Page 739 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

H A W A I‘I  737

locomotives make the short and ranges from barren cinder
scenic trip here from Lahaina. desert to alpine shrubland.
A 20-minute drive north of Also worth exploring is the
Kā‘anapali is Maui’s other major Silversword Loop where one
resort, Kapalua, with its of the world’s rarest plants, the
exquisite crescent bays, blue Haleakalā Silversword, thrives.
waters, luxury hotels, golf It takes up to 50 years to flower,
courses, and beautiful pine- when it raises a spectacular
apple plantations. spike of purplish flowers.

8 Haleakalā 9 Hāna
National Park * 700. ~ n MVB, Wailuku, (808)
244-3530. _ East Maui Taro Festival
Haleakalā Crater Road (Hwy 378).
Open 24 hrs daily. & 8 Park (Mar/Apr). ∑ hanamaui.com
Headquarters: Tel (808) 572-4400. Often called Hawai‘i’s most
Open 8am–4pm daily. 7 Visitor
Locals demonstrating their courage at Keka‘a Center: Open 6:30am–3:30pm daily. Hawaiian town, Hāna continues
Point, Kā‘anapali to lag lazily behind modernity.
7 ∑ nps.gov/hale Cabins:
7 Lahaina ∑ fhnp.org/wcr (for reservations). Its perfect round bay and
dreamy climate have made it
* 9,100. g Lahaina Harbor. n 648 The landmass of East Maui is a prized settlement since
Wharf St, (808) 667-9175. _ A Taste really the top of an enormous ancient times. Ka‘uiki Head,
of Lahaina (food festival, mid-Sep); volcano that begins more than the large cinder cone on the
Halloween Mardi Gras of the Pacific 3 miles (5 km) below sea level. right flank of the bay, served as
(Oct 31). ∑ visitlahaina.com Haleakalā last spewed molten a natural fortification.
lava some 200 years ago and is The Hāna Cultural Center
One of Maui’s most popular still con sidered to be active, presents a kauhale (residential
attractions, this small harbor although not currently erupting. compound) in the pre contact
town was the capital of the Its summit depression is 7.5 style once unique to this area
Kingdom of Hawai‘i until 1845 miles (12 km) long and 2.5 miles and exhibits artifacts that give
and a major center of the (4 km) wide. This natural a sense of local history.
whaling trade. The area around wonder is preserved as part of Wānanalua Church,
Front Street has a wealth of the national park. The 2-hour constructed from blocks of
well-restored historic sites, drive to the 10,023-ft (3,055-m) coral in 1838, was built by
evocative of Lahaina’s past. Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula Summit, the missionaries on top of an
Among them is the Baldwin highest point in Maui, offers a existing heiau (temple), thus
Home, Maui’s oldest Western- breathtaking view of the entire symbolizing the triumph of
style dwelling, dating from the volcano, with its cinder cones Christianity over paganism.
1830s, with original furnishings and brightly colored ashes. The scenic Hāna Belt Road
and artifacts. Nearby is the The best way to appreciate twists along the coast to Pā‘ia,
Chinese Wo Hing Temple, built Haleakalā’s scale and varied with views of waterfalls, gulches
in 1912. A favorite landmark is terrain is to descend 3,000 ft choked with vegetation, taro
Lahaina’s first hotel, the (900 m) into the volcano. The fields, botanical gardens,
charming 1901 Pioneer Inn, 10-mile (16-km) Sliding Sands rocky cliffs, and the dramatic
still a tourist mecca and hotel. Trail takes you from the visitor Honomanū Bay with its black
Docked in the harbor, beside center through scenery that sand beach.
the lighthouse, is the
Carthaginian II, a 1920s German
schooner transformed to look
like the kind of small freighter
that brought cargo and people
to the islands in the 1800s. It has
a fascinating museum in the
hold, devoted to whales and
the whale trade.
Just 6 miles (10 km) north of
Lahaina is Maui’s biggest resort,
Kā‘anapali, its long white beach
lined with hotels. Pu’u Keka‘a,
better known as Black Rock,
towers above the beach and
overlooks one of Maui’s best
snorkeling spots. Vintage steam Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula Summit in Haleakalā National Park, Maui’s highest point

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