one of Maui’s top things to do and covers 52 miles from Hana in East Maui to Kahului in the Northshore. With its tight turns, narrow bridges and other daring features, you can travel the Road to Hana nonstop in about two hours. If you drive non-stop, however, you will miss all of the treasures of East Maui.
The Road to Hana only covers a small portion of the island’s perimeter and does not take you into the interior. To cover all of the major interior and coastal roadways without stopping, you would be on the road for more than 12 hours.
Of course, you want to stop and appreciate everything that Maui offers. So, where you stay will be your the base for your adventure, but no matter where you stay, with a vehicle or guided tour, all of the Maui’s top experiences are within your reach.
Let’s start with covering Maui’s most popular area to stay, South Maui.
Staying in South Maui
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South Maui, which is also referred to as the South Side or South Shore, covers 41 square miles and features around 17 miles of scenic coastline. It spans from La Perouse Bay at the southern end of Makena to Ma’alaea Harbor, and it includes Makena, Wailea, South Kihei, North Kihei and Ma’alaea.
South Maui could be considered the best area to stay in Maui because it offers something for everyone to love including a ton of great beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shopping, and more. There are numerous excursions for snorkeling, sailing and whale-watching that depart in South Maui and leave from Kihei Boat Ramp and Ma’alaea Harbor. It has a very central location making all of the island’s experiences just a short drive away. Check out the best things to do in Kihei.
Where you stay in South Maui will depend large-in-part on your budget as the prices go up the further south you go. Nightly rates for an Airbnb in North Kihei will start in the 200-300 range while nightly rates in a Wailea luxury resort can exceed $10,000 per night. Here are the best things to do in Wailea.
Kihei is a larger area with a wide variety of smaller Airbnb condos like Maui Banyan, Maui Sunset, Menehune Shores, Royal Mauian, and Kamaole Sands while Wailea is a designated hotel district known for its opulent resorts and properties like the Four Seasons, Fairmont Kea Lani, Andaz, Marriott Wailea Beach Resort, Wailea Beach Villas, Grand Wailea, Ho’olei and more.
The resorts have world-class restaurants, huge pool complexes and high end spas. Most of the places to stay in Kihei and Wailea are walking distance to the beach.
Staying in West Maui
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While South Maui offers ample opportunities for a wonderful Maui vacation, West Maui has equally appealed to visitors for decades. When I first moved to Maui back in 2010, I lived in Lahaina, on Front Street at Lahaina Residential, and fell in love with the lifestyle. Obviously, the tragic fire of 8/8/2023 is still a fresh wound to the island and its people.
As West Maui continues to recover, its important to be mindful of this trauma to the community when visiting here. Looking for extra opportunities to show additional kindness and Aloha to the workers and residents you meet can make a very meaningful difference in someones day.
West Maui covers 35 square miles and has an amazing collection of beaches and adventures. Here, you will find a variety of exceptional beaches, the beautiful West Maui mountains, and a wide variety of great hotels and resorts to stay. Here are the best things to do in Ka'anapali and the best things to do in Kapalua.
The communities of Napili, Kapalua, Kahana, Honokowai and Ka’anapali are located in West Maui and all offer something a little different.. Ka’anapali and Kapalua are the two most sought after areas as they are both designated resort areas with a wide variety of great lodging opportunities as well as some of Maui’s best golf courses.
Popular West Maui beaches include Ka’anapali Beach, D.T. Fleming Beach Park, Napili Bay, Oneloa Beach, Slaughterhouse Beach, Kapalua Bay, and others. If you are in the mood for a hike, the Kapalua Coastal Trail is not to be missed. It’s a wonderful oceanfront trail that crosses the entire oceanfront area of Kapalua and also connects to a variety of either hiking trails.
West Maui Experiences
West Maui is the ideal place to experience the island’s culture with a farmer’s market, numerous top-rated restaurants, luaus and live music. The Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Golf Course is recognized as the best course in the state and is where the PGA Tour starts their season every year. You can also find attractions like the Nakalele Blowhole, the Whalers Village Shopping Center and Museum, Heavenly Spa, Launiupoko State Park, Waihee Ridge Trail, Makamaka’ole Falls and others.
In Ka’anapali you can find resorts like the Marriott, Sheraton, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, the Honua Kai Resort and Spa, the Westin, and many others. In Kapalua, the Montage Residences and the Ritz Carlton are two of the finest properties anywhere in Hawaii. While the hotels command a higher nightly rate, you can find more budget friendly Airbnb rentals in complexes like Hololani in Kahana or Papakea in Honokowai.
Newest Maui Properties For Sale
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Staying on the Northshore
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Maui’s Northshore spans more than 92 square miles. Once one of the prime tourist areas on the island, it is now recognized for its low-key atmosphere. Here, you will find the small towns of Paia, Haiku and Huelo.
Paia is a small surfing community, and it is only a few minutes from the 17-acre Baldwin Beach Park. In Paia Town, you will find uncrowded streets with boutiques and open-air dining restaurants. In between Paia and Haiku, Ho’okipa Beach Park is known for its white sands as well as excellent swimming and snorkeling. Check out all of the best things to do on the Paia.
In Haiku, the Haiku Marketplace is great place to spend a few hours. It has restaurants, food trucks and day spas for you to enjoy. The Sacred Garden of Maliko is a hidden secret in Haiku with walking labyrinths, gardens and other gems. Other popular destinations in Northshore are the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, the Pauwela Cannery and the Temple of Peace Maui. Check out all of the best things to do in Haiku.
Where to Stay: There are a few boutique hotels and bed and breakfast inns in Northshore, such as Paia Inn, the Inn at Mama’s Fish House and the Mangolani Inn. There aren’t many Airbnb rentals on the Northshore and are only at properties that were licensed before regulations prohibited Airbnb in single family homes.
The Northshore is further away from the calmer beaches of South and West Maui, but can be great for wind sports enthusiasts or for those looking for a more rural, tropical getaway.
The Best Things To Do on Maui By Area
Staying in Upcountry Maui
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The area we call Upcountry Maui covers almost 200 square miles of Maui’s interior on the slopes of Haleakala, spanning over more than a quarter of the island. While you will not find beaches in Upcountry Maui, the terrain includes tropical forests and rolling hills. The towns of Makawao, Pukalani and Kula are located here.
Most of Maui’s interior is rural, but there are a few attractions here to explore, including Haleakala National Park. Covering over 30,000 acres, this protected area has trails, amazing views and the famous Haleakala Crater. Upcountry is an agricultural region, so you will find farms and farmers markets as well as a few wineries dotting the landscape. Top attractions are the Ulupalakua Ranch Store, the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, the O’o Farm and the Pukalani Country Club golf course. Check out all of the best things to do in Upcountry Maui.
Where to Stay: Lodging in the Upcountry is limited. Some of the inns and hotels are Kula Sandalwoods Inn & Cabins, Kula Lodge and G & Z Upcountry Bed and Breakfast. Several Airbnb rentals are also available in the region.
Where Will You Stay on Your Next Maui Vacation?
The best area to stay in Maui depends on how you plan to enjoy the island. With so much to see and do on Maui, you do not need to limit yourself to just one region. Consider spending time in each of these areas to fully appreciate all that the island offers and as always, travel with Aloha!
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