Maui No Ka Oi - Maui Is The Best
There's an old Hawaiian saying, "Maui, no ka oi". It means "Maui is the best", and I can promise you that this is the truth. Over the years, I have come to learn the ins and outs of the island. There's so much to do and so much beauty to see. You may remember my post about the beautiful road to Hana. The thing I think I love the most about Maui is its diversity. The south-west portion of the island is arid, mountainous and hot. The north-east coast is lush, rainy and humid. The island is made up of 2 sets of mountains formed from 2 volcanoes. The west side is much older than the east side. The mountains have greatly eroded over millions of years. The younger east side is home to Haleakala. Haleakala is an active (yet dormant) volcano that reaches over 10,000 feet above sea level. The elevation is misleading though... it's actually one of the tallest mountains on Earth. For comparison, Mount Everest is only about 12,000 feet from base to peak, even though it has a much greater elevation. 
Reaching the crater (or summit) of Haleakala is a long journey full of switch backs and steep roads, but the destination above the clouds isn't the only thing that makes the trip worth while. Nestled on the slopes of the volcano is what is referred to as the "up-country" of Maui. It's beautiful--lush and green--and the temperature usually sits in the 70s. If you open your windows while on the drive, you can smell the distinctive scent of eucalyptus. Peer out and you'll see tropical flowers, rainbow eucalyptus, and some of the most gorgeous birds. 
One you reach the summit, you have a view like no other. Above the clouds, you are able to see the entire island, and nearby islands like Lanai and Molokai. I think the view from the volcano is best at sunrise.
The beaches on Maui are the best, bar none. the water ranges from a light crystal blue to a deep sapphire. There are many different types of beaches, too. There are rocky beaches which are best left for visual pleasure, black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and your typical light sand beaches. All bring something different to the table.
My favorite swimming beach is easily Napili, on the north western side of Maui. The sand is without blemish. There are no rocks near the shore, but there is plenty of reef to explore with a short swim. The waves are stupendous, too! Paddle boarding and body surfing are popular water sports for the area. 
A trip to Maui isn't complete without some good, old fashioned hiking. My favorite hike is to the waterfall in Haleakala National Park. It's a steep 2 mile hike to the base of the waterfall through humid rain forest, bamboo, and up slick terrain, but it's worth it.
Iao Valley is also worth mentioning. Hike through the deepest valley on Maui and enjoy all the sights and sounds. There are small natural pools that you can take a dip in, and gorgeous views of the green mountain sides. 
There are plenty of restaurants on Maui, too. My favorite is Mama's Fish House. The name can be off-putting. When I first heard of Mama's I thought it sounded like a Long John Silver's... but trust me when I say it's the complete opposite.
Mama's Fish House is unique. The atmosphere is relaxing and the food is delectable. In fact, all the fish served is caught locally from their own fisherman. The menus are dated, and each dish is accompanied with information like where the fish was caught and who the fisherman is. 
I relish every single bite from appetizer to dessert. The dishes there even drive me to try things I would never think about trying anywhere else, like caviar which was adorned on top of the crab cakes we had as an appetizer. When in doubt, macadamia crusted anything is devine.
And the beer lover in me has to point out that Maui has its very own brewery, too. Maui Brewing Company is home to some favorites of mine... Bikini Blonde, anyone? We like to go for lunch. We love their nachos, and of course we have a few flights of their seasonal brews that we can't get on the mainland.
Maui has become like a second home to me. I feel so at peace when I'm there. I love the island life. If you ever get a chance to visit Maui, take full advantage of your time there and break away from the touristy beach-side. You won't be disappointed. Maui no ka oi. Aloha.
