The main tourist centres of west Maui such as Kaanapali, Kapalua, Lahaina, Honokowai, Kahana and Napili are all worth seeing, each offering its own unique selection of interesting sights. The Iao Valley State Park with its famous landmark known as the Iao Needle is not to be missed, while the Ka'eleku Caverns in Hana are also considered exceptional by most visitors’ standards.

East Maui Volcano
With a peak that reaches to a lofty height of 10,023 feet above sea level, the East Maui Volcano, or Haleakala, is arguably the most impressive of the island’s geological formations. The volcano’s crater is close to eight miles (13kms) long and more than two miles (3kms) wide and has a depth of nearly 3,000 feet. Haleakala is part of the Haleakala National Park, a nature area that yields a wide variety of interesting sights besides the volcano.

Iao Needle
Head for the Iao Valley State Park if you want to see this 2,250-foot high rock formation that is considered one of the island’s most recognisable landmarks. Tall and relatively narrow (reducing in width progressively towards its peak), the ‘needle’ is surrounded by parkland that is stunning in its own right and well worth taking the time to explore. Phone: +1 808 984 8109.

Ka'eleku Caverns
Various tours of these ancient caves are available, offering visitors the chance to learn something about the geological conditions responsible for their formation as well as explaining in detail the natural processes that have contributed to the formation of the numerous stalagmites and stalactites contained within. Phone: +1 808 248 7308.

Maui Tropical Plantation
Covering a spacious 60-acre area, this working plantation is one of the largest on the island and is responsible for the production of crops such as banana, guava, papaya, star fruit and sugar cane. Guided tours offer visitors the chance to sees various parts of the plantation and to learn about the history of crop farming on Maui and its continuing importance to the industry. Phone: +1 800 451 6805.

Old Lahaina Prison
Otherwise known as Hale Pa'ahao (a name meaning ‘bound by irons house’), the Old Lahaina prison dates to the 1950s and is notorious for the harsh treatment its one-time detainees were subjected to. Typical inmates of the prison were marine servicemen incarcerated for desertion or insobriety. Visitors are permitted access to the prison’s interior and can view both the cells and the old iron shackles that prisoners were restrained by. Phone: +1 808 667 1985.

Wainapanapa State Park
Besides the abundance of eye-catching and fascinating flora and fauna, the Wainapanapa State Park’s greatest appeals are its two so-called ‘secret beaches’. Their secretive nature is due to the fact that they are not easy to find and see considerably less visitors than regular tourist beaches on Maui. The Wainapanapa Black Sand Beach and the Honoklani Black Sand Beach are both notable not for the dark hues of their sands, a result of volcanic activity on the island.