Maui

Known worldwide as a "trip of a lifetime" destination, the remote Hawaiian Islands were settled by Polynesians more than 1,000 years ago and were "discovered" by explorer Capt. James Cook in 1778. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state, and to this day, maintains an outsider-type status. Hawaii clings to its rich history by accepting newcomers and absorbing their unique traditions. Every Hawaiian island is imbued with a friendly "aloha" spirit, and most travelers fall in love with the destination the moment the orchid leis are draped over their shoulders upon arrival. Maui, the second-largest island in the archipelago, represents all that is magical about the Sandwich Islands (as Captain Cook first named the island chain). It is also referred to as Valley Island because a verdant, low isthmus connects the two halves of the island. From the air, Maui looks like a butterfly with the 10,000-foot Haleakala volcano on one wing, Pu'u Kukui and the mountains of West Maui on the other, and the valley in the middle. You'll enjoy the stark contrast between the amazing array of tropical flowering plants and waterfalls and the moonscape of Haleakala and Maui's other peaks. With over 120 miles of coastline, Maui has dozens of beaches to discover. Some will be easily accessible, while others will take some elbow grease - in other words, pull on your hiking shoes or hop on a sea kayak. The ocean is teeming with wildlife and is home to a large population of humpback whales each year. Maui is also one of the few places on Earth where you can still encounter the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. While more rain falls on the windward sides of the island (north and east, i.e. Paia and Hana) than on the leeward (south and west, Wailea and Lahaina), the temperature is always about 85 degrees ideal. Maui offers a multitude of attractions, but there's one more reason to visit: the island's people. With a population of just under 160,000, the community is small enough to maintain strong historical ties but large enough to create the right kind of infrastructure to enthusiastically welcome tourists from around the world. The Hawaiian people will embrace you with friendship and goodwill - again, that "aloha spirit" - and make you feel right at home.