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Why Maui is The BestWhy is Maui the Best? There's a Hawaiian saying, "Maui no ka oi" that translates to "Maui is the best." What makes it so? The Hawaiian royalty chose to live on Maui in Lahaina before the white men arrived on ships. So the ancient Hawaiians must have had their reasons to say 'Maui is the best" of all the Hawaiian islands -- in the years before resort hotels, fine restaurants, and golf courses. ----- Nowadays, Maui seems to be everyone's favorite. Maui was voted "Best Island in the World" over 15 times [by Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards poll]. Maui was also voted ‘Best Pacific Island’ for over 19 straight years. Maui received the most points to rate as the world's top overall destination for over four straight years. If you were to ask why every person thinks ‘Maui is the best’ -- there are probably many different reasons. ----- TOP REASONS WHY “MAUI IS THE BEST” -- NATURE SUNNY BEACHES Maui’s beaches are usually sunny because two high mountains shield its west and south coasts from the numerous winter storms that come from the northeast, resulting in perfect weather in the beach areas of Kaanapali and Wailea. MICROCLIMATES The climate in all the Hawaiian islands is perfect all year, but weather varies locally. On Maui you can find some place sunny almost always because the mountains block the clouds. If it is raining and windy at your hotel in Kapalua, you can drive four miles south to Kaanapali where it's usually sunny. But if it’s cloudy there, you can drive four more miles south to the town of Lahaina [which means ‘Relentless Sun’] where it is sunny and balmy virtually every day of the year because the mountain shields it from storms. This may be why the Hawaiian royalty chose to live in Lahaina. RAINBOWS Rainbows are frequent, as it is often sunny on the beaches, but raining lightly on the mountainsides, producing glorious rainbows. So in areas bordering the rainforest you might see some rain. Makes for good rainbows! As the saying goes in Maui, 'No rain, no rainbows'. RAINFOREST The east side of Maui’s highest mountain called Haleakala receives much of the rainfall from the numerous winter storms that come from the northeast, resulting in a lush green tropical rainforest covering that side of Maui. ROAD TO HANA The winding road to Hana with 600 curves passes through the green tropical rainforest covering the east side of Haleakala mountain on Maui, past many streams rushing over waterfalls, with spectacular views from cliffs high above the ocean. TWO MOUNTAINS Maui’s two high mountains are picturesque, and can be viewed from each other, something not possible on the other main Hawaiian islands, most of which have only a single mountain mass (except Oahu). VIEW OF OTHER ISLANDS From the beach areas of Kaanapali and Wailea on the west coast of Maui, there are views of three other Hawaiian islands: Molokai, Lanai, and Koholawe, providing picturesque views of each other not seen from the other main Hawaiian islands, where you look out only on the empty ocean (from Kauai, or Oahu, or the Big Island). WHALES Humpback whales in winter congregate in the sheltered waters between the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Lanai and Molokai, making Maui best for whale watching. IAO VALLEY Maui’s oldest volcano, known as the West Maui Mountain, has a caldera eroded down so much that you can drive on a road into the center of this extinct volcano at the head of Iao Valley, where you are surrounded by spectacular steep cliffs thousands of feet high. HALEAKALA Maui’s highest mountain Haleakala [meaning ‘House of the Sun’] has a road to the summit where there are spectacular views of sunrise. At the summit you can hike down into the caldera of this extinct volcano. UPCOUNTRY Almost halfway up Haleakala mountain is the Upcountry area of Maui, with ranch lands and flower farms in the cool of the clouds. PERFECT SIZE ISLAND Maui is a perfect size -- not too big and not too small. By car everything is less than a half hour near your resort, or an hour away to another resort area or the airport. But there are also more remote areas like the top of Haleakala over two hours away, or an all day trek to distant Hana. SURFING, SAILBOARDING, KITESURFING At Hookipa Beach, Honolua Bay, and Kanaha. Giant wave surfing at Jaws in winter. ----- OTHER TOP REASONS WHY “MAUI IS THE BEST” ----- Luxury Resorts: KAANAPALI was the world’s first planned resort area. KAPALUA, ex-pineapple plantation developed into a luxury resort. WAILEA has perhaps the best weather on Maui ----- Small Towns: HISTORIC LAHAINA TOWN, past home of Hawaiian royalty and Yankee whale boats. MAKAWAO, historic ranching town converted to tourist shops. PAIA ex-plantation town now a surfing center. ----- FINE RESTAURANTS GREAT GOLF COURSES (16) ----- 'Maui is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian chain, the "Valley Isle." With 120 miles of shoreline, 42 miles of beaches, one national park (Haleakala, "House of the Sun," with the world's largest dormant volcano whose summit rises to more than 10,000 feet and which is home to the rare silversword plant), 10 state and 15 county parks, 16 golf courses and four resort areas, Maui is promoted by its visitors bureau as "The Magic Isle." "Oahu (Honolulu) basically is the big city -- too many people," she says. "Maui has entertainment -- there's more to do here. And the people are great." Fellow sailor Ted Barrett agrees. "It has the most variety, the most to offer." [From the article “Even Hawaiians say Maui is the best.” By Mim Swartz, Rocky Mountain News, October 16, 1997]' -----
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