How to Get from Oahu to Maui

Maui is one of the most important islands of Hawaii. It is also the name given to one of the most important demigods of the Polynesian culture and who, according to their traditions, formed the Polynesian islands including, of course, the Hawaiian archipelago.

Travelling to Maui from Honolulu is one of the best things to do on Oahu during your holiday. As you'll soon realise, this new paradise destination integrates the greatest diversity of tropical flora and fauna you could hope for. It is an excellent alternative to admire and experience exotic landscapes in a state less altered by humans.

If you've already completed the must-do's of a first trip to Oahu, such as visiting Pearl Harbor, exploring the island's North Shore, taking in a Luau show and taking a sunset cruise in Waikiki, it's time to broaden your horizons!

Undoubtedly the best way to visit Maui from Oahu is to hire the services of an expert company as an organised tour. This will allow you to embark on a day-long adventure, explore the highlights of Maui and be back at your hotel in Waikiki by nightfall.

Considered one of the best tours to do in and around Oahu, you'll find several tour operators offering this service due to travellers' interest in this type of adventure.

What do these excursions offer?

Keep in mind that the specific details of the excursions may be modified depending on the company you hire for the experience. However, in general terms, these types of excursions depart before 07h so that you can make the most of the day.

From Honolulu you'll catch a flight to Maui and once you arrive at the airport you'll embark on a road trip that will take you through the highlights and best attractions of the island.

There is much to see and enjoy on the island of Maui and although the list of attractions may vary, some of the highlights include: Visiting and touring Waianapanapa State Park (one of the most beautiful in all of Hawaii); seeing Puahokamoa Falls or Wailua Falls; passing through the old Paia plantations and, of course, a trip to see the unique black sand beach of Hohokalani (a beach formed by lava pebbles from volcanic cliffs).

Most of the time, these are shared excursions that take place in small to medium-sized groups (from 8 to 20 participants). The organising company provides all transfers for travellers; round-trip airfare, transportation from the hotel in Waikiki to the airport and private minibus transportation through the various points of interest in Maui.

Useful information

• Price: For this type of adventure you will pay around €580. The price includes all transportation, entrance fees and round-trip airfare on the Oahu-Maui route.
• Duration of the trip: This is a full day group tour so you should reserve at least one day of your itinerary for this activity.
• Recommended if... you are visiting Hawaii for several days, e.g. 5 days on Oahu or more, and are keen to see new destinations. Highly recommended for second time travellers who like the idea of venturing into new territory - you'll have a lot of fun!

While it's true that transportation options on Oahu are somewhat limited, you do have the alternative of organising your own trip and travelling to Maui as the locals do, using the main mode of transport between the Hawaiian Islands: the aeroplane.

Since it is the only means of transport available at the moment, the alternatives abound and here is all the information you need to know.

Route

If you decide to travel to Maui on your own, you will need to take a flight from Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

However, there are two airports on Maui and depending on the airline and availability your flight may land at either Kapalua Airport (JHM) or Kahului Airport (OGG).

One of the main advantages of visiting Oahu, in addition to the many tourist attractions, is how well connected the island is to other parts of the archipelago. Oahu's airport has numerous direct flights to various destinations, making it easy for travellers and saving time by eliminating the need for stopovers.

Once in the air, flights usually take less than an hour to complete the journey.

Companies offering this service

On the island of Oahu you'll find a number of companies offering this service to both the thousands of tourists who visit each season and Hawaii locals who frequently travel between the islands for a variety of reasons.

Below is a list of local airlines, large and medium-sized, that connect both destinations with direct flights every day and some even several times a day.

• Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii's oldest and largest airline, Hawaiian Airlines is an ideal choice for travellers looking for reliable and efficient service. In addition to Maui, this airline connects Oahu to the other islands of the archipelago.
• Southwest Airlines Founded in 2019, Southwest Airlines is a recently established airline that has been able to position itself very quickly in the taste of the locals. At the moment it offers direct flights to only two islands, the Big Island and Maui.
• Mokulele Airlines Mokulele Airlines merged with another small Hawaiian airline called Makani Kai Air in 2020; together they offer a great service to the public. Many of their flights depart from commuter terminals, which, having less air traffic than the main terminals, offer a smoother flow of passengers and shorter wait times.

Useful information

• Price: Round-trip economy class airfare on the Oahu-Maui route typically costs around €145.
• Travel time: The flight time between the two islands ranges from 40 minutes to an hour. You'll also have to add airport transfers and waiting time at the airports.
• Recommended if... you are going to be in Hawaii for many days and have time to spare. Although the adventure of getting to know Maui can be done in just one day, I only recommend it if you make the trip with an expert guide for the whole excursion. If not, dedicate at least 2 days to this experience, so that you can deal with any possible unforeseen eventualities.

Although they are two of the most visited and important islands in the archipelago, there is currently no passenger ferry service connecting the two destinations.

However, between 2003 and 2009 a public transport service known as the Super Ferry operated on the Hawaiian Islands. The route departed from Honolulu Harbour on Oahu and Kahului Harbour on Maui to take passengers to all the nearby islands, making the same route several times a day.

Over the years, several unsuccessful and unsuccessful attempts have been made to bring the Hawaii Superferry back into operation - I hope they succeed!

In order to make your trip to Maui more enjoyable, here are a few tips to take into consideration.

Keep an eye out for flight deals.

If you are travelling on your own, it is possible to get cheap flights from Oahu to Maui if you know where and when to look. The first tip is to always check all available airlines as they often publish last minute deals.

The second tip is to take advantage of the low tourist season in Hawaii, when less tourism reduces the demand and with it the prices. In addition to May, you can take advantage of this if you travel to Oahu in October or the first weeks of November.

If you are travelling in high season book in advance

On the other side of the coin, you'll find that in the high season months it pays to book excursions on Oahu or to nearby destinations well in advance.

The reason is simple: places sell out quickly and it pays to have all the important details organised well in advance.

Snorkelling in Maui

Have you snorkelled in Oahu? If so, you'll love repeating the experience on **Maui'**s beaches. Check if the company organising the excursion offers this experience (many do) and if not, negotiate with them the possibility of including it. you won't regret it!

According to official data the distance between Oahu and Maui is approximately 178 km; if you make a comparison and look at the map of the archipelago you will realise that going to Maui from Oahu is closer than going to the Big Island from Oahu, another popular destination for travellers and one that we recommend you visit if you want to see an island with an active volcano.

In terms of flight time, this distance translates to short flights with a minimum flight time of 35 minutes and a maximum of 50 minutes.