Frequently ranked among the best islands in the world, Maui boasts natural beauty in the form of majestic mountain ranges, dramatic sea cliffs and waterfalls, tropical rainforests, and endless breathtaking beaches. Its appeal only begins there, though, as it also offers all the necessities of modern life and a unique variety of other attractions.

Central Maui serves not only as a retail center for residents (complete with big box stores, furniture stores, and car dealerships), but the location of state and county government offices, the University of Hawaii Maui College, Maui Memorial Medical Center, and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (which hosts all the island’s major music, dance, and visual arts events). Maui’s south and west sides are home to the island’s widest array of restaurant options; world-class golf, shopping, and spas; the Maui Research and Technology Park (a 400-acre office, lab, and data center complex); and the Maui Ocean Center (the largest tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere).

The east side of Maui is dominated by Halekala, a 10,000-foot dormant volcano, where the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy has managed a world-renowned observation site for more than 40 years. On the north shore, Hookipa has earned a reputation as the windsurfing capital of the world, and the nearby Peahi surf break (often referred to as “Jaws”), has become legendary among big wave surfers.

Because humpbacks congregate in the channel between south Maui and its neighbor islands to the west, its winter whale watching is considered the best in the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, with its ideal balance of natural wonders and the necessities that make a community livable, the Valley Isle’s residents find it easy to agree with its slogan, “Maui no ka oi,” meaning “Maui is the best.”