1. Old Lahaina Luau, the most authentic luau on Maui.  Go hungry and ready to Hula dance!

2. Maui Ocean Center, the best rainy day retreat.  Apprently 3 days a week, four daring people get to dive into shark-filled tanks to swim with the fishes.

3. Komoda Store & Bakery, the best sweet shop.  The cream puffs, coconut turnovers and guava filled malasadas are a must try. 

4. Iao Valley State Park, the best green spot.  Lots of photo ops. 

5. Tom's Mini-Mart, the best Shave Ice.  An old-fashioned ice shaving machine is used to make maui's finest shave ice, soft and fluffy. 

6. Big Beach in the heart of Makena State Park, the best beach.  An endless explanse of gleaming sands, no development in sight, and unbelievably blue water [see the beach picture above]. 

7. Sliding Sands (Keonehe'ehe'e) Trail, the best hike.  A lunar landscape of lava sights and ever-changing clouds.  Hike deep into the belly of the world's largest dormant volcano.

8.  Malu'aka Beach, the best snorkeling.  Don your mask and snorkel on the shore, you'll likely spot a magnificent green sea turtle.

9. Road to Hana, the best road trip.  Wear a bathing suit and grab your hiking boots, and get set for an adventure.  A roller-coaster of a ride, the Hana Hwy winds down into jungly valleys and back up towering razor-edge cliffs, curling around some 600 twists and turns along the way.  In places the road gets so narrow, that you have to pull over to let oncoming traffic pass.  Some 54 one-lane bridges cross nearly as many waterfalls. 

10.  Whale Watching, the best wildlife viewing.  Humpback whales find Maui romantic too.  Every winter, thousands of whales frolic off Maui's western coast (where we'll be staying).  Treat yourself to a whale-watching cruise.  Whales are also readily spotted from cliffside lookouts, west-facing beaches, the lanai (balcony) of oceanfront hotels/condos.  Snorkelers & divers who stick their heads in the water at the right time may hear them sing. 

Highly recommended Whale watching Cruise with Pacific Whale Foundation: www.pacificwhale.org

Watch from the shore:
- Papawai point- a cliffside perch jutting into the western edge of Ma'alaea Bay , and a favored humpback nursing ground.  The Pacific Whale Foundation posts volunteers at the parking lot to share their binoculars and point out the whales.  Papawai Point is midway between the 8 and 9 mile marks.  Note the road signs reads simply 'scenic point', not the full name, but there's a turning lane into it, so slow down and you won't miss it.
- Along beach walk in Kihei, Wailea

11. Haleakala, the best sunrise spot.  Roll out of bed in the middle of the night, drive 10,000 ft up a switchback mountain in the pitch dark, and gather with other visitors to watch the darkness being to lift. 

* They 'lei' it all out at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/hawaii/maui