Maui has a reputation as being one of the most beautiful islands in Hawaii, with some of the best resorts, beaches, food and adventurous excursions in the world. I wanted to share some of my favorite spots to grab a bite, some of the most stunning places to stay and of course, some of the top things to do in Maui! So, for those of you who want to visit this gorgeous Island, here are some of my recommendations in this Maui travel guide.
Maui Travel Guide: The Best Things to See & Do
Top Things to Do in Maui – Food
PAIA FISH MARKET
The Paʻia Fish Market is an iconic Maui restaurant located in the heart of historic Paʻia town, dating back to 1989. At the Paʻia Fish Market, you can hang with locals, celebrities, and thrill-seeking surfers, who frequent Paʻia town and love its access to world-famous waves at Hoʻokipa and Peʻahi (Jaws). With the family style atmosphere, you can relax and make friends with people from across the world, as well as local surfers with sand between their toes. I ordered the Paia Fish Market blackened Mahi Mahi and it was delicious and Keto friendly!
STAR NOODLE
Star Noodle is one of Maui’s absolute must-visit restaurants. With their Asian shared plates, noodle dishes & sake cocktails, the best way to dine at Star Noodle is to order multiple different plates and sample around the table! We loved their Thai chicken wings, ribs, Chinese broccoli, and garlic noodles!
TEDDY’S BIGGER BURGERS
Yes, it’s burgers, but it’s not fast food. Everything is made to order just for you. When the food comes to the table, you’ll know it’s totally worth the time. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers got its start in the backyard cookouts of owners Ted & Rich. The two loved good burgers but couldn’t understand why there weren’t any fast food restaurants that offered the quality of their home cooked burgers in a quick service environment. After studying the simple menus of the original 1950’s burger joints, Ted & Rich decided to ‘reinvent the burger joint’ with a 50’s theme and a simple menu of burgers, fries & shakes. Try their Bacado (bacon avocado) burger lettuce wrap, it’s perfect for Keto!
ULUlLANI’S SHAVED ICE
Owners Ululani and her husband David both grew up eating O`ahu’s finest shave ice and upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, their craving for real Hawaiian shave ice prompted them to open their own shave ice shop. They’ve won the “best-shaved ice” award over 9 times and have been featured in numerous travel, food, and local publications. One bite of Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and we believe that you’ll agree that all shave ice is not created equal…
OLOWALU JUICE STAND
737 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761
If you’re driving through the Olowalu area you’ve GOT to stop at the Olowalu Juice Stand. You will find sugar cane, fresh papaya, fresh mangos, pineapples, apples, bananas, apple bananas, Star fruit, as well as several types of baked goods. Make sure to try one of their delicious smoothies made with any fresh fruit you would like!
SUNSET DRINKS AT THE FAIRMONT BAR
In Hawai‘i, the end of each day is celebrated with a pau hana. It’s the time after work reserved for relaxation, socializing, and typically is accompanied by a great setting with a cocktail in hand. We enjoyed the expansive sunset and ocean views while sipping delicious cocktails.
LEODA’S KITCHEN AND PIE SHOP
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop is casual family-style dining in a comfortable plantation era atmosphere. Their menu features an assortment of hand-crafted sandwiches, salads, baked goodies, daily specials and of course, sweet and savory pies. Their focus on farm-fresh and sustainable ingredients is very important to them and they work with our local providers to ensure They are offering the best product available. Form amazing tarts, pies, pralines to killer burgers, pot pies and sandwiches…you won’t leave Leoda’s hungry. I loved their brussel sprouts salad with seared ahi. It is also Keto friendly!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN MAUI – Sightseeing
PUNAKEA PALMS COCONUT FARM
Punakea Palms is a family operated coconut farm in the foothills of the West Maui mountains. Visiting is a great way to experience the sights and tastes of a working coconut farm! Take their tasting tour and you will learn all about how they maintain healthy living soil throughout their farm as well as the life cycle of coconut trees and their unique evolution to become the most productive food crop on earth. Besides sitting on a beach underneath a palm, there isn’t a better way to taste the freshness of a Hawaiian coconut than straight from the farm. You will learn how to open and taste coconuts as well as the numerous health benefits and creative ways you can use it when you cook.
STROLLING THROUGH DOWNTOWN LAHAINA
Once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom, Lahaina occupies a central place in Maui’s history. An oddly eclectic mix of history, restaurants, T-shirt shops, fine art galleries, and gold-by-the-foot, Lahaina is the quintessential “old-time-sea-town” with a uniquely Maui twist. It is also the only full-featured, walkable “downtown” you’ll find on Maui. Under the surface of bars and trinket shops, Lahaina reveals a uniqueness that you won’t see anywhere else. There are tons to do from great shopping, eclectic and unique art galleries, visiting The 143-year-old, 60-foot-tall Banyan Tree in Lahaina Banyan Court Park or even go whale watching and maybe spot some humpback whales!
BEACHES
Maui has over 30 miles of beaches, and as an island chain, Hawaii is home to hundreds of beaches, each possessing its own set of unique qualities.
FARMERS MARKET MAUI, KIHEI TOWN
61 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753
This little farmers market has a lot to offer! This place was so cute and full of delicious fruits and vegetables. They also had some other local treats like jams and mustards. Besides fruit, vegetables, and homemade candies, they also have fresh juices, coffee, and baked goods for sale. It’s absolutely worth checking out!
MAUI TROPICAL PLANTATION
Maui Tropical Plantation is a 60-acre working plantation full of history. Nestled against the Waikapu Valley and greater West Maui Mountains, the views from the Plantation are stunning. You have options to tour the real working farm or simply stroll at your own pace among the different areas and enjoy.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN MAUI: WHERE TO STAY
RITZ CARLTON KAPALUA
Boasting 54 stunning acres, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua proudly maintains the Honokahua Preservation Site, a recognized “wahi pana” (sacred site) that lies adjacent to the resort and serves as a destination where Native Hawaiians can gather to conduct ceremonies and protocol. Their rooms are beautiful with dark wood floors, marble bathrooms, vibrant island-inspired décor, and designs. They have six restaurants featuring local ingredients from the resort’s sustainable organic garden, fresh seafood, and Pacific cuisine. They also have a lovely spa and tons to do like swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, sailing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, stand-up paddling, whale watching, snorkeling, and hiking!
FAIRMONT ORCHID HOTEL
Inspired by culture, well-being and genuine aloha, Fairmont Orchid is a luxury Hawaii Island resort and spa beautifully located on the majestic Kohala Coast. Surrounded by 32 oceanfront acres of lush tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls, and a tranquil white sand beach and lagoon, you really do feel immersed in paradise. You’ll absolutely want to check out their Spa Without Walls, a 10,000 square foot oceanfront pool, six restaurants and live entertainment nightly at the Luana Lounge.
GRAND WAILEA
When staying here, you can choose from one of their spacious rooms or a secluded villa with private lanais. You’ll be able to enjoy ocean views on Wailea Beach, lush Polynesian landscapes and idyllic sunsets. This beautiful resort also has an exquisite art collection, great shopping, a world-class spa treatment in the award-winning Spa Grande, and delicious food influenced by local and international flavors. An added bonus is that it’s just 35 minutes from Kahului Airport and a 30-minute flight from Honolulu.
Before you jet off, check out my blog post all about My Favorite Travel Planning Tips or get some ideas on what to bring on your trip with my post about What I Keep in My Beach Bag!