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A (Very) Rough Guide To Maui

For a lifelong mainlander, planning a first Maui vacation can be a little daunting. For those that have yet to visit these two linked mountains towering above the middle of the ocean, there is a great deal of information that must be processed before plans can be started.

The place names are in a foreign language, the climate varies wildly, and every brochure makes every square inch of the island sound the same… paradise here and paradise there.

But Maui is not as complicated as it first seems. Start with some basic information to begin planning.

#1 - The higher you go, the cooler it gets, and Maui has two mountains. You can go from tropical warm and balmy by the shore (think Florida) to needing winter clothes at the top of Haleakala (think Scotland).

#2 - The side of the islands that face the wind (called “windward” and shaded in green) are wetter than the side of the islands that are blocked from the wind (called “leeward“ and shaded in tan). This is because the trade winds blow in the same direction all year long.

So uphill is cooler, downhill is warmer, windy is wetter, and calm air is drier.

#3 - The resort and hotel areas tend to be on the south and west coasts of the island (the red line of the map). The quiet, peaceful side of the island is the green line. A first time mainlander may be surprised to find that not all of Maui has been developed. There is still plenty of rural area, small towns, farms, and quiet living.

#4 - Rain on Maui is not a bad thing. Travelers can seriously consider the windward areas to visit or stay. The showers are brief, warm, and they support a lush jungle of breathtaking beauty.

#5 - Use “aloha” for both “hello” and “goodbye”. Use “mahalo” (ma-hah-low) for “thank you”. You will be hearing both.

#6 - The people are friendly.

#7 - Maui has not seen any eruptions since 1790. You will not see any lava.

#8 - The whales visit in the winter. Winter is also “in season”, and rates are higher.

#9 - Renting a car with ground clearance such as an SUV or a Jeep is recommended. Some roads are rough, and you will be glad you did.

#10 - You will enjoy your stay, you will have fun, and you will want to return.

Keep in mind that general information it is not going to be true in every instance. If someone who has been to Maui does not agree with parts of the map, they are probably right.

There are resorts that are not along the red coast, and the wet and dry areas are not bounded by scientifically accurate lines. You may meet a grouch, and you may not see a whale. But as a quick and easy rough guide, this will save a lot of time and energy.

For more simplified Hawaii, see http://www.hawaii.cc

Graphic courtesy http://www.maui.us

Edited by Dave Shultz

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