Keith DeVey wants everyone to know more about Maui. Twice a week, he offers a free historic walking tour of Kīhei, eager to share the island’s stories with anyone interested.
The founder of Maui Walking Tours launched his outings in March 2024. Early walks attracted modest attention, but word of mouth has since pushed most tours to capacity – about two dozen participants.
“I genuinely believe Maui is the best place on Earth,” DeVey said. “I wanted to start a free walking tour to show visitors why.”
Walking tours are popular in many destinations around the world, drawing travelers who seek authentic experiences and a deeper connection to the places they visit. DeVey is a seasoned city walker, having joined more than 30 tours in places like Reykjavik, Paris, London and Tokyo, as well as cities from San Francisco to Key West. He saw an opportunity to apply the walking-tour formula to Kīhei, inspired by how these experiences had helped him connect more deeply to the places he visited.
DeVey’s one-mile, 90-minute Kīhei walk, which begins at the library and weaves through Kalama Park, feels less like a lecture and more like “talk story” with a local. Topics span what makes South Maui unique – from culturally significant spaces and native flora to marine life, the area’s ties to the U.S. military, the rise and fall of agriculture and the growth of tourism.
