Maui tourism along the west coast flourishes, dominated
by two commanding volcano pinnacles banded together by
a low rise strip of land. West Maui Mountain is the smallest
of the two mountains near the charming seaside community
of Lahaina which most visitors
use as a base for their Maui vacation. Lahaina boasts
small inns, beachside resorts, museums, art galleries
and some of the best restaurants in Maui Hawaii.
From Lahaina there are numerous exciting Maui activities to enjoy for the entire family. Due north of Lahaina along the coast are the beach resorts of Napili and Kaanapali which both enjoy plenty of Maui tourism. Napili is the lesser known counterpart but is beautiful nonetheless with small coves and some of the best championship Maui golfing at Kapalua. From West Maui visitors enjoy tranquil vistas with the islands of Molokai and Lanai in the midst.
Kihei Town, also on the west coast of Maui, is the most
commercial of all Maui vacation areas. Timeshares, condos
and hotels line the strip
and border the sweeping beach areas of Kihei. South of
Kihei is Wailea, home to the famous Wailea Golf Courses
and a number of illustrious resorts. Just north of Kihei
is Maalaea Bay where a number of Maui
tours leave for journeys to the Molokini
Crater. It’s also a popular departing point
for Maui fishing charters.
Even further south visitors can enjoy Makena Big Beach, several other Maui beaches and the Makena North and South Golf Courses. If you don’t have your own transportation there’s nothing to worry about as this area is well serviced by buses making it easy to travel around Maui Hawaii. There are plenty of Maui activities in this area including sailing to the nearby islands and Maui snorkeling trips as the west side has come of the best conditions for aquatic adventure.
Though the north coast enjoys the least of Maui tourism there are many charming seaside towns, excellent windsurfing, peaceful coastal paths, beautiful beaches and pleasant historic farming settlements close to the serene slopes of Haleakala Mountain. Once a bustling port for sugar plantations, Kahului is now a busy industrial town with a lack of any really fun Maui activities.
The heart of Maui is dominated by arid, desert-like scenery and the idle Mount Haleakala. Standing more than 10,000 feet high, the national park surrounding the mountain offers some of the most exciting outdoor Maui activities on the island. The landscape, once lush and fertile, became arid and barren after the last volcanic eruption in 1790.
The east coast enjoys some of the highest levels of
rainfall creating the most lush, tropical environment
in all of Maui Hawaii. Plunging valleys and the twisting,
tapered Road to Hana make
the east coast drive one of the most impressive scenic
routes in Maui. The wild and undulating mountainous region
is replete with waterfalls and flourishing rainforests.
There are numerous beaches near Hana, the most unusual
being Red Sand Beach, only a short walk from the heart
of Hana. On the other side of Hana is a rare black sand
beach. Though swimming at the red and black sand beaches
isn’t that good, Hamoa Beach south of Hana makes
up for it.
The best attraction for a Maui vacation near Hana is
the cascading Wailua Falls and the Seven
Sacred Pools of Oheo Gulch. The captivating trail
leading through bamboo forests and dense tropical foliage
to the pools is one of the best Maui
hiking trails.With Maui’s electrifying cliffs,
abundant, blooming rainforests, fantastic resorts and
idyllic beaches it’s easy to understand it’s
rank as the Polynesian paradise. For those who want ideal
conditions in which to enjoy a grand variety of things
to do, Maui is the perfect place for you.
