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Maui: Come Walk the Magic Aisle
The breathtaking views of lush green tropical forest in the lap of turquoise Pacific! Sipping chilled exotic drinks while sunbathing on the pristine sea beaches! Watching sun rise from Sun’s abode, Haleakala! Watching the skills of some of the world’s best wind surfers in the sunny beaches! Sounds too good to be true, isn’t it? But thankfully, it is true. You can get the taste of all these and even more in Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands.
Like other Hawaiian islands, Maui also has its volcanic past; two large extinct volcanoes divided by a tropical central valley has added to its landscape a unique beauty. Hence the name, 'The Valley Island’, is suggested.
Two fierce volcanoes--Haleakala and Puu Kukui—are signature of Maui. In the middle lies like a green punctuation the verdant valley full of pineapple and sugar cane fields. In the east and west there are some spectacular beaches. Legends murmur in the air, history wraps up the surrounding, humpback whales have made the island their playground….welcome to the world of Maui, the most developed of all Hawaiian Islands.
History, myths and beliefs of the island
It is an island where history coexists with myths and beliefs. The name of this island has a legendary origin. As the legend goes: the island was created by a demigod called Maui, who pulled it up out of sea and the as the island came to resemble the demigod’s body and the head, it was named Maui.
In 1790, following a bloody battle, Maui came under direct control of King Kamehameha, who chose Lahaina as the new capital of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom. Lahaina remained the power center of Maui for nearly five decades.
The growth of Lahaina coincided with the surge in its whaling industry. During the period between 1840 and 1865, the whaling industry reached its peak. At that time the Port of Lahaina remained abuzz with activities with 500 ships anchoring in the port on any average day. Maui’s historical sites are a must see because they will offer you a unique journey through history lane, replete with romance, battles, friendships and deceits. The major historical sites of Maui are Halekii-Pihana State Monuments, Olowalu Petroglyphs, Iao Valley State Park, Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum and Whalers Village Whaling Museum.
Various attractions of Maui
However Maui has many attractions for the adventure seekers too. The adventure in Maui begins at the volcanic slopes of Mount Haleakala, where you can get the longest downhill ride from a 10,200-foot height. It will give you the thrill of lifetime and though it sounds scary at first, it is extremely enjoyable. Barring the pregnant mothers, anybody---child or old---can take the thrill of the ride. You have to cross seven different climatic zones to complete the ride which takes six hours at an average speed of 15 to 20 miles an hour.
Your magical Maui experience is never complete without teeing it off in one of the Maui golf courses. Also don’t miss the chance of watching the pro at play; visit Maui during the PGA TOUR’s Mercedes Benz Championship.
Some important Maui facts
Most of the high end luxury resorts in Maui are mainly concentrated in the areas such as Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Lahaina on Maui’s sunny western coast or Kihei, Makena, and Wailea in South Maui. In addition to the luxury resorts, you can also find accommodation in hotels, bed and breakfasts, and rentals offering varied range of prices and services.
So far as the climatic conditions are concerned, you will find Maui in a comfortable weather due to influence of round the year blowing of trade wind. The temperature varies between 75?-85? F. From April to November the temperature remains in the warmer side while during the months from December to March, weather is comparatively cooler.
To get an insight of the unique Hawaiian culture, be a part of the local festivities like Haiku Hoolaulea, the Kapalua Festival of the Arts, and the International Festival of Canoes.