If you crave a more authentic experience when visiting Maui, try immersing yourself in the history and culture. Many of the traditions brought here by Polynesian voyagers over 1000 years ago are still evident today.

If you are looking to embrace the culture and atmosphere of Hawaii, one of the best experiences is a luau, and one of the best luaus is the Old Lahaina Luau. It is steeped in authenticity and worth every penny. That is, depending on your expectations. Just like driving the Road to Hana is about the journey, scenery and stops along the way (not specifically Hana town), attending Old Lahaina Luau is about the overall experience.

If you’re headed to Maui for a short visit, this itinerary will show you the absolute best of the island in just five days! You will take in Maui’s majestic volcano at sunrise, snorkel with rare sea life, travel the famous Road to Hana and taste the best shave ice anywhere.

The island of Lanai is just 16 miles off the coast of Maui, but has a much different island feel. Day-visitors can take a short walk from the harbor to Manele Bay, a golden sand beach and bay frequented by dolphins. Others love nature-based activities on an uncrowded island, or take time to explore quaint shops in the tiny isle’s only town.

While you are visiting the tropical island of Maui, you may not know about some wet and wild connections. Our moist story begins in the two mountain regions—Pu'u Kukui, in the West Maui mountains gets an average of 366 inches of rainfall a year, while "Big Bog" in East Maui gets drenched with over 404 inched of rain per year.

Most nights on Maui there’s a stunning show going on above us in the night sky. From a sliver of moon and a sky filled with stars in a dark sky, to the powerful draw of a full moon rising, awe inspiring nocturnal beauty awaits us.

When our friends and family visit Maui, we not only share the best things to do, but when and how to do them. This includes some touristy things that we definitely think are worth doing, and tips you won’t find in a guidebook. These are activities we enjoy ourselves. So ready for a local tour? Here we go!

It’s hard to imagine when the Hawaiian islands erupted from the sea, that one day they would support lush and diverse biological species. It's even more suprising to learn some iconic tropical flowers you see today are not native to the islands. At first, there was only rock in Hawaii's evolution. The true native species arrived by wind, bird, or was washed ashore by the ocean.

We love sharing some of the best island experiences, like a visit to Maui Ocean Center. When family and friends arrive, we get to go along and play unofficial tour guide. The day we visited was pleasantly warm. Since the park is spread out over three acres, there is plenty of space to see marine life outdoors, like at turtle lagoon, and even gently feel the texture of a spiny sea urchin or soft sea sponge at the touch pool.

Kalo, the Hawaiian word for Taro, is not only a plant used in many dishes in Maui, it has deep roots in Hawaiian culture. Kalo is one of over 24 “canoe plants,” which were carried to the Hawaiian islands by Polynesian voyagers hundreds of years ago. In addition to edible plants, helpful and ceremonial plants were brought as well.

Did you know today is a state holiday in Hawaii? Throughout the islands, we celebrate and honor Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole on the Friday closest to his birthday, March 26, 1871.

It’s easy to fall in love with Maui—the beautiful scenery, sunny weather, and aloha spirit. However, many visitors to Maui only scrape the surface when it comes to learning about the Hawaiian host culture. When you dig a little deeper, you can create a more enriching experience.

Giving a lei in Hawaii is almost as special as receiving one. Leis are a symbol of love, respect, welcoming, or appreciation. They are traditionally given to mark special occasions such as the birth of a child or other birthday, to recognize an achievement or show honor to a public figure, along with just showing warm feelings on just about any occasion.

Hawaiʻi made worldwide news in May of 2018 when it passed the nation’s first law banning the sale of sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common sunscreen ingredients that have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii’s marine environment.

One of the best signs of Maui getting back to “normal” is all of the local galleries, open-air marketplaces, and other artsy enclaves reopening. Picking up a little something from each place you visit will fill your home with warm travel memories.

When you travel, it is always nice to get to know about the place you are visiting. There is so much depth to Maui’s historic past and the people and cultures that made it what it is today. Even long-time residents share that they are still learning from our Kapuna (elders).

Long before Polynesians voyaged to Hawaii, surfing was a central part of their culture. By the time of European contact in 1789, the art of surfing, known as heʻe ʻana, had long been a celebrated sport of Kings, and served as a training activity for warriors. The ruling class, or Ali’i, and connected ohana, had use of the best beaches and the best boards.

  Part of feeling like you are in the islands is immersing yourself in Hawaiian culture. While there are sporadic events island-wide, malls on Maui have a full schedule if recurring events running the gambit from Polynesian music and dance to authentic crafts. The best part? Activities are free! Add a meal at one of the nearby restaurants, and you have a lovely half-day island adventure.

Cultural tourism on Maui encapsulates art, architecture, food, age-old customs, Hawaiian language, the aloha spirit and much more. However, there is no better place to start a voyage of discovery into the islands history than touring its museums and cultural sites. In the Lahaina area alone, there are 65 significant cultural sites, museums and buildings that tell its 500 year-old story.

The tradition of gathering flowers, stringing them into a beautiful lei and sharing with others is an ancient tradition still popular today. Polynesian voyagers brought this fragrant custom to the Hawaiian Islands. Wearing a lei represented wealth, royalty, and rank.