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Maui

Appealing island, historic Lahaina, sunrise at Mt. Haleakala

For great beaches, its hard to beat Maui. Voted "World's Best Island" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Maui has the most swimmable beaches of any of the Hawaiian Islands, and sands vary from white, gold, grey, or black, due to ancient volcanic activity. Try protected Kapalua beach with its calm waters perfect for snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking. Take a drive to wild Makena Beach, great for swimming when flat and exhilirating for bodysurfing when the big waves come rolling in. Many think the best beach on the island is the gold-sand, crescent-shaped Wailea Beach on the Southwest. For calm surf, quality relaxation, and beautiful views, don't miss the four mile long, pristine Kaanapali Beach.

Maui provides plenty of other natural beauty as well, such as the road to Hana, a ridiculously curvy road carrying lush nature scents of Plumeria, cascading waterfalls, and great vistas. It's best enjoyed with a "hang loose" attitude. Don't miss the opportunity to catch the awesome sunrise at Mt. Haleakala, even though it requires a very early wake-up call.

For quality snorkeling, try the marine preserve at the sunken Molokini. From December to April, humpback whales come to the Maui coast and you can view whale families together right off the shore.

A short drive from Kaanapali is the old whaling port of Lahaina, arguably the cultural center of the island with its galleries, shops, and restaurants. Even here, though, the pace of the island is very laid back.

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