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Unlike the wet, rainforest-covered east coast of the island, Maui's southwestern shore is tailor-made for families looking for the perfect beach: dry, sunny, and most importantly, very, very sandy!
There's a reason, for example, that Makena Beach State Park earned the nickname "The Big Beach". Backed by a dormant volcano, the beach is nearly two-thirds of a mile long and 100 yards wide. But it's what's offshore that might be this area's biggest asset. Start with the waves: You can watch local surfers tackle the infamous Ma'alaea freight trains, a type of barrel wave unique to this part of the island. And located less than three miles off the coast sits Molokini, a tiny crescent-shaped island that's a favorite among snorkelers and divers hoping to catch a glimpse of the area's sea turtles, colorful coral, and more than 250 species of tropical fish.
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Think of them as Hawaii's answer to the cherry blossom: The vibrant purple flowers of the jacaranda tree burst to life each spring, blanketing the roads from the coast inland to the small up-country town of Kula with fallen lavender petals.
From May through late September, windsurfing season takes off as tropical trade winds settle in along the coast. Kihei's the place to take in all the action — scope out the perfect spot along Ohukai Beach or Maui Sunset Beach for the best views.
Maui's most popular snorkeling spots can get rather crowded during the peak tourist season, so take advantage of the area's autumn off-season. The weather here is still heavenly, but most travelers have returned to school back home. One of the most dazzling underwater sites is Turtle Town, a stretch of coral reef at Maluaka Beach just south of Makena State Park known for its high concentration of green sea turtles.
Even if you're not the world's best surfer, you can still see a good show from the shore during the prime winter surf season, when winds really start to pick up. Waves hitting the Hawaiian Islands during this time of year are a force to be reckoned with, usually the result of north Pacific storms near Japan or the Bering Strait. Ma'alaea Harbor, just north of Kihei, is an ideal spot to catch views of surfers as they tackle the area's infamous barrel waves, often referred to as "freight trains".