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MAUI, HAWAII, U.S.A
CLIMATE TRANSPORTATION SIGHTS
The second largest island in the state of Hawaii, Maui is renowned for its pleasant climate, rainforests and abundant, gorgeous beaches. The island was formed by two volcanoes, Haleakala and Puu Kukui. These volcanoes, now extinct, crown two mountain masses separated by a valleylike, seven-mile-wide isthmus, which has earned Maui the nickname "Valley Isle." Haleakala, whose name means "House of the Sun," dominates eastern Maui, and at 10,023 feet above sea level is the world's largest dormant volcano. Puu Kukui, 5,188 feet high, anchors the smaller, eastern portion of the island, where most tourist activity is concentrated. Maui's main industries are tourism, ranching and the cultivation of pineapples and sugar.
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CLIMATE
Because it lies just south of the tropic of Cancer and is surrounded by warm ocean currents, Maui enjoys a mild tropical climate widely considered to be among the most agreeable in the world. Temperatures average 80° F, with very slight variations from season to season. From November to March, rainfall and humidity increases, but the island remains moist and lush all year round. Because Maui tends to be windy, it is considered generally less ideal for surfing that some of the other Hawaiian Islands (though there are some excellent surfing spots), but it is quite popular with windsurfers, who find optimal conditions in July and August.
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TRANSPORTATION
Although it is possible to arrive by sea, most people fly into Hawaii, landing at Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu. From Honolulu, there are plenty of inter-island flights to Kahului on Maui. For those who prefer a very brief ocean voyage, inter-island ferries are available between Lahaina, Maui and the nearby islands Lanai and Molokai. Once on Maui, most tourists rent a car to get around easily, but it is also possible to tour the island on a bicycle.
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SIGHTS
Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum
Located in a restored plantation manager's residence next to a still-in-operation sugar refinery in Puunene, this museum features photos, documents and artifacts tracing the history of sugar cane growing and processing in Hawaii. Because plantation managers imported laborers, the collection also outlines the history of ethnic mixing in the Islands. In addition, visitors learn about the fascinating process of refining sugar.
Brig Carthaginian II
Built in 1920s Germany, and anchored at Lahaina, this is a replica of one type of ship that carried missionaries from New England to Hawaii in the early 1800s. A multimedia exhibit in the small museum below decks offers visitors an exciting and informative look at the history of whaling in Hawaii.
Haleakala National Park
This 27,284-acre national park offers excellent camping and hiking, particularly on Haleakala. Visitors can hike across the crater floor up to Maui's highest point on the rim, where the glass-enclosed lookout at the Puu Ulaula Overlook affords a spectacular 360° view of the island. Climate conditions up here vary greatly, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead for the latest park weather conditions.
Maui Ocean Center
Visitors to this fascinating aquarium are treated to a spectacular journey to the reef bottom, then along a tunnel through the ocean. The collection focuses on excellent specimens and habitats from Hawaii and elsewhere in the Pacific.
Paia
Situated on Maui's north shore, the small town of Paia was built around a sugar cane plantation and mill, which remains in production today. Since the 1980s, windsurfers and surfers from all over the world have flocked to Paia for the excellent windsurfing at nearby Hookipa Beach. Tibetan monk Lama Tenzin lives and teaches at the small local temple, Karma Rimay O Sal Ling.
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