Official Language:
English
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Currency:
US Dollar
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Population:
Over 100,000 people call Maui home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Maui: Maui has two seasons, summer and winter, but climatic conditions generally vary more between different parts of the island than between the seasons. Winter (November-April) is slightly cooler and wetter, but water temperatures range 70-80°F/22-27°C year-round.
The northeastern portion of the island and the West Maui Mountains are wetter, giving rise to lush, and often inaccessible, foliage. The mountainous regions are colder expect a drop of 3 degrees for 1000 ft/310 m in elevation.
December through March are usually the rainy months at the summit of Mt. Haleakala, the temperature will drop to below freezing during the winter months and for short periods the summit is snow capped.
Best time to visit Maui in May and from mid September to mid November: Prices for accommodations and rental cars are lower at these times and hiking trails and tours less crowded. Daytime temperatures at sea level will be in the 70s-80s °F/22-30°C, with nights in the 60s-70s °F/17-25°C. If you're planning to see the humpbacks, the time to go is November-April.
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"Maui no ka oi" means Maui is the BEST and that is just what it is! You' will hear this popular local phrase and soon find yourself nodding in agreement. Maui has some of Hawaii's most stunning scenery, beautiful beaches. Residents are friendly and cordial. Maui is known as the 'Valley Isle,' and was created by two now-dormant volcanoes and is the namesake of the demigod Maui. Whalers and laborers came to the islands and worked in the sugar cane and pineapple fields.
Maui, the second largest of the major Hawaiian islands is one of Hawaii’s best-known visitor destinations. It is second to Oahu. More than 2.5 million tourists visit the island annually.
Cruise ships either dock at Kahului or anchor off Lahaina. Passengers going ashore or tendering are met by buses and vans. Car rentals are also available.
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Attractions |
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East Maui
Two favorite island rituals can only be accomplished if your ship overnights. One is the viewing of the sunrise at Haleakala and the other is driving the infamous Road to Hana. Venture off during the night to the summit of Haleakala to see the sun rise through the clouds in a spectacular burst of gold. Coming back down the volcano you'll pass through an area so reminiscent of the surface of the moon that astronauts have trained there.
Heading for Hana means an early rise to beat the traffic and driving a narrow winding road that contains over 600 curves and fifty one-lane bridges. Besides the other motorists, which includes not only tourists but tractor-trailer trucks as well, the 52-mile drive through the rainforest itself is breathtaking with waterfalls and calm pools along the roadside. "Heavenly" Hana is peaceful and exemplifies the aloha spirit of old Hawaii. This drive can take three hours in each direction.
Central Maui
The Iao Valley State Park is home to one of Maui's most unusual sights, the Iao Needle rock formation. Nearby in Wailuku is the Bailey House Museum, which contains artifacts and objects of Hawaiiana on the main floor and rooms decorated in the missionary-era style upstairs.
West Maui
At the base of the West Maui mountains is Lahaina. Ships will anchor in Lahaina Harbor and tender passengers right into the heart of the town. King Kamehameha established Lahaina as the capital of a unified Hawaii in 1802. When the entire town was named a National Historic Landmark in the 1960's, interest in restoration began to take place. Baldwin House Museum, is Lahaina's oldest dwelling and appears much as it did in the old missionary days. Next door, the Master's Reading Room is the oldest building on Maui and is home to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, not open to the public.
The historic banyan tree that dominates Courthouse Square was planted in 1847 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of missionaries. The huge banyan tree now covers more than two-thirds of an acre and is difficult to photograph due to its extreme size.
Lahaina was host to hundreds of ships similar to the restored Carthaginian II, an authentic replica of a nineteenth-century square-rigger. Compare the floating museum's living quarters to modern day cruise ship cabins to see how far ship design has come. The Lahaina Whaling Museum exhibits is a good attraction to see Lahaina in its heyday.
The Lahaina-Kaanapali Railroad, and the sugar cane train run north from Lahaina to Kaanapali, Hawaii's first planned resort community. There, a life-size metal sculpture of a mother whale and two baby whales and the skeleton of a 40-foot sperm whale greet visitors to Whaler's Village. The second floor of the village is the Whale Center of the Pacific with exhibits containing whaling tools, harpoons, and artifacts detailing the whalers' lives at sea. Great examples of Pacific scrimshaw can be found here.
Shopping
Maui is an art lover's paradise and there are dozens of galleries and gift shops all over the island that display the local artist's work. The delicate Niihau shell jewelry is a favorite.
Kahului has two main shopping malls, the Kaahumanu Center and the Maui Mall.
Lahaina Cannery Mall is located in what used to be a pineapple cannery and its guaranteed you'll surely find what you are looking for.
Kaanapalis Whaler's Village is upscale and high fashion. Great for those looking for Ferragamo and Prada, yet simple enough for those who are just craving an ice cream.
Beaches
Beautiful beaches are always within sight along West and South Maui. All beaches are open to the public even those that are host to the most luxurious resorts. For swimming and snorkeling, Kaanapali and Kapalua Beaches are calm crystal clear waters inhabited by many colorful tropical fish. The best snorkeling is around Kaanapali's Black Rock where you can rent snorkels and boogie boards.
Wailea on the sunny South Maui shore is where the waves are a bit more active and humpback whales can be spotted during the season December through April. Snorkeling here can be limited.
Famous Hookipa Beach is home for windsurfers and is just off the Hana Highway. The beach park has full facilities and it is the ideal place to watch the windsurfing daredevils taking on the wind and sea.
Shopping along Front Street in Lahaina, which has everything from expensive art galleries to t-shirt shops and from surf-wear boutiques to bookstores.
Whale-watching and snorkeling tours are a favorite.
Top Lahaina spa, Lei Spa Maui (www.leispa.com) offering Hawaiian-style massages at less than your cruise spa price. Advance reservations are required, so be sure to check their website before arriving.
The Haleakala National Park, home to the 10,000 ft. high volcano. Drive to the summit and look into the crater.
Golf is very popular in Maui. Conveniently located courses at the top end is Kapalua Golf Club (Honoapiilani Highway, Kapalua, www.kapaluamaui.com). Also well known is the Wailea Golf Club (Wailea, www.waileagolf.com), designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
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More Information |
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Port of Maui
Phone: 800-525-6284
Web: www.visitmaui.com
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