Areas of Maui

Central Maui

West Maui

South Maui

East Maui

East Maui

North Shore

Historically the North Shore coastline from what today is Kahului to Hana was the most populated part of Maui. It rains more along the North Coast, everything is lush and grows, the surf is higher, more clouds cover the sun more often, and winds are persistent.

The shoreline that follows the Hana Hwy. reveals plenty of wonderful undeveloped (and undevelopable) cliffs and coastline. A series of beautiful peninsulas, promontories and shelves of rolling coastal land like Huelo, Ke’anae, Wailua and, further towards Hana, Nahiku and Ula’ino historically have been populated by both very large and small settlements.

Although no match for golden sands of South or West Maui, beaches of the North Shore are special nonetheless for people that love walking or jogging on beautiful beaches (Spreckelsville to Baby Baldwin and Baldwin Beach), windsurfing, surfing, kiteboarding, swimming and other activities, lots of hazards, pounding surf, and unpredictable conditions, and  gazing at spectacular ocean scenery and wave action at Kanaha, Ho’okipa, Pauwela Point and Maliko Bay where winter surf creates world-famous Peahi (“Jaws”) – waves 50’-60’ high!

Heading toward Hana, Pa’ia has charm, character, fun shopping, some very good local restaurants and terrific ones on the outskirts – Mama’s Fish House and Hali’imaile General Store. In an incredibly green and hilly countryside, a maze of small winding roads pass through Hali’imaile (between Haleakala Hwy., Hali’imaile Ave., Baldwin Ave. and Hwy. 36), Ha’iku, Pauwela, Kuau, and Ulumalu (between Baldwin Avenue, Kaupakalua Rd., Kokomo Rd., Ulumalu Rd. and the ocean).

“Hidden” just below upcountry, Haiku is green, wet, full of windy, narrow roads worth driving to nowhere except a meal at Haiku Marketplace. The hub of upcountry and downhill bicycle tours, Makawao offers a very charming street for shopping in boutiques and browsing in galleries plus a couple of good restaurants and eateries.

Beyond Pukulani, and several good restaurants, are the flower farms and gardens of Kula, cool and misty Polipoli State Park up Waipoli Rd., and the steep slopes of Haleakala up Hwy. 378 to the summit and crater. Hwy. 37 and Hwy. 31 lead to wine tasting and perhaps lunch at the Tedeschi Winery.

Road to Hana

One of the most famous scenic coastal drives in the world, most people drive the Road to Hana and back in one day. In Perfect Days we make a strong case for staying at vacation rentals in the North Shore and in Hana and, from these bases, seeing the Hana Hwy., its lovely settlements and churches, waterfalls and pools, botanical gardens, coastal beaches and numerous viewpoints from both ends of the road: Twin Falls, Huelo, Waikamo Ridge, Garden of Eden, Upper, Middle and Lower Puohokamoa Falls, Honomanu Bay, Ke’anae Peninsula, Wailua Falls, Waikani Falls and Nahiku, Wai’anapanapa State Park, ‘Ula’ino Rd., ‘Ohe’o Gulch, Haleakala National Park, and lovely Kipahulu.

Southeast Coast

From Hana, the narrow Southeast Coast curves westward through the tiny settlements (“villages” is a stretch of the term) of Kipahulu and Kaupo, past the photogenic Huialoha Church standing next to Haleki’i Bay, the coastline of Nu’u Bay and Huakini Bay. Hwy. 31 curves 3000’ up to Ulupalakua and Tedeschi’s Winery, connecting with Hwy. 37.