Most of us have forgotten the feeling of having no commitments, no deadlines, no obligations, the last time having this luxury probably being as toddlers. Just about one of the last places on earth to salvage the memory is Maui, the land where time slows down and relaxation speeds up. At Ka’anapali Beach, nobody knows what the word stressed even means, let alone do they experience it. Perpetually sunny, breezy, and with a pervading sense of calm, this beach is truly the ideal holiday destination.

Rent a paddleboard and hit the waves, or strap on a snorkel and delve beneath the ocean into the hidden wonders of the seabed, where colourful shoals of fish form mesmerising shapes in the water, and coral in all kinds of bizarre shapes and sizes are thriving. At Black Rock beach, sea turtles litter the sea floor, grazing on the rocks. Even these gentle giants carry the signature air of calm as all the Maui residents, unfazed and serene as they go about their routines.

Every day when the sun begins to dip below the horizon, a cliff diver ignites torches along the cliff, and leaps from the top of Black Rock in a spectacular dive, reviving the famous dive of Maui’s beloved King Kahekili. One of Kaanapali Beach’s most famous attractions is the daily cliff diving ceremony off the beach’s northernmost cliffs known as Puu Kekaa, or Black Rock. From the Cliff Dive Grill, you can watch this thrilling performance with a glass of Chardonnay in hand.

The highest your blood pressure is ever likely to rise in this oasis of calm is as you zipline across the beach in the Kaanapali Skyline Eco Adventures tour.