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It is often a singular moment that defines a visit to Maui: A chance encounter with a pod of dolphin or the exquisite shimmer of a Maui moon played off the fronds of a coconut palm.At 727 square miles, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. A massive string of volcanic pearls, the island chain is the most remote land mass on earth with Maui the most distinctive of all its islands. For almost a dozen years in a row, Maui has been elected "Best Island in the World" by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine. Reasons for Maui's enduring popularity are too numerous to list. Shores lined with sand the texture of fine sugar and soaked with sun certainly help. From mysterious tropical forests to the barren, lava strewn slopes of Haleakala, Maui's allure continues. Impenetrable by foot or land machine, narrow canyons lace the West Maui mountains. Many of these terminating at pools fed by thick ribbons of water cascading from mist-shrouded heights. One could spend a lifetime exploring these hidden environs, never completing the journey. One event Maui is famous for occurs every day. Visitors stream from resort and condo units lining the shores of its west side to witness Nature's great closing act. As the sun slips away, horizon clouds are bathed in colors synonymous with passion and romance. The upper edge of the clouds morph into rivers of molten gold as sun rays unfold like a celestial fan across a darkening sky. Occasionaly, if you watch closely, you'll see the City of Oz flash emerald green in the final moments of the sun. No camera lens nor aritst's hand can truly duplicate Maui's environs. Writers have unleashed avalanches of adverbs and adjectives to conjure what cannot be conjured with words. Attempts to lasso its magic, to corral its wonder, result in obvious imitations. Maui is a chimera, but because it is, we keep trying. Occasionally –in brief interlude with its earthy wisdom– we put down the camera or pen and simply rest in its sway, accepting a gift that cannot be redisplayed in its totality. Having said that, I invite you to enjoy pictures Pacific Island Weddings has been collecting over time. These are shot by amatuers, simply capturing scenes that captured the viewer. If you have pictures of Maui that you think others might find as enjoyable as you, email them to us, we'll be sure to give you credit. Ron Winckler Copyright © 1998 - 2005 All rights protected. Content may not be copied or used without the express permission of Pacific Island Weddings.
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