Lahaina Maui HI

Cruise ships anchor in the Lahaina harbor and tender passengers to the old whaling town in the heart of touristy West Maui. You can walk from the dock to restaurants and shops, or take a taxi to nearby beaches. The Lahaina Visitors Center is located across the harbor.

Printable map to take along.

Often called the "jewel in the crown of Maui," Lahaina is a destination that is experienced by two million people, or 83% of all Maui visitors, annually. Lahaina town is the second most visited spot on Maui after beaches. The historic town, which is nestled between the calm waters of the Auau Channel facing Lana'i island and the fertile peaks and valleys of Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui mountain range). Lahaina has provided a home for many cultures over the centuries, always welcoming visitors to its inviting shores.

When the first Polynesian settlers arrived at these shores well over a thousand years ago, Lahaina offered them abundant freshwater streams, verdant valleys with fertile volcanic soil, warm, sunny days and a pristine, bountiful sea. Even today, much of this can still be said of Lahaina. Steeped in a history which consistently documents its progress from one era to another, Lahaina has retained a flavor of each to this day. Over 18,000 full-time residents call Lahaina home.

Take a stroll down the Front Street, along the shore. Watch people, enjoy the weather, simply relax.

It's best to rent a car to see the island's most visited attractions. Public transportation is available but not a good alternative. There are a few rental car agencies available in Lahaina (West Maui). Please note that they may have limited hours and vehicles available. The majority of the car rental agencies are located in Kahului near the Kahului Airport which is approximately a 45 minute car ride from Lahaina pier.

Bus transportation to other points of the island is good and inexpensive. A day pass is only $4.

You can spend a lot of time in downtown Lahania with many unique shops to wander through.

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.

Tipping in America is widely used and expected. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:

• Full-service restaurants: 15-20% (Often this is the only income of the wait(ress). Tips are either left in cash or you can add it to the credit card slip) Note: Few restaurants add an automatic service charge, in which case it is up to you how much you tip extra. Check your bill!
• Taxi drivers, hairdressers, other personal services: 10-15%
• Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
• Bellhops: $1-2 per bag ($3-5 minimum regardless)
• Hotel doorman: $1 per bag (if they assist), $1 for calling a cab
• Tour guides: Depending on tour length, size, and overall quality of guided tours; for half day tours or less $5-10 per person, for longer tours $10-20 per person.
• Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
• Housekeeping in hotels: $1-2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
• Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, possibly more for very large orders

The U.S. has no official language at the federal level, but English is by far the standard for everyday use. Several states have declared their official state language as English. Spanish is also official in the state of New Mexico, where it is widely spoken; French is official in Louisiana and the Hawaiian language is official in Hawaii, but neither approaches the use of English and are official for primarily historical reasons.

Emergency 911

In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays - generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open (with the exception of the most important holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day where stores are generally closed)