Introduction to Maui Island
The beauty of Hawaii is absolutely breathtaking at times. The glimmer of the sun over the water or the serene picture of an absolutely beautiful sunset are just two of the many different images a person can see during a stay at one of the Hawaiian Islands. Because of the sheer majesty and beauty of the place many people flock there every year and end up leaving with stories of how great their stay was.
Hawaii is actually a string of islands and depending on what resort or attraction a person is interested in visiting they will end up visiting one of several islands. Each island has its own specific name and this article discusses the details of the island known as Maui.
Demographics of Maui Island
Maui is perhaps one of the better known islands and is likely to be one of the islands that people are able to recognize just from the name alone. It is the second largest Hawaiian Island and with an area of just over 1,850 square kilometers it is actually very decently sized for an island in general. The Hatekala volcano in Maui is its largest point standing at roughly 3,055 meters in height.
The population of Maui is only around 140,000 people and for this reason the island itself is relatively sparsely populated especially when compared to other islands in the chain like Oahu. Many people that prefer solitude will opt to have their vacation in Maui specifically because of the lower number of people present on the island and if this sounds appealing to you then perhaps you should consider Maui as a possibility for your next trip.
History of Maui Island
Maui has featured prominently in parts of history throughout the years and its first major historical appearance was probably during the times of intense whaling activities in the early to mid 19th century. Whaling was accepted and carried out with a large amount of zeal and zest during those periods and because of that many different ships went through the ports of Maui on their way to and from whaling expeditions.
During World War II is when Maui gained another notch on its historical belt. It was used as a base of operations by allied forces operating in the Pacific Ocean and at one point during the peak of the war in the mid 40s the island itself was actually home to over 100,000 troops. At that point the population of the island was less than 100,000 and the presence of the troops served to more than double the population of the island.
Interesting Tidbits About Maui Island
- The island inhabitants themselves actually trace their roots back to Polynesian beginnings as the original inhabitants of the island either hailed from Tahiti or the Marquesas region.
- The island of Maui has had an average population growth rate of around 4% per year since the turn of the century.
- The unemployment rate in Maui is roughly half that of the national average and as might be expected a large percentage of the population is employed in the tourism industry.
- After tourism the next largest industry in Maui is agriculture and the island produces large amounts of Pineapples and sugar cane every single year.
Maui Island Summary
In general terms Maui is a great island to visit not only because of the peace and quiet you can find there but also because of the opportunity to meet some great people. The small population has resulted in close knit and friendly groups which in turn make it easier for you to make friends with the locals and have a great time during your stay on the island.
