Lahaina
An old time fishing port and the "tourist" side of Maui. I nice place to go for a look and to book the snorkel trips with the "Frogman". There are some nice restaurants here as well as some spectacular Artist's work for sale. The beaches on the way to Lahaina are sheltered from the swells and give some lovely close to the shore snorkelling opportunities. We travelled to this area for the surfing though. The waves on this side of the island are small but perfect for long board riding. It is possible to hire a 10 foot long board for as little as $10 per day. The breaks are quite un-crowded during the week and there are wave sizes to suit all levels.
On the way to Lahaina you will have a good chance at seeing Whales just off the coast during January to May