The Legend of Maui - Hina, mother of the demigod Maui, had trouble drying her bark cloth because the day was too short. So Maui went to the great mountain that the sun passed over each day and, as the sun's rays crept over the mountain, snared them and held them fast with his ropes. "Give me my life," pleaded the sun. "I will give you your life," said Maui, "if you promise to go more slowly across the sky." And to this day, the sun is careful to go slowly across the heavens; and the great mountain is known as Haleakala (Ha-lay-ah-ka-lah), the House of the Sun.

Maui is called the Valley Isle - Pinapples and sugar cane are grown in the valley at the base of the great volcano Haleakala. The twin towns of Kahului and Wailuku are found in the valley, and the airport is just to the east of Kahului. The main tourist areas are not to be found in Kahului or Wailuku - these towns are largely left to the locals. The Canadians and retired Americans tend to go to the more reasonably priced Kihei area, and the more affluent Japanese and Americans tend to go to the more exclusive Kaanapali and Wailea areas. Wailea in particular, is very popular with affluent tourists, and is a much newer development than Kaanapali. For example, have a look at the atrium area of the Royal Wailean . Needless to say, golf is a popular pastime in both locales.

Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is without a doubt the most popular with Canadian tourists. In both 1983 and 1995, we stayed in Kihei condos which we arranged with Canadian owners who live right here in British Columbia. Although we are still forced to pay rentals in US$, cutting out commissions usually saves substantially over rental rates arranged through travel agents. If you live on the west coast of Canada or the U.S., check your local newspaper want ad listings under Travel. You might be surprised at the variety of listings offered for condos on Maui and the other Hawaiian Islands too.

Condo rental rates we paid were in the US$50 to US$65 per night range. This is for a one bedroom condo, with kitchen, lanai (patio/deck), and pull-out sofa bed in the living room. These type of units are ideal for a small family, or two couples who don't need too much privacy. Two bedroom condos are also available, and are ideal for 4-6 adults, or those who need more privacy. On the 1995 trip, we were 4 single adults, so we rented two 1 bedroom condos. This arrangement worked out very well for us, and also represents excellent value.

Most visitors to Maui rent a car, since there is no bus system. You would be well advised to arrange rental of your car before you leave on your trip, since rentals can be at a premium during the high seasons. In this case, using travel agents would be advisable, since you will get confirmations before you leave. You will still be free to negotiate at the counter for the rental rate and type of vehicle you wish to rent, but at least you will be guaranteed some kind of rental vehicle.

The north east coast of Maui has some wonderful beaches. Most have public access, and are heavily used by the locals. While we were visiting in November of 1995, Maui experienced strong winds, and some huge surf. Along the north west coast (north of Kaanapali), the surfers had all the wave action they could handle! This made for some spectacular views, and the blowhole at Mokolea Point put on quite a show as well.

Wildflowers abound on Maui (and the other Hawaiian Islands as well), and you shouldn't wiz along the highways in your car without stopping to smell the flowers, otherwise you will miss one of the most wonderful features of Hawaii. Plumeria is a delicate white flower, often used in making leis. We took a rest stop along the Hana Highway, and I discovered these beautiful wild orchids, growing on the road bank. When visiting the Iao Needle area, who would have expected to see these huge wild lilies (I think that's what they are) growing along the trail

Lahaina is an old whaling town turned into a tourist trap, however it is worth seeing. The Pioneer Inn has a nice bar overlooking the harbour area, located beside the huge banyan tree (the tree takes up a whole city block!). The Pioneer Inn also has a very nice restaurant, which is hidden away from the street in the atrium, located in the centre of the hotel. I don't recommend staying at the hotel (too noisy), but the bar and restaurant offer excellent places to unwind, and get away from the hustle and heat of Lahaina's main drag.

Although I understand that Lahaina's old sugar mill doesn't operate anymore, but there is a funky old sugar train ride you can take down the line, complete with singing engineer! Sugar cane is harvested using both machines, and manually. Here is a shot of workers in the fields cutting cane by hand.

Recommended restaurant: The Thai Chef restaurant is located on the South Kihei Road - Although this restaurant is hidden away in the back of a small mall, it is worth finding. It is nothing fancy, but the service is excellent.The food is reasonably priced, and very well prepared. They serve Thai food (of course!), however you can order the degree of spiciness. Our group represented tastes from medium to mild spice, and nobody had any problems with the food at the Thai Chef.

If you like barbequed ribs, and you are staying at a condo that is equipped with a BBQ, then I have a tip for you. Go to Azeka's Deli and Takeout , which is located beside the discount hardware store in the huge Azeka's Mall on the west side of South Kihei Road. It's hard to find, so keep looking! Ask for their uncooked, marinated barbeque ribs - just tell them how many you want to feed, and they will take it from there. Take the ribs back to your condo and BBQ them. Serve with some salads and your favorite beverage for a real local Maui treat!

Here is another of Joe's sunsets - this one is looking out over Maalaea Bay. While in Hawaii, don't forget to kick back and watch the sunsets...they are made just for you by the Hawaiian gods.