Sitting in the middle of the Hawaiian island chain, Maui may serve as the Goldilocks example of the idyllic Hawaiian island to visit for the first-timer. It has breathtaking natural beauty, outdoor hiking/activities given its varied climes along Maui Upcountry shouldered by Haleakala, gorgeous beaches replete with marine life to dazzle your eyes while you snorkel or dive, and in the right season whale-watching. Maui lies somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between the more populated and developed Oahu and the rugged isolationism of Kauai.