Maui County
Maui Island (727.2 sq. miles), also known as the "Valley Isle", is the economic center and seat of county government. Its flower is the pink cottage rose called loke lani.
Moloka‘i (260 sq. miles) also includes Kalawao County, a state-administered hospital settlement. It is known as the "Friendly Isle" and its flower is the white kukui blossom.
Lana‘i (140.5 sq. miles), once known as the "Pineapple Isle", is now the home of two luxury resorts. Its flower is the kauna‘oa, a yellow and orange air plant.
Kaho‘olawe (44.6 sq. miles) is uninhabited. Formerly used as a bombing practice range by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, it is now being restored and replanted. Its flower is the beach heliotrope called hinahina.
Average temperatures range from the low to high 70s. The chilly slopes of Haleakala Crater have a temperature range of 40-50° F.
POPULATION
Resident population (2006): 141,440
By age (2006): Under 18 (23.5%); 18-64 (64.8); 65 and over (11.7)
By ethnic groups (2005): Caucasian (34.1%); Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian (24.6); Filipino (15.1); Japanese (8.1)
Main cities and towns (2000): Kahului (20,146); Kihei (16,749); Lahaina (9,118); Lana‘i City (3,164); Kaunakakai (2,726)
TOURISM
Maui Island is Hawai‘i's second most popular tourist destination.
Visitor arrivals (2006): 2,426,395
Popular visitor attractions are the historic whaling town of Lahaina, the Maui Ocean Center, the slopes and vistas of Haleakala Crater, the winding road to Hana and the beaches of the Ka‘anapali coast.
Besides its two resorts, Lana‘i's attractions include the Luahiwa petroglyphs and the "Garden of the Gods". Visitor arrivals (2006): 93,171
Moloka‘i's attractions include mule rides to Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Visitor arrivals (2006): 85,003
AGRICULTURE
Crops grown on the islands of Maui County are fruits (including pineapple), sugarcane and vegetables. Coffee is grown on the islands of Maui and Moloka‘i.
Cut flowers and orchids are grown on Maui and Moloka‘i. Proteas are a specialty of Maui Island.
HEALTH
Licenses (2006): 297 doctors, 88 dentists, 1054 nurses and 86 pharmacists.
EDUCATION
Maui Community College offers a two-year associate degree and is part of the University of Hawai‘i system. The Moloka‘i Education Center is part of Maui Community College.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (2006)
Seven banks with 28 branches and 4 savings and loans with 11 locations.
PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA
The principal newspaper is the Maui News. In 2007, there were 4 AM and 9 FM radio stations and 5 commercial TV stations. In 2006, there were 2 cable TV stations with 52,937 subscribers.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
There are four astronomical observatories on Haleakala. The Maui Research and Technology Park is home to the Maui High Performance Computing Center which also supports the Pacific Disaster Center Project.
GOVERNMENT
Mayor: Charmaine Tavares; nine-member county council (www.co.maui.hi.us)