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Maui
Maui holidays offer an enchanting dream vacation, with idyllic beaches, vibrantly colourful rainforests, and magnificent dormant volcanoes to explore and set in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Maui Ocean Centre is a unique aquatic experience and the biggest tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. The Centre is located in oceanfront Ma'alaea Village off the Honoapiilani Highway, within minutes of all major resort areas. It consists of indoor and outdoor displays allowing visitors to see, touch and explore Hawaii's unique marine environment. The walk-through aquarium contains thousands of fish showcased in more than 60 interactive habitat exhibits.
The island of Maui is named after the Polynesian God, as the island is as close to paradise as any mortal being can get. Originally six different volcanoes created a single landmass that, over the millennia, separated to become the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe. All remain administratively linked today as Maui County. Maui is the second largest of the populated Hawaiian Islands (after Hawaii Island/Big Island itself), and also boasts the second largest population in the state. Its two main features are the Haleakala Crater (the name means 'house of the sun'), which is the largest dormant volcano in the world, and the underwater valleys that connect Maui with its sister islands in the surrounding ocean, providing shelter for an abundance of marine life.
The centre for business on the beautiful island is Kahului/Wailuku town, however the major holiday resorts are situated near the ancient whaling town od Lahaina, in a region called Ka'anapali. In south Maui is another busy resort district around the town of Wailea. Maui's tropical north shore is quieter without large hotels, only bed and breakfast establishments providing a quiet, relaxing break. The island offers several points of cultural and natural interest worth exploring, over and above its beautiful beaches and underwater wonderland.
Haleakala National Park
Stretching over the Haleakala volcano and across the southeast slopes to the east coast of Maui and past the town of Hana, are the spectacular natural wonders of the Haleakala National Park. The main reason for the park being visited by nearly one and a half million people a year, is the attraction of peering down into the crater of what is the world's largest dormant volcano. Haleakala last erupted in 1790, and has been deadly quiet ever since, although it is not considered to be inactive. The massive crater covers 19 square miles (49km2): big enough to hold the whole of Manhattan. Hawaiians regard the crater as a sacred site. It is possible to drive to the summit along a twisting road that climbs 10,000 feet in just 37 miles (60km); visitors can also explore the desolate landscape inside the crater on hiking or biking trails. There are numerous other opportunities for recreational activities in the National Park too. The Park's headquarters just inside the park entrance provides information of activities and programmes offered. The Haleakala Visitor Centre near the summit of the volcano explains, via exhibits, the history, ecology, geology and volcanology of the area.
Hana Highway
The Hana Highway in Maui is around fifty miles long and starts at Kailua and ends in Hana on the north east coast of the island. Gangs of convicts built this hair-raising but incredibly scenic coastal drive in 1927. It twists and turns its way along the coastal cliffs, containing 56 bridges and 600 hairpin bends. The route winds through numerous lush valleys lined with dozens of waterfalls, dense rainforest, bamboo thickets, fern groves and tulip trees. Visitors need at least a day to traverse the route, stopping to enjoy a dip in mountain pools or exploring off-shooting hiking trails, many of which lead to historic sites, like the little 19th century church built of lava and coral in the village of Keanae. There are two national parks on the route, some lava caves, blowholes, temple ruins and of course unsurpassed views.
Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula
Spreading across eight acres of slopes on the Haleakala volcano are Maui's enchanting botanical gardens. The gardens contain more than 1,500 species of tropical and semi-tropical plants, most of them flowering, from around the world, including proteas, orchids, hibiscus and jade vines. Banks of aromatic flowers cover the gardenscape, interspersed with lush tropical fruit trees.
Address: Highway 37; Telephone: (808) 878 2531; Website: www.flowersofmaui.com; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm
