Voted Best Island by readers of Cande Nast Traveller for 20 years, Maui has a wealth of great experiences as part of a Hawaiian holiday. The group of Hawaiian Islands have a lot to offer but the island of Maui can stand on its own as a short break destination, where the temperature hovers around 26C all year. The island count Elvis Presley as one of its devoted fans, the singer made many visits to the islands between the late 1950s and 1977.
For lovers of the great outdoors Hawaii may be the land of the hula dancer but the archipelago's forested slopes and volcanic topography have plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast. The 'Road to Hana' is a classic Maui must-do, a hair-raising drive along 85km of jaw-dropping coastal scenery that transport visitors back 50 years to the days of pastel surf shacks and spiritual seekers. The Hana Highway has 620 curves, 59 bridges and snakes over cliffs, through rainforest, past crashing waterfalls and can take up to five hours to complete.
A big attraction to Maui is during the 'winter' season of November to April when some of the planet's finest humpback whale passes between Maui and its off-lying islands for their annual migration. The 26-mile wide, 700m deep Molokai Channel runs alongside Maui. Here the humpbacks congregate, treating whale-watchers to dramatic displays of breaching and diving as they compete for mating rights. Combined with a cinematic Pacific island backdrop dominated by the extinct volcano Haleakala the experience is one to die for.
On Maui you can get your own authentic cowboy experience. The island has a rich cowboy culture dating back to 1832 and paniolos still run several ranches in Maui's Upcountry. Local towns such as Makawao are built around working ranches like Ulupalakua, established in 1845 and home to horse-riding and clay pigeon shooting. The Annual Makawao's Independence Day Rodeo has been and Upcountry tradition for more than 50 years, where you can enjoy rodeo events while tucking into smokey elk burgers and barbecued Kalua pork.
If you are an Elvis fan you will love the Burn'n Love a musical event dedicated to Elvis Presley, perform by Darren Lee, who has been doing Elvis songs since he was 15. He won the 1997 World Elvis impersonation contest in Memphis, Tennessee.