Maui Guide

Local tips for exploring the best of Maui — from beaches and food to hikes and hidden gems. Organized by area so you can make the most of each part of the island.

⭐ My Favorites Lahaina (West) Kihei (South) Paia (North) Upcountry Kahului Hana Hikes

⭐ My Favorite Restaurants on the Island

Lahaina Grill →

Fine dining at its best. Special occasion worthy.

📍 Lahaina

Fleetwood's →

Fine dining food, live music, amazing location. Owned by Mick Fleetwood.

📍 Lahaina

Paia Fish Market →

Legendary fish tacos. Multiple locations — Paia and Kihei.

📍 Paia & Kihei

Tobi's Shave Ice & Poke ⭐ →

Best poke on the island. Don't miss this one.

📍 Paia

Flatbread →

Amazing pizza. Get the Mopsy.

📍 Paia

Cafe Des Amis →

Great breakfast and lunch spot in Paia.

📍 Paia

Hali'imaile General Store →

Upscale Hawaiian comfort food in a historic general store.

📍 Upcountry

Kula Bistro →

Great Italian food with an upcountry vibe.

📍 Upcountry

Nuka →

Excellent sushi spot.

📍 Upcountry

🌅 Lahaina (West Side)

Historic town, great sunsets, shopping, and dining

Beaches

Kapalua Bay ⭐ →

Beautiful protected bay, great for snorkeling. Park at the link above.

📍 Kapalua

Black Rock Beach →

Famous for cliff jumping. Great snorkeling around the rock.

📍 Ka'anapali

Things To Do

Lahaina Town

Historic whaling town with shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Whalers Village →

West side shopping, food, and beachfront dining.

📍 Ka'anapali

Old Lahaina Luau →

The best luau on the island. Book in advance.

📍 Lahaina

Cliff Jumping at Black Rock Beach

Jump off the rocks at Ka'anapali Beach. Classic Maui experience.

📍 Ka'anapali

Food

Fleetwood's →

Fine dining, live music, amazing rooftop location.

Star Noodle →

Asian fusion, great noodles and small plates.

Ululani's Shave Ice →

Best shave ice on the island. Multiple locations.

Leoda's →

Great pies — get one for the road.

☀️ Kihei (South Shore)

Sunny side, great beaches, snorkeling, and local food

Beaches

Makena Beach (Big Beach) ⭐ →

One of Maui's most beautiful beaches. Wide, golden sand. Can have big shore break.

📍 Makena

Little Beach →

Nude beach. Walk over the rocks from Big Beach.

📍 Makena

Maluaka Beach →

Great snorkeling, often see turtles. Park at the link above.

📍 Makena

Wailea Beach →

Beautiful resort beach with public access. Park at the link above.

📍 Wailea

Ulua Beach ⭐ →

Best snorkeling in Kihei. Go early when it's calm. Smaller pretty beach.

📍 Wailea

Makena Landing →

Great snorkeling spot. Turtles frequent here.

📍 Makena

Food

Jazzy's Kitchen Mexican Food Truck →

Great Mexican food truck. Don't mix it up with Jawz taco truck next to it.

📍 Kihei

Tommy Bahama →

Nice sit-down restaurant at the Shops at Wailea.

📍 Wailea

Shops at Wailea →

Upscale shopping and dining.

📍 Wailea

Paia Fish Market (Kihei) →

Same great fish tacos, south shore location.

📍 Kihei

South Maui Fish Company →

Fresh seafood spot.

📍 Kihei

Monkeypod Kitchen →

Great happy hour, good food.

📍 Wailea

Maui Brewing →

Local brewery with good food.

📍 Kihei

Hikes

Hoapili Trail (Hanomanioa Lighthouse) →

Coastal lava field hike to an old lighthouse.

📍 La Perouse Bay

🏄 Paia (North Shore)

Hippie surf town, great food, gateway to Road to Hana

Beaches

Ho'okipa →

World-famous windsurfing and surf spot. Great lookout to watch the action. Turtles on the beach at sunset.

📍 Paia

Baldwin Beach →

Long sandy beach, good for swimming and bodyboarding.

📍 Paia

Kanaha Beach →

Popular with kiteboarders and windsurfers.

📍 Near Kahului

Food

Flatbread Pizza ⭐ →

Amazing wood-fired pizza. Get the Mopsy.

📍 Paia

Paia Fish Market →

Legendary fish tacos. The original location.

📍 Paia

Tobi's Poke ⭐ →

Best poke on the island. Don't miss it.

📍 Paia

Paia Gelato →

Great gelato spot in town.

📍 Paia

Artisan Ice Cream →

Another great dessert option.

📍 Paia

Mama's Fish House →

Famous upscale seafood. Book well in advance.

📍 Kuau (near Paia)

🌿 Upcountry

Cooler climate, farms, Haleakala, great food

Things To Do

Haleakala Sunset ⭐ →

Watch the sunset from 10,000 feet. Unforgettable. Bring warm clothes — it's cold up there.

📍 Haleakala National Park

Lavender Fields →

Beautiful lavender farm with great views.

📍 Kula

Food

Ocean Vodka ⭐ →

Must see. Great food, an amazing view, and vodka tastings.

📍 Kula

Kula Bistro →

Great Italian food with an upcountry vibe.

📍 Kula

Baked On Maui →

Great bakery.

📍 Makawao

Nuka →

Excellent sushi.

📍 Haiku

Komoda's Store →

Old-school bakery. Get there early — they sell out.

📍 Makawao

Pukalani Superette →

Local grocery with good plate lunches.

📍 Pukalani

✈️ Kahului (Town / Airport)

Main town, airport, Costco, food trucks

Food

Food Trucks (across from Costco) →

Cluster of food trucks with various options.

📍 Kahului

Thai Mee Up →

Good Thai food.

📍 Kahului

Malasada Truck →

Portuguese donuts. Get them fresh and hot.

📍 Kahului

Sam Sato's →

Local institution. Dry mein noodles and manju.

📍 Wailuku

Tasty Crust →

Old-school diner. Famous pancakes.

📍 Wailuku

Shaka Pops →

Gourmet popsicles.

📍 Wailuku

Fat Daddy's BBQ →

Solid BBQ spot.

🌴 Hana (Road to Hana)

The famous drive — waterfalls, black sand beaches, lush jungle

Things To Do

Waimoku Falls ⭐ →

400-foot waterfall at the end of Pipiwai Trail. One of Maui's best hikes.

📍 Past Hana

Waioka Ponds →

Ocean-fed pools. Can be dangerous — check conditions.

📍 Past Hana

Black Sand Beach →

Stunning black sand beach. Reservations required for parking.

📍 Wai'anapanapa State Park

Hana Lava Tube →

Walk through an ancient lava tube.

📍 Near Hana

🥾 Other Hikes

Waihe'e Ridge Trail ⭐ →

Awesome hike. Ridge walk with incredible views. Can be muddy.

📍 West Maui

Waihe'e Coastal Dunes →

Easy coastal walk through sand dunes and wetlands.

📍 West Maui

Sliding Sands Trail →

Hike into Haleakala crater. Otherworldly landscape. Strenuous coming back up.

📍 Haleakala

Haleakala Crater Trail →

Various trails through the volcanic crater.

📍 Haleakala

Olivine Pools →

Natural tide pools. Be very careful — can be dangerous with waves.

📍 West Maui

💡 Pro Tips

•

Road to Hana: Start early, take your time, bring snacks. It's about the journey, not the destination.

•

Haleakala sunrise: Requires reservations — book at recreation.gov well in advance.

•

Snorkeling: Go early morning for the calmest water and best visibility.

•

Beach parking: Many spots fill up early. Use the parking links above for secret local spots.

•

Whale season: December-April — you can see humpbacks from shore or book a boat tour.

Questions?

Need more recommendations or have questions about Maui? We're happy to help make your trip unforgettable.

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