US · Hawaii · 20.80°N 156.30°W

maui

A volcanic summit, winding rainforest roads, coastal swims and winter whale watching.

Best time
April–May and September–October have good beach weather and lighter crowds. December–April is humpback whale season, peaking in January–March, and winter is wetter on the north and east coasts.
How long
4–6 days
Getting there
Fly to Kahului with two stops, usually via Tokyo, Osaka or Seoul and then Honolulu, about 19–23 hours all in. Kihei and the south-coast beaches are 20–30 minutes from the airport. Hawaii is 18 hours behind KL all year. Malaysians need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, usually with an interview at the embassy in KL; ESTA isn't open to Malaysian passports.
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US · Hawaiimaui20.80°N 156.30°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A volcanic summit, winding rainforest roads, coastal swims and winter whale watching.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMauiUS, Hawaii
KLmaui
≈ 11,127 km from KL, as the crow flies
Mount Haleakala Crater Maui Hawaii

Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Maui has dry, sunny beaches in the west and south, a wet, green east coast and a 3,000-metre volcano in the middle. It works best with a base or two and time to stay put, rather than trying to cover the island in a day.

Makan

  1. PokeRaw tuna in soy and sesame over rice; supermarket poke counters are good.Map ↗
  2. Banana breadSold warm at roadside stands along the Road to Hana.Map ↗
  3. Shave iceFinely shaved ice with fruit syrups, Hawaii's ais kacang.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Haleakalā sunriseWatch the sun come up over a sea of cloud from the summit. Sunrise entry needs a booking, and it's near freezing at the top.Map ↗
  2. Road to HanaA slow coast road of hundreds of bends and dozens of one-lane bridges, past waterfalls, rainforest and black-sand beaches.Map ↗
  3. Kihei and Wailea beachesCalm, sandy bays on the sunny south coast, good for swimming and snorkelling.Map ↗
  4. Whale watchingFrom December to April humpbacks gather off the west and south coasts; boats leave from Maalaea.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Lahaina is still rebuilding after the 2023 fire, so skip it as a sightseeing stop and keep out of closed areas.
  • Halal is very limited on Maui, so a condo with a kitchen and a supermarket run in Kahului make life easier.
  • Pack warm clothes for Haleakalā even when the beach is hot.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.