Welcome to the Island of Maui - "The Valley Isle"
The island of Maui is known as the "Valley Isle" because of the huge valley between its two volcanoes. It's no accident that for the eleventh consecutive year, Maui has been voted "The Best Island in the World" by the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards Poll.
Maui has so much to offer within its limited forty-eight mile long and two mile high package. There are as many different climatic zones here as exist along the entire coast extending from Alaska to Costa Rica. These variations extend from the hot and balmy white sand beach coastlines of Kihei, Makena, Kaanapali and Lahaina to the occasional snow covered peaks of Mount Haleakala, to the wild jungle of Hana, to the desert scapes of lower Kanaio, to the eucalyptus forests of Ulupalakua or Olinda, to the the Redwood forests of of Polipoli or to the rain-drenched slopes of the second wettest spot on Earth, Puu Kukui.
Each area has its own unique charm and provides a venue for its own unique form of island activities. Stargazing tours can be found at the top of Haleakala. Downhill bike tours cruise from the crater top to the beaches below. Horseback rides down into the bowl of the crater. Zipline tours glide over upcountry Kula. Visit the unique Maui Spa Retreat or the Aromatherapy Foundation of Maui that can be found in the Olinda eucalyptus forest region.
Fantastic Snorkeling tours and Sailing charters are available on half-day trips out to the close-by island of Molokini. Great SCUBA diving abounds off Molokini and the nearby island of Lanai. ATV off-road tours climb over upcountry ranch lands. World famous Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing can be found off Maui's North Shore.
The seacoast town of Lahaina provides a departure point for Parasailing flights, Rafting adventures, Dinner cruises and Sunset sails, Whale watching tours, Submarine tours and Glassbottom boat tours, and Sportishing charters, spectacular Theatre and shows which are famous through out the world. A wide variety of Luaus are found in the Lahaina and Kaanapali areas as well as South Maui. In addition, the whole island can be enjoyed via a host of different Sightseeing tours and Land tours or Horseback rides and of course above it all you will be thrilled by the breathtaking sights to be seen from Maui's Helicopter tours and Air tours. No Hawaiian island offers so much to the visitor as Maui, the Valley Isle.
Maui Tours and Maui Actvities on Maui - Options Below:
Air Tours - Fixed Wing on Maui - Fixed wing air tours on Maui can simply fly over the island of Maui but the most popular of them are those that either include the erupting volcanoes of the Big Island of Hawaii or those that include a tour to Father Damiens Leper Colony on the island of Molokai. The Father Damien trips actually land on the famous Kaulapapa Peninsula and tour the leper colony on land for four hours before your airplane comes back to pick you up on your return trip to Maui. |  Air Tours - Fixed Wing on Maui Price Range: (From: $330.90 - To: $502.50) |
Attractions on Maui - Maui Ocean Center, Hawaii's Top Rated Family Attraction (Zagat Survey US Family Travel Guide), provides an up close view of Hawaiian Marine Life without getting wet! Maui Ocean Center, the Hawaiian Aquarium, is a great activity during any vacation to Maui, whether a family vacation, a romantic honeymoon, a relaxing retreat or an adventurous tour.
If children are playing some part in your vacation plans to Maui then the Sugar Cane Train should be one of your first stops. This narrow-gage railroad train is similar to the ones used to haul cane in the 1800’s. The Sugar Cane Train travels back and forth between Lahaina and the Kaanapali area many times daily providing ample opportunity to hitch a ride. The singing conductor provides a little extra spice to liven up the young ones. |  Attractions on Maui Price Range: (From: $19.90 - To: $23.90) |
ATV Off-Road Tours on Maui - In the past All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were a popular way to get around on Maui, either on or off the road. These days the traffic laws do not permit ATV's to be ridden on the roads or highways and access to many private off road areas is limited. However, some of the larger ranches still permit ATV riding and offer ATV tours. |  ATV Off-Road Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $184.99 - To: $184.99) |
Bike Tours Down the Volcano on Maui - Thousands of downhill biking enthusiasts have experienced this adventure since 1982. Of all the activities on Maui, this bike ride can't be done anywhere else on earth. |  Bike Tours Down the Volcano on Maui Price Range: (From: $34.99 - To: $121.90) |
Combo Packages on Maui - Over the years people have asked us over and over again to recommend tours and activities that may be appropriate for them. Each person's needs are different and with the thousands of choices we have on our websites it may become a daunting task. To make things easier for you, we have put together certain packages of tours and activities that may be just perfect for specific groups of people. |  Combo Packages on Maui Price Range: (From: $100.00 - To: $655.00) |
Dinner Cruises and Sails on Maui - Dinner cruises usually include: full dinner, an open bar, live entertainment and the best show of all: the islands, the sea, the mountain peaks, clouds, sun, stars, and - as often as heavenly possible - the moon. Maui dinner cruises depart from both Lahaina and Maalaea harbor. |  Dinner Cruises and Sails on Maui Price Range: (From: $53.90 - To: $81.90) |
Diving and Scuba on Maui - There are many wonderful scuba diving spots on Maui. Probably the best known is Molokini crater. Many people snorkel there but scuba divers have a much wider range. They can dive the crater, the outer reef, or Molokini's backside "wall" which appears to descend straight down and disappear into the abyss. Many scuba enthusiasts think this is the most exciting dive of all. Another popular dive is off the shoreline of Maui's island neighbor, Lanai. |  Diving and Scuba on Maui Price Range: (From: $20.00 - To: $381.99) |
Dolphin Excursions on Maui - Unlike Maui's famous Humpback whales, dolphins are year-round residents of Hawaii and can be seen off all the Hawaiian islands during virtually every month of the year. The best spots to see them off Maui are the Kanaio coastline and off the coast of Lanai. |  Dolphin Excursions on Maui Price Range: (From: $49.96 - To: $234.00) |
Fishing Charters on Maui - Maui's deep sea fishing charters usually depart from either Lahaina or Maalaea Harbors. These fishing charters come in 4 hour, 6 hour or 8 hour tours and can be either "share boats" where you go out will other anglers or "private charters" in which you rent the entire boat for just yourself or your family and friends. The very best are probably the 6 and 8 hour trips which allow you the time to get to the deeper waters where the big fish are generally found. |  Fishing Charters on Maui Price Range: (From: $75.00 - To: $1,151.90) |
Golf on Maui - Maui has long been a favorite vacation destination throughout the world. The islands' lush vegetation, beautiful scenery and world-class beaches make it a natural destination choice for travelers. Vacationers can find fine dining, spectacular attractions and first-class accommodations. It is because of these alluring attractions and more that the golfing world and championship golf have beat a path to Maui's door. |  Golf on Maui Price Range: (From: $30.00 - To: $114.90) |
Health and Wellness on Maui - Maui has always been known for its "counter culture" interest in health and wellness. Practitioners of many modalities including massage, aromatherapy, and various forms of body work can be found can be found in different parts of the island. One of the very best spas on the island can be found in the beautiful Olinda region of Maui at the Maui Spa Retreat. This exclusive and private spa is extremely personalized and includes various forms of massage, body wraps and advanced aromatherapy techniques at a breath-taking location in the high forest with one-of-a-kind views of the island below. |  Health and Wellness on Maui Price Range: (From: $60.00 - To: $595.00) |
Helicopter Tours on Maui - View isolated valleys, hidden waterfalls, secluded ridges, triple-canopy rainforests, and mountain summits. Some areas are so dense and rugged they are impossible to traverse on foot. Some species of animal and plant life are so isolated in their Maui habitat they exist only in their own little valley and nowhere else in the world. Maui's most popular helicopter tours are probably the 45 minute trips the include a visit to both the crater of Haleakala and Hana but some of the most comprehensive helicopter tours include the full island of Maui and those that fly over Maui's West Maui Mountains and then over Molokai's fantastic northern coastline and Father Damien's leper colony. |  Helicopter Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $100.00 - To: $655.00) |
Hiking Tours on Maui - Maui has more hiking trails per square miles than most National Parks. Tours are available to visit the crater floor of Haleakala which will take a full day or less strenuous tours will take you to beautiful waterfalls throughout the island. These Maui hiking tours provide some of the most rewarding experiences of all the Maui activities. |  Hiking Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $61.90 - To: $359.99) |
Horseback Riding on Maui - Riding stables and working ranches are located from Kapalua in West Maui to Makena in South Maui and from Waihee Valley to Hana. All will want to know your level of experience so you can be matched up with a horse that will be appropriate. If you're a beginner, don't worry, we've seen your kind before. If you're a veteran equestrian we have rides that are a bit more challenging. |  Horseback Riding on Maui Price Range: (From: $70.90 - To: $296.90) |
Inter-Island Excursions from Maui - On Tom Barefoot's website, tours and activities that you see on any of the Hawaiian islands are available to you through "Car" and "Over-Night" packages. Here are some of the most popular "Inter-Island" tours and activities packages. While visiting the State of Hawaii you don't have to be marooned on just 1 island. In Hawaii, our Interstate uses airplanes. More information and Tom's audios below. |  Inter-Island Excursions from Maui Price Range: (From: $28.85 - To: $427.90) |
Jet-Ski Rentals on Maui - I parasail at least once a year in Maui. I can't help it. My son makes me go up with him and he loves it. The truth is, I love it too. Maybe it's the exhilaration of take-off, or the view from so high, or just the sense of soaring through the air and the age-old fantasy of flight. The experience is always exciting no matter how many times I do it. There's a certain stillness 'way up there where you can't hear the sound of the boat. All you feel is the rush of the warm Hawaiian air against your skin. It's peaceful up there. Real quiet. And the view..
All of our Maui parasailing trips leave from the Lahaina side. The view of the Lahaina Roadstead, the harbor and the boats at anchor, the West Maui Mountains and cane fields, the clouds above and the ocean below.. well, it's absolutely stunning. |  Jet-Ski Rentals on Maui Price Range: (From: $61.90 - To: $71.90) |
Kayaking Tours on Maui - Kayaking tours are some of the most marine intensive excursions that are offered on Maui. These Maui activities are usually two to three hours in length but can be longer. Early morning is usually the best time for these kayak tours when the ocean is calm and still. Many areas along Maui's coastline provide great spots for kayaking but some of the best are Turtle Town off South Maui, 1000 peaks off west Maui and Honolua Bay off the coast of Maui's northwest shore. |  Kayaking Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $49.90 - To: $143.99) |
Kid's Tours and Activities on Maui - On Maui, even the kids can have fun on tours and activities. Here's a selection of tours and activities specially chosen for kids.
Kids will love these exciting tours and activities in Maui: submarine tours, hiking tours, swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, and exciting beach activities. Indoor magic shows and luaus are the perfect entertainment for children after a long, hard day at the beach. Be sure to make your reservation early enough that the kids can stay awake for the show. |  Kid's Tours and Activities on Maui Price Range: (From: $19.90 - To: $123.90) |
Land Tours on Maui - Maui land tours include tours to Haleakala Crater and to the Iao Valley. We even have land tours that travel one way visiting Hana and then return back to central Maui via helicopter. |  Land Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $19.90 - To: $329.90) |
Luaus on Maui - A party. Food, drink, dance, music and much aloha. Hawaii is the only place where you can attend truly authentic Hawaiian luaus. Maui is well known to have some of the very best luaus in the State of Hawaii. We highly recommend you take one in while you're on Maui but remember to book early as some of the very best Maui luaus are often booked many weeks in advance. |  Luaus on Maui Price Range: (From: $36.48 - To: $111.90) |
Molokini Snorkeling from Maui - Molokini Island Crater is actually the tip of an extinct volcano, barely peeking above the ocean surface between Maui and Kahoolawe. Visibility is often 150 feet, tropical fish are everywhere, and its sheer cliffs and rugged beauty are often the focus of professional photographers. Snorkel trips to Molokini will often include a second location off the coast of South Maui called Turtle Town. |  Molokini Snorkeling from Maui Price Range: (From: $27.90 - To: $234.00) |
Parasailing on Maui - On Maui the flip side of whale watching is parasailing. When whale season ends on May 15, parasail season begins and stays with us until whale season begins again on December 16. These are usually found just off the coast of West Maui at Lahaina and Kaanapali. Early morning is usually the best time to schedule your parasail flight on Maui as the water are calmest and the winds are minimal. |  Parasailing on Maui Price Range: (From: $48.90 - To: $61.90) |
Sailing Charters on Maui - On a windy day in mid-July, my son Jake and I set out on an afternoon sail that turned out to be one of the most exciting events of our whole summer.
On board the catamaran was a handful of other folks who, like us, were in the mood for adventure. We asked the captain to see how fast he could persuade our vessel to go. Within minutes we were flying above the ocean's surface. Everyone was charged up as we screamed out our excitement. I checked the gauge recording our speed; we were hitting twenty-one nautical miles per hour.
If you like to sail, Maui is the right spot to be. Boats range from small cats to America's Cup vessels. One company even stages races between 65-foot yachts. |  Sailing Charters on Maui Price Range: (From: $38.99 - To: $234.00) |
Sightseeing Boat Tours on Maui - Perhaps your're interested in just taking a sightseeing boar tour off the coastline of the island without going snorkeling. This is the page where you want to find your Hawaiian tour boat. A sightseeing tour on the waters of Maui is much different from one you would find on land. The views of Hawaii's breathtaking seascapes are often dramatic. Best of all, there is no traffic to get in the way. These tours are perfect for those that just want to sit back and enjoy!
Tour Maui by boat and experience the majesty of Maui. A feast for your eyes unfold as your tour Maui like you've never seen before. A Hawaii vacation can't be complete without a tour by sea. |  Sightseeing Boat Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $22.46 - To: $71.96) |
Snorkeling Tours on Maui - There's a reason people love snorkeling on Maui. The ocean waters surrounding Maui and its neighbor islands of Lanai and Molokini are comfortably warm, have great visibility (often in excess of 100 feet), and are teeming with beautiful coral formations and colorful tropical fish. Once again, the best time to schedule these snorkeling excursions on Maui is generally in the morning when the ocean is calm and the winds are gentle. |  Snorkeling Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $27.90 - To: $234.00) |
Spa and Massage on Maui - Spas are Hawaii's hottest trend. The islands are the perfect place to experience an authentic spa that simply makes you feel fantastic! Treat yourself to a visit at one of Maui's day spas. Soothing massages, beautifying facials and nurturing body wraps are just a few of the heavenly spa treatments that provide a healing break from your fast-paced world.
A day spa is a space of calm where men and women can fulfill their need for tranquility and give their bodies care and attention to renew. The experience of a full-afternoon scrub, aromatic massage and facial beneath swaying coconut palms or within a private mountainside aromatic botanical garden is yours to have! |  Spa and Massage on Maui Price Range: (From: $10.00 - To: $535.00) |
Submarines and Glass-Bottom Boats on Maui - When was the last time you were on a submarine? Never? If you're one of the few who have been on a submarine, I'll bet it didn't have windows! Here's your chance to board a $4.5 million submarine, dive to a depth of 150 feet, and cruise around the ocean floor for an hour - and see everything out there from the best vantage point possible. Sound exciting? It is! |  Submarines and Glass-Bottom Boats on Maui Price Range: (From: $30.99 - To: $149.00) |
Sunset Sails and Cruises on Maui - Many vessels on Maui can take you on a sunset cruise, most leaving from Lahaina harbor. Catamarans, sloops, schooners, and even power vessels - no matter what boat on Maui you take, one thing is certain, it will be the beginning of an evening you will remember for a long time to come. |  Sunset Sails and Cruises on Maui Price Range: (From: $44.96 - To: $135.90) |
Surfing Lessons on Maui - Hawaii and surfing are inseparable to many people. After all, it was the sport of the ancient Hawaiians and is even more popular today. Maui's abundant coastline offers big waves for veteran surfers and spots suitable for beginners. |  Surfing Lessons on Maui Price Range: (From: $20.00 - To: $1,008.00) |
Theatre and Shows on Maui - For years entertainment on Maui in the evenings was limited to luaus or dinner cruises. This is not the case today as Maui has some world class theatrical presentations and shows that rival those of many of the artistic and sophisticated cities on the mainland. In fact, we are always cognizant of reminding visitors to make sure they keep a few evenings free during their vacations to make sure they have room for one or two of these special Maui theatre presentations in addition to their luau. |  Theatre and Shows on Maui Price Range: (From: $53.55 - To: $116.55) |
Unique Tours and Activities on Maui - Sometimes you just can't fit a square peg in a round hole. We have accumulated here on this page a few of the activities we offer on the island that just don't seem to fit in any of the traditional categories. That doesn't mean they have any less value than the others, it just means we don't have any other place to categorize them. So here they are, in all their radiant glory. |  Unique Tours and Activities on Maui Price Range: (From: $25.00 - To: $308.87) |
Visit and Snorkel Lanai from Maui - In the 1800's Lanai was purchased by the Dole family and became the major producer for the Dole Pineapple Company. This role has diminished in recent years and Lanai has now taken a front seat in the tourist industry.
The smallest of the major Hawaiian Islands, and the least populated, Lanai has a mystique that continues to attract visitors. And why not? Its pristine white sand beaches, its two famous luxury resorts (Manele Bay Hotel and the Lodge at Koele), its world-class golf courses, its abundant reefs and striking coastline, its tremendous diving locations, and its sizable dolphin population have proved to be powerful draws for visitors from around the world. There is something for everyone on this lovely little island called "Lanai". |  Visit and Snorkel Lanai from Maui Price Range: (From: $28.85 - To: $234.00) |
Visit Molokai from Maui - Of the three islands that make up Maui County, Molokai stands out as having the closest link to old Hawaii. In many ways, landing on Molokai today is similar to arriving on Maui 25 or 30 years ago. The sleepy town of Kaunakakai, the uncrowded roadways, the country homes, the fishermen casting their nets, the pidgin English, the roadside churches of an era past, the community baseball games and canoe races, the small-town feeling where everyone knows everyone else - all contribute to a heartwarming, if not nostalgic, experience. For many years the "Molokai Ferry" has been our connection to the "Friendly Isle" of Molokai. |  Visit Molokai from Maui Price Range: (From: $80.90 - To: $277.90) |
Water Skiing and Wake Boarding on Maui - offers water skiing and wakeboarding from a 23' SKI SUPREME V232 Boat, with a 1000 lb. ballast system that creates one of the most enjoyable rides on the water, great for the pro-wakeboarding shredder. Features a built in cooler, wrapped lounge seating, deep V entry for a smooth ride, bimini cover, godzilla tower and high impact stereo. |  Water Skiing and Wake Boarding on Maui Price Range: (From: $109.00 - To: $739.00) |
Watersports - Surfing was a sport of the ancient Hawaiians and is even more popular in Maui today. Maui's abundant coastline offers big waves for surfing veterans and surfing spots suitable for beginners.
A surfing company may boast that anyone can be riding the surf in just one lesson and that, indeed, was the case when my son Jake tried it the first time. This, however, was not my experience. I had a great time, but I was still "surf-wave illiterate" after my first attempt.
Maui has a surfing company that suits your experience-level, some of which have instructors who have been on the professional surfing tour circuit. |  Watersports Price Range: (From: $20.00 - To: $1,008.00) |
Whale Watching Tours on Maui - Narration and interpretation of whale movements are provided on Maui whale watching boats. You'll find yourself wanting to know more about these fascinating creatures. Remember that these tours operate between December 15th and May 15th. The very best months of the year to see them are late January through early April when they are on Maui in full force. |  Whale Watching Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $17.95 - To: $71.96) |
X-Treme Activities on Maui - Interest in extreme tours and activities on Maui is growing rapidly. Enjoy paragliding school and a zipline adventure on Haleakala. |  X-Treme Activities on Maui Price Range: (From: $25.00 - To: $299.00) |
Zipline Tours on Maui - Zipline tours are a fairly recent activity to appear on Maui, but Maui zipline tours are certainly one of the most popular activities on Maui and are often booked weeks in advance. These zipline tours are exciting and involve a little hiking as well. Some of our favorite zipline tours are those that are in combination with the ATV tours that tour the Haleakala Ranch on Maui. |  Zipline Tours on Maui Price Range: (From: $25.00 - To: $299.00) |
Maui Tours and Maui Actvities on Maui - Options Below:
Maui - General Information:
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at
727.2 square miles (1883.5 km²) and is the 17th largest island in
the United States. Maui is part of the State of Hawaii and is the largest
island in Maui County. Three other islands, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai belong to Maui County. Together, the four islands are known as Maui
Nui. As of 2000, Maui has a resident population of 117,644, which
is ranked third within the state behind the islands of Oahu and Hawaii.
Native Hawaiian tradition gives the origin of the island's name in the legend of Hawaiiloa, the Polynesian navigator attributed with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. The story relates how he named the island of Maui after his son who in turn was named for the demigod Māui. According to legend, the demigod Māui raised all the Hawaiian Islands from the sea. The Island of Maui is also called the "Valley Isle" for the large fertile isthmus between its two volcanoes.
Maui - History:
Polynesians, from Tahiti and the Marquesas, were the original peoples to populate Maui. The Tahitians introduced the kapu system, a strict social order that affected all aspects of life and became the core of Hawaiian culture. Modern Hawaiian history began in the mid-1700s. King Kamehameha I took up residence (and later made his capital) in Lāhainā after conquering Maui in 1790, during the bloody Battle of Kepaniwai.
On November 26, 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European explorer to see Maui. Cook never set foot on the island because he was unable to find a suitable landing. The first European to visit Maui was the French admiral Jean François de Galaup de La Pérouse, who landed on the shores of what is now known as La Perouse Bay on May 29, 1786. More Europeans followed: traders, whalers, loggers (e.g., of sandalwood) and missionaries. The missionaries began to arrive from New England in 1823, choosing Lāhainā because it was the capital. They clothed the natives, banned them from dancing hula, and greatly altered the culture. They tried to keep whalers and sailors out of the bawdy houses. The missionaries taught reading and writing, created the 12-letter Hawaiian alphabet, started a printing press in Lāhainā, and began writing the islands' history, which until then existed only as oral accounts. Ironically, the work of the missionaries both altered and preserved the native culture. The religious work altered the culture while the literacy efforts preserved native history and language for posterity. They started the first school in Lāhainā, which still exists today: Lāhaināluna Mission School. The Mission school opened in 1831 and was the first secondary school to open west of the Rocky Mountains.
At the height of the whaling era (1840-1865), Lāhainā was a major whaling center with anchorage in Lāhainā Roads; in one season over 400 ships visited Lāhainā and the greatest number of ships berthed at one time was about 100. A given ship tended to stay months rather than days which explains the drinking and prostitution in the town at that time. Whaling declined steeply at the end of the 19th century as crude oil (petroleum) replaced whale oil.
Kamehameha's descendants reigned in the islands until 1872. They were followed by rulers from another ancient family of chiefs, including Queen Liliuokalani who ruled in 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown. One year later, the Republic of Hawaii was founded. The island was annexed by the United States in 1898 and made a territory in 1900. Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959.
Maui was centrally involved in the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a staging center, training base, and for rest and relaxation. At the peak in 1943-44, the number of troops stationed on Maui exceeded 100,000. The main base of the 4th Marines was in Haiku. Beaches (e.g., in Kīhei) were used for practice landings and training in marine demolition and sabotage.
Maui - Modern Development:
The island has experienced rapid population growth in recent years (e.g., 4.6% in 2001/2002) with Kīhei one of the most rapidly growing towns in the U.S. (see chart, below). The growth is occurring because many people, having visited Maui, decide to move or retire to the island.
Population growth—partly due to an influx of new people, typically from Canada and the U.S. mainland—is producing strains, including growing traffic congestion on many of the major roads. There is concern about the availability of affordable housing and access to water. Property prices have risen to levels such that families on average incomes find it difficult to afford renting or buying a home. Property developers have insufficient regulatory or financial incentive to build less expensive (affordable) homes. Maui County Council has been investigating ways of changing the situation.
There have been long-standing concerns about the reliability of Maui's potable water supply; droughts have been declared in most recent years and the Īao aquifer is being drawn from at what some believe are unsustainable rates of above 18 million US gallons (68,000 m³) per day. While the long-term situation remains unclear and reliable supply has not been secured, recent estimates indicate that the total potential supply of potable water on Maui is around 476 million US gallons (1,800,000 m³) per day, many times greater than any foreseeable demand.
At one time in the not too distant past, sugar cane cultivation used over 80% of the island's water supply (The Water Development Plan of Maui, 1992 – Present). One pound of refined sugar requires a ton of water to produce. The water used for sugar cultivation is taken mostly from the streams of East Maui, routed though a network of tunnels and ditches hand dug by Chinese labor over a century ago. Controversy exists as to whether the sugar companies have a right to monopolize water from ditches dug on leased public land transporting public water. In 2006, the town of Paia successfully petitioned the County against mixing in treated water from wells known to be contaminated with both EDB and DBCP from former pineapple cultivation in the area. Agricultural companies have been released from all future liability for these chemicals (County of Maui, 1999).
There is a great deal of discussion about the meaning of—and the way to achieve—smart development. There clearly exists a tension between economic growth and urbanization on the one hand, and the wish to preserve the beauty of Maui and a relaxed way of life on the other. In the past there existed a pro-growth bias in policy with developers and politicians working together to stimulate the economy; now the balance has swung toward more sensitive consideration of community concerns about the dangers of uncontrolled growth and development.
Maui - Geology and Topography:
Maui's wide variety of landscapes have resulted from a unique combination of geology, topography, and climate. Each volcanic cone in the chain of the Hawaiian Islands is built of dark, iron-rich/quartz-poor rocks, which poured out of thousands of vents as highly fluid lava, over a period of millions of years. Several of the volcanoes were close enough to each other that lava flows on their flanks overlapped one another, causing several volcanoes to merge into a single island. Maui is such a "volcanic doublet", formed from two shield volcanoes that overlapped one another to form an isthmus between them.
The older, western volcano has been eroded considerably and is cut by numerous drainages, forming the peaks of the West Maui Mountains (in Hawaiian Mauna Kahalawai). Pu'u Kukui is the highest of the peaks at 5,788 feet. The larger, younger volcano to the east, Haleakala, rises to more than 10,000 feet (3,050 m) above sea level, but measures five miles (8 km) from seafloor to summit. The eastern flanks of both volcanoes are cut by deeply incised valleys and steep-sided ravines that run downslope to the rocky, windswept shoreline. The valley-like Isthmus of Maui that separates the two volcanic masses was formed by recent lava flows and erosion of material from the steep slopes of the volcanoes. This prominent topographic feature is the reason why Maui is known as "The Valley Isle".
The last eruption (originating in Haleakala's Southwest Rift Zone) occurred around 1790; two of the resulting lava flows are located (1) at Cape Kina'u between Ahihi Bay and La Perouse Bay on the southwest shore of East Maui, and (2) at Makaluapuna Point on Honokahua Bay on the northwest shore of West Maui. Although considered to be dormant by volcanologists, Haleakala is certainly capable of further eruptions.
The island of Maui is one of the four main Hawaiian Islands that formed the much larger island, Maui Nui that submerged about 200,000 years ago, and is now about 500 m below sea level. The other three islands that made this prehistoric island are Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.
Maui - Climate:
The climate of the Hawaiian Islands is characterized by a two-season year, mild and uniform temperatures everywhere (except at high elevations), marked geographic differences in rainfall, high relative humidity, extensive cloud formations (except on the driest coasts and at high elevations), and dominant trade-wind flow (especially at elevations below a few thousand feet). Maui itself has a wide range of climatic conditions and weather patterns that are influenced by several different factors in the physical environment:
- Half of Maui is situated within five miles of the island's coastline. This, and the extreme insularity of the Hawaiian Islands themselves account for the strong marine influence on Maui's climate.
- Gross weather patterns are often determined by an area's elevation and whether it faces into or away from the Trade winds (prevailing air flow from the northeast quadrant).
- Maui’s rugged, irregular topography produces marked variations in conditions from one locality to another. Air swept inland on the Trade winds is shunted one way or another by the mountains, valleys, and vast open slopes. This complex three-dimensional flow of air results in striking differences from place to place in wind speed, cloud formation, and rainfall. When irregular topography is combined with variations in elevation, marked differences in air temperature are the result.
- One of the most distinctive features of Hawaii’s climate is the small annual variation in air temperature range. This is because there is only a slight variation in length of night and day from one part of Hawaii to another because all its islands lie within a narrow latitude band. The small variations in the length of the daylight period, together with the smaller annual variations in the altitude of the sun above the horizon, result in relatively small variations in the amount of incoming solar energy from one time of the year to another. This factor, and the location of Hawaii in mid-ocean contribute to Hawaii’s pleasant climate. The surface waters of the open ocean around Hawaii have an average temperature that ranges from 73° to 74°F between late February and early April, to a maximum of 79° to 80°F in late September or early October. With air temperatures this mild for hundreds of miles around, the air that reaches Hawaii is neither very hot nor very cold. Temperatures of 90°F and above are quite uncommon (with the exception of dry, leeward areas). In the leeward areas, temperatures may reach into the low 90’s several days during the year, but temperatures higher than these are unusual.
- The other reason for the small variation in air temperature is the nearly constant flow of fresh ocean air across the islands. Just as the temperature of the ocean surface varies comparatively little from season to season, so also does the temperature of air that has moved great distances across the ocean; the air brings with it to the land the mild temperature regime characteristic of the surrounding ocean. In the central North Pacific, the Trade winds represent the outflow of air from the great region of high pressure, the Pacific Anticyclone, typically located well north and east of the Hawaiian Islands. The Pacific High, and with it the trade-wind zone, moves north and south with changing angle of the sun, so that it reaches its northernmost position in the summer. This brings the heart of the trade winds across Hawaii during the period of May through September, when the Trade winds are prevalent 80 to 95 percent of the time. From October through April, the heart of the Trade winds moves south of Hawaii; however, the Trade winds still blow across the islands much of the time. They provide a system of natural year-long ventilation throughout the islands and bring to the land the mild, warm temperatures characteristic of air that has moved great distances across tropical waters.
These seemingly contradictory factors combine to create a unique and diverse set of climatic conditions, each of which is specific to a loosely defined sub-region of the island chain. These sub-regions are defined by major physiographic features (such as mountains and valleys) and by location (i.e., is it on the windward or leeward side of the island). These sub-regions (and their characteristic climates) are as follows.
- Windward Lowlands – Below 2,000 feet on north- to northeast-sides of an island. Region is oriented roughly perpendicular to direction of flow of prevailing trade winds. Moderately rainy; frequent trade wind-induced showers. Skies are often cloudy to partly cloudy. Air temperatures are more uniform (and mild) than those of other regions.
- Leeward Lowlands – Daytime temperatures are a little higher and nighttime temperatures are lower than in windward locations. Dry weather is prevalent, with the exception of sporadic trade winds showers that drift over from the mountains to windward and during short-duration storms.
- Interior Lowlands – Intermediate conditions, often sharing characteristics of other lowland sub-regions. Occasionally experience intense local afternoon showers from well-developed clouds that formed due to local heating of the land during the day.
- Leeward Side High-Altitude Mountain Slopes with High Rainfall – Extensive cloud cover and rainfall all year long. Mild temperatures are prevalent, but humidity is higher than any other sub-region.
- Lower Mountain Slopes on Leeward Side – Rainfall is higher than on the adjacent leeward lowlands, but much less than at similar altitudes on the windward side; however, maximum rainfall usually occurs leeward of the crests of lower mountains. Temperatures are higher than on the rainy slopes of the windward sides of mountains; cloud cover is almost as extensive.
- High Mountains – Above about 3,000 feet on Haleakala, rainfall decreases rapidly with elevation. Relative humidity may be ten percent or less. The lowest temperatures in the state are experienced in this region: air temperatures below freezing are common.
Other aspects of Maui's climate
The wind patterns on Maui and the other islands are very complex. Though the trade winds are fairly constant in speed and duration, their relatively uniform air flow is distorted and disrupted by mountains, hills, and valleys. Light to moderate mountain winds are prevalent in the more mountainous areas of Maui. The usual regime is to have upslope winds by day and downslope winds by night. Local conditions that produce occasional violent winds are not well understood, even though the general causes of these winds can be surmised. These are very localized winds, observed only in a few areas. They sometimes reach speeds of 60 to 100 MPH and are best known in the settled areas of Kula and Lahaina on Maui. The Kula winds are strong downslope winds that occur on the lower slopes of the west side of Haleakala. These winds tend to be strongest between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above mean sea level. The Lahaina winds are also downslope winds, but have somewhat different characteristics. They are also called “lehua winds” after the lehua tree, whose red blossoms fill the air when these strong winds blow. They issue from the canyons at the base of the main mountain mass of western Maui, where the steeper canyon slopes meet the more gentle piedmont slope below. These winds are quite infrequent, occurring every 8 to 12 years. They are extremely violent, with wind speeds of 80 to 100 MPH or more.
Cloud Formation – Under trade wind conditions, there is very often a pronounced moisture discontinuity between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Below these heights the air is moist; above it is dry. The break (a large-scale feature of the Pacific Anticyclone) is caused by a temperature inversion embedded in the moving trade wind air. The inversion tends to suppress the vertical movement of air and so restricts cloud development to the zone just below the inversion. The inversion is present 50 to 70 percent of the time; its height fluctuates from day to day, but it is usually between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. On trade wind days when the inversion is well defined, the clouds develop below these heights with only an occasional cloud top breaking through the inversion. These towering clouds form along the mountains where the incoming trade wind air converges as it moves up a valley and is forced up and over the mountains to heights of several thousand feet. On days without an inversion, the sky is almost cloudless (completely cloudless skies are extremely rare). In leeward areas well screened from the trade winds (such as the west coast of Maui), skies are clear 30 to 60 percent of the time. Windward areas tend to be cloudier during he summer, when the trade winds and associated clouds are more prevalent, while leeward areas, which are less affected by cloudy conditions associated with trade wind cloudiness, tend to be cloudier during the winter, when storm fronts pass through more frequently. On Maui, the cloudiest zones are at and just below the summits of the mountains, and at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 feet on the windward sides of Haleakala. In these locations the sky is cloudy more than 70 percent of the time. The usual clarity of the air in the high mountains is associated with the low moisture content of the air.
Rainfall – Showers are very common; yet while some of these are very heavy, the vast majority are light and brief – a sudden sprinkle of rain and it's over. Even the heaviest rain showers are seldom accompanied by thunder and lightening. Summer is the warmer season; with an overwhelming dominance of trade winds, it is the season when widespread rainstorms are rare. Throughout the lowlands, summer is the drier season in terms of average monthly rainfall. At one extreme, the annual rainfall averages 17 to 20 inches or less in leeward coastal areas, such as the shoreline from Maalaea Bay to Kaupo, and near the summit of Haleakala. At the other extreme, the annual average rainfall exceeds 300 inches along the lower windward slopes of Haleakala, particularly along the Hana Highway. If the islands of the State of Hawaii did not exist, the average annual rainfall on the same patch of water would be about 25 inches. Instead, the actual average is about 70 inches. Thus, the islands extract from the air that passes over them about 45 inches of rainfall that otherwise would not fall. The mountainous topography of Maui and the other islands is responsible for this added water bonus.
Daily Variations in Rainfall – In the lowlands, throughout the year, rainfall is most likely to occur during the night or morning hours, and is least likely to occur during mid-afternoon. The most pronounced daily variations in rainfall occur during the summer because most summer rainfall consists of Trade winds showers that most often to occur at night. Winter rainfall in the lowlands is the result of storm activity, which is as likely to occur in the daytime as at night. Rainfall variability is far greater during the winter, when occasional storms contribute appreciably to rainfall totals, than during summer, when trade-wind showers provide most of the rain. With such wide swings in rainfall, it is inevitable that there are occasional droughts, sometimes with severe economic losses. The real drought years are the ones where the winter rains fail, when there are only a few (or even no) significant rainstorms. Droughts hit hardest in the normally dry areas that depend on winter storms for their rainfall and receive little rain from the Trade wind showers.
Torrential rainfall is common in all parts of Maui, except the very high mountains. It is also true that in Hawaii very light showers are extremely frequent in most localities. On the windward coast, it is common to have as many as 10 brief showers in a single day, not one of which is heavy enough to produce more than one-hundredth of an inch of rain. This is because the usual run of trade wind weather yields many light showers in the lowlands, whereas the torrential rains are associated with a sudden surge in the trade winds or with a major storm. Hana has had as much as 28 inches of rain in a single 24-hour period.
Major storms occur most frequently between October and March, inclusive. During this period, there may be as many as six or seven major storm events in a year. Such storms bring heavy rains and are sometimes accompanied by strong local winds. The storms may be associated with the passage of a cold front – the leading edge of a mass of relatively cool air that is moving from west to east or from northwest to southeast.
Kona storms are features of the winter season. They are so-called because they often generate winds coming from the “kona” or leeward direction. The rainfall in a well-developed Kona storm is more widespread and more prolonged than in the usual cold-front storm. Kona storm rains are usually most intense in an arc, or band, extending from south to east of the storm and well in advance of its center. Kona rains last from several hours to several days. The rains may continue steadily, but the longer lasting ones are characteristically interrupted by intervals of lighter rain or even partial clearing, as well as by intense showers superimposed on the more moderate regime of continuous, steady rain. An entire winter may pass without a single well-developed Kona storm. More often, however, there are one or two such storms a year; sometimes there are four or five. Three harbors provide some protection from Kona storms Kahului Harbor (used mostly for commercial vessels), Lahaina and Maalea Harbors used primarily for sailing craft.
True hurricanes are very rare in Hawaii, indicated by the fact that only four have affected the islands during a 63-year period. Tropical storms are more frequent. These are similar to hurricanes but with more modest winds, below 74 MPH. Because weak tropical storms resemble some Kona storms in the winds and rains they produce, and because early records do not distinguish clearly between them, it has been difficult to estimate the average frequency of tropical storms. A tropical storm will pass sufficiently close to Hawaii every year or two to affect the weather in some part of the Islands. Unlike cold fronts and Kona storms, hurricanes and tropical storms are not limited to the winter season. They are most likely to occur during the last half of the year, from July through December.
Maui - Natural History:
Maui is a leading whale-watching center in the Hawaiian Islands due to Humpback whales wintering in the sheltered Auau Channel between the islands of Maui county. The whales migrate approximately 3,500 miles (5,600 km) from Alaskan waters each autumn and spend the northern hemisphere winter months mating and birthing in the warm waters off Maui. The whales are typically sighted in pods: small groups of several adults and one or more calves. Humpbacks are an endangered species protected by U.S. federal and Hawaii state law. There are estimated to be about 3,000 humpbacks in the North Pacific.
Maui - Tourism:
Maui County welcomed 2,207,826 tourists in 2004; for 2005, the total was 2,263,676, with total tourist expenditures of US$3.09 billion for the Island of Maui alone. While the Island of Oahu is most popular with Japanese tourists, the Island of Maui tends to appeal to visitors mostly from the U.S. mainland and Canada: in 2005, there were 2,003,492 domestic (i.e., U.S. nationals) arrivals on the island, compared to 260,184 international arrivals. It should be noted that the latter figure is a 2.1 percent increase from 2004.
The big tourist spots in Maui include the Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, Lahaina, and Hookipa. The Road to Hana is a highway that runs through the mountains. The road has many curves, but the sites are well worth it. There are waterfalls and black sand beaches along the way. Haleakala National Park is home to one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Drive up the dormant volcano to view the sunrise. It looks like it is coming right out of the crater. Lahaina was a quiet little fishing town, then a rowdy town where whalers came for R&R in the 1800's, and is now a tourist Mecca loaded with shops, restaurants, history, boat harbor, and one of the best luaus on the island. Hookipa beach is home to some of the world's best windsurfers.
The main tourist hotel and condo areas are West Maui (Kaanapali, Lahaina, Honokowai, Kahana, Napili, Kapalua), and South Maui (Kihei, Wailea).
References: Official site of County of Maui; County of Maui QuickFacts from the U.S. Census Bureau; Hawaii Dept.of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Maui Tours and Maui Activities - The island of Maui has more categories of activities than any other Hawaiian island. This in itself is a testimony to the diversity of Maui. It has great mountains for the downhill bicycle experience. It has spectacular oceans for snorkeling, diving and swimming. It has a multi-island sunset view for dinner cruises and sunset sails. It has seemingly endless hiking trails. There are wonderful places to kayak. There are great off-road areas for ATV’s, spectacular displays of the heavens at night and sunrises up at Haleakala, dolphins and whales ply the waters all around the island of Maui, fishing is available from two of our harbors, 75% of the island can only be seen by air so helicopter flights on Maui are among the best to be seen anywhere, there are about 6 or 7 horseback riding stables, Molokini is one of the most popular snorkeling locations in the state, arguably the best luaus in Hawaii are found on the island of Maui, there are countless surf breaks for beginners as well as the more experienced, we have zip-line tours on both sides of the island and we have world class theatrical entertainment for your nightlife. Maui as they say, is a feast for your senses and one of the very best places for tours and activities.