“The White Lotus”-Inspired Guide to Maui

The Hawaiian Island of Maui charms with its balmy weather, invigorating waters, picture-perfect landscapes, and luxe resorts. And after its starring role in the first season of The HBO® Original series “The White Lotus,” discerning travelers are even more in love.

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A blonde white woman in a white one-piece swimsuit stands at the edge of an infinity pool, looking through palm trees at the ocean.

Maui’s first hotel opened in the early 1900s, and the scene really picked up decades later with resort development along the Wailea coastline, on the sunnier southwestern side of the island. A new chapter in Maui’s tourism story was written in 2021 with the first season of “The White Lotus.” Filmed almost entirely inside Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, HBO's hit social satire seduced viewers with the beauty of its surroundings as they followed the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week. 

The breadth of Maui’s water-based activities alone (from surfing to spearfishing to snorkeling to swimming) can keep you occupied for days. Then factor in exceptional meals, thrilling whale-watching excursions, and waterfall hikes for the full-blown Maui experience.

Platinum Card® Members who book Fine Hotels + Resorts® properties like Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea through American Express Travel® enjoy an exclusive suite of benefits* including daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm check-out, and a $100 credit1 to use towards eligible charges, such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges.

Read on for our Maui guide, inspired by “The White Lotus” – and if you want to make a multi-island trip out of it, the rest of Hawai’i is more than ready to welcome you with that inimitable aloha spirit.

Calendar

Best Time to Visit

April to May and September through November deliver the usual benefits of shoulder season (fewer crowds, better value). Whale watching peaks from January to March, as humpbacks migrate from Alaska, although sightings are possible until mid-April. 

Airplane

Getting There

Your Platinum Card can get you access to lower air fares on bookings with Recommended Flights*. You can earn 5X Membership Rewards® points* for airfare purchases on your Card on up to $500,000 in air purchases per calendar year booked through Amex Travel or flights purchased directly from airlines. Or, you can use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points* for all or part of your flight.

What to Do and Where to Eat on Maui

Visitors keen on experiencing their own "The White Lotus" welcome should consider Olowalu Landing, where the hotel staff greet arriving guests. It’s a picturesque, easy-to-miss waterfront area where you’ll find families having a good time (just be aware that in real life, it’s about a 45-minute drive from Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and sharks have been sighted). 

If you enjoy a road trip, set out on the Road to Hana, a 65-mile coastal highway on the east side of Maui. It’s a gorgeous winding route and wise to devote a full day to allow for plenty of stops. Highlights include the town of Hana, Wailua Falls, black-sand beaches, and Haleakalā National Park, where you can hike to ‘Ohe‘o Gulch for waterfalls, a bamboo forest, and natural pools that are closed for swimming but still wonderful to see.

At sunrise, the Haleakala Crater is unearthly, with red sand and low-growing shrubs scattered across rugged volcanic rock.
Aerial view of Molokini, a rocky, semicircular islet sheltering several boats in the middle of deep blue water.

Rise and shine for the ride up to Haleakalā Crater, a 10,023-foot-tall volcanic crater where you can witness one of the world’s best sunrise views. The sand dunes beyond 'Īao Valley State Park are another natural wonder well worth the detour. Indeed, there’s no shortage of A-plus beaches, including surfer-approved Honolua Bay; Makena Beach, popular with the body boarding crowd; and the black-rock beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Snorkelers seek out Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater that’s partially submerged in the sea. Epic rock formations, colorful coral, and tropical marine life add to the special setting.

To book guided experiences across Maui, from helicopter and zip line rides to sunset cruises, check out GetYourGuide.

Two Hawaiian men in thick, kukui nut lei, and patterned sarongs with leafy lei po’o on their heads carry a roast pig into a lūʻau.

For a taste of traditional culture, reserve your spot at a lūʻau, marked by the rhythmic beat of the pahu (the Hawaiian drums), chanting, mesmerizing hula, and heaping plates of food. Speaking of food, you can’t leave Maui without indulging in its dining scene. Three top tables are Merriman's Maui, an elegant fine-dining spot in Kapalua; Lineage, a newer favorite featuring a pan-Asian menu in Wailea; and Mama’s Fish House, a 50-year institution for seafood and ocean views on Maui’s North Shore. 

Join the locals for a casual meal at Hali'imaile General Store in Upcountry or at Isana, a sushi joint north of Wailea where kalbi ribs and garlic shrimp noodles also on the menu (make an advance booking for Isana on Resy). Truly, eating in Maui is so stellar that you can stop at a gas station, pick up a couple of spam musubis, and still expect a satisfying meal. And if you love tropical fruit, book a tour of Maui Gold to learn about the history of pineapple farming – and sample the goods. 

To live out your set-jetting fantasies, only one resort will do: The 15-acre, 383-room Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, which was the opulent setting for the inaugural season of “The White Lotus.” Orbiting a central courtyard with a serene water feature, the palm-fringe, oceanfront estate offers decadent amenities and generously sized accommodations. Guest rooms start at 600 square feet plus a breezy lanai, and you can pick between ocean, garden, or mountain views. Each room and suite displays contemporary Hawaiian art, which provides a welcome sense of place. If, like newlyweds Shane and Rachel, your heart is set on the Pineapple Suite, know that it was a retrofitted version of the Lokelani Presidential Suite. 

Pretty gardens flourish across the resort, with one dedicated entirely to plumeria. There are three pickleball courts and one for tennis; three pools (with saltwater, with kid-friendly features, and for adults only); and programming run by the Kids For All Seasons day camp. The beach is set up for activities like snorkeling and paddleboarding, and the concierge team can organize excursions, notably, a catamaran sailing led by a Hawaiian navigator, who will teach you how Polynesians once navigated using only the stars, swells, and other natural guidance.

Platinum Card Members receive a $100 credit, which can be put towards topnotch on-site restaurants, from sushi at Komo to coastal Italian at Ferraro’s. If slowing down at the spa is more your speed, book a Lomi Mohala massage in your choice of a treatment room or ocean-facing hale, or an Ultimate Signature Facial.

Explore all Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties in Hawai’i

Season 1 of “The White Lotus” welcomed viewers into the world of the series with an intriguing opening scene at Maui’s Kahului Airport, a place you’ll no doubt get to know when you visit. It’s also where you can connect to other parts of Hawai’i; explore recommendations beyond Maui in our Hawaiian Islands Guide.

Tune in to the new season of the HBO Original series “The White Lotus,” which premieres February 16, 2025, at 9pm ET on Max.
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