Maui Guide
Maui Guide
For those lucky enough to find themselves on the island of Maui, here are some of our favorite to-do’s to make planning your trip a bit easier. Enjoy your time in paradise!
Meaʻai: F
ood
The best part of every vacation is trying the local delicacies. Maui is known for its world famous cuisine. Here are some of my favorite spots and dishes on the island.
Cane and Canoe
Upscale ambiance with incredible ocean views, especially at sunset. For dessert try the Baked Hawaiian pictured above!
Mama’s Fish House
One the most well-known restaurants on the island. Tropical decor matched with exotic Hawaiian drinks and local menu items.
Paia Bowls
Grab an Acaí Bowl topped with fresh fruit and local honey before you venture into the Road to Hana. They also have amazing Avocado toast and serve Bulletproof Coffee.
Hana
As you enter into Hana there will be food trucks of Hawaiian BBQ, local vendors and the famous Huli Huli Chicken. The local fruit stands work on an honor system, so make sure to leave cash for those graciously providing the fresh fruit from the island.
Monkey Pod
Foodies will love this eclectic menu with fresh seafood and unique twists on classic dishes. Enjoy ocean views and live music while dining here.
Sansei Sushi
If you find yourself near Kapalua Golf Course or the Ritz Carlton, pop over next door to Sansei for incredibly fresh sushi. Start off with their lobster and blue crab ravioli, yum!
Leoda’s Pies
There’s a reason the line here is always out to the road. An incredible assortment of pies, pastries, and desserts. It’s hard to pick a favorite but the banana cream and key lime are tough to beat!
Star Noodle
For a more casual night out, enjoy the Asian fusion menu at Star Noodle. Make sure to check out the Palisades for dessert, a Maui delicacy.
Genki Sushi
This is a fast-casual sushi restaurant near the airport, great for a quick bite when you first get into town. The sushi orders gets delivered to your table on a speedy sushi train making for a fun dining experience.
Hawaiian Shave Ice
We thoroughly did our research in this category! There’s nothing more refreshing than a Hawaiian shave ice after a fun activity in the water. I like them served over ice cream with a ‘snow cap’ which means coconut or vanilla cream drizzled on top. Here are my favorites on the island, ranked in order:
1. Big Wave- Located in the Westin Nanoa
2. Maui Beach House
3. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
Fresh Poke and Sushi
On days that you are going to be hanging at the beach or poolside, grab a bowl of poke, Hawaiian bread or some fresh sushi rolls from the local markets.
Pulehu
This Italian restaurant inside the Westin Maui Villas North is know for having the best gnocchi on the island. They also have incredible pizza and their famous black cherry mousse dessert (pictured below).
Road to Hana
Scenic views of Maui's northern coastline. It is filled with rainforests, black-sand beaches, waterfalls, and lush, tropical vegetation.
This was by far our favorite day of the trip. This is a full day adventure so you want to make sure to start the tour between 6:00-7:00 am to use every bit of daylight. The smartest purchase we made in Hawaii was an audio tour for the Road to Hana. We used Shaka Tours and it’s the best $11 we could have possibly spent to maximize our time in Hana. Make sure to bring a car phone charger for your rental vehicle as the tour uses GPS and can drain your battery quickly. Our tour guide’s name was Mike and by the end you feel like friends. With the tour being connected to GPS, he will give you a step by step to-do. For example he’ll say “Ahead on your right is the town of Paia, park on the side of the road and grab an acai bowl from the locals because you won’t have food/restroom options for 40 minutes.”
There were so many hidden waterfalls and trails this tour took us on that we could tell only locals knew about because we were the only ones there. It was an incredible experience. With the drive having over 620 turns, if you get motion sickness in cars make sure to sit in the front seat and bring medication if needed. During stops, the tour guide will tell you fascinating stories on Hawaiian history and play music relevant to the part of the island you are driving through.
Paia
This quaint town is your first stop on the Road to Hana journey. Make sure to stop fill up on gas and grab snacks/sandwiches for the drive here, as it’s your last chance before starting the winding drive into Hana. You can also explore around the town checking out the local restaurants, shopping, art galleries, gelato and acai bowl shops.
Waterfalls
On the Road to Hana - please do go chasing waterfalls. Take in the vibrant, lush colors and the fresh smell of eucalyptus while hiking to some of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world.
Halfway to Hana
Stop by the local roadside stands for delicious banana bread, coconut milk ice cream and fresh fruit.
The Painted Forest
Make sure to check out the spectacular Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees. The tree trunks are full of swirling, vibrant colors and fresh berries.
Scenic Lookouts
Your driving tour guide will tell you all of the best areas to pull over for incredible views. Have your camera ready to capture these crashing waves, rocky cliffs and white sand beaches.
‘O’hea Gulch
Insane views of rolling waterfalls, rainbow skies and the Maui coast line. We went at sunset and it was absolutely magical. Just a short hike through the Seven Sacred Pools and you are in paradise.
Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach
There are only a few black sand beaches left in the world. The black boulders, shimmering sand, and crashing waves are unlike anything you have ever seen. This makes for an excellent finale to the Road to Hana journey.
What to Pack for the Road to Hana
Sunscreen - Beach Towels - Bug Spray - Hiking/Tennis Shoes - Sandals - Swimsuit - Cover-ups/Dry Change of Clothes - Car Phone Charger - Picnic Lunch - Snacks - Water Bottle - Camera/tripod - Motion sickness medicine if needed - Sunglasses
Hale kūʻai aku: R
esorts
Both times that we have stayed were in Kaanapali at the Westin Resorts and Villas. If you’re staying at a Marriott property spend the 5-10 minutes with concierge at the beginning of your trip to learn about the cool activities happening on the properties. The white sand beach and trail connects several of the top resorts so if you’re staying at one don’t forget you have access to all the pools/activities offered down the coast.
Here are some of our favorite resort activities-
The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas
At 6:00 pm every night there’s live Hawaiian music on the beach with a fire dancer that will blow the conch shell and light all of the tiki torches around the resort. There are sunrise yoga classes on the beach M-F, a great way to start your morning!
The famous cliff diving ritual happens at sunset every night. A conch shell will sound the beginning of the ceremony and several locals will dive off the black, rocky cliff in front of the luau crowds and beach.
The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Ka'anapali
This is the newest resort on the island and by the layout, comfort and innovation of the pools you can definitely tell. There’s plenty of seating around and inside the pools. Do not miss the chance to get a shaved ice at Big Wave poolside and take in the views.
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali
This resort has the fastest water slide on the island and a variety of pools, making it very kid friendly. They’ll do daily events such as feeding the koi fish and flamingos, lei and pooka necklace making workshops and hula dancing lessons.
Resort and Beachwear
I have linked everything I wore in the photos below and on this blog on my LiketoKnow.it page. All outfits are under $50 and many have several color and style options.
Shop away: here
Kolepa
‘golf’
From the recreational golfer just there for the views, to the highly competitive golfer. Maui has something for every level.
Kapalua Plantation Course
If you have a chance to play the famous Kapalua Plantation Course, I would definitely recommend taking it. It’s home to the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions, which we were able to attend on our trip. It is a bit pricey to play but the quality of golf and ocean views make it all worth it. If you are there in the Spring you can see whales jumping in and out of the water in front of you as you line up your putts on the green. It’s a lush, vibrant course with plenty of challenging holes.
Kapalua Bay Course
This is the sister course of Plantation. Not quite as expensive or difficult to book a tee time on, but has many of the same stunning views and an interesting course layout. Stop by lunch at the Ritz or Sansei Sushi right on the property after your round.
Ka’anapali Kai Course
As a public course, this will play more forgiving to the golfers that are out there just looking to have fun. With tight fairways, rolling hills, trade winds and palm tree lined holes this is a great option for a fun-filled 18 holes.
Royal Ka’anapali
On the same property is a more difficult course, Royal. This is for the golfer looking for a bit of a challenge as the greens are faster and the course favors those with distance. Pop into Roy’s Restaurant in the clubhouse after the round for some great sushi and Americano food.
The Dunes at Maui Lani
This an awesome track up in the dunes faces the Haleakalā Volcano. With being in the mountains you’ll see everything from rain, sunshine, heavy winds, rainbows and everything in between. This is course is family friendly, easy to get a tee time with and in great shape. There are several elevated tee boxes with incredible views of the island.
Front Street
This is the main retail strip for Maui. If you decide to take a whale, snorkeling, or sunset tour you will likely port in this area. There are lots of shops set up for tourists to explore the native fashion and eats. We did the whale watching tour (seasonal) and it was amazing being able to get so close to them breaching the surface and hearing them sing to each other under the water. The guides will give you lots of fun and interesting facts about the whales as you cruise between islands searching for them. Pro tip- Bring binoculars for a closer look.
Hawaiian Luau
This is a must-see your first time visiting Maui. They are very family friendly. Typically you’ll start by being welcomed with a lei or pooka shell necklace then escorted in for a night of great dining, hula dancing, musical performances, fire dancing and so much more.
Hoʻomaha
‘relax’
Treat yourself with a relaxing massage upon arriving at the island. The rates can be very high at resorts for even basic massages. I found the most talented masseuse I’ve ever been to on Front Street in Lahaina. She was an absolute miracle worker on my neck after a long day flying. You can’t beat her rates and flexible scheduling anywhere else on the island!
Make an appointment with Mina Moghadam at 808.205.7751
Kaiʻai:
Turtle Town
Getting to see sea turtles up close is unforgettable. You can either take guided boat/snorkeling tours or ask locals where the best areas in Turtle Town are to see these beautiful creatures.
Whaler’s Village
This is a modern shopping center and restaurant district. There are amazing sunset views from these restaurants, our favorite is Monkey Pod know for their Mai Tai’s. After the sun goes down enjoy some shopping and walking around this area. It’s has everything from high-end retailers to local boutiques, and five star restaurants to food trucks.
Haleakalā Volcano
This is a must-do in Maui. Take the winding drive to Haleakalā Crater at sunrise or sunset to watch the daily ritual and the sun disappear into the clouds. It’s absolutely mesmerizing. Make sure to book ahead of time as they only allow so many people each day.
Aloha!
Enjoy your time in Maui. If you need any further guidance leading up to your trip, feel free to message me directly here