About half an hour from Kahului Airport is Kīhei, a sunny area that stretches for 6 miles along Maui’s south coast. Once a destination for vacationing aliʻi (Hawaiian royalty), this laid-back beach town still lures visitors, with its golden sands, snorkeling, whale-watching, beachy eateries and a wide assortment of affordable accommodations. It’s easy to see why Kīhei has long been a favorite spot for both locals and visitors.

1. Get Breakfast at Kīhei Caffe

 

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The motto at Kīhei Caffe says it all: “Eat, talk, share, and eat some more.” This popular breakfast spot—which opens at 5 a.m.!—doesn’t mess around: Its menu is packed with classic and local fare, including fresh buttermilk pancakes, crab cakes eggs Bennies and a kālua pork loco moco. The Surfer Dude sammie is a must-try, with three eggs, two pieces of bacon, tomato, avocado and cheddar cheese on a brioche bun. (The café also serves lunch.) The coffee and drinks menu is great, too, with fresh juices and smoothies. 1945 S. Kīhei Road, (808) 879-2230, kiheicaffe.com

2. Hit the Surf

Surfers heading out from Kalama Beach Park in Kīhei on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/mudskipperanne

Maui is a great place to hit the waves—whether you’re a beginning or veteran rider. In fact, one of Hawaiʻi’s best big-wave spots is Peʻahi—aka Jaws—on the north shore of the island. But there are gentle waves all over the island, and surf schools like Maui Surf Lessons that offer small-group lessons perfect for the entire family. (Recommended for ages 8 and older.) Plus, you’ll get free digital photos of your session—so you can brag about it later to your friends!

3. Enjoy Shave Ice

 

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Rain or shine, shave ice is always a good idea. And in Kīhei, there are a handful of spots that serve this Hawaiʻi treat. Check out Beach Street Maui in Rainbow Mall; it offers dozens of flavors and toppings like haupia (sweet coconut cream), chocolate, caramel and li hing mui powder. You can also get shave ice with vanilla ice cream, gummy bears, mochi balls or sweet azuki beans. The shop—which also serves açaí bowls, bagel sandwiches and smoothies—has a few signature shave ice combos, if you can’t decide what to get. The Hula Girl consists of raspberry, coconut and passion fruit syrups with vanilla ice cream and haupia; the Happy Honu is a combination of blue vanilla and Melona syrups with ice cream, azuki beans and haupia. Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kīhei Road, (808) 344-6598, beachstreetmaui.com

4. Learn about Humpback Whales

A humpback whale breaching off Lahaina on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/Beth Cagnoni/500px

During the winter months—November through May, with the peak season running from January to March—you’ll likely see koholā, or North Pacific humpback whales, off Maui’s southern shores. These magnificent mammals migrate to the warmer waters in Hawaiʻi to mate, give birth and frolic. Maui is one of the best places in the world to see these whales—and you don’t need to charter a whale-watching tour. The whales are visible from shore. Learn about these whales at the Humpback Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center, where you can tour the exhibits and interactive displays. 726 S. Kīhei Road,  (808) 879-2818, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/visit/visitor-centers.html

5. Hit the Beach(es)

Keawakapu Beach in Kīhei on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/7Michael

Kīhei boasts 6 miles of sandy beaches where you can surf, snorkel, swim or just lounge on the golden sands and enjoy the town’s perpetual sunshine. Keawakapu Beach has clear waters perfect for snorkeling around the coral reef. (You can often spot honu, of Hawaiian green sea turtles, here.) Kamaʻole Beach Parks is really three beaches, all with incredible views of Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi and Molokini offshore. The first of these beaches is Kamaʻole 1, a gorgeous white-sand, crescent-shaped beach that stretches for 1/3 of a mile.

6. Drink Mai Tais and Sing Karaoke

 

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There are parts of Maui that shut down when the sun goes down—but not Kīhei. Haui’s Life’s a Beach, for example, is open daily from 1 p.m. to midnight, with karaoke most nights until 11:30 p.m. Get there for sunset and watch from the lānai with a cold local beer or mai tai. If you’re hungry, LAB offers a variety of Mexican fare, from enchiladas to fish tacos. (Football fans can games Sunday morning games here, too.) 1913 S. Kīhei Road, (808) 891-8010, mauibars.com

Keālia Pond National National Wildlife Refuge on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/RASimon

8. Learn How to Stand-Up Paddleboard

Stand-up paddleboarding is a fun way to catch waves—or just be in the water. The family-run Maui Waveriders offers SUP lessons for all ages, and provides everything you need for a fun day in the sun. Lessons are 90 minutes long and start at $95 a person. 2021 S. Kīhei Road, Kīhei (808) 875-4761, mauiwaveriders.com

9. Take a Workshop

 

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Paper Garden Maui, a charming boutique in Wailea Village Center, offers small and unique workshops every month, ranging from macrame to candle-making. You can even sign up for a one-day watercolor painting class for beginners. Not only will you learn something new, but you’ll have a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take back home with you. Check its Instagram for workshop updates. Wailea Village Center, 116 Wailea Ike Dr., Suite 2202, Wailea, (808) 871-5541, papergardenmaui.com

10. Watch the Sunset

Sunset in Kīhei on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/sanfel

Because of its location on the south shore, Kīhei is one of the best places on Maui to watch the sunset. Sit on one of Kīhei’s many beaches—we like Sugar Beach—or grab a bite to eat at a beachfront eatery with a front-row seat. Nalu’s South Shore Grill, a locally owned restaurant across the street from the shoreline, has great sunset views plus a menu that will satisfy any craving: classic loco mocos, chicken and waffles, salads, burgers and, of course, tropical cocktails. The live music provides the perfect soundtrack to the unforgettable Maui sunset. Azeka Shopping Center, 1280 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 132, (808) 891-8650, naluskihei.com

Starting on Nov. 1, all of West Maui—except for historic Lahaina—will reopen to tourism, according to Maui Mayor Richard Bissen.

This speeds up the city’s initial plan of reopening the area in phases, which began on Oct. 6, two months after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than century ravaged Lahaina and killed at least 99 people.

Bissen said he made the move after discussions with his Lahaina advisory team, the Red Cross and other partners. Housing for displaced wildfire survivors will not be affected.

Courtesy of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority

West Maui has about 11,000 hotel rooms—half of the total rooms on the entire island—and this area has long been popular with visitors to the Valley Isle. The return of visitors will kickstart an economy still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and now the August wildfires.

“No one in Hawai‘i will ever forget the tragedy that our friends, families, loved ones, and colleagues in Lahaina are enduring,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, chief administrative officer of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. “The response from residents statewide and by people around the world to support Maui’s recovery has been incredible and inspiring. Now is the time for people everywhere to show their support for Maui by booking trips, making restaurant reservations, and frequenting Maui’s retail stores and attractions that support workers and their families.”

If you’re planning to travel to West Maui, here’s what you should do:

• Check with individual accommodations, activities and businesses in West Maui to see if they’re open and what are their hours of operations.
• The rest of Maui—which includes Hāna, Wailea, Wailuku and Upcountry Maui—are open. Consider staying in a hotel or B&B in these areas.
• Support local businesses. When you’re planning on where to eat, grab coffee or buy souvenirs, patronize a shop or eatery that’s locally owned.
• Consider volunteering or donating to an organization that’s helping Maui victims, including the Maui Food Bank, Maui Humane Society or to the Maui Strong Fund.
• Be kind, show empathy and be patient. Businesses have had to cut hours and staff. Service might be slower than you remember—or would like. But the island and its people have been recovering from a devastating loss. Show kindness.

For travel updates to Maui, visit here.

There are some restaurants that, for whatever reason, you keep coming back to.

Sometimes it’s nostalgia. Sometimes it’s convenience. And almost always it’s because there’s something there that you love: atmosphere, service, sizzling steak bites with onions.

That’s how it’s been for me with Tiffany’s Bar & Grill in Wailuku, a family-run neighborhood sports bar that’s been around for nearly two decades. Its cavernous dining room packed in the mostly local clientele, here for the local classics this restaurant was known for.

But the Orite family who owned Tiffany’s decided to call it quits. That’s when a loyal customer—who just so happens to be a “Top Chef” alum and James Beard-nominated chef—stepped in.

Sheldon Simeon and his wife, Janice, who have owned other restaurants on Maui, took over this one—now called Tiffany’s Maui—last year. The couple refreshed the 3,600-square-foot space, which includes a 12-seat bar with murals and lyrics from some of their favorite songs on the walls.

Inside the 3,600-square-foot restaurant in Wailuku.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox

What people may remember about Tiffany’s is its extensive menu, with more than 150 items. Simeon pared that down to about 50, keeping some of the most popular dishes, like honey-walnut shrimp, sizzling steak bites with onion, and kim chee fried rice. But he’s added his own touch, with more Filipino-inspired fare and an upscale approach to local comfort food.

(Left) Hamachi sashimi and Ovaltine champorado from Tiffany’s Maui.
Photos: Catherine Toth Fox

One of the most popular dishes right now is the hamachi (Japanese amberjack) sashimi, served with a ponzu finadene sauce and Maui onions. The fish is fresh and firm, and the sauce is puckery good. (Order a side of white rice with it. Trust us.)

The desserts are just as creative, with a rotating lineup that includes a kiawe bean blondie, black sesame mousse cake, and vanilla bean ice cream topped with hurricane popcorn and furikake. We tried the warm Ovaltine champorado, an innovative take on a Filipino dessert consisting of a chocolate-flavored rice porridge made with sticky rice and tablea. Simeon swapped chocolate with malt-y Ovaltine and added mochi, puffed rice, evaporated milk and Nutella ice cream.

The daily specials take advantage of seasonal, locally grown ingredients, like these ʻahi cakes.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox

The menu may be elevated, but there are still a lot of homey, local-style dishes that lure the regulars: loco moco, miso butterfish, garlicky mochiko chicken. But this is where Simeon is a master—creating a new experience eating something so familiar. Take, for example, the Wailuku saimin. It has everything you would expect from a deluxe bowl of saimin—pork belly, won ton, egg, kamaboko, choy sum—but the noodles, specially made for him by Honolulu-based Sun Noodles, is a mix of dry mein and chewy saimin noodles. It’s subtle, but I got it.

Or his version of the beloved oxtail soup. Instead of oxtail, he uses slow-roasted brisket, served with shiitake mushrooms, peanuts, onions and cilantro.

The vibe is relaxed and lively, the cocktails on point, and the menu one you’ll want to come back for again and again.

We know we do.

1424 Lower Main St., Wailuku, tiffanysmaui.com; @tiffanysmaui 

That tragedy, however, has only continued to grow as many visitors rerouted travel plans away from Maui after the fires, which has in-turn caused an array of economic issues for the Valley Isle, which relies heavily on the dollars brought in by visitors.

To combat this new threat of raising unemployment, historically low visitors numbers and vacant hotels, a hui (group) of passionate Maui locals—from big wave surfer Kai Lenny to kumu hula (hula teacher) Kauʻi Kanakaʻole and more—shared a few words urging visitors to return to the island in this all-new video series called Malama Maui: Nui. “It is so important to support our local businesses,” says Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows Cultural Director Makalapua Kanuha. “They are a part of our community. They are a part of Maui […] and they in turn support the livelihood of our people so it’s very important that we support our small businesses, the mom and pop shops, and that helps to support our families in Lahaina as well.”

Part of a multi-video campaign produced in partnership with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Kilohana by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, numerous local businesses and organizations—such as Maui Diver’s Jewelry, Mana Up, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have also assisted in this mālama Maui collaboration. Other voices heard in the video, as well as in the upcoming shorter installments called “Mālama Maui: Li‘i,” include Makalapua Kanuha, the director of culture at The Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, Kimi Werner, free diver and champion spear fisher, singer-songwriter Amy Hānaiali’i, chef Sheldon Simeon, and Brit Alejo-Fishell, owner of Haku Maui.

Visitors can learn more about Mālama Maui: Nui and how to respectfully travel to Maui while still enjoying their vacations to the fullest by following the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority on its Instagram or by keeping up with any of the aforementioned Maui voices heard in the video. 

Starting on Sunday, Oct. 6, visitors will be allowed to parts of West Maui, almost two months after deadly wildfires destroyed much of the coastal town of Lahaina and killed at least 97 people. It’s the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in over a century.

Maui County’s first phase of reopening on Sunday will be the resort area stretching from The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, south to Kahana Villa. (See map.) Following that, more areas will reopen on a rolling basis.

The only locations on Maui that have been completely closed have been historic Lahaina Town and the surrounding areas impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires.

“Our priorities have focused on the well-being of our people and that will continue to be critically important,” said Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement. “Six weeks ago, we focused on searching for unaccounted loved ones and supporting the safety and health of survivors. As we take careful steps forward in an unprecedented disaster, addressing our West Maui visitor industry, their employees, and the local businesses that work in conjunction with the industry requires planning that will get us to a manageable re-opening.”

After this initial phase, the plan is to reopen areas from Māhinahina to the Maui Kāʻanapali Villas, then the area from the Royal Lahaina Resort to the Hyatt Regency.

The rest of Maui has been open to visitors—even encouraged—to help stimulate the island’s economy, which stalled right after the wildfires. Those areas include popular visitors spots like Wailea, Kahului and Hāna.

The reopening of West Maui has spurred protests by residents and Lahaina Strong members, who staged a rally at the state Capitol this week. They urged Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green to delay the planned reopening, carrying a petition with more than 11,000 signatures.

Some Lahaina residents who have been displaced by the wildfires have only recently been allowed back into their neighborhoods to see what’s left of their homes and businesses. Many haven’t been back yet.

But Maui businesses are eager to see visitors return to the island, as many are still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, which approved a $2.6 million marketing campaign to encourage travel to Maui, is asking that visitors be respectful and not visit the Lahaina area or the parts of West Maui that are still closed.

Pāʻia is, without a doubt, one of the best towns to visit on Maui. The Valley Isle’s own Haleʻiwa—an equally beach-y town found on the North Shore of Oʻahu—,there are countless things to do in Pāʻia, even though the town only consists of a handful of blocks and bays. So if you’re looking to experience the best of this north shore Maui town, here are the top things to do in Pāʻia that we recommend.

1. Pāʻia Bay

Pāʻia Bay.
Photo: Getty Images

One of Pā‘ia’s star attractions, Pā‘ia Bay can be found just across a sand-dusted stretch of Hāna Highway. The white-sand beach provides plenty of room to lay down your towel, and while the bay is known for its pounding shorebreak, you’ll find calmer conditions in Hawai‘i’s summer months, from May to July. Regardless of whether or not you enter the water, Pāʻia Bay is a great place to catch the sunset or just take in the rays during your visit to Pāʻia. 19 Hāna Hwy

2. Maui Dharma Center

Definitely one of the top things to do in Pāʻia, the Maui Dharma Center is a colorful Tibetan Buddhism temple in the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu Vajrayana tradition. Visitors can check out the vibrant temple and even join Sunday and Thursday services, where dharma teachings are led by the Venerable Lama Gyaltsen. At 91 Baldwin Ave., next to the temple, you can also find the Maui Dharma Center gift shop, which sells study and ritual materials—like mala beads, incense, Tibetan singing bowls, small thankgas and prayer flags. 81 Baldwin Ave

3. Flatbread Co.

If you’ve got pizza on the mind—don’t we all?—Flatbread Co. in Pāʻia will satisfy your every need. Started in 1998, Flatbread Co.’s mission was to use local farmers and local produce to make the best pizza you’ve ever had, and they’ve been doing just that for the past two-and-a-half decades. Flatbread Co. also wheels-and-deals in interesting pizza topping combinations exclusive to Hawaiʻi, like kalua pig and pineapple. 89 Hāna Hwy, (808) 579-8989 

4. Cesere Brothers Photography

Dan and John Cesere have dedicated their lives to underwater photography, moving to Maui from Maine to pursue their dreams of capturing vibrant, unique and dynamic underwater images. You can find—and purchase—some of the brothers’ artwork here at their only brick-and-mortar gallery. 83 Hāna Hwy, (808) 268-4405, ceserebrothers.com 

5. Mama’s Fish House

Exterior of Mama’s Fish House.
Photo: Kevin Allen

On the outskirts of Pāʻia, Mama’s Fish House serves some of the freshest seafood dishes in the state. How fresh are we talking? They not only source from local Maui fishermen, but they even list the names of said fishermen and where they caught the fish on the menu. And the quality of the ingredients is palpable, not only in taste but in price—most entrees are around $50-$60 and the price only rises from there. However, if you can swing it, a visit to Mama’s Fish House will redefine what you think of as “fresh seafood.” 799 Poho Pl, (808) 579-8488, mamasfishhouse.com

READ MORE: Dining at the celebrated Maui classic, Mama’s Fish House

6. Hoʻokipa Beach Park

Hoʻokipa Bay.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson

Yet another excellent bay to spend the day at, Hoʻokipa Beach Park is a spacious white sand beach with picnic areas and pavilions perfect for traveling families. Not only is this beach park great for swimming and snorkeling, but you can also watch an impressive display of windsurfing off the coast, as the beach is considered to be one of the best in the state for windsurfers. 179 Hana Hwy

7. Nylos

There’s no menu at nyloS, just a three-course meal that changes nightly. Entrées, pūpū (appetizers) and desserts are concocted by chef Jeremy Solyn, who astounds diners with expertly crafted meals using produce sourced from local farms. Best of all, the restaurant feels more like Solyn’s own home kitchen, with intimate seating, lowlights and exceptionally cozy vibes. 115 Baldwin Ave., (808) 579-3354, nylosmaui.com

8. Pāʻia Inn

A room at Pāʻia Inn.
Photo: David Croxford

If there’s one thing that’s truly troublesome about Pā‘ia, it’s the parking. The remedy? Staying at the Pā‘ia Inn, which is smack-dab in the middle of town and, yes, has reserved parking stalls for guests. The accommodations are perfectly matched with the fun, beach-y vibes of Pāʻia town, and rooms in this little country hotel feel upscale while maintaining a degree of bohemian chic. 93 Hāna Hwy, (808) 579-6000, paiainn.com

A prime example of this can be found in the recent discovery of the Clermontia hanaulaensis, a new addition to the Clermontia family. The Clermontia hanaulaensis was spotted by botanist Hank Oppenheimer of the Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEPP), a partnership with DLNR and the University of Hawai‘i. During a routine survey of the area, Oppenheimer decided to look over a ridge he hadn’t explored before, and was surprised to find a patch of these rare plants growing right out in the open, with just over 80 adults and 20 seedlings spread out over an area the size of roughly 10 football fields. “I decided to just turn a different way and look over a ridge I hadn’t explored before and there they were,” said Oppenheimer. “They looked very different from other Clermontia.”

Clermontia is a genus of plants that evolved in Hawai‘i and is found nowhere else in the world. They grow as small shrub-like trees in cloud forests, wet and mesic forests, bogs and shrublands. Their long, paddle-shaped leaves grow atop branches that fork like a candelabra. Urban gardeners might compare their growth to non-native plumeria, but Clermontia flowers are long, spreading tubes sheltered by their leaves above. This species flower is lavender and white.

Although the plant was actually spotted in 2020, it took years for botanists from around the state to verify that the Clermontia hanaulaensis was in fact a new species and not a a hybrid of other Clermontia species. Botanists also had to study the plant’s leaves and flowers, comparing them to herbarium specimens and photos to confirm that it is a previously undiscovered species.

While the discovery of a new plant, especially one unique to Hawaiʻi, is a joyous occasion, the species is already already being considered for a critically endangered status. There are many threats to the Clermontia hanaulaensis, some of which include introduced plants, slugs, pigs and rats which eat seeds and fruit. Axis deer are also a major threat to plant-life on Maui, the the spread of the Clermontia hanaulaensis’s population is hindered by the lack of native forest birds in the area due to mosquito-spread avian malaria.

Fortunately, the plant was found by PEPP and seeds have already been collected to hopefully ensure the species’s survival. The land that the plants were found on is also not state protected land, however the landowner has been a longtime conservation partner.

For more information about PEPP, visit pepphi.org.

A staple fruit in the Islands for centuries, the pineapple—which originated from South America—has become intrinsically linked with Hawaiʻi. And there aren’t a lot of people who know more about the subject than Darren Strand, who joins Cat and Kevin on this episode of the Have Aloha Will Travel podcast. A self-proclaimed “pineapple nerd,” Strand has been in the pineapple farming business for decades, and currently helps run and operate Maui Gold Pineapple Company.

Operating 800 acres of pineapple farms is no joke, and Strand gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to manage such a large operation. Maui Gold was also one of the fastest acting businesses to get involved in relief efforts for those affected by the Maui wildfires, and Strand discusses what the situation has been like since the catastrophe.

Got questions or comments for us? You can email us at media@hawaiimagazine.com. Follow us on social media @hawaiimagazine, and be sure to subscribe to our channel on SoundCloud, iTunes or Spotify. Also, be sure to check out our Shopify for HAWAIʻI Magazine products. 

Roy and Kathy Sakuma, the founders of the ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization, are back at it again.

Knowing full-well how healing music can be, the Sakumas are donating over 800 ʻukulele to various Maui organizations and institutions who will help get the instruments into the hands of those who have been directly affected by the Maui wildfires.

“For more than 50 years, our mission has always been to bring laughter, love and hope to everyone through the music of the ‘ukulele, which is why we want to show our love and support to the Maui community through our ‘Ukulele Gift of Hope,” said the Sakumas. “The need for emotional healing is an integral part of recovery, and we hope the joy of the ‘ukulele will add to the healing process for everyone impacted directly on Maui, especially our keiki.”

Roy and Kathy Sakuma.
Photo: Courtesy of ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi

Partnering with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, many of the ʻukulele will be delivered to the Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center in Kahului, which will make sure that the instruments are delivered to families and keiki who need them most.

“Aloha is more than just a word as it embodies a way of life deeply rooted in the soul of Hawai‘i, and over the past few weeks, I have had a front-row seat to that aloha, and the generosity from all over has been nothing short of overwhelming,” said Kūhiō Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. “We would like to send a heartfelt mahalo to both Roy and Kathy for opening their hearts to the people of Maui and lifting their spirits through music and the ‘ukulele.”

LISTEN: Have Aloha Will Travel EP50: Talk Story with Famed ʻUkulele Instructor Roy Sakuma

And this gift of music just keeps on giving. The Sakumas—who are staying busy since the final ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi in 2022— are using their organization’s name and publicity to help educate and promote other ʻukulele-related events around Hawaiʻi, and the Sakumas are planning to hand-deliver some of the ʻukulele donations to families on Maui. In addition to their donation efforts, the Sakumas will be providing motivational talks at Baldwin High School on Oct. 5 and at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa on Oct. 6. The campaign continues at the ‘Ukulele Workshop at the MACC on Oct. 7 before culminating at the 16th Annual Maui ‘Ukulele Festival also at the MACC on Oct. 8.

Roy Sakuma at the 42nd ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Courtesy of ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi

Also at the 16th Annual Maui ‘Ukulele Festival, vintage ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi t-shirts will be sold—with some dating as far back as 1999. Of course, in the spirit of giving and aloha, all proceeds made from the t-shirt sales will go directly to the Maui Food Bank.

“We would like to send our heartfelt mahalo to our donors along with the Hawai’i Community Foundation and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement for their integral role in our campaign and supporting our mission of bringing smiles back to the faces of Maui’s keiki and families through the ‘ukulele,” added the Sakumas. And if you’d like to donate to help get even more instruments into the hands of those who need it most at the moment, you can make a monetary contribution at the ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi’s Maui relief page.

Traveling to Maui right now is a complicated subject. After the disastrous Maui wildfires that affected large parts of West Maui and some sections of Kula, the Valley Isle was sent into a state of recovery as thousands of residents were left without jobs, homes and even loved ones. But what we’re seeing from businesses, employers and the state’s tourism authority is that, right now, Maui travel is still encouraged—just not to West Maui, yet. So here’s what you should know if you’re planning a trip to the Valley Isle.

Maui is Open to Visitors

During the weeks following the fires, many news outlets, social media influencers and even us at HAWAIʻI Magazine told visitors that Maui was closed off to visitors, and that plans should be canceled or rerouted to another island. It’s clear to us now that that is very much not the case, and while West Maui is still currently closed off to the public, the rest of the island continues to be open to visitors. Not only is it open to visitors, but travel is encouraged, as many Maui businesses have had to lay off staff or shutter due to the rapid decrease in tourism to the island.

The black sand beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Photo: Getty Images

“No one in Hawai‘i will ever forget the tragedy that our friends, families, loved ones, and colleagues in Lahaina are enduring,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, Chief Administrative Officer of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. “The response from residents statewide and by people around the world to support Maui’s recovery has been incredible and inspiring. Now is the time for people everywhere to show their support for Maui by booking trips, making restaurant reservations, and frequenting Maui’s retail stores and attractions that support workers and their families.”

Treat Maui Travel Differently

While we encourage Maui visitors to enjoy the island in their own way, going with a mālama (to care for, to preserve) mindset is a great way to travel to Maui while also helping the island in its recovery efforts. So what does having a mālama mindset mean? Well, instead of going to a large fast food chain like McDonalds for lunch, go to a locally owned and operated eatery instead. And while you’re on Maui, support businesses financially by buying your goodies and take-home gifts and local Maui stores and businesses.

Local bakery Baked on Maui.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

You can also look for voluntourism activities to do on island, and a great resource for that can be found at the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Mālama Hawaiʻi program, which even offers volunteers rewards and discounts on accommodations and more.

But most of all, it’s important that visitors come to Maui with a sense of aloha and a deep well of patience. While the island is open to visitors, many of its residents are still healing from the trauma. The fires were catastrophic, and even those not directly affected by the flame are still reeling from the shock. So if you come with respect and aloha, you can expect the same in return.

West Maui Reopens Oct. 8

On Sep. 8, Gov. Josh Green made a statewide announcement that on Oct. 8, the West Maui communities of Kā‘anapali, Nāpili, Honokōwai and Kapalua will fully reopen.

Governor Green stated, “Beginning October 8, all travel restrictions will end and West Maui will be open to visitors again, so people from Hawaiʻi and around the world can resume travel to this special place and help it begin to recover economically. This difficult decision is meant to bring hope for recovery to the families and businesses on Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster.”

Kāʻanapali Beach on Maui’s west side.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Lahaina itself will remain fully closed to the public until further notice, out of respect for the town’s residents. There are still numerous cleanup and recovery programs in place to clear hazardous debris and materials from the wildfire, and access is strictly prohibited except for Lahaina residents.

Maui is Still Maui

ʻĪao Valley.
Photo: Rolland and Jessica

While the severity of the Maui wildfires can not be underplayed, much of the island is still the same Maui visitors and residents know and love. Wailuku is still home to eccentric cafes and art studios, ʻIao Needle continues to wow visitors and residents with its towering glory, and the winding Road to Hāna is still highlighted with roadside waterfalls and jaw-dropping views. So rest easy if you’ve already booked travel plans to Maui, the island and its wonderful views, beaches, activities and more are still there for you.