rich culture | outdoor experiences | spirit of aloha
Maui
I t's often said that "aloha" means both "hello" and "goodbye," but in the Hawaiian culture, the word actually stands for much more. The Spirit of Aloha is a fundamental concept of respect, gratitude and compassion for others. On Maui, that spirit has in full effect since the deadly and devastating wildfires that leveled much of historic Lahaina town in August 2023.
Over the past 15 months, the island community has banded together to recover and rebuild—while also continuing to welcome travelers to this lush landscape of towering mountains, verdant valleys, palm tree-fringed beaches and shimmering seas. But it's important that these travelers visit with mālama, which in essence means to care for and to give back. That means traveling responsibly, in ways that respect both local customs and the environment. It also means bringing tourism dollars back to the island, where travel contributes over 70% of the local economy. So as 2025 dawns, we embrace the message of Mākaukau Maui or "Maui is ready." Because Aloha is meant to be shared.
Love for the locals
Many visitors come to Maui for the island's amenity-rich resorts, and understandably so. But embracing mālama means leaving the resort grounds, discovering smaller towns, shopping at local merchants and uncovering unique aspects of this island.
Head to Upcountry Maui to visit the home of the Hawaiian cowboy or paniolo. Embark on a horseback riding tour amid the rolling hills and cattle ranches. In the artsy town of Makawao nearby, brave the long morning lines at Komoda's Bakery for fresh "stick donuts" and cream puffs, then explore the local art galleries in and around town. You might find some 'ōiwi (native)-made clothes at a local boutique or a piece of art to remind you of your time in Maui.
Feel the Aloha Spirit
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Paniolo children in Upcountry Maui | credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Max Wanger
Sunrise at Haleakalā
Rich culture
Outdoor experiences
Spirit of Aloha
Stick donut at Komoda's Bakery | credit: HTA / Max Wanger
Makawao Town
Road to Hāna
Plan your trip
Zipline tour on Maui
Waianapanapa State Park, Maui | credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tommy Lundberg
Kamaole Beach Park | credit: HTA / Mathieu Duchier
Shaved ice and fresh fruit | credit: HTA / Mathieu Duchier
Marine conservation
South Maui coastline | credit: HTA
Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono
Haleakalā
Taro patch | credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono
Dishes that delight
Fresh is the flavor of Maui, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables from fertile fields, local livestock raised sustainably and a bounty of seafood caught in the waters surrounding the island. Combine that rich ingredient list with native Hawaiian customs and global influences ranging from Polynesian to Japanese to mainland American, and you're in for an 'ono (delicious) meal. A concerted effort by local chefs to focus on Hawaiian Regional Cuisine has led to this farm-to-table and sea-to-fork goodness.
Don't leave the island without getting your hands on some banana bread, Kula strawberries and Maui Gold pineapples. And, if you happen to drive by one of several "food truck parks," stop in. You'll find rising stars serving up Hawaiian specialties as well as cutting-edge creations.
Going the extra mile
The Valley Isle is so blessed with beauty that it can be tempting to just sit back and enjoy the view. But if you go the extra mile (or two), the payoff can be picture-perfect. Start with a pre-dawn trip to the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakalā, the world's largest dormant volcano, for a sunrise photo opp that Mark Twain called "the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed." You do need a reservation for a summit sunrise spot; book up to 60 days in advance. The 30,000-acre sanctuary is home to more endangered species than anywhere else in the National Park Service; several hiking trails give you the chance to see them up close.
Much closer to sea level is the Road to Hāna, a winding 52-mile drive from Kahului to the coastal town. Consider booking a guided tour. That way you can focus more on the incredible island views, and less on navigating the hairpin turns and one-lane bridges. Stops along the way include waterfalls such as the Twin Falls near Pa'ia and Pua'a Ka'a Falls, both accessible after a short hike.
Plenty to see on land and sea
On a sun-kissed island, the menu of outdoor options is too numerous to list here. Golfers will want to tee it up at a few of the 14 courses on the island. (If you think you can play with the pros, try the Plantation Course at Kapalua, home of the PGA Tour's annual tournament of champions.) Much less challenging is a hike through lush rainforest in 'Īao Valley State Park to see Kūka'emoku (aka the 'Īao Needle), a 1,200-foot rock outcropping that rises abruptly from the valley floor. However you choose to spend your day, know that there's a bevy of beautiful beaches ready to reward you, including the 3-mile Kā'anapali Beach—once a white-sand retreat for Maui royalty.
If you visit in the winter months (December through May), you'll be treated to some of the world's best whale watching. Humpback whales venture down from Alaska to the Au'au Channel between Maui, Moloka'i and Lāna'i. Visitors can join any number of whale-watching tours—including those led by the Maui Ocean Center, one of the top aquariums in the U.S.
Giving back
Visiting respectfully and traveling mālama can take many different forms. It means supporting local businesses across Maui—restaurants, artisans, tour guides and so on. It means staying away from the impacted area of Lahaina out of respect for the people who lost homes or loved ones. It means traveling with empathy and understanding. It means staying on marked trails and avoiding single-use plastics to protect the surrounding environment.
It also means opportunities to give back through voluntourism —which may not support direct recovery work, but can make a big impact on the island nonetheless. Organized activities include reef cleanups, beach cleanups, repairing traditional fish ponds and planting new trees.
Big savings, big impact
Industry numbers reported that Maui arrivals were down close to 25% in the year following the fires—despite the fact that almost all of the island's hotels were open. As tourism rebounds in Maui, airlines and hotels are continuing to offer up significant savings to entice travelers to put Maui back into their plans.
At Travelzoo, our deal experts are seeing hotel offers that include generous resort credits, free nights on extended stays and room rate discounts of 30%-40%, even during peak season. In addition, major carriers such as Delta and Hawaiian Airlines are adding more direct flights, increasing competition and keeping fares quite affordable—especially for the winter months.
This means that a Maui vacation in 2025 could save travelers hundreds of dollars compared with prices just a few years ago. But we don't expect this savings opportunity to last forever. A visit in 2025 has the dual advantage of saving you money and infusing much-needed tourism dollars into the island's communities as the recovery continues.
Best Bet 2025
Maui was chosen as a Travelzoo Best Bet for 2025. Only nine worldwide destinations were selected for this honor, based on factors like increased interest among Travelzoo members, sustainability considerations or landmark events for the new year. See the full list here.
Best Bet 2025
Best Bet 2025
Best Bet 2025
Maui was chosen as a Travelzoo Best Bet for 2025. Only nine worldwide destinations were selected for this honor, based on factors like increased interest among Travelzoo members, sustainability considerations or landmark events for the new year. See the full list here.
Maui Gold pineapples | credit: HTA / Dana Edmunds
Food truck in Maui | credit: HTA / Ben Ono
Fresh fish | credit: HTA / Ben Ono
Kula strawberries | credit: HTA / Ben Ono
Plantation Course at Kapalua (left); Kūka'emoku (right)
credit: HTA / Tor Johnson
rich culture | outdoor experiences | spirit of aloha
rich culture | outdoor experiences | spirit of aloha
Love for the locals
Many visitors come to Maui for the island's amenity-rich resorts, and understandably so. But embracing mālama means leaving the resort grounds, discovering smaller towns, shopping at local merchants and uncovering unique aspects of this island.
Head to Upcountry Maui to visit the home of the Hawaiian cowboy or paniolo. Embark on a horseback riding tour amid the rolling hills and cattle ranches. In the artsy town of Makawao nearby, brave the long morning lines at Komoda's Bakery for fresh "stick donuts" and cream puffs, then explore the local art galleries in and around town. You might find some 'ōiwi (native)-made clothes at a local boutique or a piece of art to remind you of your time in Maui.
Dishes that delight
Fresh is the flavor of Maui, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables from fertile fields, local livestock raised sustainably and a bounty of seafood caught in the waters surrounding the island. Combine that rich ingredient list with native Hawaiian customs and global influences ranging from Polynesian to Japanese to mainland American, and you're in for an 'ono (delicious) meal. A concerted effort by local chefs to focus on Hawaiian Regional Cuisine has led to this farm-to-table and sea-to-fork goodness.
Don't leave the island without getting your hands on some banana bread, Kula strawberries and Maui Gold pineapples. And, if you happen to drive by one of several "food truck parks," stop in. You'll find rising stars serving up Hawaiian specialties as well as cutting-edge creations.
Going the extra mile
The Valley Isle is so blessed with beauty that it can be tempting to just sit back and enjoy the view. But if you go the extra mile (or two), the payoff can be picture-perfect. Start with a pre-dawn trip to the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakalā, the world's largest dormant volcano, for a sunrise photo opp that Mark Twain called "the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed." You do need a reservation for a summit sunrise spot; book up to 60 days in advance. The 30,000-acre sanctuary is home to more endangered species than anywhere else in the National Park Service; several hiking trails give you the chance to see them up close.
Much closer to sea level is the Road to Hāna, a winding 52-mile drive from Kahului to the coastal town. Consider booking a guided tour. That way you can focus more on the incredible island views, and less on navigating the hairpin turns and one-lane bridges. Stops along the way include waterfalls such as the Twin Falls near Pa'ia and Pua'a Ka'a Falls, both accessible after a short hike.
Plenty to see on land and sea
On a sun-kissed island, the menu of outdoor options is too numerous to list here. Golfers will want to tee it up at a few of the 14 courses on the island. (If you think you can play with the pros, try the Plantation Course at Kapalua, home of the PGA Tour's annual tournament of champions.) Much less challenging is a hike through lush rainforest in 'Īao Valley State Park to see Kūka'emoku (aka the 'Īao Needle), a 1,200-foot rock outcropping that rises abruptly from the valley floor. However you choose to spend your day, know that there's a bevy of beautiful beaches ready to reward you, including the 3-mile Kā'anapali Beach—once a white-sand retreat for Maui royalty.
If you visit in the winter months (December through May), you'll be treated to some of the world's best whale watching. Humpback whales venture down from Alaska to the Au'au Channel between Maui, Moloka'i and Lāna'i. Visitors can join any number of whale-watching tours—including those led by the Maui Ocean Center, one of the top aquariums in the U.S.
Giving back
Visiting respectfully and traveling mālama can take many different forms. It means supporting local businesses across Maui—restaurants, artisans, tour guides and so on. It means staying away from the impacted area of Lahaina out of respect for the people who lost homes or loved ones. It means traveling with empathy and understanding. It means staying on marked trails and avoiding single-use plastics to protect the surrounding environment.
It also means opportunities to give back through voluntourism —which may not support direct recovery work, but can make a big impact on the island nonetheless. Organized activities include reef cleanups, beach cleanups, repairing traditional fish ponds and planting new trees.
Big savings, big impact
Industry numbers reported that Maui arrivals were down close to 25% in the year following the fires—despite the fact that almost all of the island's hotels were open. As tourism rebounds in Maui, airlines and hotels are continuing to offer up significant savings to entice travelers to put Maui back into their plans.
At Travelzoo, our deal experts are seeing hotel offers that include generous resort credits, free nights on extended stays and room rate discounts of 30%-40%, even during peak season. In addition, major carriers such as Delta and Hawaiian Airlines are adding more direct flights, increasing competition and keeping fares quite affordable—especially for the winter months.
This means that a Maui vacation in 2025 could save travelers hundreds of dollars compared with prices just a few years ago. But we don't expect this savings opportunity to last forever. A visit in 2025 has the dual advantage of saving you money and infusing much-needed tourism dollars into the island's communities as the recovery continues.