Hotel at a Glance: 4-Star Royal Lahaina Resort

If you have a vision of a Hawaiian resort, there’s a good chance it looks something like Royal Lahaina Resort. In addition to a beach, the property encompasses three swimming pools, two of which face the ocean. Savor grilled mahi mahi and other fresh seafood at Royal Ocean Terrace, an open-air restaurant and lounge with a view of the ocean. Every night at sunset, the restaurant hosts a torch-lighting ceremony accompanied by Hawaiian music and dance.

• Where you’ll stay: a deluxe ocean-view room with free WiFi and a private lanai (a Hawaiian term for “veranda”)
• Sip a tropical cocktail: There are two bars onsite, including one right next to a pool.
• Hit the water: You can rent rafts, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear to take to the beach.
• Pick up a bottle of wine from Royal Trading Company, an onsite shop that sells books, souvenirs, and snacks.
• Myths of Maui Luau: The resort’s cultural celebration includes an open bar, dinner buffet, and Polynesian show. With this deal, you can get two admissions for the price of one ($85).
• Venture out: Arrange a ziplining adventure or other excursion at the resort’s activities desk.

Maui, Hawaii: Gorgeous Beaches, Haleakala Volcano, and Seasonal Whale Watching

Voted the best island in the United States by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Maui is considered one of the Pacific’s most beautiful spots and a favorite among Hollywood’s elite. The town of Lahaina, along Maui’s western coast, served as Hawaii’s royal capital before 1845. Throughout the mid-19th century, it was known as a whaling town—Herman Melville sailed from Lahaina during this time and gathered inspiration for Moby-Dick. The humpback whales that were once hunted are now protected by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and their population has flourished. The seas around Lahaina boast some of the world’s best whale watching from December to May, when female humpbacks give birth in the warm Pacific waters.

Arguably, Maui’s biggest attraction is Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, which technically encompasses 75% of the island. A paved road leads up to Haleakala’s summit, where you can stretch your legs and walk around the rim of the lunar-like volcanic crater. The towering peak is a playground for bicyclists, who coast down the slopes all the way to the beach town of Paia.

Elsewhere on the island, it’s a rite of passage to drive the Road to Hana, a 68-mile route that zigzags along the scenic northeastern coast with more than 600 hairpin curves. There are several points of interest along the way, including botanical gardens, tiny villages, and waterfall pools you can swim in.

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