Howzit Hostels — Hotel in Maui

Edited to add: I have updated my rating to 3 stars (up from 2). The management reached out to us privately to apologize for the issues we had and let us know the steps they are taking/took to rectify this in the future. There are so many positives to the Howzit Hostel in Maui that I would absolutely recommend staying here if a few of the major things on my cons list are fixed (and it would easily be 4 or 5 stars).

In reading the reviews, it is hard to believe my family of four stayed in the same hotel these other people did. We spent four nights in a tiny inside private room that sleeps four (a bunk bed made up of a full bed on bottom, a twin on top and a twin that slides out from underneath) in July.

PROS: The staff is friendly and helpful. The downstairs common areas (kitchen, lounge, tables, etc.) are fun and have such a nice vibe. In general, these common areas were fairly clean and is a great place to hang out and meet people from other places. We particularly loved the hanging chairs that kind of swing and the group tables. The updated kitchen had some cooking necessities, two refrigerators, and individual bins to store food. They provide pancakes and coffee every morning. There are lots of free excursions included. Although we didn't want to take four spots away from people who didn't rent a car, it sounded like people really enjoyed them. The karaoke and margarita night was fun. They foster an environment where you can meet people and go on an adventure together. I suspect it is particularly great for young singles. It was still fun for us even though we had our teenagers with us. We really enjoyed getting to know some of our fellow travelers. They have snorkeling equipment and beach towels you can borrow. It feels very secure; with each group having their own code to get into the building and their room.

CONS: Cockroaches, so many cockroaches. Some other bugs as well. I saw one escape into the electrical outlet in my room when I tried to get rid of it. So many cockroaches in some of the upstairs bathrooms. One individual bathroom was especially bad with a bunch of different sizes and colors all cohabitating in the one room. We live in Florida, so I realize the climate can make it hard to control. Some ants on the kitchen counters. However, the staff really tries to clean up after the guests that don't clean up after themselves and they have rules to try to prevent food in places that would attract them. Tiny room and the twin that pulls out would block the door if it opened all of the way, so I slept on it halfway open. My daughter wouldn't sleep down there due to the bugs she observed. We stayed in the building waiting for check in time only to discover the beds didn't have sheets and the tops of the mattresses were filthy. They don't provide blankets (but will give you a thin one if you think to ask them). The upstairs bathrooms need to be updated. They are in disrepair and the screens aren't completely covering the windows. Perhaps there would be less bugs if it were fixed? Not enough parking spaces available to rent. Given the location, this could be trickier to fix but we did find places to park when we didn't have a spot.

Perhaps the other rooms were better? I think it is a fun place for single adventurers looking to find likeminded people to do activities with. My daughter and I could hardly sleep due to the bug issues and A/C (it was either too hot or too cold). My husband and son somehow didn't see the bugs, so they were fine. If it wasn't for the staff, availability of activities, and overall fun vibe, I would have given it 1 star. We spent far too much money per night to be sleeping on dirty beds and walking on dirty...

My friends and I stayed at Howzit for our spring break last week, and it completely exceeded our expectations — especially for our first time staying in a hostel! One of the best parts about Howzit is the free tours with complimentary transportation via their van. Guests can sign up for incredible excursions, including the famous Road to Hana day trip, breathtaking waterfall hikes, Iao Valley trail adventures, beach days, snorkeling (with provided gear), and even a beach drum circle! We took advantage of nearly all the tours, which was amazing because we didn’t need to rent a car yet still got to experience so many incredible sights. And when we wanted to explore outside of the hostel — like catching the sunset at Haleakalā National Park (a MUST see) — fellow hostel guests with rental cars were more than happy to give us a ride. The volunteer staff at Howzit were absolutely incredible — super friendly, helpful, and fun to be around. A special shoutout to Kanzo, who had just joined the team when we arrived. Despite being new, he was already a huge help, always cheerful and welcoming in the lobby, and even offered to be our hiking buddy whenever he had time off work. If you're into hiking, Kanzo is your guy! The hostel itself was spotless — the rooms were clean and well-kept, and the bathrooms were cleaned daily. The lobby and kitchen were also cleaned every day and truly were the heart of the hostel. If I had to describe Howzit in one word, it would be “community.” It might sound cliché, but it’s so true! The hostel attracts solo travelers from all over the world, and during our stay, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Each morning, we’d gather in the lobby for breakfast, enjoying free pancakes freshly made by the amazing volunteers (who even shaped them into fun designs like palm trees!). We’d chat about our travels, exchange life stories, and plan our adventures for the day. Howzit also has plenty of games and supplies guests can borrow, and the staff is always happy to share their best Maui recommendations. Staying at Howzit Hostel truly made our trip to Maui unforgettable — one of the best experiences of my life! When it was time to leave, none of us wanted to go. We still reminisce about our time in Maui, and Howzit played such a big role in making it so special. I would recommend Howzit to anyone looking for an adventurous, welcoming, and community-driven...

I essentially lived there for a chunk of time as I was there for work and Howzit genuinely made my stay! The people, guests, staff and volunteers alike are nothing but kind and sweet. Someone is at the desk 24/7, staff always helpful, daily free tours (tip-based), towels are free, place is just redone, many dope murals, little patio upstairs, a nice garden outback.. As someone who came for work solo, I really appreciated the social aspect of the hostel with group tours daily and occasional night events whilst also being able to sleep properly thanks to the quiet hours that are enforced on the dot. Island rhythm is a lot about waking up early so it seemed to benefit everyone and there's 2 good bars nearby if you want to keep it going. The place is kept very clean and well maintained. I hardly had food disappearing from the kitchen, my beers stayed untouched and that's rare enough to be noticed! The pancakes in the morning are a lovely touch considering how expensive life is in Hawaii (more expensive than NY, where I reside) and only cost the tip :). Because my trip was last minute I ended up in 5 different rooms and I tried them all! Private, 4 female-only, 4 mix and 7 mix and never an issue. The metal bunk beds can squeak quite a bit though so I'd pack earbuds for sleep quality, a general good rule of thumb for dorm life. The beds don't have privacy curtains either but I used to hang a towel instead when needed. If you hesitate between Howzit and Banana (the other hostel round the corner) I would go with Howzit hands down. I spent one night at Banana and the atmosphere isn't as warm, it's definitely not nearly as clean and low-key impossible to sleep because of noise but it has some gorgeous plants though! So whatever floats your boat. I felt so welcome by everyone here I extended my stay after work to enjoy the island & the people. And a HUGE plus they have is a common whatsapp group where all guest & staff are clocked in, which allows you to hop on random group trips and discover the island w fellow travellers, which as a non-driver was an absolute blessing. That's it for my novel, I hope it helps your choice & the hostel