Maui Nui – Three Unique Experiences

The three islands of Maui County, Maui Nui, create a synergy that is unique in Hawaiʻi. The geographical relationship of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi makes it possible to wake up on Maui, spend the day sailing and snorkeling off Lānaʻi, and be back in time for a sunset lūʻau on the beach at Wailea. Or you can hop aboard a ferry from Lāhaina Harbor and explore Molokaʻi's east-end rainforest or tour the remote, historic Kalaupapa Peninsula. These inter-island adventures offer unique views of the islands, their coastlines, and their looming mountains from the grand Pacific Ocean.

Lānaʻi is Maui County's newest resort star. Formerly called the "Pineapple Island" for its rolling plantation fields, it is now famous for its two luxury hotels, the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi, Lodge at Kōʻele and the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi at Mānele Bay, and their upland and seaside golf courses. From dining to accommodations, vacationers are drawn by Lānaʻi's curious mix of sophistication and rural charm.

There are no high rises on Lānaʻi, and the tiny town of Lānaʻi City as yet to see its first stoplight. It takes five minutes to walk across the center of town. The senior prom could be the biggest event of the year, and a rustic 11-room lodge is the oldest hotel on the island. Recreational activities range from fishing, snorkeling and beachcombing to hiking, golf, archery, clay shooting and mountain biking.

One tour operator will rent you a Jeep to explore the island's rugged terrain on your own, including a map and ice chest, or they'll arrange for a guided tour of the island's many natural attractions.

Like Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi is a world of its own. Its rural lifestyle and predominantly Native Hawaiian population have given this island the moniker "the most Hawaiian island." A mere 30-minute flight from Oahu, Molokaʻi appeals to those seeking an unhurried pace and raw natural beauty. The leeward slopes are scored with gulches. Along the north coast, sea cliffs drop to the ocean from more than 3,000 feet, and on the east end, ancient Hawaiian loko iʻa (fishponds) – some of the most sophisticated aquaculture complexes in the Pacific – come to life, stone by stone, in restoration projects. On the west side of the island, the 3-mile Pāpōhaku Beach is one of the largest white-sand beaches in Hawaiʻi.

The island's activities are centered outdoors. You can visit a 500-acre coffee plantation, hike along a rugged trail, mountain bike down meandering paths, or kayak on the open ocean. On the northern coast, Kalaupapa National Historical Park is its own county, named Kalawao, a peninsula isolated from the rest of the island by cliffs that rise approximately 2,000 feet.

Among Molokaʻi's cultural activities is the annual Ka Hula Piko Festival, attracting hula aficionados from around the state and beyond. Molokaʻi is known as the "birthplace of hula," and this festival tells you why.