But Maui, one of the largest of the more than 20 Hawaiian Islands, really is a mix of spectacularly divergent topography, ideal for both tourists and settlers, snorkelers and mountain climbers, history buffs and lazy bums, parasailers and golfers.

You’ll find first-rate dining, shopping, nightlife, and accommodations to rival those in Oahu’s Honolulu... with nowhere near the crowds and congestion. Maui is a paradise no matter what your passions. If you seek sun, sea, and sand, you have numerous beaches to choose from. For the best swimming, sunning, and people watching, you’ll want to head for the island’s western shore. Ka’anapali Beach, one of Maui’s best, is the shoreline home to many of the island’s most luxurious resorts.

If you want to eye the “beautiful people,” this beach is the place. It’s also an excellent choice for snorkelers. Families love Fleming Beach Park because of its expansive white sands and surf perfect for body boarding and body surfing. Fleming is also popular with board surfers, as is Makena’s Oneloa Beach, which the locals call “Big Beach.” Nearby is Little Beach...for “clothing-optional” enthusiasts.

Maui’s eastern shore is not as rife with prime beaches, but do check out Ho’okipa, where you’ll be mesmerized by the talents of some of the world’s best windsurfers. Other ways to enjoy Maui’s heavenly waters include submarine rides, sunset sails (some offering dinner), and tours on a glass-bottom boat from the harbor in Lahaina, Maui’s biggest town.

Lahaina, a historic whaling town, is a good place to look for a traditional Hawaiian luau. After shopping or dining in town, you will also want to go a few blocks off the main drag to take in the Jodo Mission, a Buddhist temple amid traditional symbolic surroundings. The mission is considered by many to be one of the loveliest and most serene sites in Hawaii.

While you’re in Lahaina, consider a trip on the Sugar Cane Train, a fascinating journey through the history of Maui’s sugar industry, led by a singing conductor who provides narration and accompanies himself with a ukulele. Sugar replaced whaling as the island’s principal business in the 19th Century. Maui’s sweetest industry, however, couldn’t compete with foreign sugar prices, and the main sugar plant finally closed its doors in 1999.

The crater of Haleakala, which translates as “the house of the sun,” is 7.5 miles long, 2.5 miles wide, and 3,000 feet deep. Incredibly, that’s larger than the entire island of Manhattan. It’s not just the views into this volcanic valley—which some say resembles Mars or the fictional Vulcan— that are spectacular. Stop at the Puu Overlook at Haleakala’s highest point and you’ll have a 360-degree panoramic view of Oahu, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. (You can get additional far-reaching views by signing up for one of Maui’s helicopter or small plane tours.) Also on and around Haleakala, which is a national park, you can camp or hike a rain forest or lava flow.

You may also notice that people live in the Haleakala area, because not all Maui buyers are interested in proximity to the ocean or oceanfront property. “What we call the ‘upcountry’ is also very popular,” a local Realtor told us. “We have homes tucked away on the side of Haleakala that provide a rural feel, with stunning pastoral views and exquisite sunsets.” At these higher elevations, the air is cooler, and prices can also climb high... into the multimillions, in fact.

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