Maui
The island of Maui is named after a demi-god--and trickster--of the same name. Among his many exploits, Maui is known for slowing down the sun and extending daylight hours. We like that. He was also known to be quite the braggert, and just maybe it was he who coined the phrase Maui no ka oi.
The second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is shaped like a peanut. Haleakala National Park claims a good chunk of the middle of East Maui--the larger side of the peanut. The Road to Hana winds its way along the lush coastline on the north shore, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of 21st century--and even electricity. Any goes here, and everything grows here. On the sunny south shore, nitty-gritty Kihei is giving way to posh Wailea for tourism. West Maui is characterized by a more arid landscape, pineapples and the one-time capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom--historic Lahaina. Humpback whales are plentiful here in winter. Further west, the resort-rich strip of Kaanapali attracts a multitude of visitors, as does Kapalua. If it's golf you're after, this is heaven.
Arts & Local Culture
Discover a Lahaina luau, meet a taro farmer, learn about a Hawaiian sacred site and more.
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Beaches
People-watching. Big waves. Bodysurfing. Remote. Red sand. Maui offers a beach for just about anyone and any mood.
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Food & Drink
Fine dining. Casual restaurants. Burgers. Deli. Sushi. Farmers Markets. Organic fruit farms. Are you hungry yet?
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Hiking & Land Activities
Known for sunrise bicycling down Haleakala and the Road to Hana. Plenty more activities: Hiking, ziplining and golf, of course.
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Music & Entertainment
Sure, you can find a darn good luau on Maui. But a magic act? And a Cirque de Soleil-inspired show? Who knew?
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Romance & Honeymoons
Set sail on a dinner cruise. Toast the sunset with champagne. Picnic on the beach. No wonder honeymooners fall in love with Maui.
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Sightseeing & Shopping
Make your list: Historical Lahaina, Road to Hana, Haleakala, Kihei, Kaanapali, Iao Needle and pineapple, pineapple, pineapple.
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Snorkeling & Water Adventures
Want to see a puffer fish or sea turtle? Maui offers beachside snorkeling, off-shore trips to Molokini. Even a day trip to Lanai.
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Spa & Massage
Maui's spas blend local ingredients and practices for truly original spa experiences for girlfriends and couples, too.
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Humpback Whales: The Not So Gentle Giants of the Sea
At 7:30 one March morning, the sun glinted off the ocean like a field of diamonds. Three minutes outside the Lahaina Harbor off Maui, Captain Karl of Maui Adventure Cruises nosed the boat northwest. He had already spotted our first humpback whales of the morning. Thar she blows.
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Ono Farms Delivers on Organic
Thirty-five years ago, Chuck and Lili Boerner left Honolulu for remote Kipahulu on East Maui to start a family-run, organic farm at a time when most farmers were selling their land and moving to town. “It’s actually staggering for us to even comprehend. I hardly remember doing it. You just do it because you love it,” said Lili.
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Voluntourism: A New Way to Travel
My husband and I are on Maui celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. We’ve planned the usual romantic activities for such an event, but we’ve also decided to try something different on this vacation. Seems like we're not the only ones who have discovered it. They call it "voluntourism," and it's a wonderful way to experience Hawaii.
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Discover Genuine Experiences
Chance and circumstance can either open or close doors. But I’ve found that for those who are willing to slow down, keep their minds open and listen for opportunity, then good fortune provides the occasional amazing discovery...the open door.
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Beyond the Road to Hana
After the fifty-two serpentine miles of cliff-side road that cross 54 one-lane bridges and maneuver 600 hairpin curves. After dozens of scenic vistas, bamboo jungles, fruit stands, waterfalls and sacred heiau, sites. Only then do you enter Hana.
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Zipping Across Maui's Treetops
I’d signed up for the Upper Mountain Loop Adventure at Kapalua Adventures in West Maui. It included crossing the highest and longest suspension and five parallel ziplines. The longest zipline was 2,300 feet in length; the shortest 800. All ziplines “sky-surfed” across valleys a couple hundred feet above the ground.
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Up on Maui's Strawberry Mountain
Strawberries are like kids and should be allowed time and space to grow, according to Joel Gil of Coca Farms in Kula on Maui. He manages the growth of his camarosas, a variety of strawberry favored locally and on the mainland, by watering them infrequently. "If you water them too much, they grow too quickly," he explains, which is why some strawberries have hollow cores, a watery texture, and less flavor.
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