Top 10 Attractions of Maui

And on Maui, besides soaking up the sun and sipping a mai tai as theч sun sets, what else should one see and do? Well, here"s the island"sч "Top 10", do-not-miss list.

1. Haleakala

Haleakala is a place almost of pilgrimage. The dormant volcano loomsч large on the island, more or less at the center of it, and at 10,023ч feet, its summit is the highest point on Maui. Besides a visit to theч informative Haleakala National Park Visitor Center, you can hike orч go on horseback down into the 3,000-foot-deep Haleakala crater. Youч can also explore ancient lava flows and see silverswords here, whichч are rare, silvery flower stalks indigenous to the area. But for aч spiritual journey, try to go there early and catch the sunrise.ч There"s a park entrance fee of $10 per vehicle, or $5 each for hikersч and bikers.

2. Road to Hana

The "Road to Hana" is singularly the most scenic drive in theч Hawaiian islands. It begins just south of Kahului and madly windsч down the southeast coast of Maui, some 55 miles, twisting and turningч around no fewer than 617 bends! and crossing over 56 tiny, mostly one-lane bridges. The secenery enroute is stunning, with lush vegetationч and sweeping views of the ocean at every turn, and scores of swimmingч holes beneath waterfalls, ideal for a picnic and a splash or two. Theч principal attractions along the Hana Road are the Keanae Peninsula, aч serene patch of green with an overlook with panoramic views; theч Keanae Arboretum which incorporates an authentic representation of aч Hawaiian rain forest; the 126-acre, tropical Kahanu Botanicalч Gardens; and the charming, laid-back town of Hana itself, where theч centerpiece is the Hotel Hana-Maui.

3. Lahaina

Lahaina, situated on the West Maui coast, is an historic town. It wasч once the capital of Hawaii, and later on a bustling whaling town.ч Today, it is the liveliest, most colorful place on the island, filledч with restaurants, smoothie bars, souvenir shops, art galleries, andч even high-end boutiques; but which, if one is not careful, couldч easily become that proverbial "tourist trap". Still, there"s a lot toч see and do here: chief attractions include the Whaling Museum, Brigч Carthignian, Jodo Mission, the 19th-century waterfront Pioneer Inn,ч and the jaw-dropping Banyan Tree which was planted here in 1873 andч now occupies an acre of land, with a branch spread of 50 yards,ч supported byч myriad aerial roots andч 12 major trunks!

4. Ka"anapali

Ka"anapali is Maui"s best-known beach resort. Apart from the "Who"s-Who" of resort hotels lining its shore, the white-sand Ka"anapaliч Beach offers some of the best swimming and snorkeling conditions onч the island. But its notoriety has inevitably also made it one of theч most visited and therefore most crowded beaches on Maui. There isч also a touristy train, the "Sugarcane Train", which runs betweenч Lahaina and Ka"anapali, offering good views of the area. Anotherч attraction here, just north of Ka"anapali, is Kapalua, with a lovelyч beach and even lovelier sunsets.

5. Iao Needle

Iao Needle: This is quite possibly the most photographed landmark onч the island. Located in the Iao Valley State Park, in a lush valley inч the West Maui mountains, the moss-covered stone spire rises 1,200ч feet vertically from the valley floor. There are several trails andч planks to walk around, with abundant tropical flora and excellentч photo opportunities. The state park is accessible from the twin,ч principal Maui towns of Kahului and Wailuku.

6. Paia

The most colorful coastal town in East Maui, and a former hippieч habitat, Paia is a surprising little jumble of eateries andч boutiques, and the defacto northern terminus of the Road to Hana. Butч its chief interest lies in its beach park just outside town, Ho"okipaч Beach, the premier windsurfing spot in the islands, where you canч watch world-class windsurfers hone their skills and perform inч championship events. The town is approximately 6 miles east of Kahului.

7. Makawao

Makawao is one of those gems that most visitors to the island miss.ч It is a principal town in Maui"s Upcountry (Mount Haleakala"s slopes), where in an Old West setting of false-front wood-frameч buildings, yoga centers and herbalists are juxtaposed with theч "paniolo" (Hawaiian cowboy) culture, offering a unique contrastч between two distinctly different worlds. The town is also the localeч of the biggest rodeo in the Hawaiian islands, held on the 4th ofч July. The town is situated 16 miles southeast of Kahului.

8. Wailea Beach Resort

Wailea Beach, situated on the southwest coast of Maui, just south ofч Kihei, is one of those manicured white-sand beaches, where they rakeч the sand and arrange beach chairs in neat little rows. But make noч mistake, this is a public beach, one of the best on the island, andч hugely enjoyable. It is lined with Maui"s premier resort hotels -ч Marriott, Renaissance, Four Seasons, Fairmont and Grand Wailea -ч which offer some of the best luaus and hula shows on Maui. Sunsetsч off the coast of Wailea are fabulous.

9. Makena Beach

Makena Beach, also on the southwest coast of Maui, just south ofч Wailea, lies in sharp contrast to the latter, undeveloped, pristine,ч less visited. This is also a highly enjoyable beach, particularly ifч you like being far from the madding crowd.

10. Molokini

If you"re crazy about snorkeling, you cannot afford to miss Molokini.ч It"s a partially-submerged, crescent-shaped crater, rising 150 feetч from the ocean, just off the southwest coast of Maui. Now a protectedч marine preserve and seabird sanctuary, it offers some of the bestч snorkeling and diving conditions in the Maui area. There are charterч boats and snorkeling excursions departing for Molokini from theч Ma"alaea (just north of Kihei) and Lahaina harbors several times aч day. Cost ranges from $70 to $170.

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