Maui

If you are on a holiday in Hawaii, it is likely you have chosen the destination for its beaches. On a Maui Island holiday in Hawaii, you can have your pick from some of the finest in the world—beautiful, dazzling, and untouched. The Big Beach in the Makena State Park has more than a mile of golden sun-kissed, soft sands that invite you to laze around and dream away the day with a fruity cocktail in hand. The waters here sport a brilliant shade of turquoise. The Ka’anapali Beach is another top draw for beachcombers and especially those who want to take to the waters, take on the waves, or soar high above the ground. A beach holiday to Maui Island has many lures, and it can be as languorous or action-packed as you want it to be.

Those who have been on this route remember a scenic drive where the road meanders through sheer cliffs and verdant forests and hides at every turn scenery that takes your breath away, makes you screech to a halt, gape in stunned wonder, and want to stay back and never move on. The road takes you past waterfalls that plunge down rugged cliffs, over rustic one-lane bridges and through sleepy hamlets where life moves at an unhurried pace. Dotted along the way are dip pools and trails that wind through virgin forests. It is a land of magic, mystery, and an otherworldly beauty. The road to Hana transports you to a primeval world that hasn’t changed in ages and is counted as one of the most scenic drives in the world by legions of enchanted travellers.

When you are on a holiday to Hawaii, expect to be busy on the beach, in the waters, and under it as well. Choose from a plethora of activities—from sunbathing to bodysurfing and from snorkelling and diving to parasailing and whale watching—when you are on a beach holiday in Maui Island. But not all action takes place on the beaches. Megalopolises are yet to make their way here. So Maui Island is strewn with lovely trails through verdant forests or over mountains. You can hike through the sacred Iao Valley where the memories of its violent past still hang heavy in the air or climb the Haleakalā peak. The Haleakalā crater is shrouded in mist, but you can still make out that it is wide, gaping, and seemingly bottomless—a stark reminder of the time in yore when the mountain had opened up and devoured the land. The realisation that Mother Nature can destroy as well is humbling and awe-inspiring, but it still does not take away from Her beauty. The summit of the Haleakalā peak affords sweeping views of the landscape—a rugged mountainous terrain dotted with lush forests. It is also the best spot in Maui Island to watch the sun break over the horizon or go down in a splendid display of colours. 

A Hawaii holiday is a trip to the land of the aloha people who love life and celebrate it through their art, food, and customs. During your Hawaii holiday to Maui Island, visit artisan communities to see artists at work, painting, weaving, and sculpting pieces that carry in them the breeze from the sea, the scent of the forests, and the stories of the people. Take part in the local festivals that showcase Maui traditions that have evolved from the fusion of a multitude of different cultures and belief systems.

With year-round balmy temperatures and sunny weather, a Maui Island holiday in Hawaii can be undertaken during any season of the year. Because of its tropical climate, the four seasons do not vary much—it is just a parade of one brilliantly sunny day after another with a few rainy days during winter. The rains and the accompanying grey weather are only intermittent. They do not upset your itinerary; rather, the overcast skies and the pleasant drizzle add a different colour to the environs and make the landscape greener.

Plan your Hawaii holiday to Maui Island keeping the festivals in mind. The many festivals of Maui Island showcase the ancient cultural traditions of the land, provide a platform to the local artists, and give you an opportunity to mingle with the locals, listen to their stories, share their dreams, and bask in the warmth of their friendliness. You will make many new friends during these festivals.

Winter Warmth

Maui Island is a favourite escape of many vacationers who are tormented by snowy, wet, or stormy winters back home. Maui winters are warm, sunny, and inviting. It is also the season to go whale watching or ride the colossal breakers of Hookipa Beach. The PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions is held in January and provides golfing enthusiasts with the chance to see the masters of the game play from close quarters. The Maui Chinese New Year Festival is a riot of colour and fireworks, and showcases the unique cultural traditions of the Chinese. Take part in this festival to appreciate the tolerant and accepting culture of the islanders.

Spring Treats for Art Lovers and Foodies

Throughout the centuries, various races have descended upon Maui Island. They fell in love with the land, its people and their culture, and the spectacular natural environs, and have stayed on. The culture of Maui Island today is a melting pot of influences and nowhere is this fusion more evident (and delightfully so) than in its eclectic cuisine. The Maui Onion Festival is a must-go for foodies who want to take the gastronomic route to the heart of a people and understand a culture. Spring is also the time for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival. The East Maui Taro Festival and the Olukai Hoolaulea honour Mother Nature and celebrate the life force and vitality She bestows on the people of the island. These festivals embody the close bond the islanders share with Nature and take you closer to their hearts.

Summer Buzz

The long, sunny days of summer bring in more treats for culture enthusiasts. The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival is a license to ditch your diet and indulge in gluttony. The pleasant summer evenings are filled with lilting tunes and melodies. The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival brings together musicians and music lovers to celebrate an art form that originated two centuries ago. The Hawaiian Music Concert takes place on the last Thursday of June, July, and August in Lahaina. This outdoor event showcases upcoming musical talent from all over Hawaii. Show your support to these young men and women who are striving to keep alive traditional Hawaiian music in the face of an onslaught from mindless melodies, tuneless songs, and jarring beats.The Hawaii State Windsurfing Championship takes place during the summer season when the waters are placid and the winds blow steadily. This is also the season to bring your kids to Maui Island, and let them have a whale of a time splashing about in the calm waters.

Autumn

In autumn, Maui Island is awash with a sea of colours. The Aloha Festivals give one more reason to the islanders to deck up in their party best, eat, drink, sing, dance, and make merry.     A Maui Island holiday is never bereft of music. The Maui Ukulele Festival preserves Maui musical traditions and is a rare opportunity to watch a live performance where the lyrics speak of tales long forgotten and the tunes resonate with the heartbeat of the people.