Maui Wowie

Where does Maui Wowie come from?

Maui Wowie comes from Hawaii, and most accounts trace it to outdoor growers on the island of Maui in the 1970s. No breeder has ever been credited with it, and its parents aren't well documented. The cross most often given is a Hawaiian plant with an unknown partner. Other sources describe it as a selection from Hawaiian landrace plants, and one database lists a Jamaican landrace as its parent.

You'll also see it spelled Maui Waui. Because it has travelled for decades as seeds and cuttings, two Maui Wowies can be quite different plants.

What does Maui Wowie smell and taste like?

Most people describe Maui Wowie as tropical: sweet pineapple first, with citrus and a light earthy, piney edge underneath.

Myrcene usually leads its terpene results, often followed by pinene, which brings the fresh pine note, and caryophyllene, which adds a touch of pepper. Some sources also list limonene, which fits the citrus side. The taste tends to follow the smell, with sweet fruit on the inhale.

Maui Wowie effects: what people report

People most often describe Maui Wowie as happy, uplifted and energetic, with a clear, lively head and a light body. Creative and focused come up a lot too.

These are experiences people report, not promises. How it feels depends on the product, how much you have and your own tolerance. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the usual complaints, and a few people mention a headache.

How strong is Maui Wowie?

Maui Wowie usually sits in the middle to high range for THC. Most listings put it somewhere around 16% to 24%, some go as high as 28%, and CBD is usually under 1%.

An old-school name doesn't mean a mild product, since modern batches can be fairly potent. If you're new to it, start small and give it time before having more. The THC and CBD numbers for your batch are printed on the label, and they matter more than the strain name.

Buying Maui Wowie in Canada

Maui Wowie is a well-known name, but it isn't one plant from one breeder, so products sold under it can differ in THC, terpenes and smell. Check the THC and CBD numbers for that batch and the packaging date on the label, since fresher flower keeps more of its tropical smell.

You might see it as dried flower, pre-rolls or vape cartridges. A sweet, fruity smell when you open the package is a good sign, and a flat, hay-like smell usually means old flower.

Maui Wowie vs Pineapple Express

Both smell like pineapple and both have Hawaiian roots, so they're easy to mix up. Maui Wowie is the older one, a Hawaiian classic with a sweet tropical smell and a light, energetic feel. Pineapple Express is a newer cross, usually given as Trainwreck with a Hawaiian strain, and it adds more pine and citrus to the fruit. People describe both as happy and energetic, though giggly comes up more often with Pineapple Express. If you want the classic tropical smell, start with Maui Wowie. If you like a little pine with your pineapple, try Pineapple Express.

Strains like Maui Wowie

If you like Maui Wowie, these are worth a look:

• Pineapple Express: the same pineapple smell from a Hawaiian parent, with a little more pine.
• Green Crack: another energetic daytime sativa, with mango and citrus instead of pineapple.
• Durban Poison: a classic sativa with an upbeat, clear feel and a sweet anise smell.
• Acapulco Gold: an old-school sativa from Mexico, focused and energetic, with a warmer, honey-like smell.