Maui, Hawaii

Maui sits in the midst of a remote fleet of islands, isolated from the nearest landmass by some 2,500 miles. At the extreme end of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands is Kauai, which has been worn by 7 million years of wind, waves and erosion into a paradise ringed with sandy beaches. At the other end of the chain is the Big Island of Hawaii, just over a million years old, with a dramatic volcano that is still erupting. The 729 square-mile island of Maui was formed by the merging of two volcanoes, the 5,778 foot high Pu'u Kukui and the 10,000 foot high Haleakala, which spilled enough lava to create the valley that inspired the island’s nickname, “Valley Isle.” Thanks to this unusual beginning, Maui offers a diverse natural landscape that includes picturesque beaches, lush central plains, tropical rainforests and the arid desert that runs from Kaupo to Makena.

With white-sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, the beauty of this island resonates with all who touch it, including the locals who say “Maui no ka oi,” meaning “the best, the most, the top of the heap!” To those travelers who know Maui well, there are commanding reasons for these superlatives. The second-largest island in the Hawaiian chain, Maui has made an international name for itself with its tropical allure, heady nightlife and miles of beaches.

Lush Maui’s tropical sun, surf and sports activities have gained the island an international reputation as a paradise on earth. In laid-back Hana on the eastern shore, travel groups can experience what the Hawaiian Islands were like before the advent of T-shirt tourism. Western Maui’s gorgeous “Golf Coast” resorts draw eager beginners and pros while shoppers head for the old whaling town of Lahaina. No matter what the preference, Maui magically weaves a spell over the two million travelers who flock to its shores each year and leave wanting more.