Maui is shaped something like a figure eight turned on its side. The massive volcanic bulk of Haleak

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This local motto reflects a common sentiment among natives and tourists alike - Maui really is the best part of Hawaii. With its wide beaches, lush rain forests, expansive mountaintop vistas, and humpback whales in the winter, Maui certainly makes an impressive case for itself.
Maui is shaped something like a figure eight turned on its side. The massive volcanic bulk of Haleakala anchors the island in the east, while the West Maui Mountains rise in the west. The two volcanic mountains meet in a narrow saddle-like valley heavily cultivated in sugarcane and pineapples. Because of this, the island also has the nickname "The Valley Isle."
With over three-quarters of its land uninhabited, Maui is like one giant natural park. Humpback whales, who seem to seek out the world’s most beautiful places, make this lovely island their breeding ground. mandarin hotel hong kong So do spinner dolphins and a multitude of other marine life.
Tour Maui and explore Maui’s interior, from the peak of Mt. Haleakala to the splendid mandarin hotel hong kong natural beauty of the sacred `Iao Valley, where legend holds that the god Maui and Hina raised their daughter, `Iao. Drive the winding Road to Hana past jungles of ferns, countless waterfalls, underground caves and pristine lagoons. And still there’s more, because the cultural life in Maui is vibrant.
One of most hassle free and delightful ways to explore Maui is by private boat charters . Your own captain and crew have expert knowledge of not only how to sail the sea, but more importantly how to help you get more out of your Maui adventure.
Maui's Central mandarin hotel hong kong Valley is home to much of the island's resident mandarin hotel hong kong population mandarin hotel hong kong with its two largest towns, and the center of island's agriculture industry, with sugar cane and pineapple fields in the saddle-like valley.
Kahului is the main gateway to Maui, and is the location of both the main airport and the harbor. Kahului is also the undisputed center of commercialism, home to a vast array of shopping centers, strip malls, and big box stores, which make it practically mandarin hotel hong kong indistinguishable from anywhere on the US mainland.
mandarin hotel hong kong With few tourist attractions here, most tourists just pass through on their way from the airport to the resorts on the leeward coasts. However, there are some excellent budget accommodations available at motels near the airport, for a good bit cheaper than the prevailing Maui rates.
It is from this busy port that island girls once swam out to greet the whaling ships. Today, this quaint laid-back town is still a playground -- winding along the coast with museums, restaurants and shops. In the harbor, mandarin hotel hong kong boats cluster waiting to take visitors on sunset cruises in waters teeming with dolphins and other marine life.
Nearby, mandarin hotel hong kong four-mile-long K`anapali Beach glitters with grainy gold and bright blue water. Snorkelers and scuba divers will want to head for Black Rock Beach, while upcountry Maui unfolds along the breathtakingly scenic road to Hana.
Isolated Hana is located on Maui's eastern tip surrounded by dense rainforests. The Highway to Hana is a tourist attraction in its own right, as it winds for hours through green valleys, past waterfalls, and over one-lane bridges.
Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular. Many tour boats run out to the spectacular volcanic atoll Molokini a few miles offshore,which has some of the best snorkeling in Maui . There are also plenty of beaches, especially in the west and northwest, where you can simply wade in and get to excellent snorkelling spots just offshore. There are several local shops where you can rent snorkel gear by the day or week.
Many different mandarin hotel hong kong companies lead mountain bike trips down Mt. Haleakala . If you can ride a bicycle, you can do this. It's a 26 mile trip, but you only have to pedal for about a quarter mile. Generally, there are trips that start with watching the sun rise at the top of Haleakala, then trips that start later in the morning.
Be aware that for the sunrise trips, you'll probably end up leaving your hotel at 2AM, or even earlier if you're staying in the Lahaina or Kapalua area. It takes some time to drive to the top of the mountain, get everyone equipped, mandarin hotel hong kong etc. Your tour group will probably lend you some type of jacket and gloves, but plan on being cold while you're waiting for nature's show -- the overnight temperature will probably be in the 40s or 30s.
Many find the 10,000-foot summit's view of the pre-dawn colors and ensuing sunrise breathtaking enough to justify the early start and the cold. Others beg to differ, advising visitors to get a good night's sleep and take the later trip. For those excited about the sunrise, a fair warning: cloud density at the mountaintop can be hard to predict, so you may not see as far as you might like.
Hikers are drawn to Haleakala National Park. One good route starts from the visitor center near the top to dormant volcanic cinder cones; the trail head is 8/10 mile past mile marker 7 on highway 340. There's also a fantastic hike called "13 Crossings" which traverses a stream 13 times. mandarin hotel hong kong On the way, you'll see a bamboo forest and at the end a waterfall.
Take the road trip and explore the famous Road to Hana Highway stopping on the road to see waterfalls, lush greenery and beaches. A private aroboretum and botanical garden (with an entrance fee) called "Garden of Eden" around the 10-mile marker has peacocks, bamboo gardens and view of Puohokamoa Falls.
The round-trip will be difficult mandarin hotel hong kong to complete in one day, so stay over in Hana to break it into two days. Wainapanapa State Park, 2 miles east of Hana, has cabins to offer. There are other private nicer places to stay, also in and around Hana.
Humpback whales breed off the coast of Maui from about December to March.Every year from January thriough mandarin hotel hong kong March the North Pacific Humpback Whales migrate to the warm tropical mandarin hotel hong kong waters of Hawaii. Whale watching cruises make frequent trips to bring you up close and personal to these magnificent creatures and give you great photo opportunities. Fun for adults and children alike - this is why you came to Maui!
Haleakala National Park offers alpine wilderness and stunning views of Maui and beyond (from the summit you can see five of the eight main islands, more than are visible from anywhere else in Hawaii).
Did you know.. According to CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) cruise lines carried an estimated 20.3 million passengers in 2012, including 17.2 million from North America. For 2013, CLIA is forecasting its member lines will carry 20.97 million, including 17.6 million from North America. They point to the tremendous growth in the number of ships in cruise line fleets, with 167 new ships being introduced since 2000.