You can't visit Maui without going to Haleakala National Park. The park is where you can see Haleakala Crater, an active volcano and the island's highest peak at more than 10,000 feet above sea level lets you walk above clouds. The park also covers a variety of environments, including deserts and coastal areas.
You also don't want to miss Makena Beach, also called Big Beach. Considered one of the island's best beaches, it stretches 100 yards wide and two-thirds of a mile long. It's a great spot for swimming or snorkeling once you tire of sunbathing.
No visit to Oahu is complete without seeing Pearl Harbor. It's the only naval base in the country that is also a National Historical Landmark as a result of the 1941 aerial attack on it by Japanese forces. There are many aspects to this memorial, including the USS Arizona, which was hit by a bomb in 1941, igniting its forward ammunition magazine. The battleship sank in just a few minutes. Now it's a floating memorial built over the Arizona's hull that allows visitors to pay respects to the crew that went down with the ship. Also at the site is the battleship Missouri memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, the USS Oklahoma memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum.
Waikiki Beach is the most famous in Hawaii. It's been world famous for decades and serves as a gathering place for tourists from across the globe. Swimming and sunbathing aren't the only things to do along this strip of sand. There are plenty of shopping and dining opportunities for those who are sun-shy. You can also see the statue of Hawaiian hero Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing. At the North Shore, watch for the perfect wave. This is a surfing mecca. More than seven miles of beaches form the North Shore, which is where many of the world's top surfing competitions are held. Waves can swell to up to 30 feet or more.
Visit the historic whaling town Lahaina on Maui's western coast. This town was once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom and is full of historical places. The town also has a large community of artists and musicians. Another spot to visit is the town of Paia. This area was once a sugar plantation town, but now offers eclectic shops, art galleries and eateries. It's also close to Hookipa Beach Park, a great spot for windsurfing.
