West Maui Tour | A Guided Tour of Zip Code 96761

West Maui Tour — A Guided Tour of Zip Code 96761

About a 40-minute car ride due west of Maui’s main airport in Kahului Airport (Airport Code: OGG) — over the majestic West Maui Mountains — lies beautiful West Maui. And that’s just where we will begin our West Maui Tour.

Technically, all of West Maui is in a single city (Lahaina) and zip code (96761). But West Maui is so much more than a single city. It’s comprised of multiple areas — each with its own personality and, for the most part, climate. Temperatures drop by about 10 degrees and rainfall goes from few days a year in the south to nearly 100 in the north.

As you descend into West Maui from the West Maui mountains and start heading north on Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30), you’re greeted by a variety of beach parks nestled along the Pacific Ocean. It’s not for several miles until you reach West Maui’s first inhabited area. And so begins our West Maui tour… working our way from south to north.

Olowalu

The first stop on our West Maui Tour is Olowalu, home to mountainside homes as well as oceanfront estates, is small. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll be through it in less than two minutes. For most people, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop is the main attraction. However, Olowalu is also home to the Olowalu petroglyphs (on the mauka or mountainside) and the Olowalu Plantation House (on the makai or ocean side).

Check out all of the homes for sale in Olowalu.

Lahaina

Next up on our West Maui Tour and just north of Olowalu is that actual town of Lahaina. Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, it’s now the largest town on West Maui. Downtown Lahaina (Lahaina Town) is famous for its oceanfront main street — Front Street. Lahaina Town is full of art galleries, restaurants, whale watching and fishing boats, and it’s where the cruise ships dock when visiting West Maui. Lahaina used to be known as Lele – “relentless sun” in Hawaiian – which should give you an idea of its weather.

Check out all of the homes for sale in Lahaina
Check out all of the condos for sale in Lahaina

Kaanapali

Our West Maui Tour continues just north of Lahaina with Kaanapali. Kaanapali is home to Hawaii’s very first planned community. Here you’ll find two amazing golf courses (Kaanapali Royal and Kaanapali Kai), world-class outdoor shopping and dining at Whalers Village, and the highest concentration of highrises (both condos and hotels). With three miles of sandy beaches, Kaanapali has it all… even golf carts to ride around town.

Check out all of the homes for sale in Kaanapali
Check out all of the condos for sale in Kaanapali

Kahana

Just north of Kaanapali is Kahana. Kahana starts your West Maui Tour adventure on the “Lower Road”… officially Lower Honoapiilani Road. Running just along the Pacific Ocean, this area is less pedestrian but also showcases a lot of oceanfront condos (still at decent prices) and magnificent oceanfront estates. After Lahaina Town and Kaanapali, you’ll instantly know you’ve entered an older version of West Maui.

Check out all of the homes for sale in Kahana
Check out all of the condos for sale in Kahana

Napili

Just north of Kahana is an area known as Napili. Napili is a sleepier version of Kahana but it still has the charm and magic associated with West Maui. To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to the Napili West Maui Tour other than stunning beaches and secret bays to explore. There is a shopping center — Napili Market — with a few good restaurants and a grocery store but that’s about it.

Check out all of the homes for sale in Napili
Check out all of the condos for sale in Napili

Kapalua

The final stop on our West Maui Tour is Kapalua. When most people see West Maui on television, it’s usually in Kapalua because of the PGA TOUR’s annual event held in January at The Plantation Course at Kapalua. But there is so much more than just golf (although there is also the Bay Course at Kapalua). Kapalua is a 23,000 acre planned community. Meticulously maintained, it really feels like the crown jewel of West Maui. It’s main bay, Kapalua Bay, was named #1 beach in the world by CNN in 2018, Honolua Bay on the north side of Kapalua is home to world-class surfing (in the winter) and snorkeling, and it plays host to West Maui two luxury hotels — The Ritz Carlton Kapalua and Montage Kapalua Bay (they both have residences too).

Check out all of the homes for sale in Kapalua
Check out all of the condos for sale in Kapalua

That’s West Maui. From Olowalu to Kapalua is only about 17 miles but it’s home to some of the most amazing beaches in the world as well as stunning weather. Not to mention the shopping, restaurants, art galleries, and ocean activities.

Are you ready to call Maui home? If so, contact Peggy Lyn Speicher and let’s talk.