Hey y'all I'm heading to Maui for my honeymoon in about 19 days. I've heard some awesome things about Maui Brewing so that is definitely on the list... What else do we HAVE to see/do?? I want to take the soon to be wife to an awesome dinner or two so any inside info on badass/can't miss restaurants would be awesome! Any help would be great!
I grew up on maui and if you dont go to mamas fish house on the north shore you will kick yourself. Excellent view of the ocean and freshest fish . i could go on and on about places but thats all you need haha. BM me if you want more places that are local .
what area are you staying in? -Walk Lahaina and grab lunch -go to happy hour for dinner and drinks at Nick's in the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea (next to the four seasons) -if you don't do Hana you will be pissed at yourself. The full hike to the top waterfall is worth it... if you have the time. othewise the small ones and the pools at the bottom will be ok. -go to Maui Brewing -It is tacky and over rated, but a Luau at sunset isn't half bad. - if you have the cash, I did a helicopter tour of the surrounding island.... epic! - take a snorkeling trip to Molaki... no questions. I have done it 5 times and haven't regretted it yet!
oh and if you are in Lahina or near Lahaina... Lahaina Fish company and Kimos are probably musts... but I was raised on them thanks to my dad so I am partial. There is also a rad magic show called Warran and Annabells on the north end of town. I know I know, A magic show in Hawaii... how stupid. But it was really cool. It is comedy/magic, and there is a **** cocktail hour before. Just google it....
We just got back from Maui a few weeks back - we like to go at least once a year. We usually stay in NW Maui (Napili or Kapalua). Some food tips if you're in that area: Breakfast Hit the Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores. If you're in Kihei, go to Kihei Caffe. Ridiculous chicken fried steak - the best I've ever had. Lunch/Happy Hour The Fish Market in the Napili-Honokowai area is delicious. They sell fresh fish as well as do lunch. The seared ahi sandwich is enough food for two, and is delicious. I highly recommend Aloha Mixed Plate for food and drinks at happy hour. Their kalua pig is awesome, and the $3 mai tais are a solid deal. They also do a Luau next door, and provide the food for it. Pineapple Grill in Kapalua had some awesome live music last time I was there, and they have good happy hour deals. Ono Tacos is also in the area. A hilarious little taco stand on a side street near the Times market. Solid food and good prices, but the flies can be annoying. Dinner Mama's Fish House is a great experience - I've been there a bunch of times. It is definitely expensive, but the service and quality of food is outstanding. I really enjoy the stuffed Mahi Mahi, but have also had good luck with their prawn dishes as well as their curry. Stay away from the cocktails and spend money on appetizers instead. Be prepared to spend $35-50 for an entree and $10-20 for apps. Mala in Lahaina is a great restaurant, small and intimate. Very good food. If you've never been to Roy's, it's also a great restaurant. It's a chain, but I love them all...the food is outstanding. The best sunset dinners are at Merriman's in Kapalua. Top-notch food and ridiculously good views. Beer Maui Brewing is solid - their in-house brews are much better than their canned stuff IMO. The brewpub itself is very industrial feeling and a bit dark inside. As a huge beer geek, I actually don't even spend that much time here. I don't like to spend the time, effort, and money to go to Hawaii just to drink a few beers. I'd MUCH rather sit at the beach with a cocktail.
Awesome info! I completely agree with the cocktails on the beach. We are staying at the Westin Ka'anapali. How far are these awesome places from there? Are there any local grocery stores/brew stores with good stuff?
Hit Kool Kat cafe for awesome burgers...Lahaina. Skip the luau If in Kihei, hit Tiki Lounge For awesome beers in Wailea, hit Monkeypod Kitchen. Pricey but not much else going on worth it. Skip Hana. Six plus hours wasted in the car when you can be sitting beachside. Unless wifey wants to go. Otherwise...screw it
My parents live on Maui, so I visit at least once a year. Your best bet is the Whole Foods in Kahului near the airport. There is also a Hawaii Liquor Superstore nearby that has some decent stuff. I reviewed both places here: http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?city=Kahului&c_id=US&s_id=HI In Lahaina, there is Foodland and Foodland Farms (an upscale, Whole Foods type place). Foodland Farms is better than Foodland: http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?city=Lahaina&c_id=US&s_id=HI In Makawao there is Rodeo General Store which is pretty solid: http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?city=Makawao&c_id=US&s_id=HI In Paia there is The Wine Corner. They will sell you singles and had some interesting stuff last time I was in: http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?city=Paia&c_id=US&s_id=HI Obviously, you should hit up Maui Brewing. There is the brewpub, but you can also take a tour of the brewery (it's in a different location) for like $10 and get samples of their beer on the tour. They will then give you a beer token to get a pint of any beer at the brewpub itself. The food there isn't all that great in my opinion. They do flights so you can try everything you havent' had before.
There is also a Rodeo General Store in Kihei across the street from Foodland in the spot that used to be 7-11...next to KFC.
Westin is very close to Maui Brewing and Lahaina. Kihei is about 25 mins south. Wailea is just a few mins past that. Paia and Mama's fish house are a good 45 minutes away, back towards the airport. Good notes, although I disagree about the Luau thing. The Old Lahaina Luau is a great time with excellent food and really good entertainment. Check the reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor. I read that Monkeypod is owned by Merriman's. I haven't been there yet since I try to avoid Wailea but maybe I'll check it out next time. I'm with you on the Hana thing although it's an interesting experience to check out the rainy side of the island...they get over 400 inches of rain a year back there compared to the 8 or so inches in Lahaina. But damn, just like Haleakala, you need to prepare to spend your whole day going over there.
Let me just point out that he asked " What else must we see/do?" I will bet some cash his soon to be wife doesn't want to drive to every foodland, general store, and possible bottle shop on the island. and for the OP... From your hotel in Kanapali, you can get to Lahaina in 10 minutes. Wailea in 45 minutes, Hana in a 2.5-3 hours (depending on day of the week), Kihei in 20-30 minutes. regardless, if you are driving, just cruise and enjoy. Also, have you ever been over there?
I agree or second Mama's. the tuna sashimi is straight ridiculous. Also recommend getting the French press coffee for or with dessert. Mama's ain't cheap but its awesome.
Also if you golf go! I know it's the honeymoon and all but golfing in Hawaii is awesome. I went to maui two weeks ago and played kaanapali and it was a blast! You can rent good clubs for like $30.
Another vote for Mama's. As mentioned, you're going to drop some dough, but the food and views are most definitely worth it! If anything, you will definitely score points with the new wife for being in the know about the place. Make reservations if you plan on hitting it as it's quite a popular place. This is the second thread that I've seen claiming that Rodeo General has a good selection. I grew up in Makawao and can't believe that the place is a craft brew haven. I will have to stop in next time I visit the family.
Next time i am home im gonna have to check out the rodeo general store and then head to pukalani superette for some tako poki. Thats my favorite .
Oh wow, haven't thought about the superette poke for a long time. I absolutely love that stuff! My family is in Kula 200, so I do the long 2 min commute to get that stuff all the time when I'm home. I remember waiting in line to play street fighter 2 on the arcade machine for hrs at the superette years ago...haha. Sorry for the thread jack OP.
