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Where to Stay

GRAND WAILEA

1. Grand Wailea Resort, Hotel & Spa (3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea).  Part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection, the luxurious 4 ½ -Star Grand Wailea is the perfect family resort getaway, yet romantic as well.  The world-class resort sits on 40 lush tropical garden acres that border Wailea Beach, voted one of the best beaches in America.  The ocean views are spectacular.  There are 780 guestrooms.  Kids love this resort for its mega-pool, its water slides, flowing 2,000-foot long river pool, and its camp programs.  Adults will love to indulge themselves at the 50,000 square foot Spa Grande, a world-class spa.  There are 6 restaurants with a variety of dining choices.  There are 5 championship golf courses nearby and tennis.  You can view priceless art throughout the hotel.  Guest rooms average a spacious 640 square feet with full amenities and nicely decorated, including marble bathrooms and private balconies.  The resort’s standard room rate is generally expensive.  Keep an eye out for occasional deals or vacation packages.  VoyageMonkey posts great deals regularly.  This resort is best for families and those liking the mega resort feel.

FOUR SEASONS, WAILEA

2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea).  Located next door to the Grand Wailea Resort on Wailea Beach, this 5-Star hotel is perfect for couples and those seeking a luxurious romantic getaway with lots of pampering and personal service.  Wailea has the sunniest whether on Maui as it’s the driest part of the island.  The Four Seasons is rated one of the top hotels is Hawaii.  It features a palatial open-air design with reflecting pools, fountains and waterfalls.  Private cabanas surround the pool area for that private romantic day enjoying the sunshine and ocean views. There is nightly entertainment and award winning 5-Star dining, including Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and DUO.  Children enjoy their "Kids For All Seasons" program.  Voted one of the top spas in America, The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maui is an excellent way to unwind in a nurturing tropical sanctuary.  The 380 guest rooms, including 75 suites, are decorated with modern luxury and Hawaiian sophistication.  The majority of rooms overlook the ocean and have private balconies.  The U-shaped design of the resort ensures good ocean views from most rooms.  Standard room rates are expensive, however all amenities are free except for the spa.  Everyone who stays at this resort loves it.  The service is excellent.  The only negatives we’ve heard is that some rooms are set back a little too far from the beach and that the ocean views from the pool area can be obstructed from all the private cabanas.

RITZ-CARLTON, KAPALUA

3. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua).  This 5-Star 445-room hotel offers the spirit of aloha with class and is home to the PGA TOUR season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.  Its located just 10-miles north of the town of Lahaina.  The ambiance is relaxed.  The resort grounds are 54-acres. Guest rooms feature dark wood floors, marble bathrooms, flat-screen LCD televisions and Hawaiian inspired artwork.  There are 107 residential luxury suites.  Amenities include 36 holes of championship golf on two courses, tennis, a 10,000 square-foot tri-level swimming pool, a world-class spa with authentic Hawaiian spa treatments, fine dinning choices featuring formal and casual regional Pacific cuisine, beautiful ocean views and direct access to D.T. Flemming Beach, one of the top beaches.  The spa includes a fitness center and outdoor shower gardens.  The resort offers a children’s pool, babysitting and a kids program.  The two outdoor hot tubs are open 24-hours.  Overall, the accommodations are first-class and the service is excellent.  Golfers love this resort.  This hotel is highly recommended.  Rooms are expensive, but watch for promotional packages.  Negative comments noted:  The hotel is not directly “on” the beach (sits above the beach, set back on a knoll) so it’s a short walk down to the beach, the pool is more popular; some drinks and food are overpriced; check-in can be slow on busy days; its not very lively (good place to read a book) so you drive a bit; and, they charge for use of the fitness center.

FAIRMONT RESORT

4. The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui (4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea).  This 5-Star all-suite & villa ocean front resort sits on 22-acres of tropical landscape in Maui's beautiful Wailea (Polo Beach) in southern Maui. Its architecture comes across as slight Hawaiian-Mexican with its white arches.  There are 450 guest suites & villas.  The spacious 840-square foot one-bedroom suites feature oversized marble bathrooms with two sinks and deep soaking tubs, living room, two televisions, fridge & microwave, sofa-bed, and private balconies.  There are 37 two and three bedroom luxury villas.  Famous stars regularly stay in the villas.  Resort amenities include the award-winning Spa Kea Lani, 24-hr. fitness center, three swimming pools (one adult pool), quality dining choices at four restaurants (Nick’s Fishmarket is one of the top Maui restaurants), championship golf, a children’s program, and an array of other recreational activities like snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and diving.  Adults have just as much fun on the pool water slide.  The spacious pool cabanas provide fresh towels, pineapple, cool washcloths and other pampering services. Babysitting is available.  The Fairmont’s beach, Polo Beach, is small and very private (although it is a public beach).  The Fairmont shares an oceanfront-walking path with the nearby Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Marriott Wailea and Renaissance Resorts.  Great place for a sunset stroll or morning walk.  This is a first-class resort surpassing your expectations.  The service will spoil you.  The accommodations are expensive but you do get a suite (that’s a good deal).  Its perfect for that special occasion.  VoyageMonkey highly recommends this resort.  Watch for regular promotions and packages.  Negatives noted: the spa is over priced; restaurant food choices can feel limited after a few days; pool umbrellas go fast on hot days; guests often feel nickel and dimed for certain amenities, like $75 for cabana rentals, parking and the overpriced Polo Grill.

HYATT RESORT

5. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (200 Nohea Kai Drive, Ka’anapali).  This 4-Star, 806-guest room, resort sits on 40 lush beachfront acres at the southernmost end of Ka’anapali Beach.  Ka’anapali is the best resort beach on Maui.  A paved beach walk connects your from hotel to hotel along the Ka’anapali strip.  This hotel has spectacular views of the ocean and neighboring islands, Lana'i and Moloka'i.  The guest rooms are spread out over three towers and include separate sitting areas, fluffy feather beds, and private balconies.  The grounds are just beautiful with its tropical foliage, nine waterfalls, ponds & pools, and expansive tree-filled atrium.  The property is home for swans, pink flamingos, penguins, and other exotic birds.  Kids and adults love the water playground with it ½ acre pool, 150-foot pool slide, waterfalls, rope bridge and swim up cavern bar under the falls. This is one of the best pools in Maui.  There are 5 restaurants and 2 bars.  Amenities include a fabulous beach, scuba, snorkeling, tennis, 36-hole golf course, shopping, Hawaii’s first ocean front spa, entertainment, Spats Nightclub, activities center, and the popular "Drums of the Pacific," Luau.  The resort offers Camp Hyatt for children and Baby Sitting Referrals.  Guest room rates are moderate to expensive.  Children just love this place.  Negatives noted:  The pool area gets overly crowded; dining in the resort gets expensive and the food is “not that great” (except Son’z); the resort is a bit over priced for what you get and its starting to show its age and dated.  However, if money is not an issue this is an exceptional family resort. 

WESTIN, MAUI

6. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa (2365 Ka’anapali Pkwy, Ka’anapali).  This 4-Star 758-guestroom resort sits on 12 lush ocean front acres in the center of fabulous Ka’anapali Beach, adjacent to Whaler’s Village shops & restaurants. The resort has great Hawaiian ambiance and incredible views of the Maui Cannel and neighbor islands, Lanai and Molokai.  Guest really love the central Ka’anapali Beach location of this resort. The tropical garden setting and Koi ponds are stunning.  Flamingos and exotic birds make their home here.   Most of the guest rooms in the two 11-story towers overlook the pools & gardens, the ocean, and the neighbor islands.  Guest accommodations include 27 suites. All guestrooms are non-smoking.  All rooms feature Westin's trademark pillow-top Heavenly Beds, which are extremely comfortable. The excellent service is full of the aloha spirit.  The Westin features five restaurants and lounges, a luxury spa, and modern workout facility. The focal point of the resort is the 87,000-square-foot aquatic playground featuring five inter-connected swimming pools, swim-through waterfalls with hidden whirlpool and grotto, and two water slides (one of which features a 128-foot ride).  Children and all guests love the pool area.  This is one of the best & most popular pools on Maui. There is a great activities desk that is very helpful and many of the resort amenities are free, like complimentary self-parking.   The Westin offers a Kids Club, and baby-sitting services.   VoyageMonkey recommends this resort.  Rooms are moderate to expensive.  There is no additional charge for children under 18 sharing a guest room with parents. Discounts and upgrades are often available if you join as a Starwood Resorts member.  Also check VoyageMonkey for regular discounts.  Negatives noted: rooms are just standard size but nice; if you don’t like kids you will find many; restaurant dining on the grounds can get expensive; can be crowded in high season.

SHERATON, MAUI

7. The Sheraton Maui (2605 Ka’anapali Pkwy, Ka’anapali).  Situated on Ka’anapali Beach at Black Rock, this 510-guest room 4-Star resort offers a romantic Hawaiian setting.  Great for honeymooners and families alike.  It’s a quieter atmosphere than the neighbor resorts to the south.  The open-air lobby has a crisp cool look that is carried throughout the resort.  The grounds have a very open tropical feel giving you that peaceful less crowded atmosphere.  There are six buildings in all, some are six stories.  The majority of the spacious rooms come with private balconies and some of the best ocean views on Maui.  Some of the rooms are on Black Rock (a lava formation that rises 80 ft. above the beach).  There are some “family suites” that cater to families traveling with kids.  They offer a children’s program and kids ages 12 and under eat for free when dining with parents.  The swimming pool resembles a natural tropical lagoon, with rock waterways and wooden bridges. Private poolside cabanas are available for a fee.  There is a really nice pool bar.  Best of all, the hotel sits next to the 80-foot-high "Black Rock," from which divers leap in a traditional nightly torch-lighting ritual. Black Rock is one of the best snorkel spots on Maui.  Guests at other resorts on the island come here to snorkel.  You will find spectacular coral, many varieties of tropical fish, and large sea turtles.  Guests have great access to north Ka’anapali Beach and the resorts north of Black Rock.  The resort includes a really nice boutique spa offering quite an array of services.  The staff is very friendly & eager to help.  We recommend this resort for snorkeling enthusiasts.  The resort is expensive but the service is good.    Come here if you find a great deal.  Check Starwood directly for specials or VoyageMonkey.  Negatives noted: the resort is a little dated in some areas; the resort is pricey and there is a lack of affordable dining and drinks (although the breakfast buffet is good); if you are not crazy about other peoples children, lots of kids like most Maui resorts.

WESTIN OCEAN VILLAS

8. The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas (6 Kai Ala Dr., Ka’anapali).  This luxurious ocean side resort is located 15 minutes north of the town of Lahaina on 14-acres at Ka’anapali’s beautiful and pristine North Beach.  The 7-story premier Hawaii vacation ownership property offers wonderfully spacious hotel accommodations.  Guest rooms are modern and richly furnished including LCD televisions, oversized marble bathrooms, Jacuzzi tub, large shower, fridge & all cooking necessities and washer/dryer. The signature Westin Heavenly Beds are a dream.  There are studios, one-bed room suites and full villas.  All rooms are non-smoking rooms.  The grounds are impeccable and the facilities are modern.  Amenities include a magnificent 8000-square-foot lagoon pool, a serpentine pool, pool bars, hot tubs, tennis, fitness center, children’s activity center, various moderately priced formal and family dining choices, and an unlimited array of activity options.  There is an excellent snorkeling reef directly in front of the resort, full of tropical fish and colorful coral.  Black Rock is just a short walk.  The north buildings are very quiet and relaxing.  Great for a romantic getaway.  Most of the children like the south buildings with their recreation lagoon and water slide.  The resort offers regular complimentary shuttle service every 15-minutes to Lahaina, Whaler’s Village and the other local Starwood Resort properties.  Self-parking at the resort is complimentary.  Overall this is a great first-class vacation resort with excellent friendly service.  Great for families and romantics.  The resort is moderate to expensive. Good deals and package are regularly offered.  Negatives noted: the coral reef is way to close to the beach making swimming a challenge; self parking can be a challenge with all the compact car stalls.

MAUI PRINCE

9. Maui Prince Hotel (5400 Makena Alanui, Makena).  The deluxe 4-Star Maui Prince Hotel is located on a white sandy crescent shaped beach at Mekena Resort, just south of Wailea in south Maui.  The Maui Prince Hotel is built around an inner courtyard Asian garden with waterfalls, stone paths, and streams filled with brilliant multi-colored carp fish.  A spectacular open-air atrium leads to the guest rooms.  The lobby is gorgeous.  The hotel is simple and not over the top.  There are 310 guest rooms and 19 luxury suuites. The nicely sized rooms are elegantly decorated island style, each having spectacular views and private balconies.  The resort’s setting is tranquil and the beautiful beach feels secluded.  The elegant pool is relatively small but the pool area is very nice with private cabanas available and a pleasant pool bar.  Resort amenities include a spa, tennis, and fitness facility.  The hotel offers a great breakfast buffet and two restaurants that are good but overpriced in comparison.  Nearby you will find Makena Golf Courses with its 36 holes and world famous Makena Beach with its pristine ¼ mile of white sand beach (note that Little Makena adjacent to Makena Beach is clothing optional).  Resort room prices are moderate and a bargain compared to other South Maui resorts.  This is a good value for South Maui.  Nice grounds, great beach, peaceful setting.  Negatives noted: the room décor and fixtures are a bit dated, service is not consitently fabulous; no nightlife.

MARRIOTT RESORT

10. Marriott Maui Ocean Club (100 Nohea Kai Drive, Ka’anapali).  This 4-Star vacation ownership resort property sits on 16 ocean front acres at popular Ka’anapali Beach.  There are 311 spacious suites and 77 villas that are nicely decorated and include standard resort amenities like mini-kitchens.  The grounds are bursting with lush landscapes and tropical gardens throughout the property.  The resort's heart is a large multi-tiered 3.5-acre super pool with waterfalls, grottos, relaxing pool bar, and a large water slide.  There are also several Jacuzzi’s.  There is a children's pool section, complete with sandy beach and a pirate ship to play on.  Adults can find a smaller less crowded pool on the property to enjoy.  The resort has an excellent fitness center and beach activity center for your water sports needs.  The restaurants are good for families but pricey like most along the strip.  Room prices are moderate to expensive.  The resort is great for families with children.  Overall this is a good resort with excellent ocean views, excellent & convenient beach location on Ka’anapali Beach, and good staff service.  Children love this resort.  Negatives noted: the pool gets over crowded; swimming at the beach is a challenge because of rocks a few feet off shore; food is pricey.

KA'ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL

Here are some nice 3-Star and 3 ½-Star hotels that are also on the beach and offer good value & deals from time to time.  Be sure to check VoyageMonkey for regular deals and promotional packages.

1. The Wailea Marriott (Wailea)
2. Embassy Vacation Resort Ka’anapali (Ka’anapali)
3. The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel (Ka’anapali).
4. ResortQuest Ka’anapali Shores (Ka’anapali)
5. Napili Kai Beach Resort (Napili)

HALEAKALA CRATER

Activities & Things to Do

Lets start with some popular day trips and points of interest to visit while in Maui.  A good day trip is to journey to the “up country” area of Maui and visit Haleakala, a 10,023 foot-high dormant volcano.  Haleakala is a 30,058-acre national Park.  Visiting the crater at the top is a great photo opportunity.  You will find breathtaking views of Maui and the neighboring islands.  There are guided bicycle tours that ride down the volcano.  It does get cold up there so layer your clothes.  On the slopes of Haleakala you will find many farms, stables and “old Hawaiian” style towns.  You can get a feel for old Hawaii and how the locals live.  Taking an up country horseback ride is a popular activity for many visitors.  You can also get adventurous and experience the thrill of a zipp-line ride and zipp over cliffs and valleys at the Haleakala Ranch.  If you are visiting up country for the day the best restaurant to try is the Haliimaile General Store in Haliimaile.  It serves Hawaiian Regional Cuisine and has won many awards.

IAO NEEDLE

If you remember the movie “Raiders of the Lost Arc” the Iao Valley State Park might look like a familiar spot.  This lush tropical rain forest valley located just 4 miles west of Wailuku features an ancient 2,250 phallic pinnacle (the Iao Needle) that rises up from a stream.  This is a great place to hike and take in the scenery.  The park is a sacred place to Hawaiians.  The local story goes that this was the site of many ancient bloody battles and the bones of ancient warriors are scattered here.  The Iao Needle acted as a natural alter and Hawaiian chiefs were laid to rest here.  If you visit Kahului for the day, this park is not far.

FRONT ST., LAHAINA

You can’t visit Maui with out visiting the historic whaling town of Lahaina.  This is a romantic small town with many early 1900’s buildings, a small harbor and its famous Front Street.  Along Front Street and the many side streets you will find magnificent dining, bars, nightlife, local art galleries and plenty of shopping.  Many of the shops are unique and feature local arts and crafts.  There are also plenty of T-shirt and swimwear shops.  You will find top Maui restaurant in the heart of town as well as many casual eateries serving good reasonably priced meals.  At the south end of town along Front St. in a small park sits a gargantuan Banyan Tree that is spread out over the entire block.  This spot is great for photos.

SHOPS AT WAILEA

Other excellent shopping can be found at the Cannery Mall in Lahaina, Whaler’s Village at Ka’anapali Beach and The Shops at Wailea.  For less touristy shopping there are various spots in Kehei, Maui Mall in Kahului and Queen Kaahumana Center in Kahului.

By far the most popular thing to do while in Maui is to check out its spectacular beaches.  You will find some of the best beaches and snorkeling in the world on Maui.  Here is a list of some of the best beaches to visit while in Maui.

1. Ka’anapali Beach.  Located in west Maui minutes north of Lahaina, this beach offers miles of white sand, a paved boardwalk, resorts & dining, and lots of beach activities.  This beach is for those looking for action.
2. Wailea Beach.  Located in south Maui, this beach is in the dryer part of the island so it gets more sun.  It’s a beautiful white sand beach that stretches from the Grand Wailea Resort to the Four Seasons Resort.  It’s a great beach to people watch and for beach activities.
3. Makena Big & Little Beach.  One of the longest beaches in Hawaii, these beaches feel secluded and often are.  Located down a small road, Big Beach's long stretch of white sand is breathtaking.  It’s a great swimming beach but can get rough.  Little Beach (clothing optional) is a secluded cove just around the north rocks of Big Beach.  It’s a great place to snorkel and find sea turtles.
4. Ho’okipa Beach.  This is one of the best windsurfing beaches in the world.  It’s a beautiful beach and a great place to watch the professional windsurfers practice.  Its in north Maui minutes east of the Kahului Airport.
5. D.T. Fleming Beach Park.  Located just north of the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Kapalua, this beach park is excellent for picnics and body surfing.  It’s a good beach for families.
6. Honolua – Molule’ia.  Just a few minutes north of Kapalua, this beautiful protected marine reserve provides some of the best snorkeling & swimming and it is also a popular surfing beach.
7. Kapalua Bay.  This beach has beautiful clean sand, clear water and lots of lava rocks that make it a perfect snorkel spot.
8. Napili Bay.  This is one of the most beautiful and scenic bays in Maui.  The small white sand beach is gorgeous and there is great snorkeling on the edges of the bay.  You can enjoy a good meal at one of the local resorts’ beach restaurants.
9. Sugar Beach.  Located between Ma’alaea and Kihei, this beach is a beautiful white sand beach that is popular for windsurfing, swimming and taking in the sun’s golden rays.
10. Launiupoko Beach Park.  Located minutes south of Lahaina, this pristine black sand beach has green lawns and a swimming pond for children.  Families love to picnic here.

MOLOKINI

A very popular day trip is to take the family out to the Molokini Crater on a snorkel sail.  The Molokini Crater is the half-rim of a dormant volcano that rises above the ocean waters a few miles off the coast of southern Maui.  The crater is a marine preserve and is full of spectacular coral and abundant with exotic sea life.  You may get lucky enough to see a small shark swim along the bottom.  They never bother any of the snorkelers.  This is also a great place to scuba dive.  There are many excursion companies that have daily sails to the crater.  Many of them are located at the Ma’alaea Harbor north of Kehie.  One of the best excursion trips is by “Pride of Maui.”  They also do a snorkel at the popular Turtle Town where you can swim with the giant green sea turtles.  The Ma’alaea Harbor, as well as Lahaina Harbor, is a great place to get a deep sea fishing charter.  Maui has some of the best fish and the sport fishing is excellent. 

MA'ALAEA HARBOR

While visiting Ma’alaea Harbor, children love the aquatic education experience at the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium Park in Ma’alaea.  The aquarium features a clear acrylic tunnel through a 750,000-gallon open ocean exhibit.  You will find exhibits of living native ocean coral, interactive touch pools, green sea turtles, various regional tropical fish, and experience close encounters with sharks and stingrays.  At the Ma’alaea Harbor you can grab a casual lunch at Buzz’s Wharf.  They have good shrimp dishes.

LANA'I, HAWAII

Day trips to the neighbor island of Lana’i are a great way to spend a day.  There is daily passenger ferry service from Lahaina.  The island is not very populated and there are just a couple of resorts, several restaurants, and a small 1920’s-era town.  You can get a real sense of old Hawaiian culture with a visit to this peaceful island.  On Lana’i you can play golf at your choice of two courses, horseback ride, hike, snorkel, scuba dive, rent a jeep for the day or take a 4x4 island tour.  The island is only 8-miles from Maui so the ferry ride does not take long.

GOLF MAUI

Golf enthusiasts simply love this island paradise.  Maui and its neighbor islands of Lana’i and Moloka’i have over 20 golf courses.  Green fees can range from moderate to outrageous.  The resort areas have sensational golf courses.  Kapalua Bay has three courses, Ka’anapali has two courses, Kehei has a reasonably priced course, Makena has two courses, and Wailea has three courses.  There are also other great courses outside the immediate resort areas in central Maui and up country.  People venture to Maui from all over the world just to play golf.

HUMPBACK WHALE

Between the months of December and April Maui gets its annual largest visitor to the island, the great Humpback Whale.  These 45-foot 40-ton gentle creatures migrate from Alaska every year to mate and give birth to their young.  Whale watching is a must if you are in Maui during whale season.  Until you’ve seen one close up in the wild it is hard to appreciate their size and majestic gracefulness.  These creatures are intelligent and curious.  They will often swim up to whale watching boats just to see what is going on.  The more noise you make the more curious they get.  There are many excursion companies that offer whale watching trips.  Some of the various catamaran sails will pick you up right off the beach in front of some of the major resorts.  Otherwise you can find excursions in Lahaina Harbor or Ma’alaea Harbor.  Often with the naked eye you can simply see these magnificent creatures just off the beach or from your hotel room balcony.  They do come in fairly close to the shore from time to time to give you a show.

LUAU, LAHAINA

The traditional Hawaiian Luau is something you should experience at least once.  They generally include authentic Hawaiian cultural music and dance (Hula) along with a traditional feast featuring kalua pig (pig cooked slowly underground), other native Hawaiian dishes and plenty of Mai Tai’s.  The most popular Luau is the Old Lahaina Luau at 1251 Front St. in Lahaina.  This extraordinary Luau is authentic and maintains traditional cultural integrity.  Other popular Luau’s include “Drums of the Pacific" at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (Ka’anapali) and the “Feast at Lele” at 505 Front St. (Lahaina).

SOUTH MAUI CHOPPERS

For the real adventure seeker, rent a Harley.  These motorcycles can be rented throughout the island.  If you do, be safe.  Remember there are plenty of car drivers looking at scenery.  Hawaii has no mandatory helmet laws so you can ride free with your hair in the wind.  Sometimes you see someone riding along wearing a bathing suit and flip-flops.  Use your head.  South Maui Choppers in Kehei now rents custom built Arlen Ness choppers along with the regular Harley Davidsons.  If you really want to cruise Maui in style and turn heads, get one of these custom built machines for the day.

You will never run out of things to do on Maui, particularly your dining options.

Dining on Maui

You will find some of the best dining on Maui.  This has become a culinary Mecca for chefs experimenting with the fusion of Pacific Rim, Mediterranean and old Hawaiian flavors.  If you like excellent fresh seafood Maui is the place for you.  Most of the fine restaurants offer fresh fish caught daily by local fisherman and the finest ingredients using farm fresh locally grown organic produce.  Many of the restaurants on Maui can be expensive, even some of the not so good ones.  Although you can find some real good familiar mainland restaurants on Maui that are popular, like Kobe Japanese Steakhouse (Lahaina), Spago’s (Wailea) and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (Lahaina), the unique Maui restaurants are a better island dining experience.  VoyageMonkey asks the locals what is good and then checks them out.  Here is VoyageMonkey's list of favorite restaurants in Maui to fit your mood.

MAMA'S FISH HOUSE

Mama’s Fish House (Pa’ia).  Mama’s is in our opinion the best all around restaurant in Maui.  The food and Island ambiance is simply the best around.  This is the quintessential Maui dining experience.  Mama’s is located on a secluded pristine palm tree lined white sandy beach.  The valet will park your car as you walk down to the beach.  The garden setting around the old building is simply beautiful.  The building is modest with that open airy Hawaiian look and feel.  The interior décor and detail really gives you that tropical old Polynesia island feel.  There are fresh cut floral arrangements through the dining room.  Mama’s has a full bar serving up the best tropical drinks on the island.  Some visitors like to just stop in for that special drink and enjoy the setting.  Every dish served will make your mouth water.  Their menu includes the names of the local fisherman that caught your meal that day.  The Mahi-mahi stuffed with lobster, crab, Maui onion, and baked in a macadamia nut crust is out of this world.  The seared Ahi sashimi and crab cake appetizers are simply delicious.  The service is always great and the staff is always friendly and eager to please.  Mama’s falls into the justifiably expensive category.  Well worth it for the dining experience.  Plan on dining here for that special occasion.  Mama’s is located at 799 Pho Place, Pa’ia, on Maui’s North Shore.  Mama’s is a bit out of the way but worth the trip.

LAHAINA GRILL

The Lahaina Grill (Known as David Paul’s Lahaina Grill).  This is another special dining spot and a favorite of many locals and visitors to the island.  When you get to Maui and ask the locals for their favorite restaurant or to give you the name of the best restaurant in Maui, the Lahaina Grill or Mama’s will usually be mentioned.  The Lahaina Grill is located on the first floor of the Lahaina Inn just off of Front Street in downtown Lahaina at 127 Lahainaluna Road.  The food is contemporary American cuisine with a selection of over 350 wines and excellent deserts.  Local Maui artists adorn the walls of the elegant contemporary bistro setting with murals and paintings.  The owner/chef, Jurg Munch, spent time in Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Australia.  There is a hint of these Pacific Rim influences in the cuisine.  The Lahaina Grill uses only the freshest ingredients produced by local farms and the seafood is caught fresh by local fisherman.   They use all natural organic meats.  Quality is the name of the game.  The restaurant is famous for its Maui Onion Crusted Seared Ahi served with Vanilla bean Jasmine rice and apple cider-soy butter vinaigrette.  Definitely one of the top restaurants on Maui.  This is one for that special occasion.  Your meal can be expensive but the food and service is really excellent.  The restaurant can feel a bit cramped at peak hours and get a bit noisy.

PLANTATION HOUSE

The Plantation House (Kapalua).  This is our favorite restaurant in the moderately priced fine dining & ambiance category.  You can describe it as casual island elegance.  Located at 2000 Plantation Club Dr. in Kapalua, this restaurant sits on the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course hillside overlooking the ocean and the neighboring islands.  The view from this restaurant is spectacular, particularly at sunset.  The restaurant is very open with high ceilings.  The food creations of the Executive Chef, Alex Stanislaw, are some of the best on Maui.  The cuisine is innovative Mediterranean style blending fresh traditional local island flavors.  It’s the Mediterranean meets Hawaii.  The fresh seafood is caught locally and the ingredients are locally farmed.  You have your choice of fish selection for the day that can be prepared about a half a dozen different styles from the menu using various Mediterranean recipes.  The menu includes organic natural steaks and free range chicken dishes.  There is a great wine list and a full bar & lounge.  The food is excellent and the service is really good.  The ambiance and view are hard to beat.  This is a great restaurant that is not overly expensive.  The food is excellent and the service is really good.  The staff is genuinely friendly and makes this a comfortable place.  The restaurant is also a great place for breakfast, serving up several unique styles of eggs benedict on an extensive breakfast menu.  Their sister restaurant, the Sea Watch Restaurant in Wailea, is also a good dining choice in the Wailea area.

ROY'S, KAHANA

Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill (Kahana).  Roy’s is located at 4405 Honoapiilani Highway in Kahana just north of Ka’anapali.  This is a casual yet elegant bar & grill, serving up some of the best Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.  Although its located upstairs at the end of a strip mall you would not know it when you are inside.  The restaurant is very open and roomy with high ceilings and an open kitchen atmosphere.  Award winning Chef Roy Yamaguchi creates food that is artistic with its vibrant colors, bold exotic flavors, Asian spices and ultra fresh island ingredients.  The menu has a strong focus on seafood, with daily specials, a prix fix menu, and there is an extensive award winning wine list.  The appetizers are a delight.  Many guests come in to have drinks at the bar and savor the appetizers.  The Hawaiian Blackened Island Ahi and Roy’s Classic Trio dishes are superb.  The deserts are a nice finish to a perfect meal.  The restaurant is very popular and with the open kitchen can get a bit noisy.  The food is excellent and the service is good.  The staff is knowledgeable about the menu items and the wines.  The restaurant is moderately expensive but highly recommended.  There is also a Roy’s located in Kihei, Maui. 

PACIFIC'O & I'O

Pacific’O and I’O (Lahaina).  Pacific’O and I’O are sister restaurants located next door to each other on the waterfront at 505 Front St. in Lahaina.  Pacific’O is contemporary Pacific cuisine and I’O is contemporary island cuisine.  Both are basically Pacific Rim cuisine focusing on quality fresh seafood, meats and local organic produce.  The food presentations are spectacular.  Both restaurants have excellent wine lists, specialty Martini’s and extensive menus that are unique to each.  Award winning Executive Chef James McDonald strives for the freshest of ingredients.  To insure only the best quality James McDonald established an organic farm, O’o Farm, located in Kula Maui.  Nearly 100% of the restaurants’ produce and herbs comes from the farm.  Much of the fresh fish comes from the Lahaina Harbor, walking distance from the restaurants.  First pick off the fishing boats ensures the best quality of fish.  Both restaurants offer ocean front dining and have outdoor patio dining a few feet from the beach.  Some of the entrees include Crispy Ahi, Hapa Hapa Tempura, Lemongrass Coconut Fish crusted with Sesame Paste, Coconut Macadamia Nut Fish and Scallops wrapped in Jalapeno Bacon.  Take your pick of either restaurant.  They are both a great island dining experience.  The only negatives noted is that Pacific’O covers it white table cloths with plexiglass that forms water from the chilled glasses, the silverware is inexpensive, and they use wooden disposable chopsticks.  At the moderately expensive prices these things could be improved to enhance the dining experience.  Overall both restaurants are highly recommended.  Great food and good service.  James McDonald’s latest creation is known as the Feast at Lele, a Luau adjacent to the two restaurants.  Food is an integral part of the performance with various traditional dishes coordinated with each of the four acts.  This is the best food served at any Luau on the island.

NICK'S FISHMARKET

Nick’s Fishmarket (Wailea).  Nick’s Fishmarket is situated off the courtyard at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea.  Nick’s is an award winning upscale innovative classic seafood restaurant.  The restaurant offers a variety of fresh island seafood, Maui Cattle Company Steaks & Veal and boasts a beautifully displayed award winning 2000 bottle wine cellar offering vintages from around the world.  Specialties include Opah, Ahi, Opakapaka, Swordfish, Mahi-Mahi, live Maine Lobster and Filet Mignon.  Large comfortable private booths and romantic Mediterranean décor surround the dining room.  Elegant outdoor patio dining is available under a trellis.  There is a casual cocktail bar serving popular tropical drinks, wine by the glass and appetizers.  Your seafood experience is enhanced by an 800-gallon aquarium.  Nick’s is open from 5:30 to 10:00 pm.  There is a “no beach wear” dress code requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and nice casual attire for women.  Nick’s Fishmarket has excellent food and service and is expensive, particularly with a bottle of wine.  Nick’s also has two sister restaurants on Maui, Sorento’s on the Beach in Kihei and Son’z at Swan Court in Ka’anapali.  Both are also notable top Maui restaurants with great food and ambiance.

DUO AT FOUR SEASONS

DUO Steak and Seafood (Wailea).  DUO, located at the Four Seasons Wailea Resort, specializes in premium Surf & Turf fine dining.  It features prime aged cuts of steak, fresh island seafood and local island produce.  There are spectacular ocean views at this poolside garden setting restaurant.  Dine by romantic candlelight and the shimmer of crystal, silver and fine china.  Chef Noel Badillo’s open kitchen atmosphere fuels anticipation over each course of the meal.    The menu includes Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Tower for Two, Japanese Kobe beef Tenderloin, Free-Range Veal, Big Eye Ahi Tuna, Opakapaka, and Keahole Maine Lobster.   You can order Kobe Beef Sashimi as an appetizer.  The international wine list is impressive, including wines by the glass, and the cocktails are superb.  DUO is a fine dining experience.  Your meal can be expensive but the food is excellent and the service is hard to match.  The restaurant serves a gourmet breakfast buffet in the morning.

HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUAA

Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Grand Wailea Resort, Wailea).  This exotic Polynesian thatch-roof hut restaurant (named after Hawaii’s State fish) floats on top of a tropical saltwater lagoon on the grounds of the Grand Wailea Resort.  The spectacular sunset views really enhance the unique dining experience.  Award winning Chef Michael Lofaro has the ultimate Polynesian & Hawaiian atmosphere for dining.  There is a 2100-gallon aquarium at the full bar that serves excellent exotic tropical drinks and pupus.  For dinner just pick your Spiny Lobster straight out of the lagoon.  The menu includes traditional island dishes such as Laulau, a dish of Hawaiian steamed fish in leaves.  So what about the food?  Is it good?  This restaurant gets very mixed reviews on the food and service.  Ask any local.  You either love it or hate it.  Here is the problem.  We think it’s “good food” but not great for the price.  One thing that is consistent is the spectacular atmosphere, awesome ocean views, great drinks and the high prices.  VoyageMonkey recommends this restaurant as an excellent place to come and enjoy an exotic tropical drink and appetizers at sunset.  Try the seared Ahi on lemongrass stalks.  Enjoy this place for the hard to match ambiance.  Some of the best on Maui.  There is also live music nightly to enjoy.  Why take a chance on a full meal at those prices.  Maui is full of excellent food to throw money at.   

HULA GRILL

Kimo’s (805 Front St. Lahaina), Hula Grill (Whaler’s Village Ka’anapali), and Lailani’s (Whaler’s Village Ka’anapali, 2435 Ka'anapali Parkway).  These are three good sister restaurants of the TS Restaurants group, owners of Duke’s at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu and in Kauai.  Each of these restaurants are located oceanfront, include patio or deck dining and have great views.  They serve traditional Hawaiian seafood, steaks, prime rib, lobster and local island dishes.  The atmosphere is casual, the local décor is enjoyable, and the food & service is good.  All three are very popular places to hang out, have pupus & cocktails and enjoy a terrific casual meal.  Their happy hours are lively.  Prices are reasonably moderate.  A good place for family dining.  All three can also be perfect for that romantic evening as you watch the sun set.  The restaurants are famous for their Hula Pie, a concoction of Macadamia nut ice cream piled high on chocolate cookie crust topped with chocolate fudge whip cream and more macadamia nuts (good for sharing).  We often skip desert at other restaurants and stop by Kimo’s for coffee and split a Hula Pie on the romantic deck.  These three sister restaurants are all fun good value dining.   Live music is often provided on weekends and certain weeknights.

CAFE O'LEI, KIHEI

Café O’Lei (2439 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei).  Café O’Lea is another jewel located upstairs in a strip mall.  Don’t let the strip mall fool you.  This is one of the better moderately priced casual restaurants on Maui and a local favorite serving up creative Pacific Rim delights of seafood, sushi, pasta, lamb and steaks.  The appetizers alone can be a great meal if you share a few different appetizers with a friend.  They make one called the Café O’Lei Tower, made with tempura, Ahi sushi roll, coconut shrimp and calamari rings.  Popular dishes include blackened Mahi-Mahi, sesame-seared Ahi, Macadamia Nut crusted Mahi-Mahi, medallions of beef tenderloin or the braised Colorado lamb shank with roast garlic, rosemary polenta and local vegetables.  The food is attractively arranged on rectangular plates.  Each entrée comes with a complementary salad with basil vinaigrette dressing.  The restaurant has a decent wine selection and serves good Martini’s and tropical drinks.  If your staying is Wailea, this is a great restaurant for a reasonably priced meal.

MALA OCEAN TAVERN

Mala Ocean Tavern (Lahaina, 1307 Front St., near Mala Ramp).  Mala Ocean Tavern is the creation of Chef Mark Ellman.  Mala is a small rustic shack-like oceanside tavern serving small plate style tapas and fresh organic dishes of Mediterranean and Pacific Rim flavors.  A very casual local restaurant.  The tavern has a full bar, specialty Martini menu and good wine list.  Outdoor dining is on a deck over the water looking out at the islands of Lanai and Molokai.  Here you can watch the local sea turtles come to feed on nearby seaweed.  There are a lot of reasonably priced small plate dishes and some moderately expensive entrees.  The unique menu includes seared sashimi with shitake mushroom ginger sauce, steamed clams in ginger garlic black bean sauce, and their specialty whole wok fried local fish with shitake mushrooms and snap peas on organic brown rice.  The food is excellent and the service is good.  A great restaurant for casual dining.  There is also a Mala’s at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Wailea.

THE GAZEBO

The Gazebo (Napili).  Located at the Outrigger Napili Shores (5315 Lower Honoapiilani Rd), this seaside Gazebo serves up some of the best reasonably priced breakfast and lunch.  The Hut style restaurant is small and sits next to a small swimming pool overlooking Napili Bay.  The restaurant is very popular among locals and visitors.  There is usually a line to get in but it’s hard to beat this view.  The extensive menu includes banana-coconut and macadamia nut pancakes, shrimp melt or Mahi-Mahi sandwiches and large island salads.  The portions are large and the service is quick & friendly.  A great low-budget eating experience.  After your meal you can stroll down and enjoy the beautiful Napili Beach.  At the other side of the beach you’ll find the Sea House Restaurant at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, which is also a good place for breakfast, lunch, dinner and awesome oceanfront views.

ALOHA MIXED PLATE

Aloha Mixed Plate (Lahaina, 1285 Front St. near Mala Ramp).  We’ve driven by this numerous times on previous trips.  It doesn’t look like much.  However, if you ask local people on the streets, grocery store clerks and hotel Bellman where they eat, this name came up several times so we had to take a look.  Once you walk behind the foliage-covered fence you find outdoor patio dining right on the ocean and you can hear the Old Lahaina Luau entertainment next door.  There is a casual full menu of seafood and traditional local dishes usually served with rice and macaroni salad on paper plates with plastic forks.  This is island comfort food in an ultra casual but nice deck environment.  You’ll find crispy coconut prawns, kahlua pork, and fried coconut desert.  The food is good, plentiful, cheap, and the service is OK.  Good place for a cheap casual meal on a deck overlooking the ocean.  Great for a no frills low budget meal.  Cocktails are served only on the upper deck.

TIKI TERRACE

Tiki Terrace (Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, 2525 Ka'anapali Pkwy).  This popular open-air casual patio dining spot is popular with locals and visitors alike.  Locals often stop by for a meal and sit at the Tiki Bar to socialize and listen to the music.  They perform live authentic Hawaiian music and Hula every evening.  After the show you can dance to Hawaiian music on the patio under the stars.  Drink prices are reasonable.  The restaurant and resort believe in “keeping it Hawaiian.”  The menu focuses on local fresh seafood and traditional Hawaiian cultural favorites like Kahlua Pig and Huli Huli Rotisserie Suckling Pig.  Every morning they serve an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch that is a good value (don’t plan on eating again until dinner).  The food is authentically good and so is the service.  This restaurant is recommended for casual moderately priced good value dining with free island entertainment.

LAHAINA STORE GRILL & OYSTER BAR

Lahaina Store Grill & Oyster Bar (744 Front St., Lahaina).  This casually elegant restaurant housed in an old 1916 historic building is popular for its romantic rooftop dining and spectacular 180-degree ocean view.  The expansive elegant interior dining room with its open kitchen has a historic atmosphere.  A focal point of the restaurant is its 47-foot long raw oyster bar.  The menu is traditional Surf & Turf with a Pacific Rim island touch.  A menu favorite is the Ulupalakua ranchers mix grill consisting of sesame ginger glazed Lamb Lollichops, Petite Filet Mignon topped with Cambozolo Butter and ½ Maine Lobster Tail.  Also recommended is the Mahi-Mahi grilled over plantain mash with tropical salsa and coconut cream.  This is a great moderately priced casual restaurant with good food & service and excellent ambiance.  Also a great place to come in for a rooftop cocktail at sunset. 

SANSEI SEAFOOD

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar (600 Office Rd., Kapalua).  The most popular Sushi Bar is Sansei in Kapalua (evident from the long line at the door).  The setting is lively and fun.  The sushi is super fresh and the ingredients are top quality.  Sansei is often described as New Wave Asian, part Japanese, part fusion and part Hawaiian cuisine.  The creative menu will please any palate.  You’ll find Panko-crusted Ahi Sashimi, Asian Shrimp Cakes and Tempura-fried Ice Cream with chocolate sauce for desert.  Their sauces are innovative like their ginger-lime butter and cilantro pesto.  You’ll also find more standard items for the less adventurous like the Grilled “Fresh Catch of the Day” over Kula Greens and Cracked Peppercorn Grilled New York Steak.  This is great food.  Highly recommended.  The prices are moderate and there is an early bird discount before 6:00 pm.  There is also a Sansei located in Kihei and one in Waikoloa.

LONGHI'S, WAILEA

Longhi’s (Wailea Shops & Lahaina).  Longhi’s opened at 888 Front St. in Lahaina in 1976.  Since then it has been a long established favorite family run dinning spot serving great food with good service.  We’d describe the menu as Hawaiian Italian.  Some of the dinner items include nightly pasta specials, veal scollopini, fresh Hawaiian catch fish, prime steaks & chops, potato battered crab cakes, grilled Swordfish with mango, papaya salsa, and rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, along with rack of lamb and goat cheese leek ravioli.  Longhi’s has an excellent wine list to go with any meal.  Many people come in for cocktails and the fabulous appetizers.  Breakfast is also very popular at both locations.  Treat yourself to the popular lobster benedict and a Mimosa.  Lunch includes an extensive salad menu.  The casual atmosphere is cheerful yet elegant.  Prices are moderately expensive but the food and service is never disappointing.

PINEAPPLE GRILL

Pineapple Grill (Kapalua).  Located at 200 Kapalua Dr. the Pineapple Grill sits in the groves of Norfolk Pines overlooking the golf greens at Pineapple Hill and the ocean.  The restaurant is upscale yet casual and comfortable with its tasteful decor, making guest feel at home.  The display kitchen is lively and the food presentations are imaginative.  The diverse menu is innovative Pacific island cuisine with a great wine list, including wines by the glass.  The Pineapple Grill creates a world-class dining experience, island style, using wonderful flavors, fresh produce and other ingredients that are grown on Maui and throughout Hawaii.   The menu includes Pistachio-Wasabi Pea Seared Rare Ahi, Lemon Porcini Dusted Opakapaka, Maui Coffee Roasted Duck Breast & Confit of Duck Leg, Maui Cattle Company Beef Rib Eye Steak, and lemongrass Créme Brule. Overall, the food & service is great and always consistent.  You’ll enjoy the excellent spacious ambiance and the views are spectacular.  The prices are moderate.  The Pineapple Grill is always recommended by island locals as a great restaurant.

A few other casual dining places that are popular are: The Front Street Bar & Grill in Lahaina; the Rusty Harpoon in Ka’anapali at Whaler’s Village; The Lahaina Fish Co. on Front St. in Lahaina; Pa’ia Fish Market in Pa’ia; Buzz’s Wharf in Ma’alaea; and, the Five Palms Beach Grill in Kihei which is pricey but great for lunch and has outstanding ocean views.