Responsible travel
Visiting Maui with respect
Maui is open and welcoming visitors, but how you travel matters. A few things we keep in mind when planning trips there.
By ALKIKI · · 1 min read
Our photoHawaiʻi, USA
Volcanoes, reefs and aloha: islands that ask you to travel with respect.
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
In this guide: Overview
Why Hawaiʻi
Each Hawaiian island has its own personality. Oʻahu mixes Honolulu's energy with the surf towns of the North Shore; Maui offers sunrise above the clouds and coastal drives; Kauaʻi and the Big Island are wilder still.
We plan Hawaiʻi trips with care for the places and the people who call them home: supporting local businesses, following reservation systems and respecting sacred and closed sites.
Highlights
Haleakalā sunrise
Watching the sun rise above the clouds on Maui; reservations are required.
The North Shore of Oʻahu
Surf towns, shrimp trucks and winter waves.
Snorkelling
Turtles and reef fish; choose reef-safe sunscreen.
Local food
Poke, plate lunches and shave ice from family-run spots.
When to go
April to May and September to October
- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Good
- April: Our pick
- May: Our pick
- June: Good
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Our pick
- October: Our pick
- November: Good
- December: Good
The shoulder seasons bring good weather, calmer prices and fewer crowds. Winter brings big surf to north shores (amazing to watch, not for swimming); summer is busier.
Before you go
- Several popular sites now need advance reservations (for example Diamond Head and Haleakalā sunrise). Book as soon as your dates are set.
- Rent a car on most islands; public transport outside Honolulu is limited.
- Respect closures and private land, and never take lava rock or sand.
- Mineral, reef-safe sunscreen protects the reefs you came to see.
Places to explore in Hawaiʻi
Through our lens
Stories from Hawaiʻi
Our photoDreaming of Hawaiʻi?
Tell us who's travelling and what you love. We'll read every answer and, if we're a good fit, build your plan by hand.