Along the north shore of Maui, trade winds blowing a steady 15 to 25 knots from the northeast make the beach town of Paia the globe's premier summer spot for windsurfing and one of its main incubators for kiteboarding.

The water circus also includes plenty of surfers, boogie boarders, and body surfers, as well as a sizable contingent of hippies blissing out on the rays and the mellow Maui vibe.

Land-based adventurers head southeast to bike, trek, and camp in the remote rain forests and spellbinding volcanic moonscapes of Haleakala National Park.

All prices in U.S. dollars
 

Access
Maui's main airport is eight miles [12.9 kilometers] west of town, at Kahului.

Surfing
Three main breaks are off Hookipa Beach, north of town: Pavilions, Middles, and the Point. By informal agreement, surfers have the place all to themselves until 11 a.m., then windsurfers take over.

First-timers take two-hour lessons from amiable former champion Buzzy Kerbox ($65; +1 808 573 5728; www.buzzykerboxsurf.com).

Windsurfing
The action is at Hookipa Beach and at Kanaha Beach Park, west of Paia. Lessons with Hawaiian Sailboarding Techniques (+1 808 871 5423; www.hstwindsurfing.com) start at $69.

Kiteboarding
Due to the hazards of whizzing kites and kite lines, the sport is concentrated at Kite Beach, west of town. For $240, the Kiteboarding School of Maui (+1 808 873 0015; www.ksmaui.com) promises to get most novices up and scudding in a single four-hour lesson.

Biking
Riders can get a rental bike and a lift from the Haleakala Bike Company ($69; 888 922 2453 [U.S. and Canada only]) to the top of 10,023-foot [3,055-meter] Haleakala, then rocket 3,000 vertical feet [914 meters] down the dome-shaped volcano.

Room and Board
Mama's Beachfront Cottages (doubles $140; 800 860 4852; www.mamasfishhouse.com) has barbecue decks.

Try the mahi burgers at the Paia Fishmarket (+1 808 579 8030) and check out Charley's (+1 808 579 9453), where part-time local Willie Nelson sometimes jams.

Resources
Maui Visitors Bureau (+1 808 244 3530; www.visitmaui.com)

Haleakala National Park (+1 808 572 4400; www.nps.gov/hale)