|
This exquisitely
beautiful isle was created in a fiery explosion of two volcanoes. On one
side is 5,700 foot Pu'u Kukui, on the other Haleakala, a 10,023 foot
dormant volcano with a Manhattan size crater that houses a vast desert
of unusual flora.
Add to this 120 miles
of dazzling coastline, both dramatic and diverse, ideal for surfing,
snorkelling and canoeing, plus waterfalls plunging a thousand feet,
rainforests bursting with colour and exotic vegetation and a stark lunar
landscape so barren that the astronauts came to practice their moon
landing and you have the extraordinary island of Maui.
The dramatic
variations in climate and land formations are a large part of what makes
this Hawai'ian island so interesting. The West Maui Mountains are rugged
and verdant with jagged peaks and deeply grooved valleys hiding
beautiful waterfalls. Central Maui and the slopes of Haleakala are
agricultural areas where the rich volcanic soil supports sugar,
pineapple and ranchlands.
The south shore,
except where irrigated, is desert and scrub because Mt Haleakala causes
the rain clouds to empty before crossing the peak.
The second largest of the Hawai'ian islands, Maui was settled by
Polynesians and became an autonomous kingdom for many years ruled by
Kamehameha 1. He united the Hawai'ian Islands and made Lahaina, in Maui
his capital in 1802.
Today Maui has evolved into a peaceful agricultural island of charm and
rustic beauty, particularly Lahaina Town which has been restored to its
previous colonial splendour.
While on Maui, you can explore the Maui Tropical Plantation which
consists of 112 acres of crops, from cane to coffee, mango to macadamia,
pineapple to papaya. Learn how to husk a coconut, create a delicious
tropical fruit boat and string fragrant leis.
Catch the Tropical Tram on a 40 minute circuit to see fruit cutting
demonstrations and visit the marketplace to learn how to start your own
tropical garden in the nursery full of colourful orchids, anthuriums and
other exotic blooms.
A
popular spot is the Sunrise Market and Protea Farm where you can walk
through gardens bursting with protea flowers and see how a working
flower farm operates.
At
The Sugar Museum you can watch the production of sugar, one of Hawai'i's
biggest cash crops, from beginning to end, plus see the historical
exhibits, rare artefacts, photo murals and scale models of working sugar
factory machinery.
The Maui Historical Society Museum in Lahaina is a delightful old
structure built between 1833 and 1850 and was the home of missionary
Edward Bailey and his family. Today it contains Hawai'ian artefacts as
well as furniture and household items from the missionary days.
While
here, don't miss a journey on the famous Sugar Cane Train modelled after
the turn of the century railroads that transported Valley Isle sugar to
Lahaina mills. The steam driven locomotive makes an hour long run between
Lahaina and Ka'anapali and visitors can hop aboard at Puukolii and
Ka'anapali as well.
The
non-profit Lahaina Restoration Foundation which began over 27 years ago
has preserved and restored a rich collection of historical sites in
Lahaina. You can visit the Masters' Reading Room built in 1834 for seamen
looking for a room to rest away from the heat and dust of the market.
Baldwin
Home, built in 1838 is the oldest standing building in Lahaina and is made
of thick walls of coral, stone and hand hewn timbers and Richards House is
another coral stone home built for William Richards, the first Protestant
missionary.
Stone
is very important to the Hawai'ians and healing stones such as the giant
Hauola Stone are found in places designated as holding the forces of
nature.
The
Banyan Tree came to Lahaina from India when only eight feet tall.
William
O. Smith the Maui sheriff planted it in 1873 to mark the 50th anniversary
of the founding of Lahaina's first Christian mission. Today the Banyan has
twelve major trunks, varying girths and reaches upward to a height of 50
feet stretching outward over a 200 foot area, shading two-thirds of an
acre of the almost two acres of land in the courthouse square.
Lahaina
Jodo Mission Cultural Park sits on a point of land known as Puunoa. The
area was once a small village fronting the royal grove of coconut trees.
It
is now the best known landmark in the area and one of the busiest for
tourists. The largest Buddha outside of Japan sits majestically in the
small park commemorating the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in
1868
.
|
