LAHAINA, Maui (16 Oct 2008) — Hundreds of beautiful islands dot the Pacific Ocean, many offering visitors a unique blend of charm and attractions. But year after year, the Hawaiian island of Maui rises to the top of many people's "must see" destination list. Voted "Best Pacific Island" by the readers of Conde Naste Traveler for 16 years running, Maui continues to delight about 2.2 million visitors a year for a variety of reasons: There are 81 accessible beaches in Maui; 39 have public facilities. Sands may be white, gold, black, salt and pepper, green or garnet in colour, due to ancient volcanic activity.Approximately 3,000 whales winter in Maui waters. There are only 7,000 to 8,000 humpback whales surviving today, so Maui is an ideal spot to do some whale watching.Maui has the largest dormant volcano in the world, Haleakala. Travel to the top and you may find yourself standing above a sea of clouds.The last eruption of Haleakala occurred around 1790, and the lava flow that resulted can be viewed between Ahihi Bay and La Perouse Bay on the southwest shore of East Maui.The peak at Haleakala Volcano is over 3,000 metres high.The depression at the summit is 33 kilometres across and 1,200 metres deep, making it large enough to hold the island of Manhattan.This dormant volcano is also where the lowest ever temperature in the state was recorded: -11 C in 1961.While temperatures normally dip atop the volcano, the island's average temperature is a balmy 25 to 29 C.The island is rich with Polynesian history, since the original peoples to live on Maui were Polynesians, from Tahiti and the Marquesas.A Polynesian navigator named Hawaiiloa, attributed with discovering the islands, was said to name Maui after his son, who had been named after the demi-god Maui. Legend says it was this demi-god that raised all the Hawaiian islands from the sea.Maui was "discovered" by Captain James Cook in 1778, but he was unable to step ashore the island. He couldn't find a suitable landing point. The first European to visit the shores became a French admiral, named Jean Francois de Galaup de La Perouse, who stepped onto the island in 1786.The island is home to 17 golf courses, 10 state parks, 94 county parks and community centers and one national park, Haleakala National Park.The national park's crater is home to the rare plant called the Haleakala silversword. It only grows within a 1,000-hectare area, at an elevation of 2,100 to 3,000 metres, within the park. The silversword takes 15 to 50 years to grow and flowers only once, at the end of its life. | | Some 2.2 million holiday-makers visit Maui every year.Breathtaking oceanfront vistas dominate the infamous Road to Hana on Maui's north. This 89-kilometre long, narrow road features 617 curves and 26 bridges.The island has the second-highest waterfall in the United States.Maui is an important centre for astronomy, being home to one of the five best astronomical and space surveillance sites in the world. The Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site (including the Air Force Research Laboratory and Maui Space Surveillance System) monitors satellites, missiles, man-made orbital debris and astronomical objects. For independent diver ratings and reviews designed to help you plan your scuba diving trtip to Hawaii, go to Dive Hawaii at ScubaLinx.com |
