Maui

Maui is one of the most popular islands for visitors to Hawaii, and it is easy to see why. With a combination of above ground and underwater attributes, it is truly a captivating place. Haleakala ("house of the sun"), a giant dormant volcano, contains most of the island's mass and is its highest peak. From the top it's possible to ride horses or hike 3,000 feet down to the crater floor.

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The long gravel road that hugs the southeastern coast of the island
also offers some striking views of the erosion along the slopes of Haleakala.

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Hawaii's state bird, the rarely seen Nene,
is most often encountered at remote high elevations far away from human settlements.

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Fields of sugarcane line the flatlands of western Maui.

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Iao Needle, one of Maui's signature scenic points.

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The cobalt blue shallow waters off the western coast of Maui -- recently proclaimed a National Marine Sanctuary -- are home to a bewildering variety of ocean animals, most famous being the giant humpback whales that come to the island to breed each winter. Porpoises are also easily viewed.