Haleakala National Park Haleakala Crater Road, Makawao 808-572-9306 Haleakala's steaming plume beckons from miles away. It's not difficult to imagine the demigod Maui capturing the sun and holding it captive here in the "House of the Sun" (as Polynesian lore dictates), demanding more hours of sunlight for islanders. Haleakala is a breathtaking spot, a 10,023-foot-tall dormant volcano whose lava formed most of East Maui. The cinder cone-covered crater floor measures more than 24 square miles, and is a 3,000-foot drop from its upper rim. More than one million people visit Haleakala annually.

Maui Ocean Center 192 Ma'alaea Road, Ma'alaea 808-270-7000 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Admission Charged As an island, Maui enjoys a special link to the sea. The Maui Ocean Center explores that link; indoor and outdoor displays at the aquarium feature 2,000 sharks, fishes and other sea creatures as well as vast displays on Hawaii's black lava shores and colorful coral.

Maui Tropical Plantation 1670 Honopi'ilani Highway, Waikapu 800-451-6805 Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Admission Charged A tram ride transports tourists through this lush region of the island as a narrator tells of its rich agricultural heritage. The 120-acre plantation encompasses more than 60 acres of pineapple, sugar cane, mangoes, guavas, papaya, ginger and coffee, and also showcases dozens of varieties of tropical orchids.

Sea World 191 North Kihei Road, Kihei 808-879-8860 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. daily Admission Charged A two-hour boat ride takes visitors to see Hawaii's most impressive residents - its whales. On most trips, boats are able to get so close that observers can see the barnacles on the whales' backs, and may get sprayed by the splash as their great tales slap the water's surface. You can also expect to hear the whales as they converse with each other in their clicking, singing "language."

Whalers Village Museum Kaanapali Beach, Lahaina This museum, in the heart of Lahaina, documents the sleepy port city's evolution to a whaling boomtown. Home to an impressive collection of whaling memorabilia, the museum shows what life was like between 1825 and 1860 for the men who led the harsh whaling life aboard tiny boats chasing 45-ton quarry. The exhibit includes harpoons, sea chests and a re-creation of the typical six-man crew's quarters. Films about whales and whaling history are shown throughout the day.

Hike Maui Kahului 808-879-5270 Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Admission Charged Some of Maui's most incredible scenery can only be viewed on foot. A guide will lead your group on a four-and-a-half-mile mountain hike to the upper ridges of the West Maui mountains. A picnic lunch, supplied by the outfitter, awaits at the top, but you may already be full if you've stopped to sample the wild fruit and berries along the path.

Maui Paraglide Kula 877-463-5944 Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 pm. daily Admission Charged Riding a tandem paraglide (with a flight instructor along), you'll take a once-in-a-lifetime soar over the Haleakala's magnificent terrain and hover over its 3,000-foot-deep crater.

Maui Downhill Tours 199 Dairy Road, Kahului 808-871-2155 Hours: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission Charged After a light, pre-dawn breakfast, the outfitter will drive your group to the summit of Haleakala to watch the sunrise. Then, depending on your skill and adventure level, you'll take one of five bicycle trips and coast down the volcano past incredible scenery and through the switchbacks toward Pa'ia for a full-day adventure. Those with younger children should be advised that, for safety reasons, children under 12 are not permitted.

Sunshine Helicopter 107 Kahului Airport, Kahului 808-871-0722 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, weather permitting Admission Charged Since more than half of the island is inaccessible by car, visitors may choose to take this memorable flight over Haleakala's crater and the surrounding volcanic landscape.