High net-worth consumers rated Harry Winston as the most prestigious jewelry brand, a recent survey conducted by the Luxury Institute found. Respondents in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey cited Harry Winston as having “a great reputation,” being “the ultimate for diamond design,” and being known for “quality and exclusivity.”

Buccellati and Van Cleef and Arpels tied for second place, while Graff placed third. Buccellati was also rated most unique and exclusive.

“The luxury jewelry industry is still very inwardly-focused,” commented Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. “This important segment of luxury can benefit from understanding how multi-millionaire consumers perceive jewelry brands on critical metrics that define what luxury truly is, and is not…True luxury leaders are unflinching in their desire to learn why consumers will, or will not, recommend their brands and then take positive action.”

The survey was conducted online, using a national sample of 513 Americans with an average income of $789,000 and an average net worth of $15.1 million.

The following list comprises the 20 jewelry brands that were rated (in alphabetical order):

Asprey
Blue Nile
Boucheron
Buccellati
Bulgari
Carrera y Carrers
Cartier
Chanel
Chopard
David Yurman
De Beers
Dior
FRED
Graff
Gucci
Harry Winston
Mikimoto
Piaget
Tiffany
Van Cleef and Arpels

In an unprecedented move by the fashion industry, top designers united to support ‘FutureFashion’ a runway show that presented 30 looks that were created using sustainable materials. Future fashion is here!

Being hailed as a carbon neutral event, Behnaz Sarapfour, Bottega Veneta, Boudicca, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Derek Lam, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Doo.Ri, Doro Olowu, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Isabel Toledo, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Martin Grant, Martin Margiela, Michael Kors, Moschino, Narciso Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren, Rodarte, Rogan, Stella McCartney, Thakoon, Threeasfour, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent celebrated FutureFashion™ by creating garments that are made with sustainable materials that included sasawashi, piña, bamboo, organic cotton and wool, corn-based fibers, recycled fibers or fabrics and biopolymers.

Versace, one the world’s leading fashion houses created through Versace Atelier (the maison’s division for its most luxurious creations) a ‘sustainable’ eco-friendly gown made of mikado hemp and silk.

One of the six initiatives by EarthPledge, a leading non-profit and innovator of sustainable solutions for business, FutureFashion™ celebrates environmentally conscious fashion by working with the industry to promote renewable, reusable and nonpolluting materials and methods.

Through FutureFashion™, future fashion designers are encouraged to investigate and implement techniques that reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and production and source locally produced sustainable materials.

With FutureFashion™ runway show tonight that featured creations by top designers and luxury houses from both sides of the Atlantic, the message is clear: sustainability is completely compatible with luxury and a contemporary lifestyle.

Leslie Hoffman, Earth Pledge Executive Director commented, “We are thrilled that the design community has embraced the challenge of designing with sustainable materials.  This group of talented designers has enormous influence over what we wear and how we express ourselves.”

“Taking this first step in exploring sustainable practices is a breakthrough that underscores Earth Pledge’s mission: to create change from within the industry.  Sustainability is not a fad; it is a necessity for a healthy future. The leadership so beautifully expressed by these designers will help farmers, textile manufacturers, other designers and, of course, the customers, also embrace this vision,” Ms. Hoffman added.

For those who missed the show, all 30 creations will be displayed on the store windows of Barneys New York’s flagship at Madison Avenue at 61st Street for three weeks, from February 1st. Future fashion should not dismissed, but a popular trend.

“Our Fashion Week windows will showcase a gorgeous cavalcade of sustainable frocks,”  Barneys New York Creative Director Simon Doonan exclaimed.

In just the past two decades, luxury suites and other premium seating for football, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc… have transformed the way sports franchises make money and build venues.

Luxury suites, often incorrectly referred to as “sky boxes,” are exclusive, enclosed areas within a sports venue that offer the latest amenities and top of the line service for a hefty price. In major markets such as New York and Los Angeles, suites in prime locations (think 50-yard line in the NFL) go for about $400,000 a season — a price that is likely to keep going higher.

Premium seating, which also includes club seating, courtside seating and party suites, first became prevalent around 1990 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons. At that time, premium seating accounted for just 3% of the seats in a given building.

Today, premium seating accounts for almost 25% of seats in new buildings and often goes for double or triple the cost of their less luxurious counterparts. In fact, now franchises can project nearly half of all ticket revenue from premium seating

This source of revenue is so vital that many buildings have been torn down or renovated on the sole reason that they didn’t have enough premium seating.

“The entire market was built out on the fact that you need the revenue from premium seating,” said Bill Dorsey, executive director of luxury suite directors, a trade group that represents 1,000 minor and pro league members.

“It wouldn’t be economically viable to build a venue without a mix of premium seats — even minor league or secondary market venues,” said Marshall Glickman, former president of the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers and now CEO of consulting firm G2 Strategic.

Originally, luxury suites were primarily looked at as a way to secure the financing necessary to build new venues, which today can cost in upward of $1 billion. Luxury suite money is considered contractually obligated income because individuals and corporations sign leases for an 8-to-10-year period. Since a team can’t guarantee a bank it will sell out every single game, this is a way to show its minimum ticketing revenue.

While it still serves a financing role, premium seating has become a major source of revenue for franchises and a form of business entertainment for corporations. Businesses use suites to entertain potential clients, retain current ones and recruit future employees.

“Premium spaces are things that companies tend to covet. The suite option has always provided a unique venue for corporations to have access to entertaining clients,” said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Charles Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon.

While luxury suites have been around for about two decades, the business model behind them is still evolving.

The prices have gone up while the number of suites has been flat or declined in some markets. For example, The Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium is expected to have 300 suites at $300,000 each, giving the city a $90 million marketplace. That’s nearly 10 times the market Dallas had just ten years ago, Dorsey said.

Experts said they are seeing a shift away from traditional luxury suites and a move toward more club seating and other premium seats because people like to be in a more social atmosphere.

Also, teams have been experimenting with the location of luxury suites, which are no longer just found above the first level of seating. Today, the suites are being placed closer to the playing field and even in some cases below it. Several NBA venues have built suites beneath the court with the option for several occupants to sit courtside.

Given the hefty price tags that accompany premium seats, franchises are expected to give customers the best accommodations, including the latest high-definition televisions, top-notch service and plush seating areas.

“The challenge is to make the suite experience more than just a place to watch the game,” said Jim Grinstead, publisher of Revenues from Sports Venues.

Experts said franchises must be ready to adapt to the ever-changing desires of premium seat holders.

“We in our industry need to do a better job of designing the venues to have a lot more flexibility,” said Glickman.

This means creating suites that can easily be converted to other types of premium seating. Glickman knows fist-hand, as he said his team didn’t have enough foresight when it built the Rose Garden, the current home of the Blazers.

Customization is another key in the current premium seating market, with leaseholders now having the ability to put their mark on their suites. Some businesses choose to put their logo on the walls or in various other areas of a suite – something that adds value to the investment.

“One size does not fit all. Everything is now customized, and it should be,” said Glickman.

It seems that the ultra rich are getting that way younger and younger. There’s many who simply inherited a pile of cash such as Yang Huiyan, who’s China’s richest woman. She has a $7.4 billion fortune, given by her father, Yeung Kwok Keung.

Many did it the old fashion way, they earned it. The Ukraine’s youngest billionaire, Kostyantin Zhevago, now 34 years old is worth $3.4 billion and is currently a deputy in Ukraine’s parliament. Then there’s American John Arnold, who sped through Vanderbilt University in three years and became an oil trader for Enron, banking about $750 million in 2001.

After the business collapsed, he started his own hedge fund, Centaurus Energy. He has done very well indeed, with a debut on Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list – net worth of $1.5 billion.  Full article

(Photo by: J.P. Moczulski / REUTERS/Landov)

The success story of Bill Gates is nothing but spectacular. But by the very same markets that made him rich, he now wants to overhaul capitalism. The founder of Microsoft is calling for a new economics that could help change the world.

Speaking recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gates praised technology and science for making the world better, but he warned that “breakthroughs change lives only where people can afford to buy them.”

Billions of people need the great inventions of the computer age, Gates says, as well as basic services. But they can’t express this need “in ways that matter to markets.” Money talks, and they don’t have any.

Gates’s cure is a “creative capitalism” that is driven by self interest and concern for others. It means asking how capitalism could work in the poorest markets.

Companies already know how to sell luxury items to rich shoppers. To become creative capitalists, they would have to figure out how to reap a profit in extremely poor markets. Sometimes the profit would be money, and sometimes it would be in the form of recognition that would attract customers and talented employees.

What could be sold? It won’t be $300 iPods or $45,000 BMWs. Rather, companies would have to listen closely to local needs and respond. That’s what a company in India called the Serum Institute did when it came up with a way to produce low-cost vaccines for babies in developing countries. Communications companies are wiring rural communities around the globe so residents can use wireless phones and computers. Designers are creating portable light sources, and solar-power is purifying water and illuminating communities that lack electricity. And Microsoft is working on a computer driven by images so it can be used by people who can’t read.

To make creative capitalism a two-way street, Gates’s foundation is funding efforts to “help businesses in the poor world reach markets in the rich world.” One example is a program to help African farmers gain access to the premium coffee market, so they can double their incomes.

Gates adds: “I hope corporations will consider dedicating a percentage of your top innovators’ time to issues that could help people left out of the global economy,” arguing that this could be more useful than donating cash.

This promising perspective recasts global poverty as a new frontier where cutting-edge thinkers can advance global innovations.

Now Gates has to keep preaching, until more people can see what he sees. He’ll have to keep calling for partnerships among business, government, and nonprofit groups. And he’ll need famous friends such as Bono, the rock star advocate, to add the gleam of celebrity to the cause.

Opening up new markets alone won’t end global poverty. But creative capitalism could compel more people to try.  Read article

Are you a globetrotting billionaire and now bored with private jets? Maybe this is for you.

If you are someone whose diary has breakfast meetings, lunch conferences, dinner date and all the in-between activities of the day scheduled in different countries, you are sure to appreciate the announcement of Aerion’s supersonic business jet that will take you places in minutes. The demise of Concorde has ensured that enough thoughts are given to the design and commercial viability of the jet. While Concorde was a civilian flight, the SBJ is aimed solely at the corporates and jet setting billionaires to ensure the return of their invested money.

The preliminary orders the company booked in just three months is nearly $1.5 billion with an initial deposit of $250,000 for its $80 million SBJ. Aerion’s key innovation is the plane’s so-called ‘laminar airflow’ wing. The design helps minimize drag at high speeds. The SBJ flies at a maximum of Mach 1.6 to reduce the need for costly high-temperature materials. It will also fly at a maximum of 51,000 feet like other other business jets. So, ready to take the skies on the world’s first supersonic business jet? Not so soon, you have to wait until 2014 before the first flight takes off; unfortunately time doesn’t fly at supersonic speed!  Full article

Affluent consumers will ride out the economic downturn on a bed of luxury linens, surrounded by colors and fabrics that soothe the senses.

That’s the prediction of local textile designer Barbara Beckmann, who displayed some of her recent creations last week at the San Francisco Design Center’s Winter Market.

Rather than buying new homes, the trend will be to upgrade current property. “Those who can stay in the real estate market will lean toward luxury” when they redecorate, Beckmann said.

“Designers I worked with years ago are coming back to me to update the projects we worked on together,” she said. “People are coming back to luxury more and more. We’re going to see more hand-done work because people can appreciate what isn’t made in China.”

Beckmann MooreYaki Studio, where its founder spoke, carries “the top 1 percent of what’s available in the industry,” said interior designer Kristina Moore Yaki, the studio’s principal. “And in hand-painted fabrics, Barbara sets the standard.”

The studio’s clients include the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Claremont Resort in Oakland and the royal palace in Dubai. “Gold and silver are becoming very important again,” Beckmann said. “They create the look of luxury. We’re going to see this market coming back.”

Carolyn Ray, another Beckmann MooreYaki manufacturer, also features metallics in her fabrics. Many of her wall coverings and textiles have floral patterns, while others feature strong geometric shapes.

Asian motifs abound in Beckmann’s fabrics and in those of Charlotte Forish, also at Beckmann MooreYaki. Forish’s company, Chez Charlotte of San Rafael, offers textiles that are hand-screened on silk dupioni, linen and moleskin.

Soft jewel tones, especially blue, are popular in a number of textile lines. Beckmann’s jewelry was the inspiration for her collection featuring shades of quartz, amber, topaz, citrine, jade and two blues: aquamarine and sapphire.

For clients in the hospitality industry, Beckmann’s designs can be printed on solution-dyed acrylic. The durable fabric can be washed in cold water and is suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use, she said.

Another trend in high-end design is the customization of fabric. “A good fabric is like a great accessory,” Beckmann said. “Fabric makes the room.”

Well-ensconced in that marketing niche is Shoshana Enosh, whose company, Micana, hand-dyes its yarn before weaving it – on human-operated, wooden looms – into luxury textiles.

“The art of dyeing is an art with a bit of science,” she said, recalling how she learned the craft. “We practiced in an old-fashioned claw-foot bathtub for a year before we got it right.”

Now her company can custom-match colors to clients’ specifications. Enosh’s focus at last week’s market was on custom chenille patterns. “It’s as soft as a baby’s bottom,” she said of a chenille throw she passed around to a studio full of admirers. “There’s absolutely nothing softer than this.”

At Holland & Sherry’s custom embroidery presentation, “Haute Couture for the Home,” Nicholas Chambeyron, formerly of Dior, described his transition from apparel to home fashions.

“We started with border designs, then moved to all-over designs, and finally to the finished product,” he said. “We use a lot of computer processes, machine processes, but all the details are worked by hand” at a factory in Germany.

In creating its textiles, the company can copy architectural details from a room and put them into embroidery or appliques. “I’m trying to make things very refined and elegant,” Chambeyron said. “There is no puckering of the fabric where it’s embroidered.”

Holland & Sherry makes its own chenille, and its line includes chenille-on-linen designs. The company also embroiders on leather, and uses leather as an applique on other fabrics.

“Most of the designs are not very traditional or old-fashioned,” Chambeyron said as he displayed a number of geometric patterns, some with a Far Eastern influence.

One design featured rectangular cutouts on a mostly solid background. When sunlight shone through the openings in the cloth, the design evoked the many windows of a city skyline. Another design looked to the past. Embroidered on a light-colored background, it featured farm motifs: a flower, a rooster and a child feeding a dog.

Article written by Jennifer Williams – San Francisco Chronicle

No, this doesn’t mean you can bring in your broken down PC and have it pimped to the max. Nor will you see this on an MTV episode. However, considering the luxury appearance of the computers in question, plus and the large amount of money required to get them, your chances of actually owning one is as close as getting featured on the hit TV show.

Tokyo Japan’s Zeus Computer has crafted a line of luxury desktops that bring a new definition to “over the top.” First on the menu is the “Jupiter” model, made of pure platinum. Next is the “Mars” model, molded in solid gold, according to Tokyo-based Pink Tentacle.

Respective prices of 80 million and 60 million yen–or $760,000 and $570,000. The specs, as if they really mattered include: a 3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 1 TB hard drive, a 256MB GeForce graphics card, and a Blu-ray DVD drive.

I’m fairly sure that most people, even the ultra-rich can come up with a long list of things that you can spend nearly a million dollars on. More importantly, something you can feel more sensible about. Can you even think of a market for platinum and gold computers? I seriously doubt even Bill Gates has a computer like this.

Adding bling to gadgets isn’t new. Gold-plated iPods do exist, and Dolce & Gabbana released a Motorola RAZR version of their own . Given those examples, you could say that the arrival of pimped-out PCs was inevitable. And now, they’re really here.

The cruise line industry keeps rolling out mega luxury ships to meet the ever demanding tastes of high end travelers. More choices in food, activities, itineraries and luxury are some of the trends shaping the cruise industry for 2008. But the biggest unknown is what will happen with cruise prices.

The Cruise Lines International Association estimates that 12.6 million people cruised in 2007, a 4.6 percent increase over 2006. CLIA believes demand will hold, with a projected 12.8 million passengers for 2008 despite the weakening economy. A recent CLIA survey of 500 travel agents found 90 percent expect 2008 cruise sales to be as good or better than 2007.

But consumers with flexible vacation plans may be in for some deals. “The more uncertainty there is in the marketplace, the more deals there will be later in the year,” said Heidi Allison Shane, spokeswoman for CruiseCompete.com. “When the cruise lines go out with high prices and they don’t sell out, the bigger the discounts later on.” The softest markets, she predicted, will be in mega-ships sailing to the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, also expects “more competitive prices for sure, because the economy is shaky, but where you’ll find the real deals are on the older ships in cruise line fleets, not the newer and bigger models. Per diems on vessels like Cunard’s Queen Victoria, Holland America’s Eurodam and Celebrity’s Solstice will be pricey and demand is strong because all three are new designs.”

LUXURY: More cruise lines are offering larger and more luxurious accommodations with private elevators, private courtyards and suites located near spas. Spa suite guests typically get priority or upgraded access to spa services.

Even the mass-market cruise line Carnival is getting into the luxury act with Carnival Splendor, launching later this year with 68 spa suites that feature access by private elevator to a 21,000-square-foot spa. Another new ship, MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia, will also feature 68 suites accessed by private elevators.

Norwegian Gem, which launched in 2007, not only has one of the most decorative exteriors of any ship at sea – a colorful jewel design on a white background – but it has large one- and two-bedroom suites in its Courtyard Villa. The shared private courtyard has a private lap pool, hot tub, steam rooms and fitness area.

In May, Celebrity Cruises launched a new luxury line, Azamara, with two midsize ships – Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. Both ships carry 694 guests and offer Sky Suites with in-suite spa services. Most itineraries are 12-18 nights with less well-known ports of call like Cartagena, Colombia, and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. In the summer, both ships go to Europe. Azamara Quest will later sail in Asia.

Article written by Beth J. Harpaz  – AP Travel Editor

Ferrari’s 599 GTB Fiorano was an all-new model for 2007, and only about 250 will be made per year by hand. Its engine is the same 6.0L V12 screaming beast that is found in the Enzo. Putting out 612 horsepower and redlining at 8,400 rpm, it also does 448 pound-feet of torque, almost all of which is available at only 3,500 rpm. Mash it, and all 12 cylinders let out a roaring melody, pushing you toward 60 mph in three and a half seconds. Take your foot off the pedal, and the motor unwinds in a series of sweet backfire pops, reminding you just how closely related this engine is to its racing parentage.

The drivetrain is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup, with the engine and transmission mounted very close in-board-so much so, Ferrari calls the 599 a front-mid engine design. The “SuperFast” paddle-controlled transmission is a new six-speed clutchless manual. It’s faster than ever, changing gears in about 100 milliseconds. Stopping the car are big vented discs all around. Opt for the race-derived carbon-ceramic disc brakes, and the Fiorano gets six-piston calipers up front, the ability to stop from 60 mph in 105 feet, and a loss of 30 pounds. All for the price of a Honda Civic.

Supporting the car is a new magnetic-fluid suspension system. Developed in cooperation with Delphi, the fluid can change viscosity when electric charge is passed through it. This system allows minute adjustments in suspension firmness many times a second, resulting in virtually no body lean and endless grip on just about every kind of paved road. This type of suspension also allows for more user control.

A steering wheel-mounted “manettino” knob allows the driver to literally dial in how much driving help he or she wants. The suspension can be set more or less firm, the engine redline can be altered, the throttle response can be increased, and the shift speed made faster. The Fiorano includes a very intelligent race car-derived traction and stability control system that is adept enough to actually improve lap times. The responsiveness of these systems can also be altered according to the driver’s preferences.

Going fast is important in any Ferrari, but in the Fiorano, it means going fast very comfortably. Inside, the power-adjustable seats have high bolsters and are trimmed in supple leather. A leather-wrapped dashboard, leather covered console, and a leather steering wheel accompany the seats, and even the door trim and headliner are leather. Ferrari will outfit this leather interior in as many as 14 colors. And despite the preponderance of Ferraris painted Corsa red, there are 15 other colors to choose from. If that’s not enough, for just under $6,000, Ferrari will paint your Fiorano in a color of your choice.

If you prefer carbon fiber over leather, choose a carbon fiber package, and the doors, shifter, dash and steering wheel’s leather are replaced with the lightweight material. Front and rear parking sensors are available for $2,069, and a navigation system can be had for $2,361.

Paradise and Hawaii are synonymous. The chain of Pacific Islands is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Maui has often been described as the best island in the world, and I tend to agree. If you do go, what are some best things to see and do on Maui? Well you can spend your laid back Hawaiian vacation sipping pool side drinks, but your trip will be much more meaningful if you take in the unique, local sights.

For 12 years in a row, Maui was named the Best Island in the World by Conde Nast Traveler, and the folks there know a thing or two about top travel destinations. In fact, Maui has also been named the Top Travel Destination by Conde Nast Travel voters.

What is it about Maui that makes it the best island in the Pacific Rim, and perhaps the top vacation spot in the world? Besides the obvious natural beauty characteristic of all Hawaiian islands, Maui has the added benefit of perfect travel weather, Upcountry agriculture for fresh homegrown produce, and more children and family activities than any other Hawaiian island. Add in award-winning restaurants, lodgings that range from the most eco-friendly to top luxury resorts, world-class golf courses, upscale shopping, galleries featuring local artists, and of course the best snorkel and scuba sites anywhere – any tourist can see that Maui is in a class by itself. Tourists have great vacations without leaving their hotel grounds, simply relaxing by the pool or ocean. However, to get a real flavor of this perfect South Pacific island, a more interesting vacation can be had by exploring your surrounds.

What are the best things to see and do on Maui?

– Maui was formed by two adjacent volcanoes, and today the two peaks are joined by a long, lush valley (hence its moniker, “The Valley Isle”). The East Maui volcano is Haleakala, and the West Maui volcano, is Kahoolawe.

– Iao Valley, between them but closer to Kahoolawe, is like a land from another time – it takes little to imagine seeing a pterodactyl soar by, or perhaps hobbits puttering about. For tourists who like to geocache, and who travel with their handheld GPS devices, there is also a tricky geocache here. The Iao Needle is a goal for many tourists in the Iao Valley; I like the walk and hike along the way just as much.

– The Whalers Village Museum in Lahaina is a fun family place to see on West Maui, especially if you like the natural history element of museums. Lahaina as a town has many, many family vacation ideals, and during peak travel season the town is crawling with kids.

– If you want to spend as much of your Maui vacation outdoors as you can, the petroglyphs in Olowalu are interesting; this area is not well traveled, it’s a genuinely remote part of Maui. Children won’t like the hike, but adults like the closeness and accessibility of the petroglyphs. Please respect the area as a monument to Hawaiian history (it’s depressing to see a little “modern” graffiti scattered on the cliffs here).

– Haleakala is much bigger, and more impressive than Kahoolawe. It takes about 2 hours to drive to the peak of Haleakala, and when the elevation gets to the tree line, the temperature actually drops a full degree every yard or so. Haleakala provides a spectacular vista, and during peak tourist seasons can get pretty crowded. I recommend getting up early to see the sunrise from Haleakala; most people on vacation choose to sleep later, so it might not be as crowded, plus the 360 degree view is unforgettable. Further, by 1:00 in the afternoon, clouds settle into the crater, so that visitors can’t get a clear view all the way down.

– A popular, favorite tourist attraction is in fact a day trip: The Road to Hana is worth the car rental. Leave early in the morning and plan for many scenic stops along the way. The giant waterfalls and preserved rain forest of Hana make it the best way I can imagine having to be in a car while on vacation. The road to Hana is curvy and not well maintained, with 54 bridges (pace yourself – they’re all photo-worthy) and a multitude of waterfalls and rainbows.

– My favorite stops along the road to Hana are the town of Paia (for the best packed lunch to picnic along the way), Kula (the Upcountry’s farmland), the ‘Ohe’o Gulch (7 Sacred Pools – amazing) and Wailua Falls. Take your time on the road to Hana, please; there are some sweet little local artist communities and many other stops along the way that make it all about the trip as well as the destination.

– The Maui Ocean Center in Ma’alaea Harbor is roughly In between the towns of Kihei and Lahaina. The Maui Ocean Center has hammerhead sharks, sea turtles (they’re returned to the Pacific upon reaching adulthood), and other local marine life on exhibit. This was a great trip for my younger child, who was too little to get the hang of snorkeling.

– The most upscale resorts are found along the loveliest stretch of shoreline in Maui, in Wailea. Great snorkeling in Wailea is had by simply wading in and starting. Giant sea turtles relax along the naturally formed jetties in Wailea, and dolphins seem to get a kick out of putting on a free show for Wailea visitors.

– The best snorkeling and scuba diving isn’t right off the beaches of Wailea in Maui, however; reserve a spot on a boat to take you 25 minutes out to Molokini. Molokini is an uninhabited, extinct volcano, pure lava rock with a bird sanctuary above. Because there is no sand, just coral reefs and lava rock, the water stays as clear as glass. Molokini is most quickly gotten to from The Maui Prince Hotel in Makena, just to the east of Wailea. On one boat trip back from Molokini, we saw two humpback whales breaching maybe 20 yards off the boat’s starboard bow. It rocked the boat, of course, and was an unforgettable, moving experience.

Anyone can have a nice vacation in Maui by spending a week on the resort grounds, swimming in the pool and sipping fruity drinks. But you can do this anywhere (with the right weather). Maui has so much more to offer than just luxury all-inclusive resorts and hotels. Your memories of your vacation in Maui will be richer and deeper, if you venture off the resort property and soak up the local culture, history, and nature.

Maui is the best island and the top travel destination in the world for a reason, and that’s not for the pool side drinks alone. My favorite vacation island in the world might be yours, too, when you do and see some of the great things on Maui.