Maui accommodation from AU$386

King Piilani was the first ruler to unite Maui in the fifteenth century. King Kamehameha 1 took control of Maui in 1790 after a battle with King Kahekili in the Iao Valley, making Lahaina the new capital. In 1828, Maui’s sugar mill industry began, and workers came from around the world, leading to the multicultural population we see in Hawaii today.

Things to do

Maui has 45km of beaches, some of them extraordinarily beautiful, with white, black and even red sand (see Kaihalulu Beach!). Kaanapali Beach, named “America’s best beach” in 2003, is a long sandy stretch with clear blue water perfect for a swim. Honolua Bay is a big wave surf spot where you can catch the pros in action during winter. In Maui you can surf, windsurf, snorkel, scuba dive, swim and sunbake. If you’d rather stay dry, you can also tee off at one of Maui’s golf clubs or zipline over green hills and beach. Take a whale-watching tour off the coast of Lahaina too.

Haleakala is truly a staggering sight. At 3,055 metres, this volcano is Maui’s highest peak, and its summit is a spectacular place to catch the sunrise. The rocky lunar-like crater is big enough to accommodate Manhattan. With over 48kms of hiking trails, it’s great for outdoorsy types, but you can drive straight to the summit as well.

And while you’re in Maui, make sure you visit the lush green Iao Valley and the Hana Highway, which is unique for its variety of beautiful waterfalls in all sizes.

Shopping and dining

With views over Kaanapali Beach, Whalers Village has almost 100 great shops and restaurants plus a whaling museum. The Outlets of Maui is Maui’s first ever outlet shopping centre and sits on the Lahaina oceanfront. If you’ve got cash to spare, splash out at The Shops at Wailea’s range of upmarket boutique stores.

Eating is another one of Maui’s great pleasures, and you have plenty of choice: seaside taverns, restaurants that specialise in distinctive Hawaiian food, steakhouses, seafood. You’ll have no reason to go hungry after a big day at the beach.

Getting here

You can get a flight straight to Maui with one of our cheap flights to Kahului. But if you want to explore the rest of Hawaii first – and spend some time in popular spots like Honolulu and Waikiki, then book one of our cheap flights to Honolulu. Buses can take you to many of Maui’s main attractions, but to get a proper look at the island it’s better to hire your own set of wheels. Book your Maui accommodation with us and have a whale of a time.