Maui

This exquisitely beautiful isle was created in a fiery explosion of two volcanoes. On one side is 5,700 foot Pu'u Kukui, on the other Haleakala, a 10,023 foot dormant volcano with a Manhattan size crater that houses a vast desert of unusual flora.

Add to this 120 miles of dazzling coastline, both dramatic and diverse, ideal for surfing, snorkelling and canoeing, plus waterfalls plunging a thousand feet, rainforests bursting with colour and exotic vegetation and a stark lunar landscape so barren that the astronauts came to practice their moon landing and you have the extraordinary island of Maui.

The dramatic variations in climate and land formations are a large part of what makes this Hawaiian island so interesting. The West Maui Mountains are rugged and verdant with jagged peaks and deeply grooved valleys hiding beautiful waterfalls. Central Maui and the slopes of Haleakala are agricultural areas where the rich volcanic soil supports sugar, pineapple and ranch lands.

The south shore, except where irrigated, is desert and scrub because Mt Haleakala causes the rain clouds to empty before crossing the peak.

The second largest of the Hawaiian islands, Maui was settled by Polynesians and became an autonomous kingdom for many years ruled by Kamehameha 1. He united the Hawaiian Islands and made Lahaina, in Maui his capital in 1802.

Today Maui has evolved into a peaceful agricultural island of charm and rustic beauty, particularly Lahaina Town which has been restored to its previous colonial splendour.

While on Maui, you can explore the Maui Tropical Plantation which consists of 112 acres of crops, from cane to coffee, mango to macadamia, pineapple to papaya. Learn how to husk a coconut, create a delicious tropical fruit boat and string fragrant leis.

Catch the Tropical Tram on a 40 minute circuit to see fruit cutting demonstrations and visit the marketplace to learn how to start your own tropical garden in the nursery full of colourful orchids, anthuriums and other exotic blooms.

A popular spot is the Sunrise Market and Protea Farm where you can walk through gardens bursting with protea flowers and see how a working flower farm operates.

At The Sugar Museum you can watch the production of sugar, one of Hawaii's biggest cash crops, from beginning to end, plus see the historical exhibits, rare artefacts, photo murals and scale models of working sugar factory machinery.

The Maui Historical Society Museum in Lahaina is a delightful old structure built between 1833 and 1850 and was the home of missionary Edward Bailey and his family. Today it contains Hawaiian artefacts as well as furniture and household items from the missionary days.

While here, don't miss a journey on the famous Sugar Cane Train modelled after the turn of the century railroads that transported Valley Isle sugar to Lahaina mills. The steam driven locomotive makes an hour long run between Lahaina and Ka'anapali and visitors can hop aboard at Puukolii and Ka'anapali as well.

The non-profit Lahaina Restoration Foundation which began over 27 years ago has preserved and restored a rich collection of historical sites in Lahaina. You can visit the Masters' Reading Room built in 1834 for seamen looking for a room to rest away from the heat and dust of the market.

Baldwin Home, built in 1838 is the oldest standing building in Lahaina and is made of thick walls of coral, stone and hand hewn timbers and Richards House is another coral stone home built for William Richards, the first Protestant missionary.

Stone is very important to the Hawaiians and healing stones such as the giant Hauola Stone are found in places designated as holding the forces of nature.

Lahaina Jodo Mission Cultural Park sits on a point of land known as Puunoa. The area was once a small village fronting the royal grove of coconut trees.

It is now the best known landmark in the area and one of the busiest for tourists. The largest Buddha outside of Japan sits majestically in the small park commemorating the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in 1868.

For those who like outdoor activities you can take an intriguing ride on horseback, or hike on foot through the multi-coloured lunar landscapes on Haleakala.

Perhaps the ultimate experience is a drive along the fifty five mile road to Hana which winds past dozens of bridges, tumbling waterfalls, lava cliffs, spectacular ocean views, lush tropical foliage and trees laden with bananas and liliko'i.