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Central Maui is dominated by historic Wailuku, seat of the county government, and modern Kahului, the island’s bustling retail center. The Maui Historical Society Museum—known commonly as the Bailey House Museum—offers a fascinating look into Maui’s missionary past. The museum also has the largest collection of pre-Western-contact Hawaiian artifacts on Maui.
Make sure you have lots of film to capture the old missionary home (built between 1833 and 1850), as well as the nearby sights, which include Kaahumanu Church and Iao Valley State Park. On the way to Iao Valley and its famous “Needle” (a towering mountain peak), stop by the John F. Kennedy Profile (with explanatory signage) and Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens (a tribute to the many ethnic groups that came to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations).
Any trip to this part of the island should include an hour or two for the fascinating Maui Tropical Plantation, where you can enjoy a complete meal, or just some fresh fruit, and learn all about the cultivated crops that have been so important to Maui over the years.
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POINTS OF INTEREST |
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Hawaii Nature Center |
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Bailey House Museum |
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Iao Valley State Park |
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Maui Tropical Plantation |
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click photos to enlarge
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Kaahumanu Church
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Maui Plantation Garden
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Bailey House Museum
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A & B Sugar Museum in Puunene
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 Golf fanatics love Maui! There is a terrific variety of challenging, beautiful courses to play, including The Dunes at Maui Lani—one of Golf Magazine’s top “35 Best New Courses” in the nation and the par-72 Sandalwood Golf Course.
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Maui has some of the best burger joints anywhere, and some of the tastiest, biggest burgers can be found at Carl’s Jr., located in Maalaea. If you are coming off an ocean cruise with a hearty appetite (or just cruising around the central Maui plain), Carl’s Jr. is the perfect stop any time of day, from breakfast till dinner. Check out the charbroiled western bacon cheeseburgers and the delicious chicken sandwiches.
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Combine shopping and dining on a visit to the Queen Kaahumanu Center, with its mouth-watering selection of ethnic cuisine, available at the Queen’s Market Food Court. You’ll find everything from Korean barbecued specialties to your favorite food you find back home.
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One of the best accompaniments to the scenic drive to Hana is the Hana Cassette Guide, a narrated cassette or CD tour that describes all the gorgeous scenery you’re driving through. The guide also includes a description of tropical flowers and a free DVD called Maui Island Paradise. It’s available only at the shop on Route 380 in Kahului, at the Shell Service Station.
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History and photography buffs will want a shot of the majestic Kaahumanu Church, located near the intersection of Main and High streets in Wailuku.
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Looking for a last-minute gift to take back home? Stop by the T-Shirt Factory’s airport outlet for terrific T-shirts, casual dresses and other cool keepsakes from Maui.
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DRIVE GUIDES are provided free of charge by every rental car company in Hawaii.
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