West Maui -To prepare for your adventure on Maui, begin by looking at a map of the island. You will notice two distinct circular landmasses connected by a wide valley. The smaller, landmass to the northwest is West Maui and is comprised of Puu Kukui, an extinct volcano, and smaller features called the West Maui Mountains.

The "West Side"- Locals call this area the West Side. The tourist town of Lahaina and the resort areas of Kapalua and Kaanapali dot the shoreline on this side of the island. The interior of these mountains receives an annual rainfall of around 400 inches, making it one of the wettest areas on the earth. Leeward areas, as on the rest of Maui, are generally sunny and warm year round.

Mt. Haleakala Volcano - The large landmass on the eastern portion of Maui was created by majestic Haleakala (house of the sun), the 10,023-foot dormant volcano at its center. Haleakala is popular with hikers and sightseers. This larger landmass is called East Maui. Locals often refer to any area on this side of the island that is elevated as Upcountry. Upcountry communities of Makawao, Pukalani, Kula and Ulupalakua each have their own unique attraction and charm. The sunny and dry leeward South Shore includes busy Kihei town, Wailea, and Makena. Windward toward the Central Valley is Spreckelsville, with beautiful beach areas, and Paia where surfing and windsurfing are International-class activities.

East Maui - The whole eastern side of East Maui is a lush tropical rainforest of bamboo and other jungle flora. Here, the road to the small village of Hana twists and turns for miles along the coast. It is well worth the time to explore the sites on this road. Many small villages, breathtaking coastal views, verdant greenery, and tidy little taro farms from yesteryear will delight your senses and provide some of your most vivid memories of Maui. Be prepared to spend most of the day going to and from Hana. The road is narrow, winding and slow going.