Maui

From its heavenly beaches to its scenic natural wonders, there are plenty of reasons why Maui has been voted “Best Island” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler for more than a dozen years.
Discover your own reasons to love Maui as you stroll the seaside streets of Lahaina and the lovely beaches of Kaanapali. Feel the mana (power) of Haleakala National Park or discover the arts and culture of Kahului and Upcountry Maui. From championship golf courses to the scenic road to Hana, your vacation on the “Valley Isle” promises to be unforgettable. It’s no wonder why thousands of humpback whales migrate to Maui’s warm waters year after year. One visit to Maui and you just might join them.

Places to eat, local style:

Lunch/Dinner

Pa’ia Fish Market – 2A Baldwin Ave  – Restaurant

Flatbread Company – 89 Hana Highway, Paia – Pizza

Milagros Food – 3 Baldwin Ave, Paia - Restaurant

Café O’lea – Kihei – Local, Plate lunch

Eskimo market seafood – 2665 Wai Wai Pl, Kihei – Plate Lunch

Sansei – Kihei & Kapalua - Japanese sushi Touristy $$$$$

Pita Paradise – Kihei Kalama Village Center – Mediterranean

Koiso Sushi Bar – 2395 S. Kihei Rd Ste 113 – Locals Sushi

Izakaya Matsu – 1280 S Kihei Rd – Local Japanese

Makena Grill – Makena Alanui Rd – Locals food stand

Okazuya & Deli – 3600D Lowr Honoapiilani Rd # R - Plate lunch

The Fish Market Maui – 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina – Poke / Seafood

Nagasako Okazu-Ya Deli – Old Lahaina Ctr – Plate Lunch

Cilantro Mexican Grill – 170 Papalaua St, Lahaina – Mexican

The Fish Market Maui – 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina – Poke/seafood plate lunch

Sam Sato’s – 1750 Wili PA Loop, Wailuku (Sit down local’s lunch)

A Saigon Café – Wailuku – Local Vietnamese

Fran’s Island Grill – Wailuku - Plate lunch

Saeng’s Thai Cuisine – 2119 W Vineyard St, Wailuku – Thai

Fran’s Island Grill – 740 Lower Main St, Wailuku – Local grinds

Tokyo Tei – 1063 Lower Main St, Wailuku - Japanese

Thailand Cuisine – 70 E Ka’ahumanu Ave, Kahului

Koko Ichiban Ya – 360 Papa Pl, Kahului – Local Japanese

Upcountry

Kidata’ Kau Kau – Makawao (Plate lunch)

Breakfast:

Tasty Crust, Wailuku (Sit down Breakfast)

Gazebo – Napili Shores condo complex (Sit down breakfast)

Komoda Bakery – 3674 Baldwin Ave, Makawao

Colleen’s Haiku Bake Shoppe – 810 Haiku Rd, Haiku

Dessert

Tasaka Guri Guri shop – Maui Mall, Kahului

Sato Sams - Wailuku

Tom’s minimart, 372 Waiehu Beach Rd, Wailuku – Best Shave Ice

Home made bakery – 1005 Lower Main St, Wailuku (Manju)

Local boy snack shop – Kihei (Shave Ice)

Dairy Queen – 1824 Oihana st, Wailuku  - Shakes, Ice cream

Anthony’s Coffee – 90 Hana Hwy, Paia - Cafe

Snorkeling (Free)

Elua beach – The public access road can be found between the Renaissance Hotel and the Wailea Elua. Showers.

Charley Young's - The rocks at the north end of Kam 1. Kam 1,2 & 3 on South Kihei Rd. just across from La Bahia and Rainbow Mall. Full facilities and another lava rock outcropping between the Kamaole Beach Park, makes for good snorkeling. Showers.

Keawakapu Beach-This beach is in the northern part of Wailea. The beach is directly in front of the Wailea Ekahi condominiums. Public access is just off S. Kihei Road. This is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, primarily fronted by private luxury homes. For the best snorkeling, head for the rocks on the southern tip of Keawakapu. The reef curves around these rocks to the south. There are huge coral cliffs and canyons, a good variety of fish and an easy, sandy entry. Best snorkeling time, as in all places on Maui, is early in the morning, before the winds kick up making the water rougher and silting up the view.

Honolua bay – Northwest Maui. Park on side of road, walk down to bay, go in the water on the cement path near the middle section of the bay.

Kapalua Bay, known as the prettiest beach on Maui is also a good snorkeling spot. The best snorkeling is on the north side of the bay. Unless you are very experienced, you should stay within the bay due to the potential for strong currents outside.

Poolenalena Beach / Palauea Beach – Wailea area

Black Rock – Kaanapali Beach, under the Sheraton near the rock.

Ahihi Bay Marine Reserve is south past all the hotels. When the road turns into gravel, go past the first entrance sign of the preserve, to a bay that comes right up to the road itself. Then look for a small 2nd entrance sign.

Fishbowl, La Perouse Bay – (Hard to get to) From Kihei, drive south past Wailea and Makena until you see Ahihi Bay (marked as a marine reserve). Continue traveling until you enter the lava flow of 1790 and watch the telephone poles which are marked with numbers. Find a place to park between poles 16 and 18 and look for a trail heading off the road towards the ocean (you'll be able to spot it as it is slightly lighter than the surrounding lava). This is a 30 minute trek across the lava flow, so wear lots of sunscreen and comfortable shoes (not sandals). Anyway, quantity and variety of the fish was stunning! Visibility was incredible; I think b/c the cove is so very well protected from the surf, and has no streams running into it. Huge schools of fish. It gets a bit deep in the cove, and it's all rock - no beach. So the water is a bit colder than beach sites at Maui - wear a dive skin if possible.

Coral Gardens - Great snorkeling with lots of coral and tropical fish. Good spot to see turtles. Unless you are on a boat, this is only recommended for advanced snorkelers due to the long swim and sometimes difficult access. Location: On Hwy. 30, about 1/2 mile north of the tunnel. The first parking area north of the Pali (cliffs) near mile marker 11. Enter by parking area and swim south in front of the cliffs. No beach at snorkeling cove.

Molokini – Chartered catamarans usually serve breakfast / lunch. $$$$ Go in the morning.