Hawai'i grabbed two top-10 spots in 2008 Travelers' Choice U.S. Destinations released today by TripAdvisor — which bills itself as "the world's largest travel community" and is best known for those no-holds-barred travel assessments on the Web.

Po'ipu on Kaua'i claimed the No. 4 spot, while Lahaina on Maui was ranked 9th.

The Massachusetts-based company said this is the inaugural year of these destinations award as determined by real travelers.

The winners were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's travelers' favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.

"Whether it's for their unique beauty, or abundance of attractions, the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards honor the most beloved destinations from around the world," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. "Determined by millions of travelers, the Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back."

A TripAdvisor member from Irvine, Calif., described a Maui trip like this: "Relax, sit on the beach, sit on the grass overlooking the beach, browse the shops in Lahaina. It might have been our best family vacation yet."

The top U.S. spots:

1. Lake Tahoe, Calif.

2. Big Sur, Calif.

3. San Francisco, Calif.

4. Po'ipu, Hawai'i

5. Sedona, Ariz.

6. New Orleans, La.

7. Carmel, Calif.

8. Napa, Calif.

9. Lahaina, Hawai'i

10. La Jolla, Calif.

The Travelers' Choice World Destinations went to:

1. Milford Sound, New Zealand

2. Queenstown, New Zealand

3. Philipsburg, St. Maarten

4. Cayo Largo, Cuba

5. Rhodes, Greece

6. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

7. Cruz Bay, St. John

8. Bridgetown, Barbados

9. Banff, Canada

10. Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Hawai'i had several entries on the 100 world destinations: Po'ipu, 38; Lahaina, 56; Wailea, Maui, 71; Honolulu, 83; Hana, 91.

For a complete list on the Web, go to www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations