Maui General Information about the Island of Maui Maui was formed between two volcanoes, who spilled enough lava between them to form this island, whose nickname is “valley”. This unusual formation pattern partly explains the amazing variety of sub-climates and geographical delights that make Maui so special. There are lush, humid areas, dry, deserty areas, intensely hot areas, and cool foggy areas. One constant is the breezes, which provide benefits in so many ways. Windsurfing in Maui is spectacular. The geographical centerpiece star of Maui, however, is the now-dormant volcano “Haleakala”. Haleakala means “House of the Sun”, and it’s certainly a huge house. So big, in fact that Haleakala creates its own weather patterns, and there’s an entire mountain range on the volcano, which happens to be much much bigger than Manhattan. Thirty-seven miles up, at the summit, you can see the cold hard (thank goodness) crater, which hasn’t erupted in 200 years. If you look at the island of Maui on the map, you’ll notice that its shape resembles a left-facing profile of a human head and shoulders, leaning slightly downwards. Using this shape to orient ourselves, one of the first things you’ll notice if you drive around Maui is that the entire coast from top of the forehead down to base of the neck is lined by a coastal-hugging road. Along this road is where you’ll find evidence of Maui’s popularity as a tourist destination: rows and rows of beachfront resorts. Fortunately, that’s it for the ultra-developed touristy aspect of Maui, all concentrated along that beach area. If you never venture beyond this strip, you’re missing out on the real Maui. The other parts of Maui holds evidence of human development, but on a much gentler, older scale: you’ll see old sugar plantations, ranches, and mountain homes peeking out of the foliage for a view of the ocean. There is agriculture: the Maui onion, and vinyards and more recently, coffee.