Maui information Guide
Your Maui Guide
Maui, Hawaii is one of the most sought after destinations on the planet. With over 2 1/2 million visitors in 2009 alone, people know that Maui is a special place. This guide is for those interested in learning more about the Hawaiian islands and specifically Maui. You'll find that this website is a great resource for visitors and residents of Maui County alike. (Also available in Español.)
Our editors are professional writers, knowledgeable about the islands, and residents of Maui. Every article submitted is meticulously researched for your benefit. We've made a pledge to give the best Maui information to the public for FREE! Our hope is that people will come back for accurate well written information on the Hawaiian islands. Make sure to check out our guide to Maui Restaurants, The Road to Hana , Maui Activities, Best Beaches in Maui, Maui Snorkel Maps, Maui Statistics, Maui Accommodations, Maui Weddings, Maui Backgrounds and Maui Weather.
Maui Map
Maui Map
The above map highlights some of the more prominent areas to visit on Maui. Click on a marker to find valuable links pertaining to each area. Or read more below.
Hana
Hana is famous for the road leading to it, "The Road to Hana." The town of Hana is really an incredible place that is often overlooked. Though it doesn't offer much in the way of activities, Hana Town is a charming place to take in. Many of the few residents to live in Hana rarely leave their area. The people of Hana are deeply prideful of their Hawaiian Roots and live at a pace unfamiliar to the rest of the world.
Kanaio Coast
The Kanaio Coast along the southeast is one of the most beautiful and untouched parts of the island. Dryer than the East side of Maui, the Kanaio Coast has miles of raw and pristine coastline great for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Kaho'olawe Island
Pronounced Kah-ho-o-lah-vay, this island was originally used as ranch land before the US government took over and used it for military purposes. The military bombed it for over a half century before giving the land back. After years of destruction, Kahoolawe is being restored by volunteers.
Lanai Island
Mostly composed of farmland, Lanai is gorgeous and peaceful. 2 Fours Seasons Resorts have excellent accommodations both on the south side and center of Lanai. Scuba diving at the Cathedrals is world-renowned.
Molokai Island
Home of some of the highest sea cliffs in the world, Molokai is long in waterfalls and history. Previously known for its forced leper colony, Molokai now is used primarily as farmland and home to a very peaceful local community.
Molokini Crater
Molokini is a dormant volcanic cinder cone off the coast of South Maui famous for its pristine scuba diving and snorkeling.
Haleakala Crater
Haleakala Crater is one of the largest dormant volcanoes in the world. It rises to just over 10,000 feet and boasts views of the Big Island, Kaho'olawe, Lanai, Molokai and most of Maui. Haleakala National Park extends down to the ocean to the southeast.
Paia
Known for its small town charm and hippy inhabitants, Paia is one of the better places to visit on Maui. With dozens of small boutiques and restaurants, the ambiance in this little coastal town is positive and warm.
Kahului
Home to our largest airport, Kahului is the commercial center of the island. Wailuku is the cultural and local capital, but Kahului has largely become the industrial center of Maui. Conveniently located in the central-North of Maui, Kahului is an excellent spot to fly into (and the cheapest.)
Wailuku
The capital of Maui, Wailuku is the cultural center of the island. Downtown Wailuku has a great theatre, some fantastic restaurants, and plenty of shops. Wailuku is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance, growing into a beautiful, richer place to visit.
Iao Valley
One of the wettest places in the world, the Iao Valley is a lush, pure, and mountainous region. Its most popular feature is the Iao Needle, a jutting pinnacle covered in lush foliage. This area is rich in ancient Hawaiian history.
Upcountry
Upcountry Maui encompasses many areas along the slopes of Haleakala including the cowboy town of Makawao and the quieter area of Kula. Upcountry has some of the best views on Maui as well as cooler temperatures, Maui's only winery, a lavender farm, eucalyptus forests, ziplining, and a well-known goat cheese farm.
Honolua Bay
One of the most beautiful spots on Maui can be found in the far upper west at Honolua Bay. World-class surfing as well as incredible snorkeling are being threatened by over-development and runoff.
Lahaina
This old whaling town has become the tourist center of Maui. Lahaina's Front Street is a quaint, rustic must-see. It sits on the water with hundreds of shops and restaurants with great views and fun people watching.
Maalaea Harbor
Maalaea harbor sits on the southern edge of the valley. With a few restaurants and a world-class Aquarium, Maalaea Harbor is a great place to leave on a boat trip from. Maalaea is centrally located making for a short trip from most spots on the island.
Kihei
The fastest growing city on Maui, Kihei is a great place to find a vacation rental. Prices are far lower than that of Wailea and Kaanapali, and it's centrally located to better access the many great locations you should visit on the island.
Wailea
Wailea took over from Kaanapali as far as large resort areas are concerned. You'll find pristine beaches, high-end resorts, ritzy shopping, fine dining restaurants, and perfectly landscaped grounds in Wailea.
Makena
Makena is made up of a mixture of perfect beaches, rugged volcanic coastline, and lush tropical land. You'll find fewer places to stay down here with large expanses of untouched natural landscape. One of the most beautiful areas on Maui, Makena is the southern most point you can visit on Maui.
Maui Statistics
Out of the 2,405,257 Maui arrivals in 2006, 82% were from the mainland, less than 6% from Canada, and the remainding 4% hailed from Japan. It becomes quickly evident where most of Maui's income comes from when you take into account the $3,492,900,000 total expenditures made here in 2006 by our visitors. Totaling over 6 1/2 million arrivals in 2006, almost half of them are landing on Maui.
These statistics are attractive for business owners, but also a major concern for those who call Maui their home. With the tourist revenue comes the much despised island growth. This is a chief issue for our politicians here on the islands. Oahu is the most populated of the islands and holds the largest portion of the 1,285,498 people living in Hawaii in 2006; this is not even 1/2 of a percent of the total US population. Of this, Maui has only 141,320 residents. Maui grew 10% in population from 2000 to 2006.
Maui's diverse ethnic presence influences all aspects of our incredible island. As of 2005, the percentages are broken down below:
Caucasian 38.3%
Asian 30.2%
People of 2 or more races 20.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
African American 0.6%
American Indian and Alaska Natives 0.3%
The age ranges present in Hawaii are also veried. Below are 2005 statistics of the different age groups living here:
Under 5 yrs old 7.1%
Under 18 years old 23.5%
Between 18 and 65 years old 55.7%
Over 65 years old 13.7%
One of the many beauties of our island of Maui is it's close proximity from one coast to the next. Most residents live within a 22 minute drive of their work. This statistic is accurate as of 2000. Today it may be considerably more due to the many more residents and visitors on the road. Our island is constantly growing, though it's roads barely keep up with the demand. Most of the money goes towards building growth for housing and commercial businesses. over 1500 building permits were submitted in 2005.
In 2004, the earnings per job on Maui averaged $33,879 annual salary. This is terribly low considering the high cost of living in Hawaii. But, as of 2005, we've maintained a successful 2.6% unemployment rate.
For more information on businesses in Maui, check out our Maui Business Listings.
The above Hawaii information was gathered from 2 independant sources: DBEDT and fedstats.gov.