Overview
Kahului is the largest town and commercial center of the island of Maui in Hawaii.
4 sights · 9 things to do · 3 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Kahului
Kahana Pond Bird Sanctuary
143-acre wetland preserve that is home to the Hawaiian Coot (ʻalae) and the Hawaiian stilt (aeʻo).
Kanaha Beach Park
A mile-long stretch of beach located adjacent to the Kahului Airport, this park is also known as Kite Beach for its excellent windsurfing conditions.
Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Completed in 1994, the Arts and Cultural Center is one of the island's best venues for both visual and performing arts. The Schaefer International Gallery is Maui's only museum-quality art gallery, while several performa…
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
Seven acre site focused on flora of Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe.
Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum
Indoor and outdoor museum exhibits documenting the history of the former sugar industry in Hawaii. The former sugar mill can be seen across the street from the museum.
The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course
Clever hole designs and rugged terrain. Golf Digest named the Dunes at Maui Lani one of the four "Best-Kept Secret" golf courses in America when it opened in late 1989.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 67°F. Wettest: Mar and Nov. (climate data from nearby Honolulu)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- OGG Kahului International Airport, Kahului — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
- JHM Kapalua Airport, Lahaina — 14 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $118–$149 a night (typical $149), from 3 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$160, mid-range ~$220, comfortable ~$320.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Ki Ho'alu Slack Key Guitar Festival, Maui Ukulele Festival
- Lunch Tasaka Guri-Guri
- Afternoon Na Mele OMaui, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
- Dinner Acevedo's Hawaicano Cafe
Day 2
- Morning Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Sunshine Helicopters
- Lunch Zippy's
- Afternoon Maverick Helicopters, Air Maui
Day 3
- Morning Kahana Pond Bird Sanctuary
- Afternoon Kanaha Beach Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Go Kahului Airport (OGG)
The main airport for the island of Maui, and the second largest commercial airport in the state. It is a secondary hub for Hawaiian Airlines, which provides inter-island service to Kahului from the other major airports in the state. Several major U.S. airlines also provide non-stop service to Maui from the West Coast and beyond. There are non-stop flights to Kahului Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Anchorage, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, Hana, Hilo, Honolulu, Hoolehua, Kamuela, Kapalua, Kauai Island, Kona, Lanai City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver.
Get around
The main commercial street in Kahului is Kaahumanu Avenue (state route 32), which passes by the main shopping malls of Queen Kaahumanu Center and Maui Mall. Hana Highway (state route 36) intersects Kaahumanu Avenue near Maui Mall. Dairy Road (state route 380) is the road which runs to Kahului Airport from the major tourist centers and along which Maui's major big-box retailers lie.
Rental car companies
See
See Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Completed in 1994, the Arts and Cultural Center is one of the island's best venues for both visual and performing arts. The Schaefer International Gallery is Maui's only museum-quality art gallery, while several performance venues including the Castle Theater and Alexander and Baldwin Amphitheater provide space for concerts and plays.
See Kahana Pond Bird Sanctuary
143-acre wetland preserve that is home to the Hawaiian Coot (ʻalae) and the Hawaiian stilt (aeʻo).
Do
Helicopter tours
Events
Do Ki Ho'alu Slack Key Guitar Festival
Annual celebration of slack key guitar music. Takes place in June.
Do Na Mele OMaui
Annual choral festival featuring songs in native Hawaiian. Takes place in December.
Buy
Eat
Eat Tasaka Guri-Guri
A long-time fixture on Maui, this shop keeps things simple and serves up a classic old-style Hawaii flavor: it sells a classic sherbet in only two flavors, strawberry and pineapple. The Tasaka family has been doing this for over 90 years, and for many visitors to Maui, no trip is complete without a visit here. They will also pack it for the plane ride. Cash only.
Eat Zippy's
This location has two sides: a quick service counter and a table-service restaurant with a bakery counter in between. Hawaiian and American food are the specialties.
Eat Acevedo's Hawaicano Cafe
Family-owned eatery in an industrial area near the airport serving Hawaiian food with a Mexican twist.
Sleep
There are only three hotels in Kahului, all of them on the budget to midrange end of the scale. All are centrally located in Kahului not far from the airport and provide clean and comfortable accommodations, but if you're expecting amenities on the scale of properties in Kaanapali or Kihei, you will be sorely disappointed.
Nearby
Wailuku
City / town · 7 listings · 2 mi away
Waikapu
City / town · 3 listings · 3 mi away
Ma'alaea
City / town · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Paia
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Kihei
City / town · 49 listings · 8 mi away
Haiku
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Makawao
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
Wailea
City / town · 22 listings · 13 mi away
My experience
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