We had the absolute best time in Maui and loved seeing and eating at places we had never been to before! I hadn’t been to Maui in over 10 years and I can already say I CANNOT wait to go back.
My cute friend Brynn goes to Maui every year so I texted her before we left and she sent me so many ideas of places she loved!
I will also list Hana restaurants separately below where I discuss Hana.
Where we ate
- Gazebo at Napili Shores – get the fried rice & macadamia nut pancakes with the whipped cream and coconut syrup
- The Fish Market in Kahana – fresh poké and the shrimp burrito was my favorite thing I tried!
- Paia Fish Market – we ate here on our way home from Hana and it was so good! Their french fries were amazing. Get the quesadilla!
- Uliani’s Shave Ice – maybe the most popular place on the island to get shaved ice!
- Duke’s – Duke’s was actually on the property where we stayed (Honua Kai). It is right on the beach and so beautiful with great seafood. It is definitely a splurge but a great experience.
- Honua Kai – if you stay at Honua Kai, while you’re at the pool order the nachos and lava flows! (we obviously did virgin lava flows..:)
Other places we didn’t get around to trying but can’t wait to one day!
• Leoda’s, just past Lahaina – all their food is yummy. If they have the Brussel sprouts get them (when we went in December the menu was smaller because of covid, but it could be different now)!!! Get the mini pies too – banana creme, key lime and the apple are my fave • Merrimans at Kapalua Bay – this is a little fancier, but so yummy and the prettiest view • Frida’s in Lahaina – fun Mexican place with pretty views! • Star Noodle in Lahaina • Kimo’s in Lahaina • Sansei (sushi !) in Kapalua • Mama Fish House – a splurge and on the other side of the island just past Kihei but honestly my favorite restaurant in the whole world. Incredible menu and views and experience! If you can get a reservation during the day it’s fun to be there when you can see out to the ocean • Hali’imaile General Store – on the other side of the island but a fun place to go on the way to the airport or if you want to do something less “touristy”. So delicious but a little nicer than kimo’s / star noodle / fridas • The Plantation House – on Kapalua Golf Course and just has the prettiest views. Get a reservation! We always like to go sundays after church • Monkey Pod – in Whalers Village on Kaanapali. A little porch just because it’s in a touristy area but I like it best out of the three restaurants there in whalers (the other two are hula grill and leilani’s…don’t die over either of those. Again, just super touristy and overpriced for not great food)
What we did!
Overall, we laid pretty low and didn’t do too much while on our trip. However, we did do a snorkel cruise one day (we went with Four Winds!) and loved it. They take you out to a little island to snorkel and cook lunch for you.
And then last minute decided to do Hana and I am SO SO glad we did it. A highlight of the trip for sure!
HANA
My recommendations for Hana would be to not take kids if possible (long day!) and to rent a Jeep! We rented one just for the day from a car rental place right next to our hotel and it was a BLAST taking the top off and cruising down the roads in Hana.
I would leave early, grab some fresh Banana bread along the way, grab a giant cookie at Hana Farms and plan on eating lunch in Hana. We ate at AE’s Thai Kitchen but I heard Troy’s and Braddah Hut’s were really good too. Supposedly Troy’s is only open a couple of days of the week because on the other days he is hunting and fishing for the food he serves at the restaurant!
The best part of the trip for me (personally) was the black sand beach (Waiʻānapanapa State Park) and the hike (Pipiwai trail to Waimoku falls) at the end!
You now need reservations to go to the black sand beach (make them here) but it is well worth it. Seriously so stunning and fun to see.
If you can see that little white towel on the rock up there👆🏼 underneath the staircase, you can enter a little cave right there that’s SO beautiful. Obviously, watch the tide but it’s super pretty to go inside.
And then the HIKE! (Pipiwai trail to Waimoku falls) Oh my goodness. The highlight of the trip! Bring waterproof shoes and be sure to get there no later than 2:30 PM because they close the parking lot at 5 PM and charge you if you’re late! It’s $30 to park but like I said, SOOO worth it.
That is where we turned around and drove the rest of the way back. We did stop at one swimming pond which was Ching’s Pond and was super beautiful.
If you’re wondering where any outfits are from, they’re all linked here!
Hope that helps! Let me know if anyone has any questions!
(quick suggestion for COVID testing too, make two appointments if you do Walgreens! One for 72 hours before your last leg, and one the next day… some appointment places are soo strict if you spelt anything wrong or got a birthday wrong, etc. so I think it’s better to be safe and book two! We all booked two and 3 people had to use their 2nd appointment! They fill up soo fast too so book your first appointment 4 days before around 5pm)
-Liv
