Since the poll began 17 years ago, Maui had always been rated "Best Pacific Island," and when the best-in-the-world voting began, Maui owned that title, too – until last year.

The Maldives won in 2006. For 2007, Maui is back on top, Kauai is second and the Maldives and Bali are tied for third.

Last year, Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, said, "I yearn to make sure we get it back."

Thursday she was traveling, but she released a victory statement: "Maui continues to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors from across the globe. Our island's amazing natural beauty, cherished host culture and gracious aloha continue to entice and inspire. We are thrilled to be back on top. This is a proud day for our industry and most importantly, for the people of Maui."

With an overall score of 90.0, Maui also surpassed all other top destinations across the globe. It beat the Best Australian City, Sydney, which scored 87.8; the Best U.S. City, San Francisco, 85.5; the Best European City, Florence, 84.8; and the Best Asian City, Bangkok, 82.6.

Kauai, with a score of 87.1, beat every place except Maui and Sydney.

The magazine's editors said Maui scored high "thanks to particularly stellar individual ratings for Scenery (95.7) and Ambiance (90.8)."

Other islands in the Best Pacific Island after Maui and Kauai were the Great Barrier Reef, Bora Bora, Moorea, the Big Island, Oahu, Lanai, the Cook Islands and Tasmania.

Several Maui County hotels also ranked high, starting with the Four Seasons Resort Maui, which readers picked as the Top Resort in Hawaii and 15th best in the world.

"This highly prestigious and coveted honor. ... is great encouragement to our entire staff who work extremely hard to provide the highest standards of service," said Thomas Steinhauer, Four Seasons regional vice president and general manager of the Wailea resort.

Second in Hawaii was Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, with Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay third and Lodge at Koele fourth.

The Halekulani in Waikiki was fifth, and Hotel Hana-Maui tied for sixth with the Grand Hyatt Kauai.

A record number of readers participated in the poll this year, 28,000. Complete results will be published in the November issue, which will arrive on newsstands later this month.