The island of Maui is the second largest in the chain of islands which make up the state of Hawaii and is nicknamed the Valley Isle.  The Hawaiian Islands are located in the North Pacific and are the most isolated islands in terms of distance to any continent.

The geography of Maui is extremely diverse with many ecological zones.  One would have to drive from the beaches of Mexico to Alaska in order to experience ecological zones which one could experience on Maui in a matter of hours.  The island of Maui received its nickname, The Valley Isle, because the island has the mountains of Iao Valley to the west and the mountain of Haleakala to the east.  The two largest cities on the island, Kahului and Wailuku, are in the valley between mountains.

In addition to its beaches, the Maui has many activities for its visitors.  One of the most common is going to the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet, a dormant volcano which features many craters at the top.  A common activity is to view the sunrise from the top of Haleakala, but beware; it is cold at the summit because of its altitude.  If you are looking for something more extreme, there are bike tours down Haleakala as well as zip-lining.

During November through May, there are typically 3,000 whales in the waters around Maui and boat trips are available to not only watch the whales, but to engage in activities such as diving and snorkelling.  Popular snorkelling spots include the Molakini Crater and Makena Cove.

The resort areas where most visitors stay include Ka’anapali and Kapalua on the west side of the island, near Lahaina, and Makena and Wailea on the southern portion of the island.  Other visitor locations include Hana, Kihei, Ma’alaea, Napili, and Honokowai.

There is very little public transportation on Maui and should you visit, a rental car is a necessity.  With more miles of swimmable beach than any other Hawaiian island, The Iao Valley National Park, Haleakala, and the city of Lahaina, there is something for everyone in Maui. 

Getting to Maui

The primary airport is in Kahului (OGG) and many major US carriers provide non-stop service from the United States mainland.  The primary international gateway to the Hawaiian Islands is Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on the island of Oahu which offers non-stop flights from a variety of countries.

Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha, and Island Air provide service from Honolulu to Kahului, Maui, as well as service to the other islands of Hawaii.  A second airport exists in Kapalua (West Maui) where Island Air provides non-stop service to Honolulu.