MAUI - THE MAGIC
ISLES
If there is one reason for Maui's enduring
popularity it is it's diversity -- the island's uncanny ability
to dazzle and soothe almost at the same time.
The second largest island in the Hawaiian chain, Maui is 48
miles long and 26 miles across. But into that space is packed
long, sandy beaches, tropical rainforests, rolling green pasture
lands, dryland forests, and spectacular rocky cliffs.
Although Maui's average temperature is between 75 and 85
degrees, in one day you can huddle at the top of Haleakala Crater
watching a sunrise in 40 degree weather, sit on the sand at Kihei
enjoying the tradewinds at noon, and watch the sun set in the
west in the cooler evenings.
The close proximity to Maui of the neighboring islands of
Lana`i and Moloka`i, both a part of Maui County, gives the
feeling of being sheltered by a large, relatively calm lake.
There is a coziness about seeing another island off in the
distance. One you can almost reach out and touch.
On any given day, you can hop on a ferry, small plane or
catamaran and spend time snorkeling off one of Lana`i's beaches,
or trekking the east end of Moloka`i with Hawaiian guides who are
natives of the island.You can do this without ever having to go
through the annoying process of packing and unpacking, or
airports and check-in counters.
Maui's beaches are legend. Pristine and sheltered, especially on
the leeward coasts, they have been lauded on top 10 lists for
years. The beach fronting the Kapalua Bay Hotel is among the
best. But you can't dismiss the stretch of white sand at
Kaanapali, or the beaches of Kihei and the continuous coves at
Wailea and Makena.
MAUI FACT SHEET
SIZE: Maui is the second
largest of the Hawaiian islands with a land area of 729 square
miles. It is 48 miles long and 26 miles across at its widest
point.
POPULATION: 103,000. Ethnic mix: 36%
Caucasian, 23% Japanese, followed by Filipino, Hawaiian and
Chinese.
BIGGEST TOWNS:
1. Kahului
2. Wailuku
3. Lahaina
MAJOR INDUSTRIES:
1. Tourism
2. Sugar
3. Pineapple
4. Cattle
5. Diversified Agriculture
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: 75-85 degrees
Fahrenheit
MILES OF SHORELINE: 120 linear miles.
NUMBER OF BEACHES: 81 accessible beaches.
39 have public facilities. Sands may be white, gold, black,
salt and pepper, green or garnet, due to ancient volcanic
activity.
PRINCIPAL RESORT AREAS: In West Maui the
principal resort areas are Kaanapali and Kapalua; South Maui's
prime resorts are Makena and Wailea. Hana, Kihei,
Napili, Honokowai and Upcountry are also visitor destinations.
HIGHEST PEAK: Haleakala Volcano (dormant),
10,023 feet. The summit depression is 21 miles across, and
4,000 feet deep, large enough to hold the island
of Manhattan.
NUMBER OF HOTELS: Approximately 61, with
10,664 rooms
NUMBER OF VACATION CONDOMINIUMS:
Approximately 103, with 7,343 units.
NUMBER OF BED AND BREAKFAST INNS: 40 (less than half are licensed-we are)
NUMBER OF VISITORS ANNUALLY: In 1990, 2.3
million visitors came to the island of Maui.
NUMBER OF WHALES ANNUALLY: Approximately
1,500 whales winter in Maui waters. There are only
7,000-8000 humpback whales surviving today. An adult whale
is 45 feet long and weighs 40 tons. Baby whales born in
Maui waters weigh a mere 2,000 pounds.
MOST POPULAR VISITOR ATTRACTIONS: The
attractions and places consistently drawing the most visitors are
Haleakala National Park, Lahaina Town, `Iao Valley State
Park and Hana District.
PARKS: There are 10 state parks, 94 county
parks and community centers and 1 national park, Haleakala
National Park.
GOLF COURSES: Maui has sixteen golf
courses.
SUPERLATIVES:
Maui was voted "Best Island in the World" by the
readers of Cond‚ Nast Traveler magazine for seven
consecutive years since 1994 and "World's Best Island"
by the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine for four
years in a row since 1996.
1. Maui has more miles of swimmable beach than any
other Hawaiian island.
2. Maui has the largest dormant volcano in the world,
Haleakala.
3. Maui has the second highest waterfall in the United States.
4. Maui had the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Hawaiian
Islands, 11 degrees in 1961, atop Haleakala.
AIRPORTS: The main airport is at Kahului
in the center of Maui. There is also a smaller airport at
West Maui, and a commuter airport at Hana.
The County of Maui includes the islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i,
as well as the island of Maui.
HAWAIIAN CULTURE
IS ALIVE AND WELL ON MAUI
Hawaii's rich cultural heritage is one of the
grandest flourishing in the Pacific. First discovered by
Polynesian voyagers sailing from the Marquesas in the South
Pacific in great double-hulled canoes around the year 450 A.D.,
Hawaii later became the focus for other waves of migrations from
Tahiti.
It was in the utter isolation of Hawaii, miles on every side from
any other land, that its unique culture developed. The early
Hawaiians established a sound system of land and ocean
management, a system of chiefs and religious laws, and later in
the 19th century a monarchy. The arts in Hawaii flourished and
artists were highly respected by society.
Although much about Hawaii has changed since that fateful day in
1778 when Captain James Cook first "discovered" these
islands, the Hawaiian culture has proved to be amazingly
resilient. In recent years everything from the hula to arts and
crafts have seen a healthy revival throughout the islands. On
Maui it finds a beautiful expression.
THE HULA
In the absence of a written language, the
history, genealogy (critical to the spiritual beliefs of
Hawaiians) and the recording of great events were kept in the
chants and dances of the people.
A hula dancer was dedicated to a life of discipline and study
from early childhood. Dancers, both male and female, left their
families to live in a hula halau where they were taught the
spiritual as well as physical aspects of the dance. Their place
in society was secured.
Through the hula the stories of the people were passed from
generation to generation in haunting chants and movements. Hula
was accompanied by instruments made from gourds, bamboo,
feathers, shark skin and ocean pebbles.
Closely tied to religious as well as secular celebrations, the
hula began a decline with the fall of the ancient kapu system
after the death of the great king, Kamehameha I. Its
closely held secrets became even more so. But, the most
devastating blow came with the arrival of Christian missionaries
from New England in the 1820s. The unclad bodies and suggestive
movements of the dance scandalized the newcomers.
Hula went underground for years and was practiced and
passed on in secret until the ascension to the Hawaiian throne of
the elected King David Kalakaua in 1874. Kalakaua, nostalgic for
the glory of old Hawaii and wrestling with the tumultuous changes
of the time, reintroduced the hula in a grand manner at his
inauguration on the grounds of Iolani Palace. The Hawaiian people
were ecstatic.
The new hula (hula auwana) and the ancient (hula kahiko)
continued in the years that followed. The new dance incorporated
imported instruments such as the ukulele, guitar, bass and the
steel guitar. Hula songs began using English words and the
"hapa haole hula" (half-white) was born.
With what is being called the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s,
hula and related Native Hawaiian arts are seeing a revitalization
like never before. On Maui leading proponents such as the late
Auntie Emma Sharpe, Nina Maxwell, Hokulani Holt Padilla and
Keali'i Reichel have made giant strides in presenting hula in an
accurate and respectful manner.
Hula is now celebrated in several Maui festivals including
Na Mele O Maui, Haku Mele O Hana, Hula O Na Keiki and Moloka`i's
Ka Hula Piko. Through these events the knowledge of the dance is
passed to the next generation. Hula is also performed in the
resort hotels, at public lu`au and in shopping centers. Free hula
lessons in the modern version are offered in many of the hotels.
HAWAIIAN MUSIC
When you think of Hawaiian music, you probably
think of Don Ho crooning "Tiny Bubbles." If you are
older, you grew up to the strains of "Hawaii Calls" on
the radio. It was the syrupy, nostalgic music of movies and
nightclubs.
Music has always been important to every day life in Hawaii. When
the missionaries arrived they immediately formed church choirs
and translated hymns into the Hawaiian language. Those hymns are
still sung in churches throughout Maui.
Many of Hawaii's rulers supported musical talents and wrote music
themselves. Hawaii's last queen, Liliuokalani, wrote haunting
melodies of a land lost while imprisoned in a room in Iolani
Palace by American sugar planters and their supporters. Her most
famous composition is the beautiful, "Aloha Oe."
Along with the resurgence of interest in hula came a renewed
excitement for Hawaiian music. Contemporary Hawaiian music, with
its inclusion of musical forms from reggae, country western and
Broadway, is enjoying a new "golden age."
Among Maui's most prominent Hawaiian entertainers are
Keali'i Reichel, Pekelo, Uluwehi Guerrero, Amy Hanaiali`i
Gilliom, the duo Hapa, and Willie K.
THE LEI
Hawaiians had no precious stones or metals. Their
jewelry came from the land and sea -- garlands of flowers, ferns,
shells, feathers, seeds and leaves. They are still given to mark
every occasion in a person's life, birthdays, weddings,
graduations, arrivals, departures and funerals.
When a building is dedicated fragrant strands of maile are untied
at the entrance to signify good tidings. Sweet smelling lei such
as pikake (jasmine) or pakalana are given to women to be worn as
a seductive perfume. A man celebrating an important occasion will
be given a lei such as maile entwined with bright yellow ilima.
Maui's school children celebrate May Day as Lei Day and come to
school wearing lei of every conceivable sort. Even candy and
money lei are seen. Lei making contests are held to show off the
diversity of materials and styles. Lei are worn as hat bands, on
the wrists and ankles of dancers, encircling the heads of brides
and canoe paddlers. Even horses have their special lei for
parades.
THE HAWAIIAN
QUILT
When the missionary wives unpacked their trunks
from New England and Hawaiian women spotted their quilts a new
art form was born.
Hawaiian women learned to stitch and quilt their own designs cut
in one piece out of cotton calico. The result was spectacular.
Soon designs were kept secret as other Hawaiian crafts had been
in ancient times. They obtained great spiritual and artistic
significance. Quilts were designed with subtle meanings and named
accordingly.
When the Hawaiian kingdom fell and Hawaiians were no longer
allowed to fly their flag, they quietly made their bed quilts
into flags so that each morning they could still wake up
"under the flag of Hawaii."
Today the Hawaiian quilting technique can be seen in pillows,
children's crib quilts, beach totes and even Christmas ornaments.
Hotel lobbies have beautiful quilts hung as decorative pieces and
the designs are silk screened onto bed comforters.
KAPA
Ancient Hawaiians pounded the bark of the
mulberry, or wauke tree, into a felt-like fabric called kapa
which was used for everything from sails for canoes to bedding
and clothing. The pounded fabric was then decorated with colored
natural dyes and primitive geometric designs. Experts on
Polynesian crafts consider Hawaiian kapa some of the best quality
in the Pacific.
Kapa is almost considered a lost art. It is so prized that when
you see it displayed in museums such as the Bailey House Museum
in Wailuku or hotel lobbies, it is almost always under glass. One
of Maui's most gifted kapa makers is Pua Van Dorpe of Lahaina.
FEATHERWORK
Feathers were used to create the highest forms of
Hawaiian jewelry and adornments. Only men and women of the
highest ranks wore feather lei, helmets and capes. The native
birds which supplied the feathers were carefully cultivated. A
natural glue was applied to the limbs of trees and the birds were
caught. A few feathers were taken from their tails and they were
then released. Unfortunately, many of these early birds have died
off due to the urbanization of Hawaii and the importation of
diseases.
Today the most common featherwork is seen in lei and hat bands.
Craftspeople can be found at community sales throughout the
island.
WOODCARVING
Hawaii's forests yielded many beautiful woods
such as koa, milo and ohia -- hardwoods of exceptional beauty
that were used for furniture, flooring and containers.
Hawaii's cabinet makers flourished in the years after western
contact in the 1800s and early 1900s. In recent years there has
been a renewed interest in working with Hawaiian woods. Many
Maui art galleries and craft fairs feature the contemporary work
of island artists.
LANGUAGE
While language is not strictly an art form, it is
essential to any cultural expression. Native Hawaiian language
belongs to the same root group as Tahitian, Samoan and Maori.
Once spoken throughout the island chain, it is now used mostly in
songs, dance and for ceremonial purposes. Many Hawaiian words
have survived and are used in everyday conversation such as pau
hana (finished work), ono (delicious) and mahalo (thank you).
Today many Maui children are taught the Hawaiian language at the
Punana Leo pre-school in an immersion program or at the
University of Hawaii. There are efforts at all levels to relearn
and use the language in a correct and accurate manner.
TIME LINE MAUI
2,000,000 BC Maui's first volcano
rises from the depths of the ocean and appears above the surface
of the waves.
1,000,000 BC Haleakala breaks the surface.
Flows from the two volcanoes join to form the island of Maui,
they also connect with other volcanoes that later form the
separate islands of Lana`i, Moloka`i and Kahoolawe.
Scientists refer to the giant prehistoric landmass, before the
break-up, as Maui Nui, Big Maui.
450 AD The first Polynesian explorers from the Marquesas
Islands discover Hawaii. Settlement of the islands
begins. Recent archaeological evidence is
suggesting a much earlier date.
700 Waves of colonists from Tahiti arrive.
The succession of Maui kings
Piilani (ruled during late 14th and early 15th centuries)
Kiha-a-piilani
Kama-lala-walu
Kauhi-a-kama
Kalani-kau-maka'o-wakea
Lono-honua-kini
Kaulahea
Kekaulike
Kamehameha-nui
Kahekili
1778 Captain James Cook of England discovers Hawaii
for the Western world but never sets foot on Maui.
1787 Captain Jean Francois de Galaup de La Perouse
becomes the first foreigner to step ashore on Maui, at Makena, in
the bay now named after him. (Perouse decided not to
claim the island for the King of France, despite his orders.)
1790 Kamehameha the Great defeats King Kahekili and
his Maui forces, bringing Maui into the united Hawaiian kingdom.
1802 Kamehameha the Great names Lahaina as the
capital of Hawaiian kingdom.
1819 Kamehameha the Great dies. His widow,
Queen Kaahumanu, defies the power of the priests, and the people
topple the old religion.
It is also the year the first whaling ship, the Balena out
of New Bedford, Massachusetts arrives in Lahaina.
1823 The first New England missionaries arrive on
Maui.
1825 The first of the battles between the
whalers and the missionaries erupts in Lahaina.
1828 Maui's first sugar mill begins operations.
1831 The first high school west of the Rocky
Mountains, Lahainaluna, is established on Maui.
1831 The Baldwin Mission House, the oldest surviving
house on Maui is built.
1850 The capital of the Hawaiian nation is moved from
Lahaina to Honolulu.
1852 The first sugar plantation laborers begin to
arrive from Kwangtung, China.
1885 Japanese immigration to Maui begins.
1893 The constitutional Hawaiian monarchy is overthrown by
American settlers living in Hawaii.
1903 Dwight Baldwin plants the first pineapple on
Maui at Haiku.
1916 Haleakala joins the national park system of the
U.S.A. In 1961 it becomes a national park in its own right.
1941 Pearl Harbor is bombed by Japan and martial law
is declared in Hawaii.
1946 The first resort on Maui, the Hotel Hana-Maui,
opens.
1959 Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the United
States.
1961 Kaanapali opens as Hawaii's first master-planned
resort.
1976 The Hokule'a, replica of an ancient Polynesian
voyaging canoe, sets sail from Maui for Tahiti, recreating the
ancestral journeys.