Maui, Hawaii, Family Vacation

"Ohana" is the Hawaiian word for family, and Maui personifies that spirit with a multitude of family-friendly activities: miles of beach for kids who like to run in the sand, collect seashells, or snorkel; submarines, glass-bottom boats, and helicopters for the more adventurous; and plenty of opportunities to learn about volcanoes and native culture.

Maui's peak tourist season runs from December to September, with summers being popular for families on vacation. If you want to see whales or go surfing, winter is the best time to visit. The low season (October and November) is especially pleasant, with smaller crowds at the beaches and shops, lower costs, and moderate weather.

Spectacular sunshine and mostly mild temperatures make Maui a year-round destination. Sea-level locations have high temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees during the coolest months of December and January that often rise above 90 degrees in August and September. Hawaii's weather is greatly affected by the prevailing trade winds, which produce a nearly constant high pressure system. The trade winds abate during the winter (December through March), leading to more rain. Get more weather info.

Maui has two major airports. Kahului Airport (OGG) handles major airlines and is the only airport on Maui that has direct flights to and from the mainland. Kapalua-West Maui Airport (JHM) is served by Aloha Airlines and Pacific Wings Airlines. The East Maui town of Hana also has a small airstrip, served by charter flights and commuter planes from Honolulu.

Unless you want to spend all your time at your resort, a rental car is recommended. Rental cars are available at the Kahului and Kapalua airports. Maui does have modest public transportation, with bus service seven days a week between airports and major cities and towns. Make sure to check the bus schedules.

Festivals and events abound throughout the year. Dates vary each year, so check the Maui Visitors' Bureau Calendar of Events.

• Mercedes Champions PGA tournament (Jan.)
• Whale Day Celebration (Feb.)
• Chinese New Year Festival (Feb.)
• Ocean Arts Festival (Mar.)
• East Maui Taro Festival (April)
• Earth Day Celebration (April)
• Faneuil Hall Street Performers Festival (May)
• Dragon Boat Festival (June)
• Seabury Hall Craft Fair (May)
• International Festival of Canoes (May)
• Kanaka Ikaika Kayak Race (May)
• Ka Hula Piko ("A Celebration of the Hula") (May)
• King Kamehameha Celebration (June)
• Kapalua Wine & Food Festival (June)
• Hana Summerfest (June)
• Makawao Rodeo and Parade (July)
• Keiki Hula Festival (July)
• Maui Sugar Plantation Festival (Aug.)
• Taste of Lahaina Festival (Sept.)
• Maui Marathon (Sept.)
• Maui County Fair (Sept.)
• Molokai Hoe Canoe Race (Oct.)
• Return of humpback whales (Nov.)
• Holiday lighting of the Banyon Tree (Dec.)
• Lahaina (Dec.)

VisitMaui.com is the official Visitors' Bureau site while HawaiiFun.org is useful for finding and scheduling activities.

A Go Maui card offers admission to many attractions, activities and tours.

• At 729 square miles, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Maui was formed by explosions of hot lava from two volcanoes. Mauna Kahalawi created the westerly portion of the island, and Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano, created the eastern portion.
• The first people to arrive in Hawaii were probably from islands in the central Pacific Ocean, starting around the eighth century.
• Western influence began with the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778. The arrival of New England missionaries early in the 19th century brought drastic cultural and physical changes to the islands.
• Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1900 and a state in 1959.