| At 728 square miles, Maui is the second
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| | great change in social morays and were
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| largest island in the Hawaiian chain, and
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| | able to effect missionary taboos on
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| is actually formed from two separate
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| | "womanising" and public drunkenness,
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| volcanic eruptions. The first volcano
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| | keeping them at constant odds with the
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| became the West Maui Mountains and has
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| | sailors.
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| been extinct for over a million years.
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| | Today, Lahaiana Harbor plays host to a
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| The other, Haleakala, is considered by
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| | number of cruise ships, yachts, sailboats
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| experts to be dormant. Lava flows and
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| | and even a passenger submarine. The old
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| natural erosion on the land eventually
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| | buildings are occupied by oceanfront
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| formed an isthmus, or bridge, connecting
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| | shops and restaurants and the rich
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| the two land masses that is now Central
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| | history is kept alive with guided and
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| Maui, hence the nickname "Valley Isle".
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| | self-guided walking tours, photographs
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| Maui was originally settled by Polynesian
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| | and a surprising number of historic
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| voyagers traveling from Tahiti and the
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| | homes, churches, museums, original
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| Marquesas, who braved the seas in
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| | courthouse and prison. Lahaina is also
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| outrigger canoes with only the stars and
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| | the home of the Maui Myth & Magic theatre
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| the birds for navigation. These new
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| | and their original production "Ulalena".
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| settlers became farmers and fishermen and
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| | Nature & Eco-Tourism
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| built new lives, including places of
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| | The natural beauty of Maui's rainforest
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| worship (Heiau), fishponds and even used
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| | areas, volcanic craters and waterfalls
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| aqueduct irrigation systems to water
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| | have more recently made the island a
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| their taro farms (Lo'i). While we are
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| | popular destination for the eco-tourist.
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| uncertain exactly when these first brave
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| | The Eastern shores of Hana and the slopes
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| souls touched ground, archeological
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| | of Haleakala offer challenging hiking,
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| evidence has been dated at A.D. 700 and
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| | cascading waterfalls & pools and a host
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| earlier.
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| | of native and non-native flora and fauna
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| In 1778, Captain James Cook set sail from
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| | while the lava flows of South and West
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| the waters of Tahiti on a fateful journey
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| | shores offer stark landscapes and
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| that led to the "discovery" of the small
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| | panoramic views that are stunning
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| group of islands Cook would later name
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| | settings for hiking, kayaking and
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| the Sandwich Islands. Almost overnight,
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| | horseback riding.
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| the lives of the natives were transformed
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| | A number of ranches, hiking companies and
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| as subsequent explorers brought with them
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| | local guide services make the dream of
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| diseases the islanders had never been
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| | really exploring the island an easy
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| exposed to, wreaking havoc on the local
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| | reality for almost every skill level.
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| population. These new arrivals also
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| | There are also a number of well-written
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| brought something else the islanders had
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| | guidebooks that can assist the budget
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| not yet been exposed to, cannons and
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| | traveler or those who prefer to "go it
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| guns. While there had previously been
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| | alone".
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| battle between the islands, this created
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| | Beaches & Leisure
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| a very new way to fight, indeed. In 1790,
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| | Second only to Oahu as a visitor
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| King Kamehameha began using these new
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| | destination, Maui has had the distinction
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| weapons and would eventually become the
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| | of being voted "Best Island in the World"
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| first leader to unite all of the islands
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| | the readers of both Condé Nast Traveller
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| under one rule.
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| | and Travel and Leisure magazines for 10
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| Lahaina, Whalers & Missionaries
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| | years in a row. Surrounded by over 120
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| Kamehameha's one-time Capitol of Hawaii,
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| | miles of coastline, warm Pacific waters
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| the historic port of Lahaina has quite a
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| | and some of the most sought after beaches
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| colorful past! In the early 1800's, as
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| | in the world, this is a water
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| the first whaling ships found their way
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| | enthusiasts' dream come true.
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| to Maui's shores, sailors found an
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| | Visitors to the island are able to enjoy
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| idyllic paradise, exotic women,
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| | a wide array of leisure activities,
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| intoxicating spirits and tropical
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| | including snorkeling from the beach,
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| breezes. Lahaina would eventually replace
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| | boating tours from Lahaina, Maalaea and
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| Honolulu Harbor as the favorite resting
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| | Kihei harbors, jet skiing, parasailing
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| place for the whalers, playing host to
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| | and seasonal Humpback Whale watching. The
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| more than 500 visiting whaling ships
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| | monster waves of Jaws and perfect
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| annually.
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| | conditions at Hookipa Beach have made
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| The sailor's free-spirited life-style was
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| | Maui's North Shore a Mecca for surfers
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| soon to be challenged with the arrival of
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| | and windsurfers the world over, creating
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| the first Missionaries in 1823. These new
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| | an awesome spectacle for those who prefer
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| visitors to the island brought about
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| | to stay on the beach and watch.
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