"Maui - The Best Island To Visit In ..." a Maui Travel Page by dlytle

In a nutshell, the earliest records show Polynesians voyaging to Hawaii in double-hulled canoes around the year 300AD. By about 850AD all of the main Hawaiian Islands are occupied. Around 1200AD, Tahitian explorers arrived and enslave the more primitive Polynesians. About 1400AD the Hawaiian’s of the time form a monarchy and a unique Hawaiian culture begins to emerge as social classes are established and the islanders split into tribes, adorning themselves with feathered capes, helmets and jewelry made from shells and human teeth. In 1778 Captain James Cook, British commander of HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, sights Oahu and Kauai. Cook names the "Sandwich Islands" after the Earl of Sandwich, first lord of the admiralty. In 1820 the First Protestant New England missionaries arrive on "Thaddeus," at Kailua, Hawaii. In 1842 U.S. President John Tyler recognizes the Kingdom of Hawaii by invoking the Monroe Doctrine to discourage intervention by European powers; agrees to Hawaiian independence. In 1842 the Hawaiian capital is moved from whaling port of Lahaina on Maui to the Honolulu harbor. On August 21, 1959 U.S. President Eisenhower proclaims statehood for Hawaii and Hawaii is admitted as the United States' 50th state.

The Hawaiians have a very colorful description of how Hawaii came into being. It seems that the demigod Maui, a powerhouse of creative energy, was said to have pulled the Hawaiian Islands from the ocean floor while fishing.

Of course today we know that two volcanoes rise from the ocean floor to form Maui. A narrow saddle joins the two peaks, and on this midsection are located the island's largest communities. To the north is Wailuku, the capital of Maui County (which includes the islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe).

Just east is Kahului, the island's commercial center. And nearby to the south are the sunny beaches and condominiums of Kihei.

The harbor town of Lahaina is on the west side of Maui's smaller, northwestern volcano. Lahaina became an important whaling port in the 19th century, accommodating large sailing ships and boisterous sailors. Later the whales, sought for their blubber, nearly died out. And meanwhile, petroleum was replacing blubber as a source of oil. Hawaii's whaling industry came to a close, and Lahaina now stands as a reminder of times past.

South of Kihei, Makena Beach offers turtle-populated beaches, panoramic sunsets across golden sands and aqua-blue waters, with the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe off in the distance. Further south, a wintertime walk along the path above Wailea Beach may reward you with a view of humpback whales at play.

Drive south to the end of the paved road, and you'll find a short hiking trail down to La Perouse Bay, where spinning dolphins rest by day.

East of Kahului is Hookipa, famous for its winter surfing, and the site of several windsurfing championships in the spring and fall. Hookipa has brought a stream of boardsailors from around the world to the nearby town of Paia.

There, plantation-era storefronts are painted in bright colors, and inside are a variety of interesting shops and restaurants. Paia is also a stop along the way to two of Maui's most popular destinations. The quiet coastal town of Hana lies to the southeast, while Haleakala, world's largest dormant volcano, climbs inland.

The road to Hana weaves slowly through lush tropical valleys along Maui's eastern coast, passing waterfall after waterfall. Near Hana are black sand and red sand beaches, and further south along the coast is more beautiful scenery.

Haleakala National Park offers many enjoyable ways to explore the volcano. Near the top are hiking trails across the crater's unearthly landscape, rare plant and animal life, and a collection of domed observatories. Along the rim - 10,000 feet above sea level - are overlooks and a visitor center.

The island of Maui reveals nature's beauty through its sunny beaches, warm ocean waters and breathtaking valleys. Come take a look, visit, relax and be prepared to be awed and thrilled by this wondrous Island-land of Maui.

The second oldest, second largest, and second most developed island in the Hawaiian chain...BUT...Maui is far from second best. Maui strikes an appealing balance between a vacation paradise and a real place, complete with a thriving culture and economy. Not nearly as developed as Oahu, and with plenty more to do and see than Kauai, Maui makes a solid claim for the motto that locals hold to be true: Maui no ka'oi! (Maui is the best!).