One of the main
islands of Hawaii known as "The Valley Isle", Maui is the
second largest island both in land mass and population. Maui
was formed by two shield volcanoes who's land masses merged
together forming a valley in between the now dormant peaks;
this distinctive valley on the island is how Maui received
its nickname. West Maui is the older of the two volcanoes,
while Haleakala makes up the body of East Maui. Visitors to
the island will find that most of the tourist spots are
located on West Or South Maui in areas like Ka'anapali,
Lahaina, and Wailea; while the town of Kahului on East Maui
is the major business center on the island.
Although
slower-paced than Oahu, Maui is an island with many
activities, attractions, and tourist accommodations when
compared to the rest of the smaller Hawaiian Islands. Maui
is famous for its whale-watching activities, windsurfing,
and other watersports, in addition to its golf courses, luau
and Polynesian shows, hiking, and other guided tours. The
reason why the island is so popular for whale-watching is
because every year humpback whales migrate
to the protective waters around Maui during the winter
months to give birth to their calves. A large number of tour
companies offer whale watching boat tours where you can get
up close to experience these large sea mammals. If you
prefer
keeping your feet on land, Maui also offers
visitors a chance to experience eco-tours, wonderful hiking
trails around scenic locations, bicyle tours, horseback
riding, and tons of golf courses including the world famous
Kapalua Course which hosts the PGA Tour's SBS Championship.
If your coming to Hawaii to do some shopping a visit to Maui
should be on your itinerary. Other than Oahu, Maui is
probably the only other island with a large collection of
shopping malls, mainland style department stores, and
specialty
gift shops. Visit the Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center in
Kahului, which is
Maui's largest mall complete
with retail department stores like Macy's and Sears, plus
more than 100 other venues and restaurants; or stop by other
shopping destinations like the Whaler's Village, Lahaina
Cannery Mall, and The Shops at Wailea for local brands,
designer boutiques, Hawaiian jewelry and other specialty
items. You'll definitely enjoy a shopping excursion while on
the island of Maui if that is what your looking for!
While on Maui visitors can expect a vacation full of
activities, shopping, and relaxation. Our Maui guide
provides detailed information on tourist
accommodations which include hotels, tours, attractions, and
activities. Continue browsing through the Maui section of our
vacation site to learn more of what the island has to offer you.
