Hawaii · Where to stay

Where to stay in Maui

Where to stay in Maui comes down to which side of the island you want. West Maui has the Kāʻanapali resort strip and the quiet bays of Kapalua and Nāpili. South Maui has condo-filled Kīhei and the luxury resorts of Wailea, and it gets the least rain. Kahului is the practical base by the airport. Here are all five, compared on the drive from the airport and the weather.

Updated November 15, 2026 · By Atlas Ranger Editorial · How we research · Booking links are affiliate links (disclosure)

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Where to stay in Maui: the short answer

Maui areas compared

Distances are by road from Kahului Airport (OGG) to the centre of each area, from OpenStreetMap routing. Rainfall is NOAA's 1991–2020 annual normal at the nearest station that has one.

AreaAirportShoreHotels
KāʻanapaliFirst visits, a walkable beach resort strip~47 km by roadKahului Airport (OGG)West Maui, leewardSheltered from the trade windsHotels
Kapalua & NāpiliCouples, quiet bays, snorkelling~56 km by roadThe farthest area from OGGNorthwest tipKapalua gauge: 28 in (705 mm) of rain a yearHotels
KīheiFamilies on a budget, condos, dry weather~20 km by roadKahului Airport (OGG)South Maui, leewardKīhei gauge: 11 in (275 mm) of rain a yearHotels
WaileaLuxury resorts, calm beaches, couples~29 km by roadKahului Airport (OGG)South Maui, leewardMākena gauge: 16 in (399 mm) of rain a yearHotels
Kahului & WailukuShort stays, early flights, the road to HānaUnder 10 kmThe closest area to OGGNorth coast, windyKahului gauge: 16 in (412 mm) of rain a yearHotels
01

Kāʻanapali

First visits, a walkable beach resort strip

Kāʻanapali is West Maui's planned resort area: a long, sandy beach backed by hotels, with a beachfront walkway that links them to the Whalers Village shops and restaurants. Black Rock (Puʻu Kekaʻa) at the north end of the beach is a popular snorkelling spot. It is the easiest choice for a first trip if you want to walk to the beach and to dinner. Lahaina town, just to the south, was largely destroyed by the August 2023 wildfire; check what has reopened before planning a visit there.

  • Airport ~47 km by road Kahului Airport (OGG)
  • Shore West Maui, leeward Sheltered from the trade winds

Why stay here

  • A long sandy beach with a walkway between hotels
  • Shops and restaurants at Whalers Village
  • Snorkelling at Black Rock

Worth knowing

  • About 47 km from the airport, the farthest of the main areas after Kapalua
  • The busiest resort strip on the island
02

Kapalua & Nāpili

Couples, quiet bays, snorkelling

Kapalua and Nāpili sit at the northwest tip of Maui, past Kāʻanapali. Instead of one long strip, the coast here is a string of small, curved bays, Nāpili Bay and Kapalua Bay among them, with the Kapalua Coastal Trail running along the cliffs between them. It is quieter than Kāʻanapali, with low-rise resorts and condos close to the sand. It is also a little wetter: the gauge at Kapalua-West Maui airport records about 28 inches (705 mm) of rain a year.

  • Airport ~56 km by road The farthest area from OGG
  • Shore Northwest tip Kapalua gauge: 28 in (705 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • Small, sheltered bays for swimming and snorkelling
  • The Kapalua Coastal Trail along the cliffs
  • Quieter than the big resort strips

Worth knowing

  • The longest drive from Kahului Airport
  • Wetter than South Maui
  • Few shops and restaurants within walking distance
03

Kīhei

Families on a budget, condos, dry weather

Kīhei is a long beach town on South Maui, stretched along South Kīhei Road with beach parks such as the three Kamaʻole beaches every few hundred metres. Most places to stay are condos and small hotels rather than big resorts, many with kitchens, which suits families and longer stays. It is the driest spot on this list: the Kīhei rain gauge records about 11 inches (275 mm) a year. It is also close to the airport.

  • Airport ~20 km by road Kahului Airport (OGG)
  • Shore South Maui, leeward Kīhei gauge: 11 in (275 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • The driest weather of the areas here
  • Condos with kitchens, good for families
  • Beach parks all along the town

Worth knowing

  • Spread out along one road: a car helps
  • Fewer full-service resorts than Wailea or Kāʻanapali
04

Wailea

Luxury resorts, calm beaches, couples

Wailea is the planned resort area just south of Kīhei, with large resort hotels on a row of crescent beaches such as Ulua, Mōkapu and Wailea Beach. A paved coastal path links the resorts, and The Shops at Wailea is in the middle. It is drier and calmer than most of Maui: the rain gauge at nearby Mākena golf course records about 16 inches (399 mm) a year. Big Beach (Mākena) is a short drive further south.

  • Airport ~29 km by road Kahului Airport (OGG)
  • Shore South Maui, leeward Mākena gauge: 16 in (399 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • Crescent beaches in front of the resorts
  • A coastal path between the hotels
  • Dry, sunny South Maui weather

Worth knowing

  • Resorts here are among the most expensive on Maui
  • Hotels on Wailea Ike, uphill, are a walk or short drive from the beaches
05

Kahului & Wailuku

Short stays, early flights, the road to Hāna

Kahului is Maui's main town and the home of the airport, with Wailuku, the county seat, just inland. They are not beach-holiday bases, but they are practical: the hotels here are close to the airport, the big shops and the start of the road to Hāna and the drive up to Haleakalā. Wailuku is also the gateway to ʻĪao Valley. Central Maui is windy, and the Kahului Airport gauge records about 16 inches (412 mm) of rain a year.

  • Airport Under 10 km The closest area to OGG
  • Shore North coast, windy Kahului gauge: 16 in (412 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • Minutes from the airport for late arrivals or early flights
  • Close to the road to Hāna, Haleakalā and ʻĪao Valley
  • Shops and supermarkets

Worth knowing

  • No resort beach: a drive to swim
  • Windy on the north coast

When to book Maui

Hawaii's best months are April to July and October to November, and May, September and October are among the cheapest. Humpback whales winter in Hawaiian waters, peaking from January to March, which makes winter one of the busiest times to book, along with the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The hotel links here are dated for May. See the best time to visit Hawaii for month-by-month weather, the worst time to visit Hawaii, and the Hawaii hurricane season. Visiting more than one island? Compare where to stay in Kauai.

Questions people ask

What is the best area to stay in Maui?

For a first trip, Kāʻanapali on West Maui: a long sandy beach, a walkway between the hotels and restaurants within walking distance. Wailea suits couples who want a luxury resort, Kīhei suits families and budgets, and Kapalua and Nāpili suit anyone who wants quiet bays.

Is it better to stay in West Maui or South Maui?

South Maui (Kīhei and Wailea) is drier and closer to the airport: about 20 to 29 km by road, against about 47 to 56 km for Kāʻanapali and Kapalua. West Maui has the classic resort strip at Kāʻanapali and the small bays of Nāpili and Kapalua.

What is the driest part of Maui?

South Maui. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals record about 11 inches (275 mm) of rain a year at Kīhei and about 16 inches (399 mm) at Mākena, south of Wailea, against about 72 inches (1,833 mm) at Hāna on the east coast.

Where should families stay on Maui?

Kīhei, where many places to stay are condos with kitchens and beach parks line the town, or Kāʻanapali for a resort with the beach and restaurants on foot.

Can I stay in Lahaina?

Lahaina town was largely destroyed by the August 2023 wildfire. Kāʻanapali, just to the north, is the nearest resort area. Check current information from Maui County and your hotel before planning a visit to Lahaina.

Do I need a car on Maui?

For most trips, yes. The main areas are 20 to 56 km from Kahului Airport by road, and the road to Hāna, Haleakalā and ʻĪao Valley are all drives. In Kāʻanapali and Wailea you can walk between the beach, hotels and restaurants once you arrive.

How this guide was put together

Road distances from Kahului Airport come from OpenStreetMap routing to the centre of each area, read on November 15, 2026. Rainfall figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 annual normals for the Kapalua-West Maui airport, Kīhei, Mākena golf course, Kahului airport and Hāna airport stations. Hotel details (street address, walking distances, guest scores and review counts) come from each hotel's own Trip.com listing, read on November 15, 2026; walking minutes are the listing's distance at 80 metres a minute. Seasons come from the Hawaii month-by-month guide. Hotels are chosen on location, guest score and review count; adults-only, casino and party hotels are left out.

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