Things to Do in Kahului Hawaii

Take in the beauty of Kahului and the rest of the island of Maui from the air. Blue Hawaiian is considered the best helicopter touring company in all of Hawaii, and a tour in one of its helicopters is a must in Kahului. Guests can choose from tour packages covering different regions on the island of Maui, including valleys, craters, shorelines, and rain forests. Tours range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes and begin at $140 per person. Tour tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or in hotels and tourist shops upon arrival.

808-871-8844, 1-800-745-BLUE
www.bluehawaiian.com/maui
Kahului Heliport

Humpback whale off the coast of Maui (Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Hawaii is home to rare wildlife, including humpback whales. Whale watching should be a top priority on every tourist's list of things to do in Kahului between the months of December and May, when the whales migrate to the coast of Maui. The Pacific Whale Foundation offers many types of cruises led by certified marine naturalists, who take tourists out for a closer look at the majestic humpback whales. Basic tour prices for adults begin at $30 for a two-hour cruise. Proceeds benefit humpback whale research and preservation projects.

1-800-942-5311
www.pacificwhale.org
300 Ma'alaea Rd., Suite 211
Wailuku, HI 96793

Of course, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without spending some time on the beach, and Maui is home to some of the best in the state. Maui has two beaches that are unforgettable, Kapalua Bay and Red Sand Beach. Kapalua Bay, northwest of Kahului, is completely void of currents and waves because of its protection by a coral reef and two peninsulas, making it a calm, beautiful spot for swimming for the entire family. Hotel accommodations and restaurant access are available at Kapalua Bay. Red Sand Beach, east of Kahului on the Road to Hana, is much more isolated and takes some hiking to get to, but it is equally breathtaking. The sand of the beach is red because it is actually finely ground red volcanic cinder from an old cinder cone volcano. Red Sand Beach is also protected by a reef, making its waters calm enough for swimming. There are no facilities on Red Sand Beach.

Aerial view of the summit of Haleakala (Wikipedia, Public Domain)

One of the truly exhilarating things to do in Kahului is visit the natural wonders of Haleakala National Park. The park, just east of Kahului, encompasses vastly different regions, including rain forests and volcanic landscapes. To see it all, tourists should be prepared for a lot of hiking. Tourists can climb to the summit of the Haleakala volcano for breathtaking views and a chance to see native vegetation and wildlife. Because the area is so expansive, it is difficult to estimate the time it will take to explore the summit, but a popular cinder cone destination in the summit area takes half a day round trip. The Kipahulu area of the park includes rain forests and coastal areas. This section of the park is self-guided, and there are several trails to help tourists get around and see all of the coastal wildlife, streams and waterfalls that the area has to offer. A daily pass to the park costs $10 per private vehicle and is valid for three days. Free tent camping (with park entry fee) is also available.
For those unable to hike through the park, many of the helicopter tours of the area offer a chance to get stunning aerial views of the park

808-572-4400
www.nps.gov/hale
P.O. Box 369
Makawao, HI 96768