Named from the Polynesian demigod Maui, the second biggest island of Hawaii has great beaches, four marine preserves, a huge dormant volcano (Haleakala), superb resorts and lively nightlife. But whether you're a surfer or a party-animal, there's something about the place that dictates simple pleasures—the sheer bliss of running barefoot on a beach, or admiring the countryside on horseback. Maui is simply blessed by the gods.