April showers might bring May flowers—unless you’re on Maui, of course, where both are profuse year-round. Nonetheless, the month of April is often thought of as one of the best times of the year to visit the Valley Isle. Deemed “the shoulder season,” it’s that sweet spot between peak season (read: those packed winter months when the weather is miserable everywhere else) and the busy summer. Shoulder season is a spell that sees thinner crowds, reduced prices, and glorious weather (even for Hawaii).A great time to visit the island is during the month Shakespeare claimed: “put a spring of youth in everything?” Here are 9 brilliant things to do on Maui in April:

Things to do on Maui in April! 9 Incredible Ways to Ring in Spring

1. Snorkel Tour + Old Lahaina Luau

Whale season may be reaching its end come April, but the chance to see one—and the guarantee to see Maui’s vibrant marine life—ought to top your to-do list. Snorkeling tours abound on the leeward side of the isle, but Redline Rafting is genuinely distinct: With very small groups per trip, excursions are akin to taking a boat out with your favorite friends.

Tour guides provide facts and anecdotes about the island’s history, geology, and culture, while the dives into the water—and the creatures you’ll see there—are downright magnificent. Visit memorable spots like Molokini as well as La Perouse Bay. Conclude your sun-drenched day sampling traditional Hawaiian food and ‘ulu beer at the award-winning Old Lahaina Luau (you can check out my review of Old Lahaina Luau Here), where the oceanfront vistas and lovely music are just a fraction of the event’s allure.

2. Heli Tour + Nuka

“Sightseeing” takes on new meaning when you’re hovering above the clouds: Maui’s immensity (it’s the second-largest island in the Hawaiian chain) and the prodigious wonders it holds become magnified. But the real draw of a helicopter tour is that it permits you to see parts of the island that can only be accessed by air: remote waterfalls, deep gorges, and stunning sea cliffs among them.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters serves as the preeminent helicopter tour company not just on Maui but also throughout the whole state—a designation that promises your trip will be striking and flawless. Back at sea level, make your way to the lush enclave of Haiku, where Nuka, possibly the island’s best sushi restaurant, plates out marvels like the Haleakala Roll (a baked California roll with salmon, dynamite sauce, and tobiko).