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3* Kaanapali 4* Prince On The Beach

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Maui's scenery is superb and its landscapes serene. The island's sunny western coast is lined with gorgeous white-sand beaches, and in winter the warm oceans are alive with humpback whales. You can explore jungles and waterfalls, windsurf with the pros or enjoy a drink at Lahaina's historic taverns.

Hawaii - the Aloha State - welcomes and seduces visitors with its plumeria-scented sea breezes and tropical warmth. This is where East merges with West in a blur of hula and hip-hop, soap operas and creation myths, junk food and Japanese tea ceremonies, Shinto shrines and surf clubs.

Mark Twain declared Hawaii to be 'the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean', and not even 50 years of mass tourism have managed to prove him wrong. Whether your thing is volcano spotting, surfing or hanging loose on the beach, this is the place to indulge yourself.

Maui is known as the 'Valley Island' because of its two large extinct volcanoes divided by a tropical central valley. It's the second-largest of the Hawaiian islands and the most developed of the Neighbor Islands. Its windsurfing and surf spots are some of the best in the world.


When To Go

Is there ever a wrong time to go to Maui? Winter (December to March) is high season, largely because of the unappealing weather on the US mainland. It's a bit rainier in winter and a bit hotter in summer (June through August) here, but there are no extremes and cooling trade winds modify the heat throughout the year. Winter storms can last for days, which can make this season slightly less appealing than summer, but not by much.

If you're on a tight budget, low season is April to mid-December, when accommodation rates are cut by up to 30%. Avid divers should come in summer, skilled surfers in winter. Come in September or October for cultural events such as the Aloha Festival. Beware of crowds and high prices around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and Easter.