The Hawaiian Island of Maui is undoubtedly a stunning tropical paradise. It is no surprise that it has been voted, “The Best Island in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler for 11 consecutive years, and Best Pacific Island for 16 consecutive years. The island has a growing population of 139,884, and draws approximately 42,000 tourists every year, with its warm gentle breezes and verdant tropical vegetation. Remarkably diverse, Maui boasts several unique regions, each with different climates and geography. You can experience everything from the dry, sandy desert of Kihei to the tropical rain forests of Hana. Come to this very special island, let yourself be overwhelmed with the natural beauty, and embracing Aloha Spirit of Maui.
Location and Geography
Maui is the second largest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, located in Polynesia, near the center of the Pacific Ocean. It is situated just below the Tropic of Cancer, 2,397 miles west of the California coast. It is part of the State of Hawaii and is the largest island in Maui County. Maui County is situated in the Kahului-Wailuku metro area, bounded by Hawaii County to the southeast, Kalawao County to the north, and Honolulu County to the northwest.
Composed of two half islands, east and west, united by a wide valley, Maui boasts a wide range of landscapes. The island is 48 miles long and 26 miles wide (six miles wide at the narrowest point of the valley between the bays), encompassing an area of 728 square miles. Two erupting volcanoes that overlapped one another to form an isthmus between them produced Maui’s rough, irregular topography. Valleys and steep ravines run down to a rocky shoreline, cutting the eastern sides of both volcanoes. Maui is often called "the Valley Isle" because of its narrow plain that lies between the huge 10 thousand foot high Haleakala and West Maui mountains.
Honolulu is approximately 93 miles northwest of Maui. Hilo is 116 miles southeast of the island and Kapaa is 205 miles northwest.
History/Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
The traditional legend of Hawaiʻiloa explains the origin of the island's name. This Polynesian navigator is credited with the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. It is said that he named the island of Maui after his son, who was named for the demigod Maui. According to legend, it was the demigod Mâui who raised all the Hawaiian Islands from the sea.
Maui is a leading whale-watching center in the Hawaiian Islands because many Humpback whales winter in the protected ‘Au’au Channel between the islands of Maui county. As many as 3,000 of this endangered species visit Maui each winter, having migrated approximately 3,500 miles from Alaska each autumn to spend the winter months mating and birthing in the Maui warm waters. The whales are typically sighted in pods, consisting of small groups of several adults and one or more calves.
The city of Lahaina was a thriving whaling port in the mid-1800s, with Lahaina Harbor providing a safe haven for whaling fleets and sail-powered freighters. It is also the site of the Banyon Tree and the Jodo Mission. The Banyon is the oldest tree in the state of Hawaii, arriving from India in 1873. Currently the tree is about 50 feet high, spans approximately 200 feet across, and shades nearly two-thirds of an acre. The Jodo Mission, near Mala Wharf, is home to the largest Buddha outside of Japan. The grounds of the church are used for the annual Obon celebration and community functions.
Jobs
Traditionally, the two major industries on Maui are agriculture and tourism. Over 2 million tourists come to the island each year and popular resort areas on Maui include Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kihei, and Wailea. Agriculture enterprises are also flourishing, with Maui Land and Pineapple Company and Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company dominating agricultural activity. Maui is becoming an important center for advanced astronomical research and has growing government research and high technology sectors.
The unemployment rate on Maui is a low 2.6 %, and has experienced a 3.61% increase in available jobs in the past year. The mean travel time to work in the county is 21.7 minutes. The median household income is $52,100, and the average per capita income is $20,100.
Housing
Just as Maui itself is incredibly varied and beautiful, so is its housing. You can find everything from vacation condos, one-bedroom cottages, and modest single-family homes to world-class resorts, superlative executive homes, gorgeous condominiums, and homes located in small, gated communities. Western Maui is home to beautiful, luxurious communities. Areas such as Wailea are beautifully designed with lavish hotels, condos, and private residential communities. Kaanapali has a variety of condos and million dollar homes, and Kihei has a range of exclusive homes, high-rise condos, and suburban tract housing. You can have a hillside home with breathtaking views, beachfront property adjacent to miles of beautiful beaches and lush parkways, or a home backing onto a championship golf course. The possibilities are endless. The fact that Maui is a prime destination keeps property in high demand, and home sales are increasing. With the incredible diversity available on Maui, your dream home is bound to be here.
Parks and Recreation
There is a wealth of recreational opportunities available on Maui, from hiking through Haleakala Crater and whale watching, to snorkeling over tropical reefs and gliding through the air in a helicopter. You can ride an All-Terrain Vehicle on the Upcountry hills, hike the 5-mile Lahaina Pali Trail over the West Maui Mountains, or enjoy a guided hike through the rainforest or other beautiful parts of Maui. The island’s idyllic climate allows for a full range of outdoor activities, including a wide variety of ocean sports.
Hawaii itself has a vast parks system, which encompasses seven national parks, 77 state parks, 586 county parks and a number of botanical gardens. Of these, Maui is home to Haleakala National Park, which spans over 27,000 acres with a variety of terrains and climates. The focal point of the park is Haleakala Mountain, a volcano that makes up the east half of Maui, and which has been dormant since 1790. You can enjoy hiking, camping, biking, and horseback riding and the crater at the top of this volcano is one of Maui’s most amazing sights. The Haleakala Crater is roughly the size of the island of Manhattan, 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long, and 2.5 miles wide, with a total circumference of 22 miles. With Pony Express Tours you can take a horseback ride down into the Crater, or around Haleakala Ranch. Iao Valley State Park is another scenic Maui park renowned for its stone spire, the "Iao Needle," as well as its excellent hiking paths and river swimming holes. The oceanfront Waianapanapa State Park is known for its black-sand beach and spring-fed freshwater caves. You can hike or explore the cemeteries and religious sites from the days before Westerners landed on the islands.
With 120 miles of coastline, Maui boasts 81 beaches stretching over 30 miles. Some are easily accessible beach parks while others are pristine, secluded spots. All the beaches have the same crystal-blue waters, tropical trade winds, and azure skies; most have white sand but some are black and red. Many of Maui's beaches are known worldwide for their unsurpassed surfing and windsurfing conditions, while others are suited for the beginning snorkeler and young families. D. T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua was named "America's Best Beach" in 2006, and is popular for body and board surfing. Beautiful Kaanapali Beach consists of three miles of white sand and offers sailboat and catamaran rides as well as surf and windsurf lessons. Ho‘okipa Beach Park in Pa‘ia is a world-renowned for professional windsurfing and board surfing. It has a massive winter surf and hosts several surfing contests. James Michener rated Hamoa Beach in Hana as the most beautiful beach in the Pacific. Baby Beach has much calmer waters than most other beaches, making it a good spot for children. Olowalu is a popular snorkeling beach, and Big Beach is the last large undeveloped beach on the sunny side of Maui.
There are 65 golf courses in Hawaii, and with 16 of these courses on Maui Island, it has become one of the world's top golf destinations. Many of Maui’s courses are rated at or near the top worldwide, and the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Benz Championship is held here each year. Kapalua Resort boasts three championship courses: The Bay, The Village, and The Plantation. Set amidst the island’s stunning landscape, Kapalua is the #1 golf resort in Hawaii. In Kaanapali there are two choices: the Tournament Course or the Resort Course. Both are beautifully landscaped, with canals, gulches, lava rock boundaries, tropical flowers, and coconut trees. Makena Golf Courses are considered two of Maui's most beautiful and challenging golf courses. Maui has a course to suit every skill level.
Special Attractions
There are two major resort areas on Maui: West and South. The west side has lush green mountains, and includes the towns of Lahaina, Kaanapali, Honokowai, Kahana, Napili, and Kapalua. Lahaina is a lively historic tourist town and boat harbor that boasts shops, oceanfront restaurants, live music, theatres, and art galleries. You can rest under the giant Banyan tree or visit Pioneer Inn, the original Lahaina hotel. Kaanapali has a long beautiful beach as well as great hotels, luxury condos, shopping, restaurants and a beach boardwalk throughout the entire resort. The south side of Maui includes the towns of Wailea and Kihei. This area has great beaches, a dry climate and is quieter. Hana, on the east side, is an excellent place for some peace and tranquility, as well as incredible beauty, while Upcountry offers a cooler climate and a rural lifestyle.
One of the popular excursions on Maui is the road to Hana. The only access to the tiny village of Hana is via this single narrow and windy roadway. You can drive the road yourself, or take a tour in a van. Either way, you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the rainforest, with numerous waterfalls of various shapes and sizes along the mountainsides. Another excursion is a visit to the amazing Iao Needle in the center of the west half of Maui. Iao Needle, located in Iao Valley State Park, is a 2,250-ft stone pillar that was once used as a natural altar. The Kahakuloa Valley Tour takes you to an isolated valley on the north side of West Maui, where you will hear about the life of the native Hawaiian people back to about 500 A.D.
There are so many places of interest to visit on Maui. The Hawaii Nature Center is a modern interactive science museum with fascinating Hawaiian flora and fauna exhibits. Adjacent to the Center are the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens, with garden and architectural displays from the eight cultures that have contributed to modern Maui: Chinese, Japanese, New England, Portuguese, Native Hawaiian, Korean, Puerto Rican, and Filipino. The Tropical Gardens of Maui also have flowers and trees from tropical climates all over the world, and the Maui Tropical Plantation illustrates and teaches about Hawaiian agriculture. You can take the Lavender Garden Tour in Upcountry, or the tour of the Maui Pineapple Company in Kapalua. The Bailey House Museum is home to ancient Hawaiian artifacts and displays about the missionary times of the 1800’s, and the Maui Ocean Center is an excellent aquarium with sea exhibits including sharks, turtles, and rays.
There are fun-filled celebrations and festivities throughout the year in Maui. In late March there is the 36.2-mile Haleakala Run to the Sun, which goes from sea-level Pa'ia to the top of Haleakala. In early April, the East Maui Taro Festival is a totally Hawaiian event, with outrigger canoe racing, pancake breakfasts and hula dancing. In mid-June, you can enjoy the Celestial Cinema during the Maui Film Festival in Wailea and Kahului. On July 4, the island’s Upcountry cowboys host the Makawao Parade and Rodeo, and in September, enjoy culinary delights at A Taste of Lahaina, with special dishes from Maui's top chefs. During September and October, celebrate the Aloha Festivals, and in November the world-famous Aloha Classic windsurfing championships are held at Ho'okipa Beach. In addition, on any evening of the year, you can enjoy a traditional Hawaiian luau dinner show.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
