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West Maui begins at the old whaling village of Lahaina
(la-hy'-na), now transformed into a charming town and commercial
center. The resort centers of Kaanapali (ka-ah-na-pa'-lee),
Kahana (ka-ha'-na), Napili (na-pee'-lee) and
Kapalua (ka-pa-loo'-ah) offer a wide range of hotel
and condominium accommodations. West Maui is almost entirely
visitor-oriented; most Maui working families live in Central
or South Maui.
Looking out toward the ocean, you see something unique
to West Maui, the nearby islands of Lanai and Molokai rising
majestically from the blue Pacific. Looking inland from the
towns, you see sugar cane fields and the beautiful (usually
green) West Maui Mountains, picturesque from almost anywhere.
West Maui gets a bit more rain than South Maui, which
means that the entire West Maui countryside is a little more
lushly green than South Maui. That may sound better, but remember
that the resort areas and areas right along the coast (where
you’ll be spending most of your time) are always watered
to stay green in both West and South Maui. So to a visitor,
both areas look very tropical, but you have a greater chance
of clouds and rain in West Maui.
Lahaina is a fun place! Anchored by the old banyan
tree (as big as a city block) and the historic Pioneer Inn,
a lot of activity goes on along Front Street. Art galleries,
quaint shoppes (Lahaina is the kind of place where “shoppe”
has 2 p’s), plenty of ono (good!) restaurants,
and the launching area for ocean activities like whale-watching,
fishing, parasailing, and snorkeling. You’ll find some
condos and mid-priced hotels in this area, too.
Kaanapali is just up the road from Lahaina. It’s
an elegant resort area with a mix of nice high-rise hotels
and condos, some fancy and upscale but with a comfortable
atmosphere. Golf courses weave in and out of this scenic area.
Kaanapali has lots of beaches, a popular shopping center,
and a wide range of restaurants.
Kahana and Napili have a mix of affordable condos,
vacation homes, and a few smaller resorts. More casual than
Kaanapali and Kapalua, with good beaches and great views (Molokai
looks like a short swim away—but don’t try it).
Not a lot of shopping areas, but that may be a good thing
and they’re only a short drive away.
Kapalua is the luxury resort community of West Maui.
Elegant low-rise hotels, condominiums and homes are surrounded
by manicured landscaping and golf courses. A quiet, slow-paced
area where it’s a good idea to wear your nicer shirts
and shorts.
Click
here for our list of West Maui accommodations
Go
to information about South Maui
Return
to Maui Overview
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