Hawaii – Maui
Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Maui is divided by a wide valley into two unequal halves, each surmounted by an extinct volcano. Maui has an area of 1888 square kilometers (for comparison, Saarland with 2573 square kilometers) and is inhabited by 106,000 people. The main city and seat of the county government is Wailuku. Its varied landscape is characterized by golden beaches, wooded mountain ranges with bizarre rocks, grasslands and wide plains. The highest elevation is the 3,055-meter-high, dormant volcano Haleakala.
The average daily temperatures are between 21° and 25° C; the amount of precipitation varies from place to place. The island got its name from Maui, a demigod from ancient Hawaiian mythology. Maui’s deeds are handed down in historical songs. Legend has it that Maui pulled the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago out of the Pacific with a giant fish hook.
The island has a multifaceted settler history. When Kamehameha I united all the Hawaiian Islands in his empire, he made Lahaina on Maui his capital in 1802. Missionaries and whalers arrived here soon after, dividing the island into two camps. The end of the whalers came with the US Civil War of 1860 and the rise of the petroleum industry. A large part of Maui’s arable land was planted with sugar cane, and workers were brought in from Asia. The island developed into a peaceful agricultural area with a special charm and rustic beauty. The booming tourism ensured that nowadays visitors can experience the charm of the island in many ways.
The smaller West Maui offers very well-maintained tourist facilities in terms of style and quality. This is also where the sleepy capital and the former whaling station Lahaina with the biggest attraction, the floating whaling museum in the harbor, is located. We think Maui’s landscape is the most “Hawaiian” of the entire island world. In addition, the beaches here are the most beautiful in the whole archipelago. Maui is home to a wide variety of landscapes, from rocky sandy coves to beautiful valleys with rushing waterfalls to rainforests and lush plantations. Everything that is tropical plants and fruits seems to thrive here. Above the whole scenery rises the mighty volcano Haleakala (3057 m) with its cooled craters. Herds of cattle graze on its slopes. The huge crater landscape can be hiked on foot or on horseback.
If you stay in a cabin at the top or drive up the winding road to the summit early in the morning, you can experience a Hollywood-style sunrise. The volcanic landscape with its unique ecosystem has extensive rainforests, deep gorges and rare birds. The center of the park is the 4 kilometer wide and 12 kilometer long Haleakala Crater.
One of the most beautiful places on Maui is Wailua. Below the Wailua Falls, the clear water flows through seven pools (“Seven Pools”) and then pours into the open sea. This is also a pleasant bathing area. Maui is the cheapest place in Hawaii for whale watching tours. Every year from November to April, humpback whales gather in the warm waters off the coast. The adult animals grow to a length of more than 13 meters and weigh more than 40 tons.
Today, the Iao Valley is a charming nature park in the rainforest, but once a battle site during the conquest of Maui by Kamehameha I. The Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve is also worth seeing. Particularly impressive is a tour along the charming coastal road to Hana Valley. The Oheo Stream and the Seven Pools with their natural rock pool and clear water are also worth a visit. For those interested in botany, the Helani Gardens botanical garden is well worth seeing, while the Kepaniwai Heritage Garden is dedicated to the cultures of the Hawaiian people. Lahaina is a lively, picturesque town with museums and historic sites, shops, cafes and art galleries.
Other tranquil provincial towns are the artists’ colonies of Makawao, Ha iku and Kula on the slopes of Haleakala. Attractive for sporty enthusiasts are the beaches off Molokini (for snorkeling), Paia Beach (a world-class windsurfing area) and Hookipa Beach (windsurfing).
