Is Maui safe?
Safe for visitors with normal care. Car break-ins at beaches and trailheads, ocean hazards and wildfires are the main concerns; rideshare is limited outside Kahului and Kihei.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Maui at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Theft from parked cars at beaches and trailheads, and occasional petty crime in tourist areas. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Quiet after 9 pm outside Lahaina Front Street and Paia. Arrange a driver or designate one; rideshare is sparse at night. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Avoid isolated beaches and trails after dark, and book rides in advance for late nights. |
| Other risks | Strong currents and shore break at many beaches; Wildfires during dry, windy periods; Narrow, winding Road to Hana with one-lane bridges |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Timeshare touts offering free activity vouchers
- Sidewalk sellers of discount tours that turn out invalid
- Rental cars sold at inflated prices through resort booking desks
- Beach vendors offering expensive 'snorkel packages'
Take care
- Leaving anything visible in a car at beaches or Road to Hana stops
- Swimming at beaches without lifeguards in winter surf
- Driving the Road to Hana after dark
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Maui compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Scottsdale | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Maui safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Avoid isolated beaches and trails after dark, and book rides in advance for late nights.
Is Maui safe at night?
Quiet after 9 pm outside Lahaina Front Street and Paia. Arrange a driver or designate one; rideshare is sparse at night.
What is the crime rate in Maui?
Theft from parked cars at beaches and trailheads, and occasional petty crime in tourist areas. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Maui?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Maui
Going to Maui solo?
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Sources
- Maui Bus (County of Maui Department of Transportation)
- Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports (OGG)
- Maui Visitors Bureau
- Maui Health
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.