After devastating wildfires , Maui is ready to greet tourists again. Here’s how you can make the most of 36 hours on the island, writes Shannon Wianecki. Maui is Hawaii’s Goldilocks island: it is neither too big nor too small and, for its three million annual visitors, its perfect year-round temperature, rainbow-splashed summits and sugary beaches are just right.
But in August 2023, Maui’s equilibrium met disaster. Catastrophic wildfires reduced the historic town of Lahaina to ash, claiming more than 100 lives. Conflicting messages urged visitors to stay away and let the island heal but also come and help sustain the economy.
Ten months later, the message is more unified that Maui is ready to greet tourists again. Housing remains a critical need for displaced residents. Lahaina will take years to rebuild.
But Maui’s inherent beauty and hospitality remain as vibrant as ever. It’s a great time to explore Central and South Maui, where new cocktail bars, outrigger canoe tours and indigenous art exhibits reveal the island’s creativity and resilience. READ MORE: Return to Hawaii: How your next holiday will help the Aloha State ITINERARY Friday 5.
30pm | Catch the setting sun The Wailea Beach Path , which meanders along the island’s southern coast, reflects Maui’s almost contradictory personas: on one side, opulent resorts flaunt swim-up bars and nightly torch-lighting ceremonies. A subtler drama unfolds on the other side, where native flora like honey-scented naio bu.
