Maui Vacations from Hawaiian Airlines

Only one airline is Hawaiian

From the moment you land on Maui, you’ll feel magic in the air. Perhaps it’s the scent of plumeria mingling with the sound of lively ukulele tunes. Whatever it may be, a Maui vacation is an escape that showers the senses.

Maui is an island with oomph. It’s bold in spirit, revealing an attitude that soars. With deeply etched valleys, craggy cliffs, rolling green pastures and shimmering shores, a Maui trip will mesmerize you with its pristine beauty. Some 120 miles of coastline serves up a legendary list of beaches lauded on top ten lists year after year.

In the late 19th century, rowdy whalers sailed aboard brigantines along Maui’s shores, thirsting for Lahaina revelry. This historic port has a different temperament these days, with catamarans, yachts and fishing boats filling its slips.

Still embracing its whaling roots while adding a splash of eateries, studios and shops, the harbor town buzzes with energy. Friday night is art night, with dozens of galleries showcasing artists-in-action and entertainment for all tastes.

Towering above it all is Maui’s massive icon, Haleakala Crater. Long hyped for its sunrise drives and downhill biking, this spectacle also delivers thrills via zipline adventures, horseback riding, eco-hikes and ATV tours.

The essence of island life Maui-style, however, is best sampled on the hills heading up to Haleakala. Protea, orchids, carnations and roses thrive in this cool upcountry setting that’s sprinkled with farms, orchards, ranches and tiny towns. Paniolo (cowboys) still ride the ranges and rustic streets en route to the local grain and feed store.

Then there’s Hana, baiting with vistas that amply reward for the winding white-knuckle drive. Some 620 hairpin curves, 56 one-lane bridges, countless waterfalls and tropical jungles vie for attention, tugging even the most cautious eyes from the road ahead.

Snorkel with marine marvels at crystal clear Molokini or Honolua Bay. Catch the topsy-turvy maneuvers of windsurfers at Hookipa. Indulge in an upscale spa treatment after hiking through a bamboo forest. Sip pineapple wine in a hidden vineyard. Hail the humpbacks. Tee off, saddle up or simply sit back and soak in the sun. On Maui, the diversity is divine.

Enduring popularity and endless promise. That’s the mystique of Maui travel.

Intrigued? Hawaiian Airlines services this has-it-all getaway with daily flights to Maui connecting in Honolulu from nine West Coast gateways. Nonstop service is also offered from select cities. So you can book Maui air travel and purchase Maui airline tickets in a snap.

Take a look at Maui airfares and Maui travel packages on Hawaiian Airlines. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to reserve your Maui flights and purchase your Maui airline tickets on-line. There’s no better way to handle Maui travel and Maui vacation packages than with Hawaiian Airline’s on-line service.

Maui Island Tidbits

• Legend holds that the demigod Maui lassoed the sun from atop Haleakala and slowed its descent, making a perfect day here last a little longer. The island was named after this mythological "superman."
• Dive in! With more miles of swimmable beaches than any other Hawaiian Island, Maui’s beauties come in colors of gold, black, white, salt-and-pepper, green and red.
• Maui is renowned as the whale watching capital of Hawaii. It’s estimated that 50% of the world’s humpback population congregate in warm offshore waters from November – April to meet and mate. A full-grown whale can measure more than 45 feet long and weigh over 40 tons.
• Here’s a cool stat! Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, owns the distinction for the lowest temperature ever recorded in Hawaii – 11F in 1961.
• Lahaina’s famous Banyan Tree on Front Street is the largest of its kind in the U.S.
• The island was created from two volcanos with lava flows that eventually linked.

Top Maui Travel Tips

• Upcountry is a natural for those appreciating a homegrown experience. Produce farms, Tedeschi Vineyard and Winery, and the unique Surfing Goat Dairy provide treats for every taste. In fact, the bulk of Hawaii's protea, as well as nearly all the carnations used in leis, are grown in Kula.
• Be bold! Catch the sunrise at Haleakala’s summit, spend the afternoon beaching it at Wailea, then soak in a sunset off Kaanapali Beach – all on the same day!
• You’ve gotta love a luau. Maui offers more than its share of these pulsating Polynesian extravaganzas. Be sure to catch the authentic action.
• On any given day, Maui visitors can hop a ferry or sail aboard a catamaran to snorkel in one of Lanai’s sparkling bays. Prefer to stay dry? Then catch a commuter flight to Molokai and mule-train it down to Kalaupapa National Historic Park. Steady mules make the tricky trek daily, rain or shine.
• Maui's hotel and restaurant chefs are recognized among the finest in the country. This wave of new culinary wizards celebrates island cuisine through the Maui Onion Festival, Kapalua Wine and Food Symposium, Food & Wine Masters in Wailea and Kihei’s Taste of South Maui.
• Whoop it up with the whales! Whether watching from shoreside or aboard an ocean outing, these gentle giants are a thrill to experience. Operators beef up their schedules from November – April, with some even guaranteeing a spotting.
• Other Can’t Miss Hits – Maui Ocean Center, Iao Valley State Park, Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum, Kula Botanical Garden, Hana’s Seven Sacred Pools.

Maui Fast Factoids

• Nickname: The Magic Island
• Flower: Lokelani
• Population: 138,221 (2004)
• Orientation: Situated between Oahu and The Big Island of Hawaii, Maui lies across the channel from the other Maui County islands of Lanai and Molokai. On the island's isthmus lie its largest towns, Wailuku and Kahului. Kahului is home to Maui's major airport and harbor, while adjacent Wailuku serves as Maui County's (Maui, Molokai and Lanai) government center.
• Largest Towns: Kahului, Wailuku and Lahaina
• Size: The second largest of the Hawaiian chain, the 727-square-mile island is 40 miles long and 26 miles across at its widest point
• Coastline: 120 miles
• Beaches: 81
• Highest Elevation: 10,023 feet at the summit of Haleakala Volcano
• Parks: 10 state parks and 1 national park – Haleakala National Park
• Golf Courses: 16
• Average Temperature: 75 – 85F

Maui Accommodations:

Over 18,000 rooms are available in four major resort areas – Wailea, Makena, Kaanapali and Kapalua. Other visitor areas include Lahaina, Maalaea, Honokowai, Kahana, Napili, Upcountry and Hana.

Maui Airport:

Kahului Airport (OGG) is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range. The commuter Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui is situated between Kaanapali Beach Resort and Kapalua Resort.

Your Hawaiian Connection:

Hawaiian Airlines operates nonstop flights to Kahului from several West Coast gateways, plus connecting service from Honolulu. Interisland flights also service Kahului from Lihue on Kauai, and both Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. Code-share service is provided between Kahului and Molokai. To Kapalua Airport, code-share service is operated from Honolulu on Oahu, Lihue on Kauai, and both Hilo and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Visitors Bureau: www.visitmaui.com