Lazing around on the soft sands, submerging yourself deep below the crystal clear ocean waters or trekking across the lush, unspoilt inland wildernesses are just a few of the possibilities for outdoor activities on the popular holiday island of Maui. Families with young children will love the Maui Ocean Center and most everyone will appreciate the delights of the island’s pretty parks and gardens.

Beaches
There are over 30 miles (48kms) of beaches spread across Maui’s scenic coastline, with those at Kaanapali and Kapalua among the most popular. Sands are soft and golden, and the ocean waters are a rich blue hue, providing the perfect setting for relaxation for families with small children and independent visitors alike. Little ones will entertain themselves for hours in the sand and sea, and parents can rest comfortable in the knowledge that life guards are on hand.

Golf
Maui is well blessed with facilities for golfers, with more than a dozen courses spread across the island, all offering lush green fairways set against backdrops of stunning tropical scenery. Waiehu Golf Course is the only municipal club on the island, although there are a number of semi-private courses at which members of the general public are permitted to play, including Kaanapali Golf Course and Kahili Golf Course.

Hiking
There are a variety of areas on the island that lend themselves well to the pursuit of hiking, and in the cooler seasons hiking is a popular pursuit with both locals and visitors. The Haleakala National Park is one of the best locations for hiking and trekking activities on account of its extensive selection of terrain, eye-catching natural features such as rock pools and waterfalls, and overnight camping possibilities.

Maui Ocean Center
This family-friendly attraction is otherwise known as the ‘Hawaii Aquarium’; however, to call it merely an aquarium is to understate its facilities, as it is an ultra-modern marine park with more than 60 different exhibits on offer. Among the highlights, the Open Ocean Exhibit is particularly notable. With an acrylic tunnel cutting right through the middle of a 750,000 gallon tank, visitors are given a prime view of the 2,000 or so fish and other sea creatures swimming overhead. Phone: +1 808 270 7000; website: www.mauioceancenter.com/.

Parks and Gardens
Besides its wealth of areas of natural beauty, Maui has a selection of public and private parks and gardens that offer an extensive selection of trees, plants and flowers (both indigenous and imported) and open grassy areas. Enchanting Floral Gardens, Kula Botanical Gardens and Iao Valley State Park are just some of the locations at which visitors can enjoy a pleasant stroll while taking in some equally pleasing natural sights.

Water Sports
The island’s beaches are brimming with water sport opportunities. Scuba diving and snorkelling are extremely popular with visitors, while activities such as jet-skiing, waterskiing, surfing and body-boarding also have their fair share of enthusiasts here.

Years of colonial history combined with a once-thriving whaling industry have provided the island with some excellent places of cultural interest. The Bailey House Museum and the Lahaina Heritage Museum make it to the top of the list of must-sees, while for something a touch more aesthetically pleasing, a visit to the Lost World Arts Gallery is a good choice.

Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum
The former residence of a plantation official houses this modest but interesting little museum that offers background on the history and ongoing legacy of sugar production on the island. The museum is situated adjacent to a working sugar factory that happens to be the largest sugar factory in Hawaii. Phone: +1 808 871 8058; website: www.sugarmuseum.com/.

Baldwin Missionary Home
This well-preserved 19th century building was formerly the home of Reverend Dwight Baldwin, a missionary and government physician not only for Maui, but also for the islands of Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. Baldwin and his family lived in the house from 1834 until 1968, and the property doubled as a medical centre during their period of residence. The interior of the house has been restored so as to appear as it would have done back in the day. Phone: +1 808 661 3262.

Carthaginian II
Located at Lahaina, a town that was a significant player in Hawaii’s whaling industry for half a century, this floating museum is housed inside an accurate replica of the original Carthaginian, a vessel that was lost at sea during a whaling trip. On display inside the museum are various documents and artefacts relating to the whaling industry. There are also short documentaries on whaling shown throughout the day. Phone: +1 808 661 8527.

Hana Cultural Center
An in-depth look at the history and cultural heritage of Hana, an area of the island described as its ‘last undeveloped tropical paradise’, can be found at this fascinating visitor centre. The centre’s exhibits include objects used by the area’s ethnic residents as well as a jail and a courthouse. Phone: +1 808 248 8622; website: http://hookele.com/hccm/

Lahaina Heritage Museum
Lahaina’s Old Courthouse (an interesting building in its own right) houses a museum dedicated to giving visitors a background into the history of the town. The museum’s collection covers topics such as the local judiciary and the whaling industry, and presents them through a variety of artefacts and interactive displays. Phone: +1 808 667 1959.

Lost World Arts Gallery
Situated in Lahaina, the Lost World Arts Gallery contains a varied collection of works with an emphasis on photography. Photographic pieces on display have been collected from around the world and give brief glimpses into the cultures and geographical characteristics of other countries. The collection also includes a series of fascinating oceanic masks and figures. Phone: +1 808 661 0076.

Maui’s cuisine is typically Hawaiian and hence a fusion of culinary influences from America, Asia, Polynesia, Portugal and other countries or regions from which its multi-ethnic population originated. Rice is a staple of the local diet and meat features heavily, with pork and chicken among the most commonly eaten varieties.

Local dishes include loco moco, which is two small hamburger patties in gravy topped with fried egg; saimin, which is a noodle soup with meat and dumplings; and kalua pig, which is barbecued pork with cabbage.

Maui has an excellent selection of eateries on offer, ranging from cheap and cheerful venues where you can enjoy a traditional ‘plate lunch’ (meat or seafood with two scoops of rice and a portion of macaroni salad) to upmarket establishments where come evening time you can dine on some of the most famous cuisines on the planet. Dining establishments can be found across the island, but Kaanapali, Kapalua and other popular tourist locations are home to the best selections.

The island’s shopping scene gives holidaymakers plenty of opportunity to splash some cash and pick up local souvenirs and gift for folks back home as well as clothing, accessories, electronics and household products. Genuine Kona coffee can be bought at a number of outlets. Locally produced artworks are also worth looking out for, and there are a number of small galleries where pieces can be purchased.

For mall-style shopping, Maui has its fair share of venues in which big name US retailers sit amid independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Notable centres include the Azeka Placei in Kihei, the Lahaina Cannery Mall in Lahaina and the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului.