Go Visit Hawaii

We always make plans to go to Mama’s Fish House when we’re on Maui.  The Hawaiian regional cuisine is excellent and the beach front open air-atmosphere is a pure delight. 

Mama’s Fish House serves fresh fish caught in Hawaii’s clean waters.  Most of the fish is caught around Maui.  How do I know this?  Their menu usually states who caught the fish and where.  For example when we were there last, the Ono was caught by Willy Polendey while “Trolling the coast of Kaua near Mama’s”.  The Mahimahi was caught by Alan Cadiz along the north shore of Maui and the deep-water Ahi was caught aboard the fishing vessel “Ao Shibi Go”.  That’s quite a bit of detail showing how much care is taken in the selection of their fish.

The menu changes daily.  Main courses range in price from $34 to $115.  Most dishes are in the $36 to $42 range.  In addition to fresh fish, you’ll also find duck, pork, and beef on the menu.

The restaurant is located just north of the quaint town of Paia on the northeastern side of Maui.  The restaurant is just feet from a sandy beach.  For me, it’s been impossible to resist wanting to walk along the beach before or after dinner.  It’s lovely there any time of the day, even after dark when the tiki torches are lit. 

If you’d like to try Mama’s Fish House, here are some tips:

• Make reservations (808-579-8488) as far in advance as possible. The restaurant is open from 11am - 9:30pm.
• This restaurant is very popular and for this reason, I like to reserve a dinner table for either very early in the evening, say around 5pm or later in the evening, say around 8:30pm.  You’ll have a bit more elbow room and relaxed pace by dining earlier or later.
• It’s really easy for your eyes to get bigger than your stomach here.  Portions are quite generous.  You may want to skip appetizers and if you have any room left after your main course, order a dessert.
• Be aware that valet parking here is basically mandatory, which is a bit overkill considering the parking spaces are literally just a few feet away from the valet stand.  (We avoid valets like the plague after Breakfast Lunch and Crab in Honolulu dented our rental car and wouldn’t take responsibility for it.)
• Read what TripAdvisor members have to say about Mama’s Fish House. 

Want more Maui restaurant suggestions?  Click here for a useful guide for finding other great Maui restaurants.

Have you been to Mama’s Fish House?  What did you think?

After visiting Kauai and Oahu’s restaurants, let’s continue our restaurant tour of Hawaii with a visit to Maui. Since I’ve had the opportunity to visit all the islands, I’d have to say that Maui has some of the best restaurants in Hawaii. On top of the ono (delicious) food, many of Maui’s restaurants also have outstanding ocean front views. That’s definitely a bonus when you are on vacation!

So, how do you find the best restaurants in Maui? It’s really not that difficult. There’s lots of great resources that we’ll explore here. So, let’s take a look.

TripAdvisor

Hundreds of TripAdvisor members have reviewed and rated Maui restaurants. You’ll find a mixture of reviews written by local residents as well as visitors. I’ll organize TripAdvisor reviews by geography and concentrate on the areas where you’ll likely be staying or sight-seeing.

West Maui Restaurants (includes Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Lahaina)

• Lahaina Restaurants

South Maui Restaurants

• Kihei Restaurants
• Wailea Restaurants

Central Maui Restaurants

• Kahului Restaurants

East Maui

• Paia Restaurants
• Hana Restaurants (FYI - This list is lacking reviews.)

Upcountry Maui

• Kula Restaurants

Guidebooks

• Frommer’s ratings of Maui restaurants. This is an interactive list that you can sort by rating, price, cuisine, and neighborhood.
• Fodor’s also has an interactive list of Maui restaurants. In addition to their own ratings, they have incorporated user ratings.

Other Resources

• Most recent (Winter 2007) Maui No Ka Oi magazine readers’ picks organized. in a number of excellent categories. (If you’re research time is limited, I’d stick with this list.)

Go Visit Hawaii Picks
The following restaurants are ones that I particularly like. (Just a reminder, I’m not compensated in any form for choosing these restaurants. I like these restaurants based on my experience.)

Restaurants with an outstanding view: Maui has many, many great restaurants with lovely views. Two restaurants that have particularly outstanding views are Kula Lodge in the Upcountry (especially perfect for breakfast after watching Haleakala sunrise), Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua (especially good value at breakfast and lunch).

Best beach front restaurant where you can dig your toes in the sand: Barefoot Bar of the Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach.

Best over-hyped restaurant, but I still like it: Mama’s Fish House in Paia - they have very good food on a beach front setting. It is a bit pricey, though. Their seafood is so fresh that the menu changes daily to tell you what fishing boats delivered the day’s catches. It’s easy to over order here, so beware of that for your waistline and wallet’s sake. To avoid crowds, I like dining here either very early or very late in evening.  See my review on Mama’s Fish House.

Most beautiful setting for a good though expensive lunch: The Beach House on DT Fleming Beach in Kapalua (at the Ritz-Carlton). The beach is so beautiful, I don’t mind paying for the view.

Best All Around - Kimos in Lahaina has a very nice setting with a good ocean view. It’s good for both families and couples.

Best Place for Local Breakfast or Lunch: Honolua Store in Kapalua. This store is good for picnic supplies, too.

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I know that there are several nice Maui fans who read Go Visit Hawaii. (Ahem, attention Kris and David!) So, please chime in with your favorite places to dine in Maui.

There are a couple of restaurants that I wouldn’t recommend to friends and family. So I’ll post those in the comments.

At Go Visit Hawaii, we know that there are a number of different Maui luau options. We also understand gathering all the key details such as prices, days of operation, and reviews can be time consuming and difficult to gather.  Trust me.  I know it is time consuming because it’s taken me a few hours and several phone calls to compile this list.

As promised in the article on tips for choosing a Hawaiian luau and as a service to our readers, we’ve researched and compiled the information to assist you in finding that special luau experience. We’ve previously covered Big Island luaus and Kauai luaus and today we continue the series with Maui. 

I’ve organized the luaus by area of Maui - West Maui and South Maui.  You’ll notice that most of the luaus are based in West Maui in Kaanapali and Lahaina. 

West Maui

Old Lahaina Luau
Opens: October - March at 5:30; April - September at 6:00
Nights: 7 nights per week
Location/Setting: Oceanfront sunset on North side of Front Street in Lahaina
Prices: $92.71 for Adults,  Children ages 12 and under $61.46
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-1998; Toll Free 1-800-
Reviews: TripAdvisor, Yahoo, IgoUgo
Additional Information: You choose from two different style seating options - on traditional Hawaiian mat seating with a low table (close to the ground) or in conventional tables and chairs.  The matt seating is closer to the stage.  The earlier you make your reservation the better, particularly for seating preference.  In my opinion this luau is one of the best in Maui and possibly the best in Hawaii. The official website for Old Lahaina Luau is here. 

The Feast at Lele
Opens: October - March at 5:30; April - September at 6:00
Nights: 7 nights per week
Location/Setting: Oceanfront sunset on South side of Front Street in Lahaina
Prices: $110 for Adults,  Children ages 2-12 and $80 plus taxes
Price Includes: Gourmet table service, Open Bar, Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-866-244-5353
Reviews: TripAdvisor, Yahoo, Frommers, iExplore
Additional Information: Official website.  This is a unique fine dining type luau.  Most luaus only offer buffet service, but this one provides table service.  It is operated by the same folks who run Old Lahaina Luau.

Wailele Polynesian Luau
Opens: Check-in at 5:45
Nights: varies by month, see this link for current show dates.
Location/Setting: The grounds of the Westin Maui at Kaanapali Beach
Prices:  Premium Seating (first 2 rows) is $120 for adults and $90 for children ages 5-12; Regular Seating (rows 3 and beyond) cost $105 for adults and $75 for children ages 5-12.  Taxes are extra.
Price Includes: Table Service for 4 Course Polynesian Dinner, Cocktails, Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: No
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-2525
Reviews: None found at this time.
Additional Information: Official website.  This is a another unique find dining type luau. 

Drums of the Pacific Luau
Opens: Check-in begins at 4:15pm and seating at 5:15
Nights: 7 nights per week
Location/Setting: Kaanapali Hyatt resort grounds near to Kaanapali Beach
Prices: $95.83 for Adults, Teens (ages 13-20) are $63.54, Children ages 6-16 are $51.04. 
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-4727
Reviews: Yahoo, IgoUgo, TripAdvisor
Additional Information: VIP seating is available for additional charge, please see Official website for prices and details.

Royal Lahaina Resort Luau (The Myths of Maui)
Opens: 5:00
Nights: During summer months the luau is open 7 days per week.  During winter months the luau is closed on Saturdays.  Call 1-808-661-9119 for current show dates. 
Location/Setting: Oceanfront gardens at Royal Lahaina Resort grounds on Kaanapali Beach
Prices: $61.46 for Adults.  For each paying adult, a child aged 11 or under is entered free.  If you must pay for the child’s fee then it is $25.  These prices are based on booking directly online (best prices found.)
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Hula Lessons, Polynesian Show, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-661-9119 or book online
Reviews: TripAdvisor, IgoUgo
Additional Information: Official website.  This luau offers a kids buffet and it is the only one in Maui that offers that. 

Sheraton Kaanapali Sunset Luau
Opens: check-in at 5:15
Nights: This luau will reopen again March 17th.  It will be open Mondays and Wednesdays
Location/Setting: Beachfront at Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach
Prices: $83 for Adults,  Children ages 6-12 are $43.  Premium seating cost $10 more per person.
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-877-HULA
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official website  This luau is also subtitled “Cliff Dive - At Black Rock” because performers will dive off Black Rock as part of the luau.  This luau is managed by Tihati who also manage the Maui Sunset Luau at the Maui Prince Hotel.

South Maui

Honua Ula Luau Dinner Show at Marriott Wailea
Opens: check-in at 4:30, doors open at 4:45
Nights: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Location/Setting: Beach side at the grounds of the Marriott Wailea
Prices: $88 for Adults, Children ages 6 - 12 are $43 (taxes are additional)
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: No
For Reservations: Call 1-808-875-7710
Reviews: Yelp
Additional Information:  Official site, though not much there.

Maui Sunset Luau at Maui Prince Hotel
Opens: 5:00
Nights: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Location/Setting: Oceanfront garden setting at Makena at the Maui Prince Hotel
Prices: $86 for Adults; $43 for children ages 6 - 12.
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-877-HULA
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official website.  This luau is managed by Tihati who also manage the –Sheraton Kaanapali Sunset Luau.

Note - If you are looking for the luau at Waikapu Village Luau at the Maui Tropical Plantation, it closed on February 10th.

As I was gathering all the Maui luau details for this article, I came across this site that has some similar information and their own reviews.  It’s fairly well done, though it is a booking site.  Please note that I have no affiliation with any of the luaus or activities companies.  As always, I present information in a transparent and unbiased way.

Have you been to any of these Maui luaus?  What did you think?

The Honolua Store in Kapalua has so much charm with it’s old wooden floors and friendly staff. The Honolua Store was built in 1929 and it originally served as a company store for the local pineapple plantation.

This store is the perfect place to grab some picnic supplies and take down to one of the amazing Kapalua beaches to watch a sunset. They offer everything from a deli, to grocery supplies, to Kapalua logo sportswear.

The store has a great deli offering breakfast and lunches. Highlights of the Honolua Store Deli’s extensive menu include Moloka‘i sweet bread french toast, burgers and tempura mahi wrap. Their new menu also features a variety of made-to-order omelettes, plate lunches, sandwiches, wraps, salads and specialty pizzas. For those watching their waistline, the deli offers a “create your own salad” bar. The deli tries to incorporate fresh locally grown ingredients such as Kula greens, Maui-raised beef, organically-managed produce from Kapalua Farms and sweet Maui Gold® pineapple.

Kudos to the store for using service items such as utensils, napkins, coffee cups and take-out boxes that are made out of bio-degradable, compostable material.

The Honolua Store is open from 6am to 9pm. Breakfast is served from 6am to 10am. Lunch is served from 10am to 3pm.

Photo credit to Leighboy

Are you looking for the top restaurants on Maui?  Then check out the most recent Maui Na Ka Oi Magazine restaurant survey results.  Maui restaurants were rated in 25 different categories.  (Wow!!)  Here is a sampling of the categories you’ll find:

• Best Hawaiian-fusion Cuisine
• Most Romantic
• Most “Maui-est”
• Best Cheap Eats
• Best-kept Secret
• Best Maui Luau
• Best Place to Eat in a Bathing Suit

I’ve been fortunate to have dined at many of the restaurants listed in the survey and I can’t argue with any of the results.  Someone once joked with me that the calories eaten in Maui stay in Maui.  Um…I’ve never found that to be the case.  I think Maui restaurants are some of the best across Hawaii.  I feel like I may have gained a pound just now from writing about Maui restaurants. 

Oh and in case you are wondering,  ”na ka oi” means the best. 

Let me introduce you to a new pie that your taste buds will love! Meet the hula pie. What’s a hula pie, you ask? It’s a very generous serving of macadamia nut ice cream on top of a chocolate cookie crust. Then this decadence is topped with chocolate fudge sauce, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts. Sound good? Did I just hear your stomach growl? Or was that mine?

We took this photo of a hula pie that we shared at Duke’s Kauai Restaurant. If I remember correctly, the plate was about nine or ten inches in diameter, so maybe that will give you an idea of how big this dessert actually is. It’ is definitely very sharable for two or more people. The pie is so famous that the TS Restaurants even have a web page devoted to the pie with suggestions for how to eat it.  (You can navigate to that page from this link.)

When you’re on Maui, Kauai, or Oahu, I’d recommend you try one of the TS Restaurants where they serve the hula pie They all have an open-air, casual, island atmosphere. They serve fresh island fish as well as beef and chicken dishes. All of the restaurants in the collection have great ocean views. I’ve personally enjoyed dining at

• Duke’s Kauai - Located on the East side of Kauai in the Kauai Marriott
• Duke’s Waikiki - Located on Oahu at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel
• Kimo’s - Located on Maui in Lahaina
• Hula Grill Kaanapali - Located at Whalers Village shopping center on Maui’s Kaanapali Beach. (At this location, there are tables that are literally on the beach and it’s fun to kick your shoes off and let your toes play in the sand.)
• Leilani’s on Kaanapali Beach at Whaler’s Cove

To see the entire collection of TS Hawaii Restaurants, click here. If you plan to go to one of these restaurants for dinner, I’d suggest you book a reservation as these restaurants are pretty popular.

If you are looking for other Kauai Restaurants, you’ll find loads of helpful information in this comprehensive Kauai restaurant and review guide

I’ve had the pleasure of dining at The Plantation House Restaurant in Maui several times over the years. I always look forward to going there because the views are outstanding and the food is always wonderful. In my opinion, this is one of the best restaurants if not the best restaurant on Maui. When asked where to go to dinner to celebrate a special event, the first place I’d recommend is The Plantation House Restaurant.

The Plantation Restaurant is located in Kapalua in the midst of the award winning Kapalua Plantation Golf Course. The restaurant has a great vantage point for watching sunsets year round and whales in winter months. There are also great views of Lanai and Molokai.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All meals here are very good, but the restaurant really shines at dinner. Appetizers range from fresh sashimi to crab cakes to saute of Maui onions and seasonal mushrooms and more. There is also a nice selection of seven different salads. Appetizer prices range from $6 to $17. My husband had the sashimi and I had the beet salad with organic greens, baby tomatoes, and feta cheese. We were happy with our selections.

For entrees, you can have lamb, steak, duck, chicken or pork if you want, but their specialty is fresh fish from the Hawaiian waters. The chef offers at least two fresh fish each evening that can be cooked with five different preparations. My husband had the plantation Oscar presentation with asparagus, crab meat, lemon beurre blanc and garlic mashed potatoes. I chose the “taste of Maui” presentation with pistachio crusted fish on Maui onions, Kula tomatoes, Upcountry spinach on cous cous. These entrees were outstanding. Entree prices start at $20. The island fish entrees cost between $32 and $34.

We always have the bananas foster for dessert. It is a huge dessert big enough for two or more to share. (Hey! Cut us some slack, we were on vacation!)

I was a waitress at a fancy French restaurant in college, so I can be pretty fussy about service, but I have no complaints about the service at The Plantation House. The service is excellent without being stuffy or pretentious. The restaurant’s staff tend to stay for many years and they clearly take pride in the restaurant.

If you go, make your reservations a week or so in advance. If you have your heart set on a nice sunset view table, you’d be wise to make the reservation even further out. (See my tips on sunset dining in Hawaii.) If you don’t get the best table to see sunset, don’t worry. The wait staff don’t mind if you take your drink out to the patio in front of the restaurant to watch the sun sink into the ocean. Just let them know.

I have no hesitation in recommending The Plantation Restaurant to you. If you find yourself on Kauai, try their sister restaurant, The Beach House.

Whenever I go into a restaurant and I can tell that local folks are there, I know I’ve found a great place. Travelocity has just released their list of “Local Secrets, Big Finds: Hawaii“. Though it is not a big list, it is worth taking note of as you make your list of restaurants to try in Hawaii.

On Travelocity’s list of local eateries are:

• Oahu’s Cafe Haleiwa
• Oahu’s Wailoa Shave Ice
• Big Islands’ Waimea Music Exchange
• Big Island’s Makuu Farmers Market (open Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Kauai’s Puka Dog Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs

See Oahu’s top restaurants as selected by local residents Dave and Alice

I’d like to add a few of my own local gems:

• Oahu’s Hukilau Cafe in Laie - this place is excellent for breakfast and the people there are so very nice.
• Oahu’s Matsumoto Shave Ice
• Oahu’s list of best restaurants written by Honolulu residents, Dave and Alice.
• Maui’s Kula Lodge Restaurant - this place is especially great for breakfast after watching sunrise on top of Haleakala. The views here are breathtaking.
• Maui’s Da Kitchen - There are two locations - one in Kihei and one in Kahului.
• Maui’s Aloha Mixed Plate - Lahaina
• Big Island’s Cafe 100- very cheap local eats with generous portions. You won’t go hungry here.

After reading the Hawaii travel secrets from the Arizona Daily Star that I posted yesterday, I have been inspired to share a few of my own secrets. Let’s start with some secret tips for romantic sunset dining in Hawaii.

1. Make a reservation and get to the restaurant early. Restaurants in Hawaii seat their customers on a first come first serve basis. (I have not found any exception to this rule.) So even if you have made a reservation for 6:30pm and requested a table by a window, you are going to get what is available and most likely, it is not going to be that nice table by a window that you wanted. When making a reservation, most restaurants will tell you that you can make a request, though it cannot be guaranteed. So, how do you get that nice table by the window? You do need to make a reservation for as close to opening time as possible. Most restaurants open for dinner around 5:00 or 5:30. Be sure and find out the opening time when you arrange your reservation. Though this may seem a bit early for dinner, the unobstructed sunset view will be worth the early start.
2. Don’t just limit yourself to a restaurant. Plan a sunset picnic at a beach. By picking up a few picnic supplies, you can save some money as compared to restaurant dinners and have a million dolllar view at the same time.
3. Know when sunset is. Sunsets in Hawaii generally vary from around 5:45pm to 7:15 pm. So, plan your cocktails, appetizers, etc accordingly. As you can see, getting to the restaurant around 5:00 it is really not too early for viewing sunset. Use this US Naval Observatory link to find out when sunrise and sunset may be on your trip.
4. Bring a camera and be sure to snap photos before during and after sunset to see the beautiful color variations on the sky and water.
5. Bring sunglasses because you might need them depending on the angle of the sun.
6. If you are travelling with another couple, consider reserving two tables for two instead of one table for four so that everyone will have the sunset view.

I hope you will enjoy a gorgeous sunset dinner in Hawaii soon!