If you love exploring on your own, then there is nothing better than renting a car and adventuring off on the open road to discover what Maui has to offer. There are different areas of Maui for you to enjoy and in each area, there are special attractions known to that area alone. When driving from Ma'alaea to Lahaina you will want to be sure to include all the most popular sights that you have probably either read about or heard about from a friend that has visited Maui.
When you leave Ma'alaea, watch for a road on your left hand side after you pass mile marker 7. The road will take you to the McGregor Point and Lighthouse. If you visit during the middle of December to the middle of May this is an awesome place to see the whales. Just a bit farther down the road past mile marker 8 is the famous scenic lookout. This is where most people stop in the morning or early afternoon to watch the whales. This is one of most popular whale’s hangouts in Maui. However, as the winds pick up in the afternoon the sea becomes a bit choppier and the whales search for calmer seas. If you love snorkeling, I hope you have your gear, as you will love snorkeling here as well. The water can be a bit tricky and you should only check out the water when the sea is calm and always with a buddy. You should respect the water and never try and second-guess what a wave might do. Safety should always be considered before you venture out to do any type of water sports wherever you are in Maui. You will love the various fish that call this area between mile marker 7 and 8 home.
As you travel along Highway 30, you may catch the glimpses of an old road that is not used any longer. This road was one that was used long before which took residents close by the cliffs, which is called Pali by locals. A legend of a young woman that use to lure men off the road to the edge of the Pali (cliffs) and then would just kick them off the top in order to rob them has been passed down from generation to generation. This thief was known as Kaiaupe and the way in which she murdered the passerby’s and then searched their bodies for valuables is now called Ka-ai-a-Kaiaupe as a reminder of not only the young woman but for days gone by.
Mile marker 14 at one time was one of the best snorkeling spot in all of Maui. Today, the water is not what it used to be. The water is now cloudy because of run off from the sugar cane industry. If you swim out past the shoreline, the waters are more clearer and you can see many wonderful sights below the sea, however, snorkeling nearby the shore will not be what you might expect.
Olowalu can be found at mile marker 15. This is a very small town with a huge history. This is the point on Maui, where Captain Metcalf, a trader in most accounts, went after the small village of Olowalu after one of the villagers attached one of his smaller ships in order to take the iron from the vessel. Captain Metcalf was rather sneaky in his assault. As the villagers came out to his ship to trade, he had them line up their canoes together on one of his ship. When they were all lined up, he ordered the men to fire the cannons into the canoes. The villagers had no chance for survival and over 100 Hawaiians were killed, their terrifying screams drifted over the island for hours.
As you leave the small village of Olowalu, you will see many wonderful beaches and parks as you head to Lahaina Town.
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