Attractions & Landmarks

If you visit downtown Lahaina, you are sure to happen across this tree. If you did not plan on visiting downtown Lahaina, you should change your plans so that you can see this major landmark. The tree is well over 100 years old, and will probably endure for several hundred more years. It is 60 feet high and covers 200 feet of space. With 12 trunks and several hundred drooping branches, it looks more like a miniature jungle than anything else. Locals make crafts under its shade, boys swing from the branches and tourists stare in amazement.

The town of Lahaina was a prominent port for Pacific Ocean whaling for 50 years. This unique floating museum, which is actually a 90-foot replica of a square-rigged 19th-century merchant ship, contains historical artifacts and details about whaling in Lahaina. Featured exhibits include recordings of whale songs and an original Alaskan whaling boat. Films about whaling and humpbacks are presented throughout the day. This is a fun outing for anyone interested in marine history.

Haleakala ATV Tours will take you where no tour can: to the heart of Hawaii! Navigate the terrain within the scenic 30,000 acre Haleakala Ranch by exploring rolling hills and high mountain forests. These 350cc four-wheel drive quads are easily operated assuring a comfortable ride. As you tour the ranch, be sure to keep an eye peeled for the Hawaiian Paniolo cowboys. Must be at least 16 years of age to operate an ATV. If you prefer to be driven, Hummer and Jeep tours are available.

There are a never-ending variety of natural wonders in this enormous park, including the eerie floor of the crater and the magical Kipahulu Valley, much of which is closed to tourists. A seven-day pass is USD5 or USD10 per vehicle. Explore Haleakala with an experienced guide or stick with the established trails. Weather conditions can change drastically at the summit. Bring food, water and proper clothing for every member of the group if you plan on hiking.

Hana Highway may sound fairly non-threatening - after all, it is only 55 miles long - but once you've driven the road, you understand exactly how long 55 miles can be. As one of Maui's major attractions, tourists from around the globe make the wild and wooly drive daily, but most people miss the majority of the attractions. For that reason, it's wise to purchase the guided-tour tapes or CDs, available through this company for USD20. Some of the highlights of the drive include hidden pools and waterfalls, hiking trails, exotic fauna and Waianapanapa State Park, with its amazing black sand beach.

Every first and third weekend of each month you can find local artisans showing their work beneath the shade of downtown Lahaina's famous Banyan Tree. The Lahaina Art Society and Lahaina Town Action groups host the festival. Each artist is responsible for presenting his or her own work. Paintings, etchings, sculpture, jewelry and more can be purchased at very reasonable prices. The atmosphere is busy and cheerful. Admission is free.

Towering in the sky above Iao Valley, this green-covered mountain peak is one of Maui's most famous sites. It's the first picture that people take upon visiting the valley, even though most of them don't venture any closer than the parking lot. However, the base of the Needle is an excellent spot for picnicking, splashing around or hiking. Bring a lunch and a lot of mosquito repellent, and prepare to spend a few idyllic hours. Hikers, stay in the marked trails and follow basic safety rules at all times.

The focal point of this park is the Iao Needle. A natural rock formation covered in green moss, it towers 2,000 feet over the park. There are several routes to hike to the Needle. There are also clearings, gardens and a spacious picnic area. Iao Valley was the site of a huge, bloody battle hundreds of years ago, and some locals believe that parts of it are still haunted. A much less romantic and more tangible threat comes from the clouds of mosquitoes that lurk near the streams and attack unwary visitors.

An interactive museum with touch and feel displays, video exhibits on flat-screen TV's, live demonstrations, exhibits and artifacts that grace its newly varnished walls, this museum endeavors to keep alive the rich culture and bonhomie that is native to the Aloha State, Hawaii!!! There are precious curios and other symbols of the native tribe that once ruled the islands. Be sure to visit the Lahaina Visitor's Center and the gift shop, both within this facility. The place has an ancient charm that could bewitch the unsuspecting.

The magical scent of this store drifts hundreds of feet away, making all of 505 Front Street smell like a tropical garden. However, once you walk in here, you realize that this is the source of all the yummy smells. The products sold here are all-natural and locally made. Facial cleansers, bath crystals and candles are made from plumeria, jasmine, guava, and other island fruits and blooms. The store specializes in spa baskets, custom designed according to the needs of a specific customer. Spa and massage treatments are also available. It's best to book an appointment in advance.

With its seemingly endless expanse of golden sand beach and perfect bodysurfing waves, this beach is a must-see. Big Beach is the number one spot for sunbathing and swimming. Little Beach, a five-minute hike up and over rocks, is a world-famous nude beach. It also has the best boogie-boarding and bodysurfing on the island; hence the large numbers of young local boys dispersed amongst the nudists. Always watch the weather reports and posted signs. Makena can get rough, and the shallow break makes it easy to get bumped around in the waves.

Let it be known up front: these caverns are not, as was supposed, an ancient burial ground. If this revelation does not disappoint you too much, then perhaps this is the spelunking experience for you. Excursions range from a quick 50-minute lava tube tour to a six-hour adventure that is advertised as a journey to the center of the earth. You will view some breathtaking sights, including ancient stalactites, ledges and the stunning Dancing Sunbeam Skylight. Two different excursions are available. Call for prices and more information.

While there are many ways to see the legendary sunrise over Haleakala, the downhill bike ride is perhaps the most memorable one. This bike company has been featured in Sunset and Time magazines, and has attracted a number of celebrity passengers. Two tour options are available. The Sunrise Tour picks you up around 2:15a. The Midday Tour will pick you up around 7:00a, too late to catch the sunrise but early enough to avoid the worst of the mid-day heat. The tours last eight hours and include one meal.

History buffs are encouraged to take "a walking tour through Lahaina's past" with this company. Tours are approximately two hours in length and visit more than 20 sites. Knowledgeable guides give detailed information on the Hawaiian and Western history of each site. Learn about Hawaiian royalty, the original missionaries, the whalers and the origins of surfing. This company operates in partnership with local non-profit organization Friends of Moku'ula. Refreshments are included in the tour cost.

Touted as the largest tropical aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, this impressive oceanfront aquarium has quickly become one of most popular attractions of Maui . With more than 50 marine habitats, a massive ocean exhibit and a Whale Discovery Center, this is a must-see for anyone interested in the undersea world. Guided tours and audio guides are available, and there is an entertaining Keiki Program for the little ones. Check out the Marine Mammal Discovery Center here—it is educational and fun too!

Regarded as one of Hawaii's best luaus, this West Maui spectacle has been featured in National Geographic Traveler and many other publications. It recently moved to a new, larger location, which is modeled after an old-fashioned village and specially designed to showcase the ancient arts featured onstage. Entertainment includes musical presentations, hula dances, craft demonstrations and more. A lavish buffet featuring roasted pork is accompanied by tropical drinks. Admission: USD82.29 (tax included) adults; USD51.04 (tax included) children 2-12.

Most of the people who got tossed in this squat little prison were sailors who had downed one too many drinks while on shore leave. It was not a pleasant spot to sleep off a drunk, either; locals called it Hale Pa'ahao or "stuck in irons." These days, anyone can enter, and exit, this historical building at will. This is a Lahaina Restoration Foundation site, and while there is no charge to enter, donations are appreciated.

If you've spent any time at all on the Hawaiian Islands, the green, pink and blue-striped vans of Polynesian Adventure Tours are probably a familiar sight. These island tours are conducted throughout the state of Hawai'i and offer a wide variety of sightseeing opportunities. Tours conducted on Maui include the Haleakala and Central Maui tour, the Haleakala Sunrise tour, the Haleakala Sunset tour and the ever-popular Hana tour. Excursion prices range from USD56 to USD70.

Combine a snorkel cruise with a trip to Molokini and a detour at nearby Turtle Town (home of the sea turtles), and you have got an irresistible excursion. This company only takes small groups. It is operated by a Coast Guard Captain with almost 20 years of experience; he and his crew take pride in their ecological awareness. The Seafire is new to South Maui, and is highly recommended by tour guides if you are staying in Kihei or Wailea. Call for prices and to make reservations.

In the early days of Hawaii's Western colonization, trains were used to haul sugar cane from one spot to the other. Eventually, more modern forms of transportation became popular, and today almost nothing can be seen of the original Hawaiian railroads. However, the tracks between Lahaina and Ka'anapali are still functional, and the cherry-red Sugar Cane Train still travels them regularly. A dinner ride is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It is hard to imagine a more dramatic spectacle than the active Kilauea Volcano. Now visitors to Maui can take this company's helicopter tour over to the Big Island to view the volcano. Tours depart from Kapalua, West Maui Airport and Kahului, Maui. The heli-tour also passes over Maunakea, Hilo and Hana. This is a fantastic way to view a few of Hawaii's most amazing attractions within a two-hour period. Charters are also available. It is recommended that you book tours a few days in advance. Call for pricing information.

Wailea, in South Maui, is one of the most breathtaking resort communities in the world. The air is perfumed with island blossoms, the beaches (all of them public-access) are white sand, and the resorts are architectural wonders. Marvel at the palatial Eastern-themed Fairmont Kea Lani Resort or the understated elegance at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Shopping in this area is decidedly upscale. The best place to go is The Shops at Wailea, which offer high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co, to name a few.

Indiana Jones would feel right at home on this specialty tour. Adventurous Maui visitors should make their way to Haleakala National Park for a thrilling close-up of one of the world's largest volcanoes via zipline crossings. You'll fly through the air with the greatest of ease, suspended in space while strapped safely to a harness and cables, "zipping" from one heart-racing ledge to the next. Check out breathtaking views of Hawaii's unique landscape while sailing over gulches and breezing past trees throughout the rugged woods of upcountry Maui. Guided tours include short hikes and five zipline crossings that increase in length, speed and excitement. A great adventure for families and anyone over the age of 10. The Skyline tour includes a customized harness and safety equipment. Tour prices start at $67 and can be booked online. 10 percent of company profits are donated to the protection of Hawaii's land and culture. Check website for complete details.

Several times a week, visitors to Whaler's Village can view a free Polynesian show on the mall's main stage. Each night celebrates a different segment of Hawaii's delightfully diverse culture. Tahitian dancers grace the stage almost every Saturday. Other shows include Japanese Taiko Drumming, Hula, Japanese folk dance and a Polynesian revue. If you happen to be in the neighborhood as the sun goes down, see if you can catch one of these shows. It's a great way to take in some local culture and performance without paying luau prices. See website for times.