PETERSEN’S PLAYBOOK — Travel Health, ER Insights & Smart Vacation Planning
Maui Health Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Stunning and active — the Road to Hana, Haleakala, and the beaches each carry their own considerations, and urgent care is limited.
Maui at a glance
Maui is beaches, the Road to Hana, and the 10,000-foot Haleakala summit — incredible variety, with limited and costly urgent care if something goes wrong.
Top 5 healthy things to do in Maui
- Snorkel the calm morning water at Kapalua or Kihei
- Easy walks at Iao Valley State Park
- Sunrise at Haleakala (reservation required; dress warm)
- Beach yoga and ocean swims
- Whale watching in season
Best hikes in Maui
- Easiest: Iao Valley State Park — a short, paved walk to the iconic Iao Needle.
- Most vigorous: The Pipiwai Trail off the Road to Hana — about 4 miles through bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls.
- Longest: Sliding Sands (Keonehe’ehe’e) in Haleakala — a long, high-altitude descent into the crater; thin air and no shade, so plan carefully.
Best golf in Maui
Kapalua’s Plantation Course (the PGA Tour’s Sentry) and Wailea are world-class — sun and trade winds, so hydrate and protect your skin.
Healthy eats
Fresh fish, fruit, and farm-to-table abound; easy to eat clean.
Common vacation health risks in Maui
- Sunburn and heat illness
- Dehydration
- Altitude effects at Haleakala
- Coral cuts and reef scrapes
- Jellyfish stings
- Sprains and falls on trails
- Foodborne illness
- Motion sickness on the Road to Hana
Dr. Petersen’s take
“Two Maui surprises land in our visits: sunburn from a long snorkel, and people who drive to Haleakala’s 10,000-foot summit and feel awful from the altitude and cold. Sunscreen on your back, layers for the summit, and water everywhere.”
— Dr. Erik Petersen, DO, board-certified emergency & internal medicine
Closest emergency rooms
For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Maui Memorial Medical Center (221 Mahalani St, Wailuku) is the island’s main hospital ER; serious cases are flown to Honolulu.
Closest urgent care & pharmacy
Longs Drugs/CVS and Walgreens are in Kahului, Kihei, and Lahaina; call ahead — island hours are limited. (Hours and locations change — please call ahead to confirm.)
What to pack
- Prescription medications (original bottles + a list)
- EpiPen and rescue inhalers
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a hat
- Electrolyte packets
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medication
- Basic first-aid and blister care
If you get sick in Maui
If illness strikes on your Maui trip, Vacation Medicine provides virtual urgent care from licensed physicians — right from your hotel or rental. We treat UTIs, sinus and skin infections, pink eye, nausea and diarrhea, allergies, dehydration, and medication-refill emergencies.
Call Vacation Medicine: 850-660-3112 — Seen in minutes. Followed for a week.
Book a Virtual Visit – $100 Flat Fee →
Local hidden gems
- Best easy wonder: Iao Valley early before the buses
- Best recovery: a calm morning swim at Kapalua
More Healthy Traveler guides: guide · guide
