I really enjoyed Maui.  People say it is to commercialized, and is getting like Oahu, which is right if you are in the congested areas, but there are plenty of scarcely populated areas of Maui where not many people have discovered.  For me, Maui had the best snorkeling out of all the islands, hands down.  They have the nicest beaches also.

   I found most of my budgeted accommodations in Wailuku, which is the oldest looking part of the island, and a little run down.  It looked a little rough, but I did not have any problems staying there.  Wailuku is known as the "Happy Valley" because years ago, this is where the lonely Whaler's would come at night to find Ms. Right for the night.  This area looks like it is becoming renovated, and will most likely have a full face lift within the next 10 years. 

   The coast from Makena to Kapalua have beautiful beaches all the way up.  Some are more populated than others, but if you look, you can find a secluded beach on this coast with no body on it. 

   Unless you are on a real tight budget, I would rent a car, although you can get away without renting a car.  The hostels in Wailuku will pick you up from the airport.  Also, one of the hostel's in Wailuku has a different outstanding tour group adventure everyday.  If you are looking to doing a little more free lancing, it may be a little difficult, especially if you wanted to get to the other side of the island.  Maui is just starting to implement a bus system, but it is in no way something to rely on just yet, and is to scarcely ran to be too effective.  Hitch hiking is still an accepted practice on Maui.  There are even different hitch hiking ethics depending upon which island you are on.  In Maui, you need to be walking while thumbing for a ride, while on Oahu, you need to stand still while waiting for a ride.

   "The Road to Hana" is a road everyone should take at least for one day during their trip to Maui.  It offer's more breathtaking views of cliffs, oceans, landscapes, waterfalls and pools than you can ever imagine.  I would start in Paia, and take the road all the way around.  Rental car agreements state you are not allowed to drive the second half of the Road to Hana unless you have a 4 x 4, but those rules are really outdated.  They used to apply years ago when the road was nothing but a rough dirt road.  Now, 85% of the road is a paved straight shot, except for 10 miles of unpaved road that should not be a problem for any car in dry conditions. 

   The underwater valleys that once connected Maui, Moloka'i Lana'i and Kaho'olawe are shallower than the surrounding ocean, providing shelter for an abundance of marine life — including the humpback whales that migrate to Hawaiian waters during winter months to give birth to their calves.  You should be able to see a bunch of them if you are there between January and March. 

Hawaii Hostels Map