Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Agriculture
Maui generates agricultural revenue through cattle, sugar, pineapples, and flowers, along
with a substantial subculture for
pakalolo
(marijuana). Cattle grazing occurs on the west-
ern and southern slopes of Haleakala, where 30,000 acres are owned by the Haleakala
Ranch and more than 18,000 acres by the Ulupalakua Ranch. The upper slopes of Haleak-
ala around Kula are a gardener's dream, where delicious onions, potatoes, and all sorts of
garden vegetables are grown.
Sugar is still important to Maui's economy, but without federal subsidies it probably
wouldn't be a viable cash crop. The only acreage is in the central isthmus area, which is
virtually all owned by the Alexander and Baldwin Company. Maui's one remaining oper-
ational mill is at Pu'unene. The Lahaina mill closed in 1996, and the cane fields on the
Ka'anapali side have all been abandoned, the land given to pineapple or coffee production,
developed into residential subdivisions, or left fallow.
Hali'imaile Pineapple Company grows pineapples between Pa'ia and Makawao on the
lower slope of Haleakala. Since Maui's last cannery closed down in 2007, the only way in
which you can still buy pineapple is in the form of a whole fruit.
Meanwhile, renegade entrepreneurs grow patches of
pakalolo
wherever they can find
a spot that has the right vibes and away from the prying eyes of authorities. Deep in the
West Maui Mountains and along the Hana coast are favorite areas of island growers.
Military
The small military presence on Maui amounts to a tiny U.S. Army installation near Kahu-
lui, the U.S. Coast Guard facility at Ma'alaea, and an Air Force tracking station on top of
Haleakala.
Hawai'i is a true ethnic melting pot where more than 50 diverse groups are represented.
With 144,000 residents, Maui has the third-largest island population in Hawai'i, with about
7,000 residents on Moloka'i and 3,300 on Lana'i. Maui's population density is 176 people
per square mile, with Moloka'i and Lana'i at 27 and 23 per square mile, respectively. The
Kahului/Wailuku area has the island's greatest population with nearly 50,000 people, al-
