As you’re planning your day to explore Maui’s Road to Hana, one quirky stop you might want to include in your plans is at Coconut Glen’s Here, you will find dairy-free ice cream homemade from coconut milk.

I got to meet Glen, the laidback owner, on the day I was touring the road to Hana with No Ka Oi Adventures. Glen is passionate about running an environmentally sustainable business. All his products are locally and organically produced. Just one example of Glen’s ingenious application of his sustainable business is that Glen serves his ice cream in a coconut shell with a spoon carved out of coconut shell, too.

I took the following photo so you could see the coconut ice cream flavors that Glen was serving the day I was there. I tried a scoop of lilikoi (passion fruit) with a scoop of the original, which is coconut flavored with bits of coconut candy. They were both delicious. 

If you like coconut, you’ll love Glen’s coconut candy — toasted, sweetened grated coconut flakes and it is so, so good!   I got so distract by taking photos and making notes that I forgot to buy some after tasting the sample.

Glen keeps pricing simple – everything is $5.

Coconut Glen’s is open everyday from 11am to 5pm. If you pull up during these hours and his shop appears to be closed, follow the instructions on the sign that says, “Honk if you’re hungry.”

Coconut Glen’s is located before you get to Hana in Nahiku, between mile markers 27 and 28 on the Hana Highway. It’s  on the right side of the road as you’re driving towards Hana.

Have you been to Coconut Glen’s off the Road to Hana? How did you like this unique ice cream shop?

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*  Starting January 11th, Hawaiian Airlines will begin offering non-stop flights between Maui and two Bay Area airports – Oakland and San Jose. To celebrate, Hawaiian is offering an introductory rate starting at $299 roundtrip. You need to book by today, September 14, 2011 for travel dates between January 11 to March 14, 2012.

* As promised in the recent Maui trip report, I’ve updated our list of the best Maui restaurants.

*  Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island had debuted a new luau dinner and show, Haleo – The Voice of Life, shares History of Keauhou. Haleo is shared each Monday evening at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. Adults $79.95, children (6-12) are $49.95 and 5 and under are complimentary. Price includes gratuity, tax is additional. Alii upgrade, $15 adults, $10 children, includes souvenir lei, express ticket purchase and check-in and reserved front section seating. For more information, see this link.

* With the new Sheraton luau, I’ve updated our list of Hawaii’s Big Island luaus – prices, reviews and schedules.

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Kapalua Sunset

As I mentioned yesterday, we’re back from 11 days in Maui. This trip was our fifth to the Valley Isle and, still, we feel like we need to return for new experiences.

I’ll be writing many more details about individual aspects of our trip. In the meantime, I wanted to provide you with a summary of what we liked and didn’t like on this trip in case you’re planning your Maui visit.

Where We Stayed

We spent the first six nights at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. We had high expectations and they were met at this luxury resort. We’ve loved the Kapalua area ever since our first stay in the villas in 2003. By the way, their best deal starts at $399 per night and includes daily breakfast for two.

We ended our trip with a four-night stay at the newly rebranded Hana resort, Travaasa Hana. We felt like we’d taken a step back in time to the real Hawaii on a relaxed pace. See my review of Travaasa Hana.

Where We Played

A semi-private, guided-tour of the Road to Hana with No Ka Oi Adventures – Wade’s knowledge and expertise of the Road to Hana definitely provided me with many new experiences that I may not have ever discovered on my own. See my full report on touring the Road to Hana with No Ka Oi Adventures.

We did some great hikes and walks around Kapalua, the Kipahulu area of Haleakala and around Wailea.

Horseback riding along the Hana coast was superb! Jolynn lead us through Hana Ranch land by the coast for gorgeous views. One interesting tidbit I’ll go ahead and share is that Jolynn’s grandfather and friends climbed to the top of Alau Island to plant those curious palm trees you see on top of the island. (See a photo of Alau Island.)

Surfing Goat Dairy Farm – because when you think of Maui, you immediately think of petting goats and tasting goat cheese, right? A short tour at Surfing Goat Dairy was a fun side trip in the upcountry and definitely something the kiddos would enjoy.

Two self-guided garden tours – one at Kahanu National Tropical Botanical Garden off the road to Hana and Kula Botanical Garden in the upcountry. I rate Kahanu Gardens a four out of five with its beautiful coastal views and peeks at the massive Pi’ilanihale Heiau. I rate the Kula Botanical Garden a three out of five. It’s a fairly small garden with some lovely protea flowers.

We tried SNUBA with our friends at Trilogy. Unfortunately, we both failed at this first and possibly our last SNUBA attempt. We snorkeled instead and got to see some honu (Hawaiian sea turtle). So, all wasn’t a loss during our SNUBA experience.

Andy had a blast at the Maui Photo Festival!

While Andy was in the photography festival, I did a bit of exploring on my own. I wanted to go back to Iao Needle to see if I could capture a better photo for our collection. I was disappointed to find that they are now charging visitors $5 per car to park. (Hawaii residents don’t have to pay.) On top of having to pay to park, the restroom facilities were closed. These were the same restrooms that were open and worked back when parking was free. Grr! There was no security in the parking area either. I wouldn’t mind paying such a steep parking fee if they provided security so that your car didn’t get broken into and they had proper restroom facilities. What a rip off that they charge a fee and don’t even offer basic services! They did have a few port-a-johns that were disgusting, of course. (On a side note, just to top off my frustration, someone literally tried to break in the port-a-john that I was using. I had to yell several times that it was occupied. Double grr!)

We got some great spa treatments at Hana Travaasa and Ritz Carlton Kapalua.

Where We Ate

We always aim to try new restaurants with each island visit because we want to be able to provide you with a list of the best restaurants. Here are the new restaurants we tried this time:

- Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea – excellent, fresh, relatively inexpensive food in a casual atmosphere. I think I heard about this one from my friend Nathan, after he described his Maui foodie experiences. Andy loved the Banana Cream Pie. He said it was one of the best desserts he’s had in Hawaii. We highly recommend Monkeypod Kitchen!

- Star Noodle in Lahaina – Wade from No Ka Oi Adventures told me to try this place and he didn’t steer me wrong. We stopped in for lunch and loved this Asian Fusion fare. Prices were reasonable and the food was very tasty. We highly recommend Star Noodle.

- The Beach House in Kapalua on DT Fleming Beach – Believe it or not, there’s not a plethora of restaurants right beside a beach. That’s one of the reasons that The Beach House is so special. The food is very tasty, though not light on your wallet as a burger and fries will set you back $18. The views, oh the views, they make dining here worth it, though. It’s generally only open for lunch.

- The Banyan Tree in Kapalua – Good food and good views. The appetizers are very generously sized. We found we didn’t need entrees after having appetizers. At The Banyan Tree, they provide a delicious nut and spice mixture called Dukkah along with olive oil for bread dipping. I kept raving about it to our waiter and he provided the recipe.  If you are a vegetarian, you’ll love all the options available on The Banyan Tree’s menu.

- Coconut Glen’s between mile markers 27 and 28 on the road to Hana – Wade of No Ka Oi Adventures stopped here during our day touring the road to Hana and beyond. What a yummy treat to try coconut candy and ice cream made of coconut milk. You really ought to experience this tasty stop off the road to Hana. Here’s my post about Coconut Glen’s off the Road to Hana.

- Merriman’s at Kapalua – We actually liked the view better than the food here. The sunset view was super.  I don’t know if we hit this restaurant on an off night, but the food was nice, but didn’t blow us away. For the elevated prices here, I recommend it for sunset pupus (appetizers) and drinks only.

- Lahaina Grill in Lahaina town – When I was recently voting for my favorite Hawaii restaurants in the HONOLULU Magazine Hale Aina Awards, I noticed Lahaina Grill was on the list and knew I had to give it a try. The food was pretty tasty, but didn’t knock our socks off. The atmosphere here is very lively, e.g. loud. I think maybe this popular restaurant is not for us because we prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. There’s no view here and parking in Lahaina town is a pain in the rear.

As much as we try to force ourselves to only go to restaurants we’ve not yet tried, we can’t resist going back to some of our favorites. We like to call these visits quality control checks to see if these restaurants still worth recommending. Here are the restaurants we revisited and still love:

- Pineapple Grill – We first tried Pineapple Grill in 2009. Everything was delicious! In our opinion, Pineapple Grill serves the best food in Maui. Period.

- Honolua Store in Kapalua – We found ourselves walking to the restaurant for a light, inexpensive breakfast almost every morning when we were staying in Kapalua.

- The Plantation House in Kapalua– We tried The Plantation House on our very first visit to Maui in 2003 and haven’t missed going there on each return visit.

- Haliimaile General Store in Haliimaile – We have a new tradition of having our last Maui meal at Haliimaile before flying home.

I’ll be updating our list of best Maui restaurants soon.

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So, that’s the skinny on this trip to Maui. As I mentioned, I’ll be detailing most of these experiences in future posts. In the meantime, do you have any questions about this trip?

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If you like sweets, you’ll find some onolicious ones in Hawaii! From easy to find to off the beaten path, here’s my list of Hawaii’s tastiest sweet treats:

1. Coco Puffs from Liliha Bakery in Honolulu, Oahu
When I took my first bite of a Coco Puff, instinctively I said, “Mmmmmm…..mmmmm!” This puffed pastry treat is  filled with a buttery, creamy chocolate pudding and topped off with a coconut and vanilla topping. How good are Liliha’s Coco Puffs? Well, here’s what one reader wrote in the comments of my Liliha Coco Puff post.

All I can say is WOW – stumbled across this post before going to spend a week in Oahu and it was more than worth the $50 round trip cab ride from Waikiki just to taste one of those amazing coco puffs!! Of course, I couldn’t just stop at one and after buying a box to go I was left licking the wrappers after the last one was eaten. Thank you so much for this recommendation!!

2. Maui Gold Pineapple Upside Down Cake from Pineapple Grill on Maui
Pineapple from Hawaii is delicious, but Pineapple Grill in Kapalua takes this fruit to a whole new level in their signature dessert. As if the cake wasn’t delicious enough, they top it with Roselani macadamia nut ice cream, toasted coconut and a caramel sauce.

3. Shave Ice
If you need to cool down after a day at the beach or a hike, a Hawaiian shave ice will refresh you. Shave ice is similar to a snow cone but with ice that’s very finely shaved making it soft and smooth. You then have a choice of flavorings that add the sweetness. You can find shave ice all over Hawaii. A few of our favorite shave ice joints are:

- Matsumoto in Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore – This shave ice place is the most famous.

- Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu.

- Aloha Island Shave Ice on the Hana Highway in Paia on Maui

4. Malasadas
Portuguese immigrants introduced this doughnut-like pastry to Hawaii. Malasadas are filled with a variety of creamy fruit-flavored centers, as well as chocolate and vanilla fillings.  The best way to have a malasada is to  purchase it while it’s still warm and eat it right away. You can find malasadas in most Hawaii bakeries. Freshly made malasadas are also popular at  Hawaii’s farmers markets. Three of the more famous places to try a malasada are:

- Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu

- T. Komoda Store & Bakery on Baldwin Avenue in Makawao on Maui

- Tex Drive-In off Highway 19 near Honokaa on Hawaii’s Big Island

5. Happy Cakes on Oahu
As I said in my Happy Cakes post, this cake lives up to its name. This golden moist cake bursts with the iconic flavors of Hawaii – pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut. Need I say more? There’s a chocolate version, too.  You can pick up a Happy Cake at a variety of locations that I describe in my Happy Cakes post or you can order them online.

6. Hula Pie
If you go into any of the TS Hawaii Restaurants (for example, any of the Duke’s restaurants) save room a slice of Hula Pie. This generously-sized (e.g. sharable) pie is made of macadamia nut ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts.

7. Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie from Ted’s Bakery on Oahu’s North Shore
I must thank a Go Visit Hawaii reader, Janet Rivera, for telling me about Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie. I had been to Ted’s Bakery a number of times for breakfast or lunch, but somehow missed that chocolaty, coconuty, creamy goodness up until last year. If you’re stopping into Ted’s with a large group, purchase an entire pie to share, otherwise I recommend purchasing the a slice that’s individually packaged.

8. Mochi
How does one describe mochi? It’s a soft Japanese rice cake usually filled with ice cream. I realize that description doesn’t exactly sound delicious, but you’ve got to trust me on this one. You can find mochi in grocery stores and bakeries around Hawaii.

9. Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
No list of Hawaii’s best sweet treats be complete without chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Though they’re not too difficult to find on the US Mainland, you certainly can’t find the variety that Hawaii offers. See my post on where to find macadamia nut farms in Hawaii. Most farms have a shop where you can sample all sorts of macadamia goodness. My favorite kind is the milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nut. They’re delish!

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Did your favorite sweet treat make the list? What’s your favorite sweet snack or dessert in Hawaii? Where did you try it?

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Best Oahu Restaurant
Gold – Alan Wong’s Honolulu
Silver – Le Bistro
Bronze – Azure
Top 5 – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Top 5 – 3660 On The Rise

Best Maui Restaurant
Gold – Pineapple Grill
Silver – Lahaina Grill
Bronze – Mama’s Fish House
Top 5 – Casanova’s Italian Restaurant
Top 5 – Mala Ocean Tavern

Best Kauai Restaurant
Gold – The Beach House Restaurant
Silver – Mediterranean Gourmet
Bronze – Kaua‘i Grill
Top 5 – Red Salt
Top 5 – Bar Acuda

Best Big Island Restaurant
Gold – Merriman’s Waimea
Silver – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
Bronze – Huggo’s
Top 5 – Brown’s Beach House
Top 5 – Café Pesto Kawaihae

If I counted correctly, there are 29 Hale Aina award categories in total. You can check them all out through this link.

I’ve written dozens of articles on some of Hawaii’s best restaurants. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on how to find those articles by island:

Oahu – All Oahu restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Oahu restaurants

Maui – All Maui restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Maui restaurants

Kauai – All Kauai restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Kauai restaurants

Big Island – All Big Island restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Big Island Restaurants

What’s your favorite Hawaii restaurant?

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View of Four Seasons Maui Resort that Modern Family Watchers Will Recognize

* Maui fans take note! Tonight’s episode of ABC’s Modern Family goes to Maui. The episode will be set at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. See this link to get a little sneak peak of the Maui episode. In case you fall in love with the Four Seasons Maui as you watch the show, they’re have an offer of fifth night free through December 16, 2010.

* Speaking of the Four Seasons Maui, you can get a great 3-course dinner for $49 per person at three of their restaurants – Spago, Ferraro’s, and Duo Steak and Seafood. The deal includes choice of appetizer or salad, choice of entree and choice of dessert. Note that the special offer at Spago is only available from 5:30pm – 6pm and 8:45pm – 9:30pm. We’ve dined at Ferraro’s and enjoyed the food and ocean view setting.

* Maui spa deals are scarce, but I found a super one in Hana Hou, the magazine for Hawaiian Airlines. This spa deal is at  Spa Grande, one of my favorite Hawaii spas. This deal is for two persons and cost $298. It includes access to the fitness center, an hour in the fantastic baths of the Terme Hydrotherapy Circuit, 50-minute signature treatment for two, lunch for two at Bistro Molokini, and full body mini loofah honey mango exfoliations. Taxes and gratuity are not included. To take advantage of this deal you must mention Hawaiian Airlines when making your reservation. This offer is valid through June 15, 2010.

* Hawaii hotels are showing signs of economic recovery per Pacific Business News. Statewide room occupancy was up this March versus March 2009. Per the report, here were the average room rates per island:

• Oahu – $143 per night
• Maui – $231 per night
• Kauai – $186 per night
• Big Island $182 per night

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When I first heard the restaurant name Haliimaile General Store, images of burgers and greasy spoon victuals popped to mind. Well, Haliimaile General Store serves much more refined food than that. Instead of simple dishes, we found fresh and inventive dishes like Sashimi Napoleon, Asian Duck Tostada, Kalua Pork Enchilada Pie, and Crispy Calamari Salad. Our taste buds were tickled and delighted. Everything we ordered was beautifully presented and delicious. I definitely recommend giving it a try. (See more of my Maui restaurant recommendations.)

Here’s the skinny on Haliimaile General Store:

• Menu selections range in price from $8 to $24. Most items were in the $15 to $17 range.
• Beverly Gannon is the chef and owner of Haliimaile General Store. She’s an award winning chef.
• Open for lunch from 11am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday
• Open for dinner from 5:30pm to 9:30pm nightly.
• Located at 900 Haliimaile Road in Haliimaile, Maui. (See this Google Map.) This restaurant is not located near the West and South Maui Resorts – approximately a 30 to 45 minute drive away. It’s only about 10 minutes away from the airport, so to minimize driving, we ate there for lunch the day we flew out of Maui.

Here’s a slideshow from our visit to Haliimaile General Store:

Have you dined at Haliimaile General Store? How was your experience?

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The Feast at Lele offers a refined luau and a welcome departure from the buffet lines and large tables. At the Feast at Lele, guests sit at tables to fit their group size, so you aren’t sitting with strangers. If you are looking for a more romantic luau, I’d recommend the Feast at Lele because you and your sweetie sit together at a private table for two.

Another distinguishing feature of the Feast at Lele is their table service and multi-course Polynesian dinner. While most luaus offer buffet service first and then the Polynesian show, at the Feast at Lele, a course is served that features the cuisine of a particular Polynesian island nation along with music and dancing from those islands. The Polynesian island nations of Hawaii, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Samoa are all featured. Servers bring three or four different dishes per island nation to your table in a family-style service. Here’s a selection of menu items:

• Pohole Fern, Asparagus and Heart of Palm Salad (Hawaii)
• Country Green Duck Salad with Poha Berry Dressing (Aotearoa – New Zealand)
• Fafa – Steamed Chicken and taro leaf in coconut milk (Tahiti)
• Shrimp and Avocado with Passion Fruit (Samoa)

The service was very good, especially considering that a large crowd was all being served the same food at the same time. We never really had to wait for anything. We ordered just about every cocktail on the menu to try and they were all delivered with very little wait. (Don’t worry, we didn’t get toasted. The drinks are very mild.)

Some other features of the Feast at Lele add to a great luau experience are:

• Guests are greeted with fresh orchid leis, which used to be the norm, but now most luaus only give a shell lei or no lei at all.
• The ocean front setting in Lahaina was beautiful and romantic. When the weather isn’t overcast, guests have a great sunset view.
• The raised stage is parallel to the ocean for good views. Tables for two are angled towards the stage. With many luaus, the tables are either perpendicular to the stage or round tables where some guests backs are to the stage. See this link for a photo I took from my table.
• The show lighting was excellent and made the costumes very vibrant.
• The grand finale of the show is a fire knife dancer, which is always a treat to see.

Andy and I took my parents to the Feast at Lele on our recent visit to Maui. This luau was my parents first, though Andy and I have been to others in Hawaii. We were all very pleased with our evening at the Feast at Lele. I would recommend this luau to friends and family.

If I could change anything about the Feast at Lele, I would make the Polynesian show segments longer. It seemed like they weren’t very long  — maybe just five or so minutes at a time. Something else I’d change is that there wasn’t a dedicated restroom for the luau grounds. The Feast at Lele is located adjacent to a shopping and office complex. The restroom was away from the luau in the shopping complex. It wasn’t too far of a walk, but not within earshot of the show.

Here’s what to know before you go:

• Their Web site is www.feastatlele.com
• Location: 505 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761
• Call 866-244-5353 for more information
• The Feast at Lele is more expensive than the average luau. The cost is $110 per person and does not include gratuities.
• See the photos we snapped during our visit.
• See this link to see a list of all Maui luaus and how Feast at Lele compares.

Have you been to the Feast at Lele? How was your experience?

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* Maui News has issued their annual “Best of Maui 2009” list. Though the publication is separated out into multiple pdf files, it’s worth your time to review it, if you’re headed to Maui. In the publication, you’ll find the best restaurants in multiple categories, plus you’ll find some deals and coupons. Also, see my own top picks and additional resources on finding the best restaurants in Maui.

* Four Seasons Resorts in Hawaii have added some new upgrades. You can read all the Hawaii Four Seasons news here. As I skimmed through the news, this little Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay tidbit caught my hopelessly romantic eye:

in Manele Bay [Lanai], new Oceanfront hales overlooking Hulopo’e Bay provide the perfect spot for … the Oceanside Hale Twilight Experience, served in candlelit privacy with Champagne, a five-course tasting menu and fragrant flowers to create the perfect ambience.

* The Mauna Lani on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island is due to reopen November 1st after a fresh refurbishment. They’ve extended their Hawaii 5-0 deal through December 23, 2009 with rates starting at $270 per night.

* A 4-D theater is under construction at the Shops at Mauna Lani and is slated to open in November.

* The former Maui Prince Hotel is under new management and has been renamed the Makena Beach and Golf Resort, per the Maui News. I think it’s worthwhile noting that the same company that manages one of my Oahu favorites, Turtle Bay Resort , is now managing the Makena Beach and Golf Resort on Maui.

* Attention classic movie buffs! Guess who is returning to Kauai for the first time since taking part of a classic movie filmed on Kauai in 1957-58? If you guessed Mitzi Gaynor from the classic movie musical South Pacific, you’re right. She’s returning to Kauai to take part in the Garden Isle’s celebration of the movie’s 50th anniversary the first weekend in October. On October 4, the Kauai Visitors Bureau is presenting An Afternoon with Mitzi Gaynor at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club, an entertaining reflection by Ms. Gaynor on the filming of South Pacific and her career. The event is open to the public and benefits the Kauai Museum. Admission is $20.

* I’ll close this roundup by sharing a video of Mitzi Gaynor singing one of the more famous songs and scenes from South Pacific, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta Of My Hair. This scene was filmed on Kauai’s Lumahai Beach.

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One of our favorite restaurants in Hawaii is Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. We first fell in love with Sansei on the Big Island and since then we’ve looked for any opportunity to return.

I must admit, I’m still working on being a bit more brave with trying sushi. Honestly, there’s nothing I’ve tried that I haven’t liked, so I have no reason to be so unadventurous. Andy, on the other hand, would likely try just about anything. I think he and Anthony Bourdain would become big pals if the ever had the opportunity to meet. Sansei’s Restaurants are the perfect place for Andy and I to go, because I can always fall back on tame sushi-ish dishes like the Mango Crab [cooked] Salad Handroll in a Thai vinaigrette or the melt in your mouth Matsuhisa Style Miso Butterfish (photo).

Crispy Fried Calamari

Though Andy and I differ a tad on our spirits of culinary adventures, one appetizer that we both enjoy tremendously and never miss ordering is the Crispy Fried Calamari with spicy Japanese cocktail sauce. As a good ol’ Southern saying goes, it’s so good it would make your tongue slap your brains out. I’ve asked what’s in the spicy Japanese cocktail sauce and was told it’s a secret. The best way I can try to describe it is an Asian version of the best buffalo hot wing sauce. I bet a chef would cringe at my description, but it’s the best I can do.

I’m grateful that you’ve grown to trust my advice here at Go Visit Hawaii, but you don’t have to just take my word on this restaurant recommendation. Sansei Restaurants have won many awards. My Oahu foodie-friend, Melissa Chang, writes for the Honolulu Advertiser. She recently went on a sushi tour of Oahu and here’s what she had to say about Sansei:

Some of the best and most creative sushi was at Sansei. I know locals don’t think of Sansei so much anymore because it’s in Waikiki, but if you get a chance, you should go. Their sushi rolls were very fresh and presented with artful flair.

You’ll find a Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar on the islands of Maui (in Kihei and Kapalua), Oahu (in Waikiki), and the Big Island (in Waikoloa).

Sansei Restaurants seem to have fair menu prices. Appetizers start at $3, but I’d say most are in the $9 range. Entrees start at $16.

Here are few tips for you if you decide to dine at one of the Sansei locations:

• Most of the locations offer special deals if you’re seated at a certain time – either early or late. Call ahead and ask what their special discounts are. You can find the phone numbers from their Web site.
• Andy and I recommend the chef’s tasting menu, if it’s offered. Usually, they are good deals plus it’s a great introduction to Sansei’s menu.
• Sansei is popular with both locals (especially on the Big Island and Maui)  and visitors, so it’s best if you make a reservation. If you happen to pop into a Sansei and there’s a long wait, check for seating at the bar where you can access the full menu.

Have you been to a Sansei Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Hawaii? What was your favorite dish?

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* Waikoloa Beach Marriott on Hawaii’s Big Island is offering a super deal of 50% off ocean view rooms. This $169 nightly rate is good for stays between now and December 24th, but you must book by August 21st.  This resort has been recently renovated and in my opinion, Waikoloa is a great place to stay on the Big Island.

* There’s another Marriott deal worth mentioning. It’s the Statehood Package celebration Hawaii’s 50 years of statehood. The package includes 4th night free, resort credit, and more. See this link for the promotion code and details on the participating Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Big Island resorts.

* Honolulu Magazine has assembled their restaurant choices for the ideal breakfast, lunch and dinner itineraries for Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island.

* Have you checked airfare to Hawaii recently? There’s been a new slew of deals that are good for travel between August and mid-December. Here are some examples I found by searching FareCompare:

• Detroit to Honolulu $534 round-trip
• Atlanta to Honolulu $435 round-trip
• Cincinnati to Honolulu $533 round-trip
• Minneapolis-St Paul to Honolulu $436 round-trip
• Houston to Honolulu $438 round-trip

* Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating it’s 80th anniversary with a fun game to guess the different era of Hawaiian Airlines uniforms. When you play the game, you can become eligible to be one of eight winners of a roundtrip coach tickets for two. Here’s a link to the game.

* Do you tweet on twitter? If so, you may be interested in this National Geographic Traveler article with advice on traveling with twitter. (Notice that the article quotes yours truly.)  By the way, I’m on twitter, please let me know if you tweet, too.

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As most of you know, we recently took my parents to Maui for their first visit to Hawaii. I will be posting our itinerary with details in a future post, which I think will be an excellent first timer’s guide to Maui, but in the mean time I just wanted to share some notes from the visit.

The Good Stuff

* I’ve updated my post on finding the best Maui restaurants, I’ve added a couple new ones to my recommended list. We loved the Pineapple Grill in Kapalua. Their sunset dinner special is a three-course dinner for $32 per person is a real bargain! If you opt for the special deal, you must upgrade your dessert for the pineapple upside down cake, which is worth the trip alone. I’m not a big fan of pineapple upside down cake, but the Pineapple Grill has made me a huge fan of their version. For the special deal, you must be seated by 6pm. If they don’t immediately offer the special menu, ask for it.

* I had a really difficult time choosing which Maui luau to take my parents. I was torn between the Old Lahaina Luau, the Feast at Lele, and the Sheraton Kaanapali Sunset Luau. Each one had it’s pros and cons. I eventually decided on the the Feast at Lele and it turned out to be a great choice. It’s not the typical buffet style setting and you aren’t sharing a table with four to six strangers. The six-course meal is served to you at your private table. The entertainment was a bit more abbreviated compared to some luaus I’ve tried, but they do have a Samoan fire knife dancer as the grand finale. I wanted to make sure Mom and Daddy got to see a fire knife dancer.

* Mahalo to Liza for the warm aloha she shared with us at her church in Kihei. My parents were really surprised and honored that Liza brought beautiful leis. We were at her church on Easter and were fortunate to get to see their Easter hula presentation. It was really well done and beautiful.

* After admiring the Sheraton Maui for years, I finally got to stay there. It was by far the best place we’ve stayed on Kaanapali. Watch for an upcoming review of Sheraton Maui.

* Mahalo to the humpback whales for sticking around. We knew we were visiting during the tail end of the season, but thankfully we got to see some great action. We took a whale watching tour with Pacific Whale Foundation and got to see some whales practicing synchronized swimming. Well, actually maybe it wasn’t all the synchronized, but it was really a treat to see two, side-by-side whale tails at the same time. From the lanai of the Sheraton Maui, we saw lots of other activity. We probably saw 20 breaches in just one afternoon. I think it must have been a playful calf.

* Once again, we had a bug-free car from Avis. To me, that makes a huge difference. I plan to be  loyal Avis customer in Hawaii.

* After shopping around at Hotwire, Expedia, and Kayak, we booked our rental car through Discount Hawaii Car Rental who offered a much cheaper price. Before we looked into the rates we could get at Discount Hawaii Car Rental, the cheapest we could find for a full-sized car was around $304 plus taxes and fees which would run another $60 – $70 for the week. Through Discount Hawaii Car Rental, we got a rate of $294 including taxes and fees and we got to choose Avis.

* Each time I go to Maui, I’m reminded of how special it is to gaze onto the other nearby islands that make up Maui Nei.

The Bad Stuff

Well, it’s time to mention the elephant in the room. All in all, we had a nice time though we did have some hostile encounters which has made it difficult for me to even talk about it here with you. One of my all time best memories from Hawaii is the first time driving the Road to Hana. Ironically, it is also now one of my all time worst vacation memories.

As we were returning back to Kaanapali from the road to Hana, we encountered some extremely hostile locals who decided that the sound of their horn and shooting out curse words to “haoles” was better than the sweet sounds of the rainforest and waterfalls. Just like them, we were stuck in a long string of traffic. Once we were able to safely move off the road so they could pass us (which we always do for locals anyway) we ended up following them for about 25 miles into Paia.

The next day we observed some other unwelcoming local behavior. A guy drinking beer in the middle of the day at Hookipa Beach Park was trying his darnedest to get his middle finger captured in another tourist’s photo.

One thing that you can always trust from me at Go Visit Hawaii is that I will be honest with you. After my shock and dismay, I felt that I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention to you that not everyone in Hawaii is glad you visit. Every place has jerks and Hawaii is not immune. When we visit Hawaii, we go out of our way to be very respectful to the people, culture, and land. Essentially, we walk on egg shells. Sometimes, just our pure existence seems to make locals mad and we have experienced a few other minor incidents during our many visits to Hawaii. Hopefully, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter hostility, but what should you do if this happens to you? Look for a way out and just try to ignore it.

What’s next?

Look for upcoming posts and reviews that will help you make the most of your vacation to Maui.

Elephant image credit to BitBoy

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From my experience, anytime I’ve mentioned the restaurant Zippy’s to any Hawaii resident, their eyes light up. At Zippy’s, you’ll find the authentic local fare as opposed to the normal tourist menu items at the resort restaurants. So, what will you find on their menus? You definitely find a huge variety — from their famous chili to ox tail soup to classic plate lunches. Check out their menu items online for more details.

It’s actually a challenge to describe Zippy’s because even though it’s a chain, not all services are offered at each location. Some Zippy’s provide dine-in service as well as take-out, while others offer only take-out with some open seating. The Zippy’s locations with Okazuya service offer bento boxes and sushi as well as their standard take-out fare. All Zippy’s include Napoleon’s Bakery with pastries and cakes. Use their restaurant location drop down menu from this Web page to determine what services are offered at each location.

On a recent stop in for lunch at Zippy’s, Andy and I took a photo (left) of our meals. That’s a Mahi Mahi sandwich and a Korean fried chicken plate lunch with the standard two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. We had this lunch at one of the take-out locations.

If you are visiting Hawaii on a budget, Zippy’s offers generous portions for a good price. For example, the Korean fried chicken plate lunch was $5.90 for the small portion and the Mahi Mahi sandwich was $3.50.

You’ll find Zippy’s all over Oahu. As for the neighboring islands, there’s just one Zippy’s outside of Oahu, it’s in Kahului on Maui. Zippy’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Have you dined at Zippy’s? What did you think? What’s your favorite Zippy’s plate?

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Pssst! Hey you! Shh! Here’s a secret for ya: Hawaii beaches are practically deserted near sunset. Can you believe it? We took this photo from Waikiki Beach near sunset. Notice that this extremely popular beach isn’t very crowded at all and it became even more quiet as the sunset was nearing.

We were amazed at how quiet Waikiki Beach would be around sunset, especially since this was the most vibrant time of the day. The ocean seemed bluer. Diamond Head seemed more prominent and the sand was more golden.

Where were all the people? Why were they missing out on this magic? At about 4pm, most people started packing up their beach bags to go in for the day. They were headed to their hotel room to shower and try to find a place for dinner, preferably with a great sunset view, where they’d be competing with hoards of other people all wanting the same view. Ah, if they only knew that they were missing the “best seat in the house”, they’d not be in such a rush to leave the beach.

Long time readers may recall that one of my top recommendations for having a memorable Hawaii vacation on a budget is to plan a sunset picnic. Planning your own picnic can not only save you money as compared to restaurant prices, but it will undoubtedly provide you with one of your fondest vacation memories.

Looking back on our recent week-long stay on Oahu, we had some nice gourmet dinners, but none of them compared to our hot dog roast on the beach at sunset. We must thank our friend Dave for providing us with the complete kit for a wienie roast on the beach. Thank you, Dave, for your thoughtfulness and the best dinner we had on Oahu!

You can easily plan your own barbeque as most beach parks have grills available for public use. Alternatively, you can pick up a disposable grill kit from a discount store and grill right in the sand like we did. You can pick up picnic supplies at Foodland, Safeway, and even the ABC stores carry a limited selection of picnic items.

If you do plan a beach picnic, there are two things you cannot do.

• You can’t make an open fire on the beach. Your grill must be enclosed.
• You can’t have alcoholic beverages on Hawaii’s beaches.

So, I challenge you to have your own sunset picnic in Hawaii. You’ll be glad you did.

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• Hot off the press is Maui News’ 2008 edition of The Best of Maui! It’s a guide of Maui News readers favorite restaurants and entertainment/activities. This year’s best restaurant overall category had a tie with Hali’imaile General Store and Mama’s Fish House sharing the top spots. You can download the guide (in sections) for free here. 
• Nathan at the Kam Family Blog tells us about a great offer to download Hawaiian music generously offered by Mountain Apple Company and United Airlines.
• Maui’s luxurious Hotel Hana offers some excellent fall specials including reduced rates  and resort credit.  Worth noting is that these specials don’t require a minimum stay which would make staying here perfect if you’re planning on exploring the road to Hana and hiking the nearby trails.

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Not only is the breakfast tasty here, but the view is wonderful treat, too. The dining room is perched on the mountainside at 3,200 feet above sea level.  The dining room has floor to ceiling windows to offer beautiful views of Maui and the Pacific Ocean.  Politely ask if you may be seated near the window for best views, but don’t fret if you don’t get a window seat as all tables offer a good view.

After you’ve had breakfast and warmed up from the chilly sunrise, have a look around at the art gallery and stroll the grounds to see beautiful tropical flowers.

You’ll find Kula Lodge at 15200 Haleakala Highway (Route 377) in Kula. You can reach them at (808) 878-1535 .

Note: I’ve been advised that Kula Lodge is only recommended for breakfast.

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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.)  I’ve heard rumors that this parking lot is a place where the break-in vultures prey on visitors’ rental cars. So, be sure to bring your valuables with you.
• 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?

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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 views. That’s definitely a bonus to enjoy 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.

Go Visit Hawaii Picks
The following restaurants are ones that we particularly like. (Just a reminder, we’re not compensated in any form for choosing these restaurants. We like these restaurants based on our 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) and Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua (especially good value at breakfast and lunch).

The one restaurant I wish I could move back home with me: Pineapple Grill in Kapalua is an outstanding restaurant that I just tried for the first time on my recent visit and I will be back. The restaurant is set on Kapalua Bay Golf Course and has distant ocean views. I love the setting and the food was delicious. Do save room for their famous pineapple upside down cake, because it is worth the trip alone. Here’s a money saving tip for you: Pineapple Grill is offering a three-course sunset dinner special for about $32 per person. You must be seated before 6pm. We chose the sunset dinner special and thought it was exceptional and you just can’t beat the value. If they don’t immediately offer you the sunset dinner special menu, ask for it. We revisited in 2011 and fell in love with this restaurant even more. We think Pineapple Grill serves the best food in Maui.

Best beach front restaurant where you can dig your toes in the sand: Barefoot Bar of the Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach. We  love Hula Grill’s Not-So-Ordinary-Ketchup with guava.

Best over-hyped restaurant, but we still like it: Mama’s Fish House in Paia. It’s the one restaurant that your friends who’ve been to Maui will likely ask you if you went to Mama’s Fish House.  They have very good food on a beach front setting. Their seafood is so fresh that the menu changes daily to tell you what fishing boats delivered the day’s catches.It is  pricey, though.  It’s easy to over order here, so beware of that for your waistline and wallet’s sake. I’d caution you to order just a course at a time as the portions tend to be generous. 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. I also like Leilani’s in Kaanapali’s Whaler’s Village and if you go, save room for a hula pie dessert.

Best Value with Million Dollar View: Aloha Mixed Plate serves up local favorites right on the waters edge in Lahaina. I especially like their Kalua pork sandwich.

Best Place for Local Breakfast or Lunch: Honolua Store in Kapalua. This store is good for picnic supplies, too. You can take your food to the beach or dine on one of their outdoor picnic tables.

Best Out of the Way Restaurant: Hali’imaile General Store in the Upcountry area offers a very tasty menu with a unique Upcountry setting. I think it’s a nice place to grab lunch the day you leave because it’s about 10 minutes away from the airport. See my review of Haliimaile General Store.

Best Sushi: Sansei Restaurant and Sushi Bar located in both Kihei and Kapalua.

Best Restaurant for Breakfast after Watching Sunrise at Haleakala: In historic upcountry town of Makawao check out the unassuming, but uber tasty T. Komoda Store & Bakery for the pastry lover’s dream. T Komoda is famous for their cream puffs, malasadas and long johns. In Kula, have breakfast at  Kula Lodge with outstanding views.

Best New Restaurants Everyone’s Raving Over:  Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea serves fresh, tasty, locally-sourced food at relatively reasonable prices. Monkeypod is one of Peter Merriman’s restaurants and in our opinion, it’s his best and also his least expensive. Save room for one of their cream pies that are made fresh daily. Star Noodle in Lahania is definitely worth a visit for their fresh Asian Fusion fare. Prices at Star Noodle are reasonable, too.

Unique Treat off the Road to Hana: Ice cream made of coconut milk at Coconut Glen’s . Their coconut ice cream is all natural and served in a coconut shell with a spoon carved out of a coconut shell. Coconut Glen’s is located between mile markers 27 and 28 on the road to Hana.

Online Resourses and Apps

Yelp
You can research lots of reviews from Yelp.com before you go to Maui. Also, you can download their app to your smart phone to find restaurants while you’re on Maui.

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.

TripAdvisor’s West Maui Restaurants (includes Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Lahaina)

• Lahaina Restaurants

TripAdvisor’s South Maui Restaurants

• Kihei Restaurants
• Wailea Restaurants

TripAdvisor’s Central Maui Restaurants

• Kahului Restaurants

TripAdvisor’s East Maui

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

TripAdvisor’s Upcountry Maui

• Kula Restaurants

Guidebooks

• I’ve found the restaurant recommendations in the Maui Revealed Ultimate Guidebook to be reliable.
• Fodor’s also has an interactive list of Maui restaurants. In addition to their own ratings, they have incorporated user ratings. Frommer’s has a list, too, but I wouldn’t waste my time with it.

Other Resources

• 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 along with my own picks listed below.)
• Maui News 2009 Best of Maui
• Maui News 2011 Best of Maui

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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.

Going to other Hawaiian Islands? Check out our recommendations for Kauai restaurants, Oahu’s restaurants and Hawaii’s Big Island restaurants.

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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.

This Maui luau list is probably the only place you’ll be able to review all of Maui’s top luaus at a glance without a sales pitch or hidden agenda.

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: $95 for Adults,  Children ages 12 and under $65 (taxes are extra)
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Polynesian Show and Fresh Floral Lei Greeting
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-1998; Toll Free 1-800-248-5828
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 mat 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 top luaus in Maui and  in Hawaii as a whole. The only thing that they don’t offer that most luaus do is Samoan fireknife dancing. They don’t offer a fireknife dancer because they are trying to stay Hawaiian. Old Lahaina Luau has been voted Maui’s best luau by Maui News readers for many years running.  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: Ocean front sunset on South side of Front Street in Lahaina
Prices: $112 for Adults,  Children ages 2-12 and $82 (taxes are extra)
Price Includes: Gourmet table service, Open Bar, Polynesian Show, Orchid Lei Greeting
Imu Ceremony: No
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. Feast at Lele received honorable mentions as the best Maui luau in Maui News readers poll. See my review of Feast at Lele.

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 $125 for adults and $80 for children ages 5-12; Regular Seating (rows 3 and beyond) cost $105 for adults and $65 for children ages 5-12.  Taxes are extra.
Price Includes: Table service for 4-course Polynesian dinner served family-style, lei greeting, cocktails, Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: No
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-2525
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Additional Information: Official website.  This is a another unique fine dining type luau.

Drums of the Pacific Luau
Opens: Check-in begins at 4:30pm and seating at 5:00
Nights: 7 nights per week
Location/Setting: Kaanapali Hyatt resort grounds near to Kaanapali Beach
Prices: $105 for Adults, Teens (ages 13-20) are $61, Children ages 6-16 are $49. (Taxes are extra.)
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Shell lei greeting, and Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-667-4727
Reviews: Yahoo, IgoUgo, TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Preferred and VIP seating is available for additional charges, please see Official website for prices and details.

Royal Lahaina Resort Luau
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: $98 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. At the time of updating these luau options in October, 2011, the luau’s website says, “Special Value for Online Reservations Only: Receive a Tiki Mug & Reserved Seating ($27.00 value).” Taxes are extra.
Price Includes: Buffet, Open Bar, Hula Lessons, Polynesian Show, Shell Lei
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-661-9119 or book online
Reviews: TripAdvisor, IgoUgo
Additional Information: Official website.

Sheraton Kaanapali Sunset Luau at Black Rock
Opens: 5:30
Nights: Open Mondays and Wednesdays
Location/Setting: Beachfront on the lawn by Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach
Prices: $99  for Adults,  Children ages 6-12 are $52.  Premium seating cost $10 more per person.
Price Includes: Buffet, Cocktails, Polynesian Show, Shell Lei Greeting, Taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-877-HULA
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official website and this site too.   This luau is managed by Tihati.

South Maui

Grand Luau at Honua’ula at Grand Wailea Resort
Opens:  Check-in begins at 4:00
Nights:  Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
Location/Setting: Oceanfront lawn on grounds of Grand Wailea Resort  
Prices: Adults: $100 and children ages 6-12 $53.13 (includes taxes)
Price Includes: Buffet, Polynesian show, taxes
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: See this link to book online or call 1.808.875-7710
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official website with youtube video description. Received honorable mentions at in the best Maui luau category for the annual Maui New readers poll in 2011.

Te Au Moana at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort
Opens: 4:00 with most services beginning at 4:30pm
Nights: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays,  Saturdays
Location/Setting: Oceanview luau grounds at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort
Prices: $98 for Adults; $53 for children ages 6-12. Taxes are extra.
Price Includes: Fresh floral lei, buffet, drinks, Polynesian Show
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: Call 1-808-879-1922
Reviews:
Additional Information: New as of August 2010. More information here.

Notes:
- All prices, websites, schedules and notes were accurate at the time of publishing.
- This luau list is periodically updated as and when new revisions are discovered. The most recent update was October 2011.
- If you are looking for the luau at Waikapu Village Luau at the Maui Tropical Plantation, it closed.

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

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We’ve also covered Big Island luaus and Kauai luaus.

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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  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.

There’s picnic tables on the lanai where you can sip your morning coffee and maybe join in with the locals to talk story.

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.