Kapalua, HI

Kapalua’s logo is a butterfly with a pineapple in place of its body. The image harks back to the area’s farming past, when acres of land were dedicated to pineapple crops.

Today, Kapalua is more famous for being a premier resort. It boasts two world-class golf courses, luxury hotels and villas, shops, restaurants, white-sand beaches and spectacular scenery.

This 22,000-acre (8,900-hectare) resort sits at the foot of the West Maui Mountains on the northwest tip of Maui. A magnet for beach lovers, the shoreline has several bays and white-sand beaches.

Take time out at Kapalua Beach, a horseshoe-shaped stretch of white coral sand. It’s capped at both ends by lava rocks that extend out into the ocean, protecting the bay from strong waves and powerful currents. The warm, calm waters make this a good destination year-round, especially for families with children. There is plenty of parking available and the facilities include showers and restrooms.

Outdoor pursuits are plenty. Stretch your legs on a hiking trail there are treks of varying difficulty, from mountain peaks to the coastline. Fly through the air on zip lines that cross gulches in the West Maui Mountains, or play a round of golf on courses that have attracted some of the world’s greatest players. The Plantation Course hosts the opening event of the PGA Tour season, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, and the Bay Course hosted the 2008 Kapalua Classic.

For some quality pampering, visit the resort’s spa, which has indoor and outdoor treatment rooms as well as views out to the ocean. Treatments are created from indigenous ingredients, some of which are locally sourced and produced.

Kapalua is approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the town of Lahaina, and about an hour’s drive from Kahului Airport.