"Eighty-eight nautical miles and twenty-five minutes by air southeast of Honolulu, the island of Maui rises 10,000 feet in scenic grandeur from the blue Pacific. Seen from the air, it is a geology lesson. Two volcanic masses are linked by a deep valley isthmus which once lay beneath the sea, hence the popular sobriquet for Maui: the Valley Isle. Second largest of the Hawaiian group, the island stretches 25 miles from north to south, 38.4 miles from east to west, encompassing an area of 728 square miles. ..." Maui has 120 miles of shoreline, 10 state parks, 15 county parks and one national park (Haleakala), 16 golf courses and 4 major resort areas. "Steeped in myth and history, Maui is named in honor of a demigod who loved to fish. It was Maui who pulled up the Hawaiian Islands from the sea. It was Maui who captured the sun and forced it to modify its schedule (in order to allow more time for fishing). And it was Maui who, like Prometheus in another pantheon, brought man the gift of fire." --- Fodor's Hawaii Complimentary activities provided by the Aston Wailea Resort: daily "Aloha Maui Activities Center" briefing with complimentary coffee Hawaiian activities and cultural workshops one hour snorkel equipment rental per day golf and tennis shuttle service aerobics and aquacise classes children's activities program---special two for one offer (Each morning at around 8:15 the hotel has a briefing of the day's activities. The hotel would be happy to arrange a group briefing for attendees and/or their families at the start of the conferences. There is of course no shortage of tours you can go on. Beach equipment (snorkel, sailboard, scuba) is also easy to rent. It is possible to rent a car at two of the nearby hotels: Budget at the Grand Wailea, and Avis at the Renaissance. There are also sessions on Hawaiian arts and crafts.) Maui activities: see "101 Things to Do on Maui" provided free by the Maui Tourist Bureau as well as numerous travel books on the Hawaiian Islands in general and Maui in particular Some Maui tourist sights: Wailiku, 3 miles west of Kahului, contains Hale Hoikeike, a Hawaiian historical museum located in an old female seminary Iao Valley State Park, due west of Kahului, is noted for the Iao Needle which rises 2250 feet straight up from the valley floor; just west is one of the wettest spots on earth, receiving more than 400 inches of rain per year Lahaina, a former whaling village has a whaling museum, the Whaler's Market Place and more; north of Lahaina are white sand beaches Haleakala crater dominates the island; the highest point on the rim is at 10,032 feet---the crater floor lies 2800 feet below; this is a fascinating place with rare plants such as the yucca-like silversword which grows nowhere else, amazing geology which can be hiked all over, and views of Maui and neighboring islands The road to Hana is a twisty road around the eastern edge of the island passing taro fields, banana groves, lush forest, rugged coastline, waterfalls, pools, old Hawaiian villages, ancient ruins; the traffic can be slow in places, but the sights are lovely There are several botanical gardens, both on the road to Hana and on the slopes of Haleakala, containing many rare and unusual flowers (orchids, proteas, etc.) as well as the Maui Tropical Plantation at Waikapu with crops such as pineapple, coconuts, avocados, papayas, banana, mangoes, breadfruit, macademia nuts, etc. Individuals should arrange their own non-conference activities.