Originally Posted by
trlaura
Maui is just an incredibly crowded island that is best left to just staying close to your resort (if you like it) and then put on some fins and get out in the water.
However, you time of stay may not be too bad. I never really liked the weather in the Wailea area (rain every single day) so if you can, head to the north area. Crime is rampant on that island, so don't lock your car and your window may not get broken.
Crowds on Maui are dependent on the season. If you go in low season, it's not crowded at all. If you go in the summer or over a holiday, it's crowded like every other tourist destination. We traveled in the summer this past year, and we took day trips to Iao Needle, Haleakala, and Lahaina. Absolutely no issues with traffic outside of normal rush hours.
One of the main reasons that I love Maui is that it offers a nice combination of things to do. You can snorkel, hike, swim, boat, boogie board, go horseback riding, take driving trips, fine dine, picnic, ATV...or you can sit around at the resort and soak in some sun.
Contrary to what trlaura claims, Wailea is located on the driest part of the island. It rarely rains there as evidenced by the precipitation map below (Wailea is unmarked but located on the coast between Makena and Kihei.) There are parts of the island where it does rain everyday, but they are on the interior and certainly not in the two major resort areas of Ka'anapali or Wailea. (Lack of rainfall is one of the main reasons they built the resort areas where they did.)
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5103/images/cover_art.jpg
Crime exists, but is not rampant on Maui. We do leave our cars unlocked and take our valuables with us, but I do this anywhere I go, including the swanky spas I visit.