Maui Island is one of the several Hawaii Islands in the US. Among the eight major Hawaii Islands, Maui is the second largest. It is home to several cities including Hana, Haiku, Kahului, Kaanapali, and Kapalua city among others. The Kapalua city in the northwestern part of Maui showcases the area’s championship golf courses and home to luxury accommodations and a pristine shoreline extending ten miles in length.
Kihei city in Maui features beaches and condos but less luxurious and cheaper than Kaanapali. Lahaina city is an old whaling seaport and is now the major tourist center in Maui. For beach lovers, Napili is the city to visit and offers cool and calm waters – perfect for stand up paddleboards, and it’s protected by the offshore reef. Paio is a small interesting town with popular beaches for surfing and windsurfing and also the best place to go shopping in Maui.
Wailea and Makena feature master-planned resorts and Wailuku houses the county government and houses many historic buildings that are well known in the state of Hawaii. Another destination-worthy visiting is Haleakala National Park. Tourists visiting Maui enter the island via Kahului Airport.
Even though there is a basic public service transportation system, buses cannot access most of the places on the island, and visitors are advised to hire a small car. The good thing is that rental cars in Hawaii are cheap unless it is during the holiday season. Local buses offer connections to nearby attractions and shopping areas. Lahaina Kaanapali Railroad is otherwise known as Sugar Cane Train and besides being a local means of travel; it is also a local attraction.
One of the first places you should visit upon landing in Maui is the Haleakala National Park that offers stunning views of the entire region and alpine wilderness. From the summit, visitors can easily see at least five of the major eight islands. Wainapanapa State Park has a sea arch, a small blowhole, sea caves and a black sandy beach to see. The Lao Valley State Monument is pretty green and you can climb over it to see Iao Needle and the ocean or just climb down to the stream and garden. There are many trailing spots in Maui that offer a great hiking experience especially in the Haleakala National Park.
Canoeing and kayaking in Maui are common activities that no visitors should miss. Some many clubs and businesses will be happy to introduce you to these activities. There are numerous Luaus in Maui that feature Polynesian dancing and singing and most of them feature buffet dinners. Mountain biking is common especially in the Makawao State Forest where there are well-established mountain bike trails.
Snorkeling is among the most affordable and enjoyable activities in Maui. However, it is always important that you are cautious as you decide where and when to snorkel as there are many rocks and corals on the island. Visiting Hana will offer you a great opportunity of seeing lush greenery, beaches, and beautiful waterfalls.