Maui and Honolulu are both preferred destinations among tourists. While they are only about 100 miles from each other, traveling isn’t always as straightforward as you might think.
There’s no bridge connecting the islands so a car is out. But a boat cruise or a plane may be more appealing than any road trip.
So, let’s get the heart of the question, how far is Honolulu from Maui and what’s the best way to travel between the two?
What is the Best way to get from Honolulu to Maui?
Table of Contents
The trip from Honolulu to Maui is relatively cheap and is also fairly quick. You can cover the distance in a few hours, spending less than $100 to make the journey.
However, your preferred transport depends on how you like to travel.
A flight between Honolulu and Maui is the most common way to travel, but people with the means can opt for a more exotic boat cruise.
Flights are for those who don’t like to dally—who want the fastest possible route between destinations. Whereas the boat cruise lets passengers take in the vast Pacific as they leisurely travel.
How long is the Flight from Honolulu to Maui?
While Honolulu and Maui are within a reasonable distance of each other, the time needed to travel depends on the airline.
Typically, airlines cover the estimated 100 miles within one hour or less, sometimes in as little as 40 minutes.
You can take your interisland flight from Honolulu International Airport and arrive at any of the three airports in Maui within the hour. Of course, this mostly depends on the season. The high season tends to make travel longer.
Can you take a Ferry from Honolulu to Maui?
While air travel is easily the most popular means of transportation between Honolulu and Maui, several residents and tourists would appreciate the trip more if it was by ferry.
Unfortunately, there are no ferries between Honolulu and Maui.
One would expect that Maui, Honolulu, and other parts of Hawaii would have a thriving ferry system but the islands have not had ferries since 2009.
Why are there no Ferries Between the Hawaiian Islands?
The last viable ferry on the island was the Hawaii SuperFerry, and it had a two-year run that was plagued with legal, financial, and cultural challenges.
The super ferry started in 2007 and after a string of legal battles about its impact on the environment and the water ecosystem, the Hawaiian Supreme Court ruled against the Super Ferry’s operations. The ferry then shut down in 2009
One of the major challenges of the Hawaiian SuperFerry was its inefficiency. The Ferry was about 350 ft long and about 5 stories high, which was enough for over 900 people and about 300 vehicles. However, this size meant that the Super Ferry consumed a lot of fuel and took a long time to reach its destination.
When compared with an airplane, the Super Ferry consumed over 10 times more fuel and was 6 times slower than an average plane in 2008.
Even now that advancements can curb the ferry’s inefficiencies, there are still concerns about how it may affect the island’s water life.
Is it Cheaper to fly into Maui or Honolulu?
Generally, the trip between Honolulu and Maui costs less than $100, typically between $70 and $90 dollars during high season, while you can get the tickets for as low as $50 or less during low seasons.
Deciding where to begin your journey is an entirely different tale.
Honolulu has one airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and it is the hotbed for travelers to Hawaii, Maui and its three airports make life a little easier.
It is relatively cheaper to fly into Honolulu before moving on with inter-island flights to other parts of Hawaii.
Maui accommodates more private plans and charter flights than Honolulu. The caliber of flights to the island makes it a preferred destination for the wealthier population, but some of these flights stopover at Honolulu before continuing their flights to Maui.
Can you take a day trip from Honolulu to Maui?
You can travel between Honolulu and Maui in one hour or less by plane and about three hours if you are going by boat—privately rented, of course!
So, yes, if you’re speedy on the islands you can certainly make a day trip of traveling between Honolulu and Maui.
What’s the Difference Between Maui and Honolulu?
Maui and Honolulu are both counties in Hawaii with similar traditions, but similar is where their similarities end. Everything else, from the terrain to the lifestyle is quite distinct.
Maui, like Honolulu, is a rich tourist attraction, but it’s major difference is its laid-back towns and reserved resorts. Honolulu is much closer to a traditional city, with traditional city attractions.
