Where to stay

Stretching along Maui's western shore, Lahaina's beaches are spectacular. Stay in the south near Launiupoko Beach Park, where a natural kiddie pool and offshore reef offer interest. Heading north, Lahaina is a great place to stay for very young kids to enjoy Baby Beach's calm, shallow waters. Ar-range accommodations in Ka'anapali for a cluster of beaches, including the long expanses of Ka-hekili and Ka'anapali, one of Hawaii's favorite beaches. Black Rock Beach features snorkeling; its cliff diving is remarkable, but probably best left to experienced locals. Kapalua's hotels and other living spaces give easy access to paddleboarding and beginner surfing at Napili Bay, Oneloa Beach, and D.T. Fleming Beach, all connected by the Kapalua Coastal Trail. This northern neighborhood is the best place to stay to visit the more rugged areas of Slaughterhouse Beach and Honolua Bay, with snorkeling and advanced surfing opportunities depending on wind and wave conditions.

Gorgeous sunny days make Lahaina ideal for outdoor activities. In the spring, book accommodations in Lahaina or Ka'anapali for whale watching, with breaching often visible right from the shore. Stay in Napili to watch for green sea turtles. The Kapalua neighborhood is a great spot to stay to en-joy golf on courses where PGA professionals frequently play. Non-golfers can appreciate horseback riding and spectacular sunsets. From here, visit Wailuku, where scrambling along the Acid War Zone Trail leads to the Nakalele Blowhole and an unusual heart-shaped rock opening. Head into the hills in the Punakea neighborhood to visit coconut, passion fruit, and coffee farms and pet the friend-ly creatures at the Maui Animal Farm. For a great workout, rent a bike in Lahaina and cycle a loop around the western half of Maui.

In the early 1800s, Lahaina was the capital of Hawaii under King Kamehameha's rule. Missionaries, whalers, sailors, and European settlers soon added to the population. Book a hotel in Lahaina to visit the Lahaina Heritage Museum documenting this history. Stay near Historic Lahaina Front Street to follow the walking tour featuring numerous significant places, including the Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, the Baldwin Home Museum, a lighthouse, multiple cemeteries, a prison, and a Chinese mu-seum. The Banyan Tree, planted here in 1873, now covers a full city block. In the hills above the small neighborhood of Olowalu are the Olowalu Petroglyphs, where more than 100 ancient rock carvings provide insights about early inhabitants. Stay in Kapalua, north of Lahaina, to walk through an abandoned golf course, a once groomed area that is returning to its historic natural rainforest conditions.