Maui Favorites

Best Restaurants

Café Des Amis at 42 Baldwin Avenue, Paia, HI 96779 (808) 579-6323 www.cdamaui.com. The best crepes on the island! Try the savory crepes and then have a dessert crepe to finish.

Hali’imaile General Store at  900 Hali’imaile Road, Makawao, HI 96768 (808) 572-2666 www.hgsmaui.com. Bev Gannon, one of the 12 original Hawaii Regional Cuisine chefs, is still going strong at her foodie haven in the pineapple fields. You’ll dine at tables set on old wood floors under high ceilings. The food, a blend of eclectic American with ethnic touches, bridges Hawaii with Gannon’s Texas roots and puts an innovative spin on Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Examples include sashimi napoleon and the house salad – island greens with mandarin oranges, onions, toasted walnuts, and blue-cheese crumble. Always fun for your upcountry drive.

Havens at 30 Manao Kala St., Ste. 102, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 868-2600 www.havensmaui.com. A new favorite place to eat.

Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop at 820 Olowalu Village Road, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 662-3600 www.leodas.com. Leoda’s kitchen and pie shop has casual family style dining in a comfortable plantation era atmosphere. The menu features an assortment of hand-crafted sandwiches, salads, baked goodies and the amazing sweet and savory pies. The seared ahi salad is everyone’s favorite and the fried salad is a must have too. This is a destination that shouldn’t be missed.

Marlow at 30 Kupaoa Street, Makawao HI 96768 (808) 868-3366 www.restaurantmarlow.com Marlow, a wood fired kitchen by Chef Jeff Scheer, in Upcountry.

Matteo’s Osteria at 161 Wailea Ike Pl, A107, Wailea, HI 96753 (808) 891-8466 www.matteosmaui.com. Just below the new Residence Inn Maui, 808 891-Vino) Italian food and wine bar, online ordering, kids menu, happy hour, great pizza.

Maui Pie at 1280 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 298-0473 www.mauipie.com infor@mauipie.com. A little slice of heaven…right here on Maui.

Milagros Food Co. at 3 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779 (808) 579-8755 www.milagrosfoodcompany.com. The best margaritas on the island, the chips, salsa and guacamole are fresh and fantastic. The breakfast here is Liam’s favorite, he loves the pancakes!

Misa Phat Sushi at Azeka Shopping Center, 1279 S Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 891-6476 www.misophat.com. Great Sushi, sit down or take out, open until 8:30pm Sun-Fri.

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman – Wailea, Maui at 10 Wailea Gateway Place, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 891-2322 www.monkeypodkitchen.com. Another favorite eating place for our family.

Old Lahaina Luau at 1251 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-1998 www.oldlahainaluau.com. It’s not exactly a restaurant, but it’s certainly an unforgettable dining experience. Maui’s best luau serves top-quality food that’s as much Pacific Rim as authentically Hawaiian, served from an open-air thatched structure. It’s one-third entertainment, one-third good food, and one-third ambience. All the kids love the show, who doesn’t?

Pita Paradise at 34 Wailea Gateway Center, A108, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 879-7177 www.pitaparadisehawaii.com. Freshest fish in town! Owner fisherman Johnny catches fresh fish exclusively for Pita Paradise. This is our place when we are in Wailea with the kids. Great food and great value! All the kids order Kalua pork pita sandwiches.

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua, 600 Office Rd., Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 669-6286 and at Kukui Mall, 1819 South Kihei Rd, Bldg. A, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 868-0780 www.sanseihawaii.com. Always the kids request for birthday dinners, go to for appetizers and nice wine. Relentlessly popular, Sansei serves sushi and then some: hand rolls warm and cold, udon and ramen, and the signature Asian rock-shrimp cake with the oh-so-complex lime chile butter and cilantro pesto. This Kapalua choice is flavor central – simplicity is not the strong suit, so be prepared for some busy tasting. Another branch has opened in Kihei. Possibly the best deal in town, 50% off on the food between 5-6pm on Sunday’s and Monday’s. Get there early as it always fills up! Call for the specials. Also 50% off bar food in the later hours.

Star Noodle at 1285 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-5400 www.starnoodle.com You will question where we have sent you as you are dining up the hill inside the Lahaina business park. Don’t worry you are not the last! This restaurant is a great find. The Vietnamese crepe and pad Thai are fantastic.

Best Beaches

Wailea Beach This is the best gold-sand, crescent-shaped beach on Maui’s sunbaked southwestern coast. One of five beaches within Wailea Resort, Wailea is big, wide, and protected on both sides by black-lava points. It serves as the front yard for the Four Seasons Wailea, Maui’s most elegant hotel, and the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, its most outrageous. From the beach, the view out to sea is magnificent, framed by neighboring Kahoolawe and Lanai and the tiny crescent of Molokini. The clear waters tumble to shore in waves just the right size for gentle riding, with or without a board. All the beaches on the west and south coasts are great for spotting whales and watching sunsets, but Wailea, with its fairly flat sandy beach that gently slopes down to the ocean, provides exceptionally good whale-watching from shore in season (Dec-Apr), as well as unreal sunsets nightly. 

Makena Beach & Little Beach is a locals favorite beach, with shore break waves for ocean sports, a long and wide sand beach with plenty of space for everyone and nice hiking paths and trails. Walk over the hump to little beach, where clothing is optional, and there are full moon parties for your wild side.

Family and Kid Friendly

Shallow and safe for little kids because of the offshore reef!

Baby Beach in Lahaina aka Puunoa Beach– shallow and safe for little kids because of the offshore reef is a great place to be if you have little ones.

Baby Beach, Sprecklesville Area is a perfect swimming place when you have babies.

Mama’s Fish House Beach is perfect for swimming and snorkeling with the little ones.

Makena Beach & Little Beach is a locals favorite beach, with shore break waves for ocean sports, a long and wide sand beach with plenty of space for everyone and nice hiking paths and trails. Walk over the hump to little beach, where clothing is optional, and there are full moon parties for your wild side.

Surf Locations

Ho‘okipa ​​Picturesque area offering a white sand beach, sea turtles on the shore in the evening & windsurfing.

Launiupoko Beach Park at Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-4685 is another great place for families with young children. This park is a 6.7-acre shoreline site featuring a natural pool enclosed by a lava rock wall, plus picnic tables. 

Honolua Bay Rocky bay is known for snorkeling in summer & surfing in winter, accessed by a forested path.

Other Activities

Best Place for Make-up Cos Bar Wailea at the Shops at Wailea (808) 891-9448 www.cosbar.com 

Best Walk Thompson Rd. Go to Grandma’s Coffee House at 9232 Kula Hwy, Kula, HI 96790 (808) 878-2140 www.grandmascoffee.com for your coffee. A cozy cafe with a scenic deck, relaxed vibe & organic coffee made from local, house-roasted beans. Lock your car and start walking up the hill towards the hospital and take your first right, a little over a mile long you’ll walk Thompson Road and see Oprah’s place. The views are stunning and you get your exercise!

Best Wine Store Wailea Wine at the Wailea Town Center, 161 Ike Place, Wailea, HI 96753 (808) 879-0555 www.waileawine.com. They have great service and are fairly priced. If you have a Costco card you can use Costco as a back-up as the wine store is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Best Poke and more wine Tamura’s Fine Wines & Liquors Kihei with locations in Lahaina, Kahului and Kihei, (808) 873-8000 www.tamuraswine.com have the freshest poke in town.

Best Snorkeling www.mauisnorkeling.com. For a guided tour, Molokini is the most popular spot. But there are tons of local places that are very beautiful just off shore. If you have time, consider a trip to snorkel/dive off Lanai.

Best Sailing Tour “Kai Kanani” (808) 879-7218 www.kaikanani.com Kai Kanani’s passengers “beach-load,” walking through the surf and up on to our gorgeous 65-foot catamaran. 

Best Underwater Activity for ages 10 and under: Atlantis Submarines (800) 381-0237 www.atlantisadventures.com/maui for a plunge beneath the waves without getting wet have the kids go on the yellow submarine ride.

Best Live Entertainment Warren and Annabelle’s www.WarrenAndAnnabelles.com 900 Front St #A202 Lahaina, HI, 96761, (808)667-6244. Book early as this is usually sold out. There’s a kid’s show as well, but the real entertainment is at night.

Best Whale Watching “The Pacific Whale Foundation” (808) 249-8811 www.pacificwhale.org. They have multiple locations on Maui, they really do it right.

Best Lunch “O’O Farms” (808 667-4341) www.oofarm.com. A truly unique island experience. Breathtaking venue with views of two coastlines. Gourmet lunch prepared in your presence with fresh natural products.

Best Breakfast “Ka’ana Kitchen” at the Hyatt Andaz Hotel (808) 573-1234 www.hyatt.com/dinng has beautiful tables of farm fresh foods, hand-pressed juices and a coffee beverage mixologist.

Best Brewery “Mahalo Aleworks” 30 Kupaoa Street, Ste. 101, Makawao, HI 96768 www.mahaloaleworks.com and “Maui Brewing Co.” at 605 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 201-2337 www.mauibrewingco.com 

Best Farmers Market www.upcountryfarmersmarket.com open Saturday’s only from 7:00 am until 11:00 am. The best food is what’s grown locally! Come celebrate fresh, locally grown food and community at our Upcountry Farmer’s Market located at the Kula Malu Town Center Hwy. 37 near Long’s Drugs, Pukalani/Kula. Just follow the signs!

Oko’a Organic Farms. Freshly grown produce delivered directly to your doorstep! They deliver twice a week right now, every Tuesday and Friday morning, www.okoafarms.com.

Baby Equipment Rentals. Nokaoi Baby Rentals, www.nokaoibabyrentals.com, (808) 446-6729.

Let us know your favorite spots and things to do, we’ll add them on and keep everyone informed.

Have fun!

Team BiosExplore Maui, Lanai and Molokini with Sail Trilogy (808) 874-5649 www.sailtrilogy.com A family-owned business that offers a variety of tours for you and your family.