The park's soothing ambiance belies its violent past. In 1790, King Kamehameha the Great and his troops decimated Maui warriors in the area in order to unify the Hawaiian Islands. Though Kamehameha was successful, the carnage was so great that the local stream was named Wailuka, which translates to "water of destruction." Now a tranquil oasis, the area has a Japanese teahouse, a Portuguese garden as well as numerous ponds and waterfalls. While touring Japanese pagodas and traditional Hawaiian thatched huts, tourists can linger to picnic or grill at one of the many barbeque areas.
Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens
'Iao Valley Road
Highway 32
Wailuku
Maui, HI 96793
808-689-1552
Hawaiiweb.com/maui/sites_to_see
Nestled against Maui's eastern coastline, the Hana Highway is 60 miles long. From the comfort of a car, visitors steer through rainforests while spying waterfalls and overlooking scenic coastlines. The drive itself takes roughly three hours and leads tourists to other free sites such as the Ke'anae Arboretum that covers approximately 6 acres. The arboretum is home to more than 150 species of tropical plants that include hibiscus, ginger, the large-leafed taro plant and eucalyptus trees.
Maui is home to and estimated 81 beaches, according to the website Maui, HI. Baby Beach, named because of its shallow pools, is ideal for toddlers to splash and play while the Waihee Beach Park juxtaposes the Waihee Municipal Golf Course. It has a coral reef that is a popular snorkeling site during calm weather. Olowalu Beach is not only a prime kayaking and snorkeling spot, but it is also where primordial petroglyphs can still be found on heiau, ancient Hawaiian temples. Tourists can take in free athletic performances at Ho'okipa Beach where professional windsurfers gather daily to test their skills against waves that crest at roughly 30 feet.
