Maui is 1885 sq km area is the second largest island of the archipelago and also in relation to the annual visitor numbers from Hawaii to the second place. With approximately 88,000 residents live here, but fewer people than at Big Iceland and Oahu. The result is Maui earth in two phases, first raised the volcanic cones of the mountains in the west from the ocean, from which the highest summit of Puu Kukui with 1764 m is. Only later formed the eastern mountains of the island today with the 3050 m-high Haleakala, whose crater with a diameter of more than 8 km of the largest Hawaii. Between the two volcanic massifs, the mountain slopes

 

of steep, narrow valleys are shaped, formed a 10 km wide level. There, and on the gently rising slopes of the mountains there is a fertile, red soil, the basis for flourishing maize agriculture. Exotic fruits, sugarcane, pineapple and vegetables are grown here, and even wine. Continue in the uplands of Maui, the ranches and cool forests. Even the very top, most of dense clouds surrounded the summit of Haleakala, thrive in the barren lava still rare native plant species such as the silver sword. After the Hawaiian mythology began once the demigod Maui with his lasso on the main summit of the volcano on the island sun. He was only released as they had promised him their daily train on his island to slow down. The grateful Hawaiians named after their island of Maui and the volcano was named Haleakala. It means house of the sun. To lack of sun can the people on Maui today not complain. The beautiful, white sandy beaches - About 50 km in total and the luxurious resort hotels on the south coast to do for a carefree holiday happiness. Maui is the number of visitors after the most popular Hawaii - Island. Building boom and tourist hustle and bustle of Waikiki swashes in recent years on Maui - with action on the beach, trendy surfer scene, fabulous golf courses, hotel complexes and lively nightlife. But thanks to their size, the island's growing tourist influx cope quite well. The long beaches are lively, but not overcrowded. Hotels and Apartment complexes are concentrated in two regions: Kaanapali and the coastline between Kihei and Makena. In the vast hinterland, at the North coast and in the mountains, still governs the nature with waterfalls, rain forests and deserts of volcanic ash. Already in the early colonization of the Hawaiian islands of Maui has played an important role, partly because the fertility of the land, and until 1843 was the seat of the Hawaiian kings in Lahaina. Only with the immigration of American and European White, who for economic reasons and because of the favorable natural and port facilities in Honolulu, Oahu island favorite, lost the island in importance. Only the Whalers remained faithful to the island, the Lahaina neighborhood as quiet had chosen when they are in winter months-long trips in the harsh Northern Pacific needed a restful refuge. Importantly for the Hawaiian Maui economy remained, however, because of its fertile land, where under favorable climatic conditions, large sugar cane, pineapples and even rubber tree plantations emerged. The largest of its kind was the plantation of missionary sons Sam Alexander and Henry Perrine Baldwin, the Chinese laborers from a large irrigation system could be built that the water from the mountains in the Ostmauis barren, sandy plain between the two mountain massifs headed. From the early almost desert-like area was fertile land. Even today, the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, "the largest and most profitable plantation in the country. Technically, all the traffic interesting points of the island easy to reach, a classic Round trip is not possible, as well as the extreme northwest of the southeastern coastal strip only with all-wheel drive vehicles will be allowed for the use of this rental car Roads officially is offered.