The Triangle – Beginner
28 miles, 700’ elevation gain
Follow “The Triangle” roads through the center of Maui, taking mostly right turns (minimal traffic crossings!) starting and ending at Maui Sunriders Bike Shop in Paia.
Cruise through the heart of Maui.
Start by turning right out of our Paia bike shop and continue downhill to the light. Then, turn left. About a hundred yards on, you’ll see the start of the Paia bike path on your right. Feel free to hop on the bike path, or just stay on the road…you have a great shoulder! The bike path ends when you hit the Sprecklesville neighborhood. Either weave your way through the neighborhood roads or merge back onto the main road.
Follow the Hana Highway as it bears left and slightly uphill. Continue through the light. As you start a gentle descent, start looking over your shoulder. You’ll need to cross two lanes of traffic to enter the left turn lane to turn onto Hansen road. If you time it right with the light, there will be minimal traffic behind you. If your timing is unlucky, you may have to stop and wait for a minute until traffic clears.
Soak in great view of both Haleakala, and the West Maui Mountains.
Continue on Hansen Road – through the stop sign – until it comes to an end at the Maui Veterans Highway. That big old industrial building you see? A relic of the sugar cane farming days on the island!
Turn left with traffic onto the highway, and then enjoy a long stretch on a huge shoulder. Alternatively, at the light, you can find the start of the Maui Veterans bike path on your left. You’ll have to cross over incoming right-turning traffic to hop on the bike path. However, traffic is typically sporadic enough that you shouldn’t have to wait too long.
At the end of the highway, you’ll take a right onto North Kihei Road. If you rode the bike path, it’s likely easier to use the crosswalks at the intersection to make your way onto North Kihei Road.
Take North Kihei Road until it ends, then turn right. Now, take another near immediate right to hop onto the Kuihelani Highway. It’s busy, but there’s a great shoulder. Follow the highway back toward Kahului (it will get more congested…be ready!). At the big intersection, turn right onto the Hana Highway.
It’s now a straight shot all the way back to Paia. Turn right at the light in Paia to hop on Baldwin Ave, and then end your ride right where you started…Maui Sunriders Bike Shop!
Conor O'Brian
Maui Sunriders contributing writer, photographer, route builder, & road cycling guide.
Conor is an avid bike rider, racer, adventurer, photographer, and graphic artist who spends his winters working for MSBC
Follow his rides on Strava!
What bike will I ride on Maui?
Planning a cycling trip to Maui? The island is an excellent destination for cyclists, with world-class road routes and several mountain bike trail networks. First, check out how to bring your bike with you. Alternatively, you can rent a bike from us.
At Maui Sunriders, we offer a fleet of rental bikes on Maui. For example, choose from high-end road bikes, full-suspension bikes, hardtails, e-bikes, 3-speeds, and single-speeds. Plus, our knowledgeable staff of cycling enthusiasts can help you find the right bike for your adventure. Visit us in Paia, Kihei, or Lahaina!
Six seniors are coming to Maui in February. Four of us are experienced riders, I’m not sure about the other two. We will want to rent step thru e-bikes. We are all in our 70’s, so we are looking for easy rides with lots of scenery. We are staying in Kihei.
That’s awesome and great to hear! The route page that you’re commenting on can be a bit windy and is typically used by road cyclists looking to get in some extra mileage or travel from one side of the island to the other. This section runs near a busy road with the bike path to the side of the main road.
For our e-bike rentals, we think there are some much more enjoyable rides right from our shops! We rent e-bikes at all three of our locations: Paia, Kihei, and Kapalua. The best place to rent depends on which areas of the island you’d like to explore.
Paia (North Shore): One of the only bike paths on the island starts near our Paia location. If you’re looking to get off the roads and enjoy a more relaxed ride, this is the one to do! You’ll also get to explore some hidden beaches that many visitors never discover by car.
Kapalua (West Maui): There’s a wonderful coastal frontage road with beautiful beaches and several great options for exploring the area.
Kihei (South Maui): From our Kihei shop, you can enjoy a great ride south toward La Perouse.
Keep in mind that the Kapalua and La Perouse routes do share the road with cars. Traffic generally isn’t moving too fast, but bike lanes and shoulders aren’t always available.
I hope this helps! You can book directly through our website by clicking “Bike Rentals” in the top menu and selecting your preferred location. It’s super easy! You’re also welcome to call any of our shops. Our team will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you book if you need any assistance. 😊