Hotel at a Glance: Maui Sunseeker

Though Maui Sunseeker caters to the LGBT community, this gay and lesbian boutique resort welcomes “all awesome people.” The only restriction: guests must be 18 or older. Located across from Mai Poina ‘Oe La’u Beach—a 4-mile stretch of white sand on Maui’s south shore—this boutique resort offers beautiful gardens and clothing-optional areas in the pool, hot tub, and roof deck.

• Sand ‘n’ sun gear: complimentary use of beach chairs, towels, and ice coolers
• Scenic nooks: All guest rooms feature private lanais with ocean or garden views, refrigerators, microwaves, and flat-screen HD TVs with Dish Network
• Explore paradise: The concierge can coordinate a snorkeling trip, catamaran charter, or sunrise bike ride down the 10,023-foot Haleakala mountain.
• Hawaiian specialty: Head up to the rooftop tanning deck and watch the sun set over the Pacific.
• Aloha Au Ia 'Oe: Private gardens, vendor referrals, and a variety of romance packages make Maui Sunseeker a wonderful wedding or honeymoon destination.

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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