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Maui,with its 116,000 residents and year-round thousands of vacationers and island-hoppers, certainly stands apart from the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. It offers adventure in paradise at every corner. If you have only a week to spend in Hawaii, this is the place.

Its landscape is incredibly diverse. It is often known as the Valley Island because of the large valley that extends between two volcanoes. On the Western mountains there are acres of rainforest where native plants and fruits flourish along with spectacular waterfalls. On the dry,leeward side of the island, resorts and abound. And in the central valley, located between Haleakala volcano and the West mountains, sugar cane grows abundantly providing the island with an agricultural economy in addition to its tourist services.

Offshore, one can see marine life found nowhere else on earth. The island reef is home to hundreds of species and makes this a paradise for divers and snorkelers. December through April, humpback whales crowd the waters off the southern coast. See .

Native water birds, migratory ducks and shorebirds and one of the largest remaining natural ponds in Hawaii call Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge home. It provides a unique wetland in the typically dry South Maui.

The island’s beaches are not only plentiful, they are varied. From the white sands of Oneloa in West Maui and Palaueau Beach in the South, to the Red Sand Beach (Kaihalulu) of Hana and the volcanic black sands of Pa’iloa Beach in Wai’anapanapa Park, Maui’s beaches offer diversity. Maui, Hawaii, Hawaii photos

On the North Shore, Ho’okipa Beach Park is perhaps one of the best places in the world to wind surf, body board or kite surf. You can find shops where you can take .

Big Beach, or Oneloa, in South Maui, almost two-thirds of a mile long and over 100 feet wide, is a gem. Walking, swimming and snorkeling are popular along its long stretch of sand. Maui, Hawaii travel, golf

The road to Hana is considered one of the most spectacular drives in all of the Islands. A slow, winding road through a lush paradise, you can go on your own self-guided island tour, at your own pace in a rented car. Or, you can book a To see the beauty of Haleaka volcano, a tour is your best option.

Accommodations are widely available, including bed & breakfasts, cottages, inns, and condos, many of which offer spectacular view of the shores. For such a small island, (the road to Hana from Kahului is 52 miles across the island) Maui is packed with “leisurely adventures” — and at comfortable temperatures, hovering from 75 at the lowest and the low 90s at the highest. Plus, its waters are warm year-round (varying from 70 to 80 degrees).

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• Maui Activities