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| About Hawaii
(Maui) |
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Kahalui
& Wailuku |
| North
Maui is the point where most visitors enter Maui, it is the location of
the Kahului Airport, Kahului (Maui's largest city), and Wailuku (Maui's
county seat).
Half of Maui’s 91,000 inhabitants – the
workers who keep this fantasy island going – live in the twin towns of KAHULUI
and WAILUKU, to the north of the “neck” connecting its two
mountainous sections. The land here can be so flat you fear the waves will
wash right over it. Kahului is the main commercial center; Wailuku, if not
aesthetically pleasing, is unusual for Maui in feeling like a genuine
community, and with its budget hotels and restaurants – it makes a good
central base. Kahului is also the location of Maui's only deep water
harbor with a small boat ramp on the west side of the harbor. There are several points of interest on the north
side of Maui.
There’s no sightseeing to speak of in either
Kahului or Wailuku, though you may well become familiar with both while
shopping for food and other necessities, better value here than elsewhere
on the island. Market Street in Wailuku contains several
interesting curio and souvenir shops, and commands a view across to
Haleakala.
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| Ioa Valley
and the Heritage Gardens is just to the west of Wailuku. There is the
Sugar Museum located in Pu'unene, and of course, world renouned, Ho'okipa
Beach, a windsurfing mecca for the worlds windsurfers.
There is a large bird sanctuary, almost right in
Kahului, called the Kahana Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, located between
the airport and Kahului Harbor.
Eating
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Kahului
has recently acquired a number of classy restaurants, while Wailuku
has a handful of good-value alternatives, though nothing that could be
considered fine dining.
- Maui
Coffee Roasters, 444 Hana
Hwy, Kahului (tel 808/877-2877). Good breakfasts, lunch specials and
espresso coffees.
- Saeng’s,
2119 Vineyard St (tel 808/244-1567). Pleasant, plant-filled
restaurant, serving top-quality Thai food at bargain prices.
- Sam
Choy’s, Kaahumanu Mall,
Kahului (tel 808/893-0366). Trendy mall restaurant serving giant
portions of contemporary Hawaiian favorites, with dinner entrees at
$20–25.
Accommodation |
As
most of the Maui resorts are long oceanfront strips of expensive hotels,
where you have to drive just to get to a shop or restaurant, there’s a
lot to be said for a simple room in Wailuku.
- Banana
Bungalow, 310 N Market St,
Wailuku. Extremely convivial budget hotel with Maui’s least
expensive accommodation. $16 for a dorm bed; also some bare, basic
doubles. Informal meals, organized trips, cut-price car rental.
- Maui Beach Hotel
- Maui Sands Resort
- Maui Seaside Hotel,
100 W Kaahumanu Ave at the harbor. Good-value rooms in a far from
attractive setting, plus discounted car rental.
- Northshore
Inn, 2080 Vineyard St, Wailuku. $15 dorms, plus some private
rooms. Much the same communal feel as Banana Bungalow.
Arrival and information |
| Virtually
all visitors to Maui arrive at Kahalui
Airport, which is well placed for all the major destinations and
has an information booth. Maui Airporter Shuttle buses (tel
808/877-7308) connect the airport regularly with Lahaina and Kaanapali,
for $13 per person, while TransHawaiian (tel 808/877-0380) provide similar
services to the rest of the island.
The offices of the Maui Visitors Bureau
are hard to find, at 1727 Wili Pa Loop in Wailuku (Mon–Fri 8am–4.30pm;
tel 808/244-3530); it’s easier simply to pick up information in major
hotels.
For
more information on
Maui, go to: |
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Map of Kahalui Area |
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For more general information
on Hawaii, go to: |
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For more regional information on Hawaii, go to: |
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For more product information
on Hawaii, go to: |
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For
our special offers to Hawaii from Europe, go to:
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These specials are individual tour packages,
including the roundtrip flights from Europe, interisland flights,
hotels, transfers and rentalcars. Another option is to create your own
package to the Hawaii by utilizing the separate travel components, like
hotels,
flights,
Carrental
and
excursions
on the islands. |
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