West Maui Overview

West Maui’s mountains are older than Haleakala and have been scarred over the years with deep rifts from stream erosion. Their hulking mass rises out of the cane fields in velvety folds before disappearing into the cloud cover. Unlike the valleys northwest of Wailuku, which get almost 400 in. of rainfall per year, the pali (cliffs) on the leeward side are extremely arid. Despite the lack of rainfall, West Maui has continued to grow, and resorts now stretch 10 mi. north of Lahaina from Kaanapali to Kapalua. The popularity of real estate in the area is understandable; the western coast is lined with gorgeous beaches, and few sunbathers would trade the dry heat for the windward side’s rain showers.

There is only one road in and out of West Maui: Hwy. 30, or Honoapiilani Hwy., which becomes Rte. 340 (Kahekili Hwy.) past Honokohau. Hwy. 30 is a two-lane road that hugs the coastline from Maalaea north. Near Maalaea, Hwy. 30 intersects with Rte. 380 (Dairy Rd.), which goes northeast to Kahului, and Rte. 310/31, which heads southeast to Kihei. Although the northern route (Rte. 340) may be the quickest between Kapalua and Wailuku, it can be dangerous. The road narrows down to one lane, which in many places is scarcely the width of a car, and hugs the cliffs with no guardrail protection. This route can be done as a scenic drive at a leisurely pace, but for everyday travel, stick to Hwy. 30. When accidents close Hwy. 30, Rte. 340 might also get shut down so that people won’t be tempted to take the back route. If this happens, be prepared to wait for a few hours, or just turn around and go to the beach!