Consistently ranked among the most popular vacation destinations in the world, the island of Maui dazzles with stunning scenery, turquoise waters, Pan Pacific cuisines and Hawaiian history and culture. We fell in love with Maui in 2006 and purchased a vacation ownership at the Westin Kaanapali Resort. We have returned to Maui at least ten times during different months of the year. Naturally we were devastated in 2023 when wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina. Since the fires we have returned to Maui twice. Rebuilding the impacted areas of West Maui is underway, although the main roads in Lahaina remain closed to public access.
Tourism remains a major industry for Maui and provides employment for many people. Resorts, restaurants and attractions are eager to welcome visitors back with a generous “Aloha.” It is also important to note that the fires affected only one area of Maui which is a large island with diversity in topography and weather patterns. West Maui and the southern coast are dry and sunny. Occasional rains paint the sky with rainbows. The sunsets change from yellow gold to amber to lavender. Maui’s upcountry region has higher elevation and can be cooler. During one December visit we toured upcountry and had to wear down jackets to stay warm. Drive the Hana Highway’s numerous switch backs to the east coast town of Hana, and the scenery grows lush and dense thanks to more rainfall.
Kaanapali Beach with the island of Lanai in the distance
In West Maui, many hotels and resorts are located along Kaanapali Beach including Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and several timeshare resorts. A boardwalk running along the beachfront connects these resorts. Further north along the coast is Kapalua, home to The Ritz-Carlton Maui and The Montage luxury resorts and prestige golf courses. In between, in the town of Napili are some smaller independent lodgings. We recommend booking a stay at a condominium resort so that you have the convenience of a full kitchen and living room. Going out for coffee every morning can be a hassle.
Of course, the food is fabulous thanks to the abundance of fish from the north Pacific Ocean. Look for Ahi (bigeye and yellowfin tuna), Opah (moonfish), Maho (dorado), Ono (wahoo), Opakapaka (pink snapper) and Shutome (swordfish). Every grocery store has a counter selling different versions of daily fresh-made poke which is diced raw fish tossed in soy sauce with green Maui onions with white rice. We buy poke for about $14 a pound and enjoy it with fresh salad from locally grown greens for a simple lunch or dinner.
Upcountry Maui is farm and ranching country; the beef, venison and pork is exceptional. Maui Gold pineapples, papaya, coconut, lilikoi (passion fruit), starfruit and bananas are just a few examples of fruits to buy and try. We are fans of the local greens and mushrooms we purchase at local farmers’ markets. Upcountry, Surfing Goat Dairy produces excellent cheese. Kula is where to buy fresh strawberries when in season. Maui is also home to Ocean Organic Vodka, Old Lahaina Rum and Waikulu Distillery, a Tequila producer. Distillery tours can be made by appointment. Maui Wine (Ulupalakua Vineyards) is the island’s only winery located upcountry in the Ulupalakua AVA which became Hawaii’s first American Viticultural Area in 2021.
Maui’s cuisine is primarily Pan-Pacific, reflecting the foodways brought to the island from Chinese, Korean, Filipino and Japanese immigrants. We’ve put together a list of our favorite places in West Maui (Kaanapali, Napili, Kapalua) where we spend the most time. We have other favorites in Paia, Kahului and Kihei, but that’s for another time.
Because we eat more fish and vegetables; most of the dishes we mention reflect this. Unless noted, reservations are recommended. Many restaurants offer happy hours between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. with discount cocktails, wines, beers, and food, from pu pu platters to sliders and pizzas. It is a wonderful and affordable way to experience a restaurant and, in the winter, catch an early sunset. For meat dishes, Loco Moco is pure classic Hawaiian and popular for a hearty breakfast or lunch. The dish is a base of white rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and savory brown gravy. Another specialty is Kalua Pork, tender, slow roasted pork shoulder from the Kalua pig served shredded with rice.
LAHAINA
Mala Ocean Tavern www.malatavern.com (B/L/D)
On our most recent trip to the island, we were delighted to learn Mala Ocean Tavern on Front Street had reopened after the Lahaina fires. This casual restaurant is a favorite for waterfront dining. By day you can watch the sea turtles just outside the open-air dining deck. At night, the sunset is stunning. What we ate: warm burrata & peaches with pistachio crumble, ahi bruschetta on flaxseed toast with balsamic and local tomatoes, green coconut curry Soup (vegan or add protein). A great dish for the entire table (4 – 6 people) is the whole fried Hawaiian fish.
Mala Tavern Green Coconut Curry
Honu Oceanside www.honuoceanside.com (D)
Honu also offers terrific waterside dining on Front Street just a few steps away from Mala Ocean Tavern. Honu and Mala used to be under the same ownership, but no longer. So, there may be a few similar dishes like the ahi bruschetta. Other dishes we recommend include mushroom soup with Ali’i mushrooms, dried porcini, button mushrooms and cream and the kale salad with dates, pomegranate, walnuts, Pecorino and preserved lemon vinaigrettes.
Honu Ahi Bruschetta on flaxseed toast with edamame cream and balsamic drizzle
Star Noodle www.starnoodle.com (L/D)
Also located on Front Street, Star Noodle is the place to enjoy Asian noodle dishes, dim sum, and many sharable plates paired with sake cocktails and cold beers. The sake and Japanese whisky selections are impressive. This restaurant books up fast; we try to go during less popular hours like late lunch.
KAANAPALI
Monkeypod Kitchen www.monkeypodkitchen.com (L/D) No reservations.
Award-winning restaurateur, Peter Merriman embraces Hawaiian regional cuisine with creative touches at his restaurants in Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island. Monkeypod (named for a type of tree) is his open-air restaurant located at Whaler’s Village, a casual-meets-chic shopping center off the Kaanapali Beach boardwalk. We like to visit for lunch or happy hour. The cocktail to try is the Monkeypod Mai Tai with lilikoi foam. You will find this cocktail on other menus, but this is the “original.” Dishes we recommend: Kauai shrimp and mushroom sliders, lobster deviled eggs, poke tacos, fresh grilled mahi sandwich and Hamakua wild mushroom & truffle oil pizza with white sauce.
Ulu Kitchen by Merriman www.ulukitchen.com (B/L/D)
Ulu Kitchen offers romantic oceanfront dining and inspired dishes featuring local ingredients at the swank Westin Resort. This is a new(ish) restaurant in Peter Merriman’s restaurant group and one of the best meals we had this last trip to Maui. We tried a few dishes such as grilled tako escargot-tender slivers of octopus in butter, garlic, and Pernod served with warm focaccia bread; coconut shrimp cooked in coconut sauce with ginger, garlic, jalapeño relish, cilantro, lime; mushroom pot pie: mother farm oyster mushrooms, ulu, brandy, thyme and parmesan encased in a savory puff pastry crust, Maui Nui venison with saffron rice, golden raisins, local chili green beans, roasted poblano and guajillo adobo sauce; and rosemary sea salt fries.
Grilled tako – escargot-tender slivers of octopus in butter, garlic, and Pernod served with warm focaccia bread at Ulu Kitchen.
Castaways Café www.castawaycafe.com (B/L/D)
This casual beachfront spot is tucked in the Maui Ka’anapali Villas overlooking the ocean. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We like the macadamia-banana pancakes, crab cake benedict. Or go out all out and order a paniolo “cowboy” breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes with rice and toast.
Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes at Castaways Cafe
Duke’s Kitchen www.dukesmaui.com (B/L/D)
This beachfront restaurant offering life music is named after the famous Hawaiian surfer, Duke Kahanamaku. Popular dishes include mac-nut herb crusted fresh fish, furikake ahi steak with chili oil and truffles. The signature dessert is Hula Pie: a stack of macadamia nut ice cream topped with cooled chocolate fudge on a chocolate cookie crust, then drizzled with hot chocolate fudge syrup and topped with fresh whipped cream.
NAPILI
Joey’s Kitchen www.joeyskitchenmaui.com (L/D)
Owner Joey Macadangdang embraces his Filipino Hawaiian heritage at Joey’s Kitchen which serves generous portions to eat in or take out. Our most recent meal included Shrimp Pancit, a dish of soft Crown egg noodles, shrimp, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, and Seafood Sinigang, a Filipino style hot pot soup with tamarind broth, Clams, whole Kauai shrimp and local fish. There are plenty of dishes for meat eaters, all fan favorites. An example is the BBQ Kalbi Ribs: marinated bone-in short ribs served with macaroni salad, kimchee, & white rice. For an authentic Filipino dessert experience, save room for the Halo-Halo Klasiko, a classic sweet concoction of preserved fruits, fresh island fruits and shaved ice drizzled with evaporated milk, topped with purple yam ice cream.
Seafood Sinigang, a Filipino style hot pot soup with tamarind broth, Clams, whole Kauai shrimp and local fish.
This small spot in the same shipping strip as Joey’s Kitchen served vegan/vegetarian fare including acai bowls, avocado toast, vegan wraps, smoothies, and fresh juices. We stop here frequently. Next door is the Foodland grocery store we pick up takeout poke and fresh-made banana bread.
A’A Roots Tropical Bowl with starfruit, pineapple, bananas, macadamia nuts, granola and acai
Sea House Restaurant at the Napili Kai Resort www.napilikai.com/dining (B/L/D)
This is a charming spot beach front spot with a top-rated happy hour. We recommend poke nachos, shredded pork tacos, smashed burger sliders, Asian “lani” BBQ ribs and coconut shrimp. The resort has beautiful landscaping and a small cove beach.
Poke Nachos at Sea House Restaurant’s Happy Hour
Coconut Glen’s Ice Cream www.coconutglens.com
We discovered this vegan ice cream food truck located next to the Napili farmer’s market during our last visit. It is an outpost of the original location in Hana. The lilikoi (passion fruit) and coconut ice cream were our favorites.
Coconut Glen’s Vegan Ice Cream Truck
KAPALUA
Merriman’s Point www.merrimanshawaii.com (D)
This multi-award-winning Peter Merriman restaurant serves inspired Pacific Rim farm- to- table fare in an elegant cliff setting overlooking the ocean. Examples: Wok-Charred ‘Ahi Won Bok Cabbage Slaw, Scallion Rice, Pickled Ginger, Wasabi-Soy Sauce. Macadamia Nut-Crusted Fresh Catch with Scallion rice, chili-garlic broccoli, Hamakua ali’i mushroom-sake reduction, Harissa-Spiced Diver Sea Scallops & Clams with Parmesan-potato gnocchi, Za’atar roasted Escobedo Farm zucchini, orange-saffron butter sauce.
The Oceanfront Point (also at Merriman’s)-(D) No Reservations
The Oceanfront Point offers more casual early dining starting at 4 p.m. weather permitting and on a first come basis. Enjoy shareable small plates (under $20) such as Kalua Pork & Sweet Onion Quesadilla, Beef & Bacon Sliders, Smoked Honokohau Taro Hummus, Chilled White Pacific Shrimp and Truffle Parmesan Fries.
Save room for at least one Hawaiian shave ice! We recommend Island Vintage Shave Ice located in the lower level of Whaler’s Village.
Good reads:
Discover Maui | Sunny Maui Vacations
Top 33 Restaurants on Maui | Best Maui Restaurants 2025
Check out our podcast on Maui Dining