DK Travel : Maui

Maui is known as the “valley isle”, and most of its population nestles in the low-lying isthmus between the lush western mountains and the dustier slopes of Haleakalā to the east. Skirting the coast are some of the world’s finest beaches, from the popular resorts on the southwestern fringe to the wilder surfing beaches on the north and eastern shores. Maui’s administrative group also includes the islands of Moloka’i and Lana’i with more magnificent scenery and even greater remoteness.

Ice Cream

You can’t have a festival without ice cream, and on Maui it’s Roselani, Maui’s very own producer.
Insect Repellent

Mosquitoes and other biting critters have found their way here, so insect repellent is a good idea, especially in shady, damp areas.
International Festival of Canoes

For two weeks every May, master canoe builders from Polynesia and Hawai’i gather in Lahaina to celebrate their craft and the art of traditional Polynesian voyaging. There are cultural events, including a parade, throughout the period, which culminates with the launch of a canoe, built during the festival.
Ipu

A hollowed-out gourd that, in skilled hands, is used to keep the beat in hula.
Jaggers

Casual aloha wear hangs side by side with dressier frocks for women and aloha shirts for men, forming the stock in trade of this well-known Pā’ia shop.
Jodo Mission

This three-story pagoda sits at the outer edge of Lahaina town. In its courtyard stands a giant statue of Buddha, the largest outside Japan, placed in commemoration of the 1868 arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Maui. The serene grounds are open to the public; the buildings are not.
Joe’s Bar & Grill

Fresh fish, steak, and ribs are served at this lovely open-air restaurant. Great desserts and an excellent wine list.
John Waihe’e

The first governor of Hawaiian ancestry, he led the state from 1986 to 1990.
Journey Through Time

Morning

Begin with an early morning visit to Haleki’i Pihana Heiau, perched on a bluff overlooking Maui’s central valley. Take Route 340 from Kahului, make a left turn onto Kūhiō Place, and finally, turn onto Hea Place to reach the Heiau (temple). Maui’s ancient chiefs would have surveyed their domain from this very spot.

Head back up Kahului’s Ka’ahumanu Avenue all the way to the misty crags of ’Īao (see ’Īao Valley). Imagine the ali’i (royalty) enjoying this lush valley as you hike in the coolness of the tropical greenery and take a refreshing dip in a the sparkling stream.

A ten-minute drive out of the valley to Wailuku will bring you to Bailey House Museum (see Bailey House Museum) for a look at precontact life on Maui. Bailey’s own paintings also provide an interesting glimpse into how the island looked when the Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1820s.

Afternoon

Grab a quick, local-style lunch at Sam Sato’s or Wei Wei Noodles & Barbecue, both in the nearby Wailuku Millyard.

Next, you come to the island’s plantation era, vividly displayed at the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. And to bring you back up to date, end your day by picking up some pūpū (snacks) at one of the many markets in Kahului – Safeway, Ah Fook’s, Foodland – then head to Kanahā Beach Park for a sunset picnic.
Kahakuloa Village/Kahakuloa Head

For nearly 1,500 years Hawaiian families have inhabited Kahakuloa, growing kalo (see East Maui) on stone terraces and using aqueducts to irrigate the crops from mountain streams. There are no gas stations or restaurants in the village, and the most prominent building is a lovely, small church. East of the village, the monolithic 636-ft Kahakuloa Head rises majestically from the water’s edge.

Kahakuloa Village

Kahakuloa Village Church

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Restaurant price categories

Price categories include a three-course meal for one, a glass of house wine, and all unavoidable extra charges including tax.
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