NORTH AMERICA & HAWAIL Unforgettable Maui by Chantal # you think that you woke up in paradise you're not far off this is Maui. From the summit of Haleakala Crater to the shore of Big Beach in Makena, Maui has a breadth of exnla- rating ousdoor sights, activities, and entertainment for every Visitor, plus accommodations for every style and budget. To find out what to do end where to stay, read on Guillou-Brennan Activities and Places to See Ringed by 120 miles of coastline, Maui boasts 81 accessible beaches, 39 with publi facilities. Some renowned favorites are: Big Beach, Mekena which is @ beautiful white sand beach popular for bbodysurfing, bodyboarding; Ka’anavali Beach (West Maul excellent for swimming end snorkeing, To the right end of ths beech you wil find the famous Black Rock with a large assortment of fish ties and coral and Baldwin Beach Park (North Shore) with a sandy beach ana lols of grassy and shady areas, Maui's year round warm water atracts more than tourists. From mid November to mid May, over 10,000 humpback whales migrate fom their summer feeding grounds in Alaska to Maui's sheltored ‘waters to mate and give birth to ther calves. The Whale Center of ‘the Pacific in Kslanapali Resorts Whales Vilage shopping complex is the story of these gentle giants. Whaler's Village Museum depicts the human history of the whaling trade by means of actual artifacts from the days of Moby Dick Many cruises are available from Lahaina Harbor, some with @ cause Fike (nat for prof) The Pacific Whale Foundation wio's mission is to promote appreciation, understanding an protection of whales, dok phins, coral reefs and eur planets oceans, During a two hour cruise, avaiable several timos a day, onboard marine naturalists expain, and Pont cut, the social behavior of humpback whales while you ston to Whale songs from an underwater hydrophone. For cruise information visit www pacificwhale.org Enjoying the underwater world without getting wet is possible with two alternatives: Through a 54-foot long acrylic tunnel inside the 780,000-gallon the ocean exhibit at The Maui Ocean Center observe numerous reef sharks, stingrays, and thousands of tropical reef fish and green sea turtles. Located in Maalaea Harbor, Maui Ocean Center is open daly, 5, July and August Lunt! 6pm, 808-270-7000 or visit www.mauioceancenter‘com Anathar popular alternative is a trip onboard the Atlantis Sub: marine. The twocnour tour takes you out from Lahaina on a col oriul journey. This tour operates daily with hourly departures rom 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m, Save 10% when you reserve online at www.atlantissubmarines.com (Once a whaling village, Lanaina offers an combination of hist 'y, culture and vinrant night lfe. The old grog shops. have been transformed into more than 40 art galleries and a wide range of restaurants. The Oid Jail Gallery run by the non-profit Lahaina Ans Society, 's home to 185 member artists. You can explore Lahaina’s rich history by following the signs on Lahaina’s Historic ‘Trail located throughout town or take @ guided cour with Maul Noi Native Expeditions, recipient of the 2008 Best of Lahaina Award. (808-661-9494, www.mauinei.com) What you can’t miss in Lahaina, is the largest banyan tree in the U.S. which is over 60 feet high and covers almost an acre, but what You might miss is one of the largest statues of Buddha outside of Japan in the Lahaina Jodo Mission on Als Moana Street 2 ayo The Dining ‘Experience’ No visit to Maui is complete without experiencing a lu'au (feast in historic old Lahaina, and sunset is the perfect time for it. The oceanfront Old Lahaina Lu’au offers @ popular sunset feast right off Front Street where you can enjoy trad tional Hawaiian cuisine including a Kalua pig, cooked in an earthen oven, poi and haupia (coconut pudding), along with 2 buffet of more familiar foods, an open bar, leis, ive music and skilled hula performances under a spectacular starry night. (800-248-5828, www.oldlahainaluau.com) There are over 300 restaurants on Maui to match your vace- tion dollar and taste in cuisine. Located right on famous Kaane- pall Beach, is Leilani's On The Beach offering an open air dining room and a menu of house specialties inluding succuient fresh fish and the famous Kimo’s Original Hula Pre, (808-661- 4495, worwlellanis.com) On the water's edge at Kaanapali Beach, the Hula Grill serves, renowned chet Petar Merriman's Hawaian regional seafood in ho relaxed ambiance ofa plantation era beach house, (808-667. 6636, wwrw.hulagrill.com} Road Trip Itineraries The legendary road to Hana is only 62 miles from Kahului, but the drive can take up to 4 hours to complete because it's aught with narrow onedane bridges, hairpin turns, ard inred ble slana views with plenty of opportunities to stop, so get an ely start and take your time Mary tourist guides wil direct travelers to secluded “sacred sites" but encourage your cliens to please respect the "No Trespassing” signs to avoid confit wit locas Beau is everywhere on Maui Tree opportunities to stetch your legs for more tan a few minutes off Hana Highway include: The Garden of Eden Arboretum atthe 10 mile mater is opened from 8:30am to 3 pm, {$10 admission. A lite farther past the 16 mie marker isthe Ke'anae Arboretum (no entrance fee and always open) boasting a spectacular cluster of rainbow Eucalyptus tees omamantal ees and medina pans, A na a mile beyond this point you can take Ke'anae Aid toward te Kevanaa vilage and fs “260 church and continue onto she peninsula lookout for a scenic ‘ew of the jt back lave coast. Hana itself is an small undeveloped town, home to t \Waienapanapa State Park but about nine miles beyond Hana lies Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu (your $10 entrance fee is ‘sinvested inthe upkeep of this wonderful 30,000 acre park) where you can swim in the tranquil pools of Oheo Gulch, or Seven Sacred Poo's then take a two hour hike though a spectac- Liar bamboo forest up the Piawai Tai to the 40Q-oot Waimoku Fats, wich s wall worth the ek. Stretching across the island to east Maui, the Haleakala National Park is also home to Haleakala Crater, rising over 10,000 feat above sea level Visitors to Haleakala Crater wake Up eaty to dive up 9,740 feet, tothe Haleakala Visitors Center to watch the sunrise of sunsets, On a clear day you can sy WOW AHFAX.COM