* On * Maui. I know, I know. SEO told me otherwise.
I'm a self-proclaimed life-long, part-time Maui native. I know that sentence is full of contradictions, but trust me, it's an accurate description. My parents purchased a home deep in the jungle of North shore Maui before I was born and spent a good chunk of my mom's pregnancy with me immersed there. It was all lined up and happening: Lamaze classes in Makawao, a plan for a natural birth in the jungle, the whole nine. Other events and complications arose and my parents settled in California, making home a few different places. It didn't take long for my mom and dad to notice that since I was a baby, I have had a deep, spiritual connection with the land. It's truly beyond words. Though I went to school primarily in California, Maui has always been my home. Here's a list of my favorite places organized by town/sides of the island. I have so much to share with you!
South Shore
Golden, sandy beaches, luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, warm weather and calm waters
Wailea/Makena
Food/Restaurants
Ka'ana Kitchen (so yummy, so pretty)
Morimoto's (beautiful setting & amazing Asian cuisine)
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (beautiful ambiance + innovative food)
Beaches
Big Beach (fave beach on Maui)
Maluaka Beach (aka Turtle Town for its snorkeling and turtles)
Little Beach (Sunday Beach Parties at 3:30 pm) – (nude beach)
Snorkeling Spots
Turtle Town (Maluaka Beach)
Five Caves/Five Graves (GPS to 5090 Makena Road)
Live Music
The Shops at Wailea (Wednesdays 6:30-8 pm)
Kihei
Coffee/Tea
Akamai Coffee (great coffee, swinging chairs)
Food/Restaurants
Kihei Caffe (Breakfast)
Brekkie Bowls (stand)
Roasted Chiles (best Mexican on island)
Farmer's Market
Saturday: Lipoa Street Farmer’s Market (8am-12pm)
Activities
Maui Inline Hockey Association Roller Skating (Wed & Fri 6-8pm, Sat 6-9pm)
West
Fun shops, great food, art galleries, hot weather, time-shares
Lahaina
Coffee/Tea
Food/Restaurants
Leoda's (my family's absolute favorite sandwich & pie shop on island -- get your 'wich on hapa bread)
Star Noodle (real good Asian noodles)
Baya Bowls (açai bowl food truck)
Slappy Cakes (Breakfast/Pancakes)
Ululani's Shave Ice (add fresh mochi & sweetened condensed milk)
Farmer's Markets
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – Honokowai’s Farmer’s Market/“Farmers Market Maui” (7am-11am)
Wednesday – Napili Farmer's Market (8am-11am)
Activities
Moana Glass (make your own glass art)
Surfing
Hikes
Lahaina Pali West Hike (5.75 miles) - dry, arid, windy
Live Music
Ka'anapali/Kapalua
Food/Restaurants
Beaches
Ka'anapali Beach/Black Rock (rock jumping & snorkeling)
Napili Bay (snorkeling)
Kapalua Bay (snorkeling)
Honolua Bay (snorkeling)
Sights
Nakalele Blowhole (Heart Rock)
Central
Local food, hidden gems
Kahului/Wailuku
Food/Restaurants
A Saigon Cafe (Vietnamese food)
Da Kitchen (Hawaiian)
Sam Sato's Noodles (Asian Noodles)
Tasty Crust Pancakes (pancakes, obv.)
Tin Roof (fave Hawaiian food spot on island)
Thai Mee Up Food Truck (Costco)
Mo’ono Food Truck (Costco) - (açai bowls)
Mill House Maui - (farm to table, American-local fusion, beautiful setting - fave restaurant on Maui)
Farmer's Market
Tuesday–Saturday: Maui Tropical Plantation Farm Stand (10 am-4 pm)
Events/Activities
Saturday: Maui Swap Meet, University of Hawaii campus (7am-1pm)
Maui Arts & Cultural Center (Concerts/Events)
Hikes
Waihe'e Ridge Trail (4.75 miles) (fave hike on Maui)
Sites
'Iao Valley (hike, walk, river-bathe, feel the mana of the "feminine side" of Maui)
Upcountry
Paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys), misty air, simple living
Makawao/Pukalani
Coffee/Tea
Sip Me (fave coffee shop on Maui--get matcha mac nut mylk latte)
Food/Restaurants
Nuka (fave sushi on Maui)
T Komoda General Store (best donuts ever)
Sights
Sacred Garden of Maliko (peaceful hidden gem for meditation and labrinth)
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (8am-5pm Thursday-Sun)
Spa
Ho’omana Spa Maui (best cultural experience--authentic Hawaiian spa where I studied Hawaiian Healing)
Farmer's Markets
Upcountry Farmer's Market (7-12 Saturdays)
Makawao Farmer's Market (10-5 Wednesdays)
Kula Country Farm (Tuesday-Sunday 10-4pm)
Hikes
Hosmer Grove & Supply Trail (2-6 mi) - located just barely inside Haleakala National Park. At approximately mile marker 10.5 on Highway 378, just after entering the park, you'll want to turn left to the start of the Hosmer Grove trail.
Makawao Forest Loop (6 miles) (I adore this well-shaded forest hike)
Waihou Spring Trail Loop (2.4 miles) (2463 Olinda Rd, Makawao, HI) (you'll be amazed this is even Hawai'i)
Polipoli Spring State Recreational Area (7 mi)
Haleakala National Park Summit Hike (Sliding Sands 10 mi, Kaupo Gap Trail 9 mi, Halemauu 10 mi)
Kula
Coffee/Tea
Food/Restaurants
Haili'imaile (pineapple upside-down cake=heaven)
Sights
North Shore
Moist air, lush jungle, hippie-lifestyle
Pa'ia
Coffee/Tea
Pa'ia Bay Coffee Roasters (cutest outdoor setting)
Food/Restaurants
Kuau Store (best shoyu chicken)
Maka by Mana (açai bowls & smoothies in Mana Foods)
Mama's Fish House (best ambiance ever)
Cafe des Amis (crepes)
Farmer's Market
La'a Kea Community Farm (8:30am-5:30pm Mon-Sat)
Beach
Ho'okipa (windsurfing)
Jaws (seasonal surf competitions)
Yoga
Live Music
Haiku/Huelo
Food/Restaurants
Maui Kombucha (vegan)
Hikes
Bamboo Forest (1 mile out and back)
Sights
Huelo Lookout (this isn't about the stand. This is about the mana here. Feel + smell the air.)
East
Hawaiian rainforest, winding roads, black sand beaches
Hana
Sights
Kaeleku Caverns (dormant lava tube)
Farmer's Market
Ono Organic Farms (Monday & Thursday)
Beach
Additional Events/Excursions
Friday Night Town Party (rotates locations every Friday)
Helicopter Ride
Snorkeling Day Trip: Molokini & Coral Gardens
