Maui Revealed

Being on the West Coast, vacationing at Hawaii is a very natural choice. And many of our KVites have been there already. This is for the benefit of those yet to go….Maui is one of the best Islands in Hawaii…beautiful beaches, warm weather, rainforest it has it all for a perfect vacation**. Please dont ignore those two small disclaimer stars….

Maui, “The Magic Isle,” is considered the most diverse of all Hawaiian Islands. It is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, occupying more than 727 square miles.

Are you looking for seclusion? The enormous dormant volcano, Haleakala Crater, dominates the center of the island. The upcountry meadows and roads around the crater are a wonderful area for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Do you want to hit the town? Maui’s main town, Lahaina, is a lively oceanfront village with exotic restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries that stay open late at night. This is where sport fishing, whale watching, sightseeing and snorkeling cruises set sail from.

Maui combines world-class resorts with scenic small towns like no other island. The West Coast is known for prime resort areas – Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea and Makena. The secluded East Coast is best known for the tiny Hana town where you can witness the unspoiled lifestyle of last centry’s Hawaii.

What are the main attractions on Maui?

Lahaina Town (West Maui)
The most active part of the island is West Maui – the excitement here never ends. This is where the bustling town of Lahaina is located. A capital of Hawaiian kings and whaling village in the 19th century, today Lahaina is a colorful quilt of various restaurants, nightclubs, shops and art galleries. The Lahaina harbor is the center for most ocean activities, including fishing, snorkeling trips, and even a ferry to the island of Lanai. And, of course, there are a dozen points from where you can watch the mighty humpback whales in winter and spring!

Kaanapali (West Maui)
Kaanapali is one of the liveliest places in Hawaii. In the middle of Kaanapali is Black Rock (Pu’u Keka’a), a once sacred location to ancient Hawaiians. They considered it to be a place where spirits of the dead went to leap from this world to the next. To the south you will find Whalers Village Shopping Center and a free whaling museum (largest whaling memorabilia in the world !). Another feature of Kaanapali is the Sugar Cane Train that travels between Lahaina and Kaanapali. The train once moved sugar cane from the fields of Kaanapali to the Pioneer Mill in Lahaina, but today it caters to the tourism industry with a scenic ride and a trip back into time.

South Maui: Wailea and Makena
Wailea and Makena are located down south. Wailea is a laid-back, quiet, upscale resort community. Although fully developed, it still has many wonderful non-crowded beaches. Makena boasts one of the last largest undeveloped beaches on Maui, Makena Beach (Big Beach) and one of the most picturesque beaches, Little Beach, which is also an unofficial clothing optional beach. Most of these beaches do not have hotels around them and are very clean and peaceful.

West Maui: Iao Valley
Iao Valley Park is located away from the ocean, at the base of West Maui Mountains. This is a wonderful area for hiking and nature walks. Apple, banana, mango, guava, and coffee trees grow wild. Rising 1,200 feet above the mountains, Iao Needle, a rocky pillar covered with thick vegetation, points to the sky like a giant green finger. Iao Valley is an amazingly beautiful and tranquil place.

Central Maui: Haleakala Crater
The peak of Haleakala, Maui’s sleeping volcano, towers 10,023 feet above sea level. Along the slopes of Haleakala there are 7 different climate zones, ranging from tropical rainforest to desert. A trip to Maui is never complete without viewing a magnificent sunrise from aloft Haleakala, nicknamed “The House of the Rising Sun”. Travel to the chilly summit and experience the dawn of creation. Panoramic views, nature in the raw, and the wonders of Haleakala National Park (including the unique silversword plant) will leave you breathless!

East Maui: Hana Highway
Hana Highway is probably the most picturesque 55 miles of drive that you’ll ever experience. The hairpin-curved scenic road goes over 54 bridges, passes the steep cliffs and lush valleys ablooming with ginger and heliconia. You may want to stop and pick a banana from one of the trees hanging over the road, go for a hike into the bamboo forest or take a dip in one of the countless waterfalls.

East Maui: Hana Town
At the end of the Hana Highway, the small quaint town of Hana awaits you. The natural beauty of “Heavenly Hana” will take you back in time and give you an idea of what the rest of Maui was like 30 years ago. Unspoiled, serene and mystical, Hana is truly Maui’s “Last Hawaiian Place.” Undeveloped jungle full of rare native plants and exotic birds, the rugged shoreline, and some of the best beaches on the island are just a few of Hana’s treasures. Further down the coast, Kahanu Garden grows amid black lava flows in splendid isolation. Its 122 acres encompass beautiful plant collections from the Pacific Islands. There are a few other places worth seeing, such as the famous Hasagawa’s General Store, Hana Cultural Center, Hamoa Beach, Red Sand Beach and Hana Ranch.

North Maui: Kapalua
Kapalua is the most secluded area on the busy West Shore. It consists of two major luxurious resorts: The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and Kapalua Bay Hotel. The beach in front of the Kapalua Bay resort is said to be one of the best in the world. Snorkeling there is excellent! Kapalua is surrounded by active pineapple plantations and a giant stand of 100-year-old Norfolk pines.

North Maui: Kahakuloa Town
North Maui is home to small farms and ranches, sugar plantations and quaint historic villages, such as Kahakuloa. Kahakuloa Valley is where native Hawaiians lived and flourished 1,500 years ago. Even today, the Hawaiian lifestyle is still very much alive in this lush secluded valley on Maui’s North Shore. See traces of an earlier civilization, walk in a pristine forest, cross a clear stream, hear ancient Hawaiian legends.

Where to stay?
Kihei town is like centre of the city. We stayed at Kamole sands condominium resort right across the beach. Decent place. Dimple Prashant have been here too. Lahaina town has very good resorts and its the place with active nite life. But far from Hana and Haleakala.

Also this book Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook byAndrew Doughty was a great guide. Its available in Santa Clara library.
And last but not the least KVites could provide good inputs. We got very good tips from Neelam, Dimple and Hemal.

Now time for thosetwo small stars
** Its beautiful but not honeymooners paradise. Its a bit overhyped vacation spot.