To the Land of Sunsets and Volcanos...

My first trip to the islands of Hawaii was ten days long, and I recommend that if you attempt a trip, you allow no less. The amount to see and do in this compact space is phenomenal. The island of Maui featured every landscape I had ever experienced, and all of them extraordinary, from the black-sand beaches to the desert. From rainforest to waterfalls, this place has it all.

Quick Tips:

It's always a help to have a local guide in places like this. I was lucky enough to stay with some one who had lived in Maui for ten years. The idea of the touristy Hawaii that I had was quickly blown away by the laid-back rural feel of the place. But even if you don't have a local guide, most everything is relatively easy to find and see--the hardest bit will be seeing it all.

Best Way To Get Around:

There are some really great out-of-the-way places in Hawaii, and so if renting a vehical is feasible, I highly recommend it. Because nothing is too far away, it's not too hard to get around without a car (a bicycle will do in most circumstances), but there are some waterfalls and breathtaking caves off the beaten path that a good little Jeep would be invaluable for.

I think that Hawaii often has a misleading air of touristy commercialism for those who haven't visited the islands. When I thought of Hawaii, I pictured the beaches and tourists with cameras and bad shorts--and hula dancing with ukuleles at Luaus.
And while this is the case in certain specific areas near larger resorts, for the most part I found Hawaii to be a deeply cultural and natural place where all the local inhabitants greatly revere its history and traditions and the spirits that protect and watch over the islands.
The 7 Sacred Pools is a perfect place to experience this. You start with driving up the Hana Highway--a beautiful experience on its own. You pass through rain forests and some stunning beaches and cliffs overlooking the ocean, past little stands selling brilliant pineapple bread and kebabs of barbecue chicken and steak (it's well worth a stop at any of these).
You arrive in the quaint town of Hana, where the beach is everything you'd hope of a pacific island paradise, quieter than some of the others and apparently a very safe beach to swim at.
Despite the fact that one of the frequent rain spells had started up, we pitched our tent on the beach and spent a somewhat wet night inside playing card games and eating the kebabs we bought along the roadside.
I recommend that you go this way, as it allows you to experience the pools early in the morning before the tourists arrive. The sunrise over Hana Beach is something I've not seen equaled anywhere in the world and, from a photographic point of view, not to be missed. The sunrise found us pulling up our tent, ready for the new sunny day. A short wander (10 minutes or less) down the beach brings us to the somewhat secluded 7 Sacred Pools.
It's a series of falls and calm pools that lead down to the shoreline. The land is on Haleakela National Park, where there is a nice tourist centre a short hike up the hill (also well worth a look, as the Pipiwai trail just north of the pools is said to be one of the best hikes in Maui).
This is a place where the journey to is really as rewarding as the destination. And once there, you can experience what is truly Hawaii. It's impossible not to feel what the locals refer to as Maui Magic in this place. It's truly not to be missed.

If you've had your fill of sun and sand, laying on the beach, or hiking through the rain forests of Maui and are looking for a relaxing indoor recreation, this is a good place to stop.
It's a little bit pricey at $18.50 for adults and $12.50 for children, but if you can afford it, this is a great substitute for scuba diving to see the local marine life.
It's a very well-put-together Ocean Center with some very impressive specimens. The seahorse tank I found incredibly interesting, and there aren't many who won't appreciate the 750,000-gallon open ocean tank, where you can stand and watch a host of sharks swimming along the glass, and wander through the tunnel in the tank, where you can get a 240-degree view and manta rays swim right overhead.
They have an excellent gift shop and free parking. This would be a great thing to do with the family or for an informative and relaxing afternoon indoors.
They are open daily from 9 to 5pm. And as with most things on Maui, it is fairly easy to get to.
Take Highway 30 from west Maui toward south Maui, and just past the Ma'alaea Harbor turn right on Ma'alaea Road.

I decided to review all of Lahaina Town because even though there are lots of things to see and do in Lahaina, I got the most from simply taking a walking tour through it, visiting the local shops before taking the ferry across to Lanai.

There aren't very many places in Maui that aren't good to visit. I managed to make my way all the way around the island during my stay and thoroughly enjoyed all the corners and vastly different settings it has to offer. But Lahaina stood out for me more than any other place.

Maui is a place that in many ways feels perpetually placed in time, exactly as it wants to be and happy in the now. It has a lot of culture, though it rarely feels like history. The locals adopt the native culture so whole-heartedly that it feels like a common song.

But if there is a place in Maui that sings its tune with a little backward glance, I think it's Lahaina. This town has a fantastic old harbour feel to it, and though you don't often find yourself thinking about "how things used to be" in a place so pleased with being where it is, here you get a breath of what it might have been like back before a simple flight into the Pacific brought you into the island.

The harbour is full of boats of all kinds, both new and old, and has that special flavour places of the sea seem to have. The shops up and down the streets of Lahaina are maybe the best in all of Maui--even the locals go here to shop. There is an abundance of local treasures, and lots of artists sell their work here. Even one of Hawaii's most famous artists has a beautiful gallery there, which is well worth a look.

The place buzzes at night like a thriving market in a trade port on any Pacific island. It's got a great atmosphere with a huge array of places to eat, and the smells of freshly cooked fish and grilled food follow you up and down the streets while you shop. And if you do feel inclined to take the ferry across to Lanai, it's just an easy 45-minute ride across the waves.

If your time in Maui is short and you want to see something other than tourist attractions and your hotel, pop around to Lahaina. It's one of the best towns I've ever visited.

From pretty much the moment I stepped off the plane in Hawaii until I bolted back down to my gate (after some last minute sight-seeing on a windsurfing beach) I was surrounded by incredible sights and experiences. But the one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest is seeing the sun rise over the peak of Mt Haleakala.

As with everything else in Maui, it's not that far away from any point. There are a lot of ways you can do it. Apparently, the bike ride back down after the sunrise is a great experience.

You drive up to the top at something like 4am (a good thing to do just after arriving--it really helps get your sleep schedule on Maui time). There's a look-out point over the volcano to wait for the sunrise that you will share with other like-minded individuals, huddling together for warmth. Bring a big sweatshirt to Hawaii for this one event--you'll be glad you did. As the sun rises up over the volcano, it lights the clouds and rocks up in a way that is indescribable. Halfway through the wait, I wondered just why I had decided to do this--but the moment the sun hits the peak it was all worthwhile. If you do nothing else in Hawaii, I recommend you take this experience home with you.