Travel
& Stay
FAQs
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You will be flying into Kahului (OGG), and from there you can either pick up your rental car or get an Uber to your accommodation. In case you plan to island hop while you're in Hawaii, there are plenty of flights with Hawaiian Air between Maui and the other islands!
When you arrive at the airport in Kahului, you will be about 12 miles away from Kihei and Wailea. Once you get your bags, go outside then right to the taxi and Uber pickup area. If you are getting a rental car at the airport, go straight across the street to the little tram for the very short trip to the rental car facilities.
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This is up to you! Uber and Lyft are both readily available on the island, and we often use them to get to the beach, tiki bars, restaurants, or for grocery trips. However, you will of course be more flexible with a car. If you really want to explore, get around quickly and try different beaches, then sharing a rental vehicle is a good idea.
All of the major rental car companies are on island, so shop around to get the best deal. There is also a local rental company called Kihei Car Rental that is cheaper as they have slightly older cars, but very functional. Kihei will deliver to the airport for a fee, but taking a taxi then getting the car the next day when you settle in is also an option, especially with a late arrival. If you need to get gas, it is about $.50/gallon cheaper at Costco or the Safeway gas bar, both of which are in Kahului.
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We highly recommend staying in Wailea or South Kihei to be as close as possible to our events. We encourage you to please book your accommodations as soon as possible.
It is very beneficial to have a kitchen or kitchenette while on the island, as while there are plenty of amazing restaurants and food trucks to indulge in, we always find that having the ability to eat some meals at home is both convenient and cost-effective. For this reason, we recommend looking into Airbnb or VRBO for your stay. There are plenty of Airbnb's available in South Kihei and in Wailea as well!Kihei ($$) is a fun, lively local center, where you will find beautiful beaches, cafes, tiki bars, surf lessons, craft markets, local shops, and grocery stores such as Foodland and Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods. The center of Kihei is around Kalama Park - we would recommend aiming south of there, along the beaches Kamaole Beach Park I II & III. There are numerous condo rentals along South Kihei Road, such as Kihei Kai Nani, Kihei Akahi, Maui Banyan, Kamaole Sands, Kamala Terrace, and Maui Vista (you can find these on AirBnb, booking.com, or the condo rental's website). The Maui Coast Hotel would be a good option if you would prefer a hotel experience in Kihei. If you choose to stay in Kihei, it's just a quick drive up to Wailea, where we will have our Welcome Party, and likely lots of beach time!
Wailea ($$$) is where to stay if you're looking for more of a luxurious resort experience. If you choose to stay in Wailea, you can also easily access Kihei by car or Uber to stock up on groceries or visit a local tiki bar or food truck! Starting at the Mana Kai Hotel, Palms at Wailea and Ekahi Village (condo rentals), you will then find a long string of gorgeous resorts including Andaz (Hyatt), Wailea Beach Resort (Marriott), Four Seasons, Fairmont Kea Lani, and Grand Wailea. They are all accessible along a beautiful waterfront path and the stunning beaches along here are public (but not super crowded). The Shops at Wailea has high-end shopping, a grocery market and restaurants. Behind these resorts you will find Hotel Wailea (Relais & Châteaux) where we will host our welcome party, several great restaurants, and Wailea Grand Champions Villas, which offer lovely rental units (sometimes on Airbnb/VRBO) right beside the Golf Club.
And finally, if you would prefer to camp ($), there is a beautiful campsite immediately next door to our wedding venue called Camp Olowalu. You will be farther away for the Welcome Dinner and beach hangs, but closer to the Whale Watching Tour, and you could skip the ride to and from the wedding as you'll be within walking distance! If staying here, we would recommend renting a car.
We know this is a lot of information, so please feel free to reach out to us with any questions!
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Get ready to be outdoors! Bring light clothing, shorts, short sleeve shirts, hats, sandals, good walking shoes, a beach cover-up and a bathing suit. Life and all restaurants here are casual dress. You can get dressed up for the evenings, but this is a very casual tropical climate that rarely goes below 70F or above 85F. Bring a water bottle and make sure you use sunscreen as a sunburn can ruin a good time.
Oh, and don’t forget your wedding outfit of course! (see Events page for dresscode tips)
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If you plan to explore other parts of the island before or after the wedding celebrations, it could be lovely to spend a few days on the North Shore (we LOVE Paia!!) to see the big surf and lots of beautiful shops and cafes, or up in Makawao heading into farm country. The North Shore is about a 30 minute drive from Wailea, so it is also possible to explore these areas as a day trip. The Road to Hana is an out of this world experience, if you have time!
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Incase you’re craving a date night or would prefer to leave your little one at home for the Welcome Party or a kayak adventure, we recommend The Nanny Connection.
Island
Guide
Aloha Everyone. Maui is our wonderful home for 6 months a year, and we want all of you to have the best time possible as we celebrate Corissa and Jason’s wedding and welcome you into our Ohana.
In order to help you with your planning and enjoyment of Maui we have compiled the TTTTTTT (Trudy’s Tried and True Triple Tested Travel Tips) with a little help from ‘Mai Tai’ Ronnie. If you have any questions or need guidance on any of this info, please feel free to ask us and we will be pleased to help. We can be reached at rbagan@shaw.ca or 808-214-6878. Just leave a message as we are rarely indoors and I am not a mobile phone guy. Be organized and you will learn about and enjoy the Aloha Spirit.
—Mahalo, Ron & Trudy
Everything is saved in our Google Map
GROCERIES
Many of you will have cooking facilities at your rentals, which is great as Maui can be expensive. The following are the places where we buy the vast majority of our groceries and liquor, with our preferences for items.
COSTCO
If you have a membership, this is the best place to load up on bulk items. Costco is good for dry goods, and liquor is a bit cheaper. Fruit and vegetables are not the best available. Their meat is okay, but comes in large quantities.
WHOLE FOODS
Good for vegetables, fruit, meat, fish (get a fish called Mong Chong if they have it), deli items, dairy etc. All is good quality.
SAFEWAY
Large and has all the basics, including sunscreen and booze. Their meat and fish are good, the vegetables are not the best available.
FOODLAND
A hot local tip: they have an amazing Poke counter! Also a full service grocery store with good vegetables and fruit. The meat is not as good as Safeway or Whole Foods. They have some good bakery items, deli meats, dairy, eggs, yogurt etc. Make sure you have a North American phone number to register when you check out for local pricing.
HAWAIIAN MOONS NATURAL FOODS
On South Kihei road across from Kamaole 1 beach, this small organic store has great vegetables, fruit, muffins, vegetarian specialties and a really good takeout bar for healthy smoothies, sandwiches, salads, lunch and breakfast items. Corissa’s favourite!
ISLAND GOURMET MARKETS
Located in the Shops at Wailea, this spot is really good for poke bowls, takeout items of all kinds from soups to sushi and full breakfast, lunch and dinners. They also have a good fish counter that has the best sashimi-grade tuna and fresh salmon. The groceries here are limited.
EVERYWHERE
LIQUOR STORES
Liquor is very competitive pricing here. Costco has a big selection, all at good pricing. Safeway has a 10% discount if you buy 6 or more items. Foodland has a special if you buy 3 of the same kind of wine. Beer is about the same everywhere, as is hard liquor. For a good variety of special wines try Wailea Wine in the shops at the top of Wailea Ike Place or Tamura’s on Lipoa Road.
ACTIVITIES
Get ready to be outdoors! Bring light clothing, shorts, short sleeve shirts, hats, sandals, good walking shoes and a bathing suit. Bring a water bottle and make sure you use sunscreen as a sunburn can ruin a good time.
SNORKELING
We recommend these four sites for experiencing the marine life and blue water. Snorkel gear is easy to rent on Maui. Also, take along some baby shampoo or soapy water to clean your mask lens before you enter the water to prevent fogging.
If you want to go on a tour boat make sure it leaves from Kihei Boat Ramp as the distance to the best snorkeling is less and the operators tend to be small, less crowded, and get into the best areas faster. The advantage of a tour is you can get out to Molokini, which is a small crater a few miles off of Maui and the best snorkeling site on the island. You can also scuba dive here if you are certified, and all the small operators will look for whales when you are on the boats. The disadvantage is cost, as once they leave Molokini they will come back to the Maui shore for a second stop and all of these are accessible for free.
ULUA BEACH
This is a great spot for beginners and is popular with beginner scuba dive classes. There is parking above the beach. Just walk down, put on your gear and the reef is very obvious on the right. Just snorkel out along the dune, around the end and on top of the reef if it is calm. You can go all the way around the reef and end up on the beach on the opposite side, then just do the short 100 yard walk back to the showers to rinse of the salt water.
WAILEA BEACH
This gorgeous beach is in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. Parking is between the Grand Wailea and The Four Seasons; you will see a sign designating Wailea Beach. This is a great beach to spend a day, and has a good snorkeling area around Wailea Point. Go early as the charter boats start arriving around 10 am and the water can become crowded. Go out at the very end of the beach, stay left and close to the lava/coral as you go around the point towards the Fairmont Hotel. There is a large tree overhanging the rock area about 150 yards around the point, it is very obvious. Straight out from the tree about 150 yards is an interesting reef. This were the charter boats come to anchor. It is also interesting to just stay close to the lava rock on the shoreline, as it is a hang out for turtles.
AHIHI MARINE RESERVE
TURTLE TOWN
This site is best if you have some experience. Travel along Wailea Alanui Drive past the Gold/Emerald golf course and Makena Surf condo project on the water side. Take a right at Makena Road. Go along the road about 400 yards and you will see a small dirt parking area on the upland side of the road across from 5022 Makena Road. Follow the path along the wall of the large house past a small graveyard and you will come to a little cove about 20 yards wide just beside the big house. This point goes out past the cove. Check first that the cove is reasonably calm, put on your gear and enter the water here. Stay along the point on the left hand side. You can stay on top of the reef and go about 300 yards from shore and still be in less than 10 feet of water. The reef on both sides drops off to around 30 feet deep and is a beautiful area when calm. There are plenty of turtles close to the entrance and also on the reef. Again, in this spot the charter boats show up starting around 10am. When you get out of the water, make sure you look behind at any waves so you can manage your exit easily.
This is the best site and Ron’s favourite on this side of Maui. No charter boats can come into the Marine Reserve. Travel past Big Beach until the road becomes narrow right along the water. About 1 mile past Big Beach you will see a large paved parking lot on the right hand side. This is a pay lot unless you are local, but cheap. Take walking shoes and your gear as you need to walk down an easy lava path to the water. This a reserve, so do not walk out onto the lava areas as they are protected. When you get to the rock beach, go to the far end (about 100 yards) and this is where it is easiest to enter the water as there is a small, gradual black sand slope. Once in the water, go right, stay along the shoreline, go around the lava point and stay close to the shore. This is the best marine life of all the spots and usually the best visibility. When you turn around, go out into the bay directly in front of where you entered about 150 to 250 yards, as there is great brain coral and just float above some to watch the fish come out and play. Then just go straight into the shore when you are tired. Keep your mask on right up to the shoreline, as there is a large school of fish that hang out and feed from the sandy bottom. There are no showers here, so take some water to wash the salt off your face and have a drink.
HIKING
Maui has a huge diversity of climate, plant life and geography. We have three hikes that we enjoy, all completely different. You can also just enjoy a great walk! Our favourites are the beach walk from the Mana Kai to the Andaz Hotel and back. This is about 2.5 miles along Keawakapu Beach. It’s relaxing and beautiful at any time of day. A great seawall walk or jog is from Ulua Beach going south to The Fairmont Hotel and back. It’s about a 45 minute to 1 hour walk on the seawall past all the big hotels, and Ulua and Wailea Beach.
This is great for those who like to climb a bit. You go up the West Side Ridge and look west on Maui. You will have great ocean and valley views as you climb above the canyons that helicopters fly into to see the West Maui Mountains. Have good shoes, and check the weather as rainfall can make the trail very slippery. Have lots of water and take a snack to reward yourself at the top viewpoint of the coast and the valley. Get here by going through Kahului and follow Highway 340 (Kahekili Highway), the coast road into the West Maui loop. When you get to Circle M Ranch turn left at the sign and go to the upper parking lot. If it is full, just wait until someone leaves as they turnover and the lower lot is a mile down the road. Total hike time is about 2 hours.
WAIHE’E RIDGE TRAIL
THOMPSON ROAD WALK
Go up through Pukalani to the Kula Upcountry area. You will be climbing up towards Haleakala Mountain. Stay on Highway 37 and travel south on the ridge. To your right, you will be looking down towards the valley between the Maui Mountain ranges. Stay on this road for about 15 minutes past Pukalani until you get to a small old village that has Grandma’s Coffe House and Ching Store on the right and a sign to the Kula Hospital on the left. Go towards the hospital and park on the left about 150 yards from where you turned. The walk starts on Thompson Road just below your parking area. This is a very quaint paved country road, with great views down towards the ocean and is not difficult. About 30 minutes into the walk, a big estate is on your left. This is owned by Oprah Winfrey. Just past it the road ends, or if you are a fitness buff you can turn left and go up a steep hill for a real workout. After going back to the car, you can turn left on the main road and go another 5 miles to the Maui Winery for great views (lousy wine), or go right back towards Pukalani and have lunch at the Kula Bistro or Ocean Vodka Distillery. Both of these can be found easily on Google Maps.
HAOPILI TRAIL
This moderate South Maui hike is a real treat and very unique as you hike along the coast through the lava fields from one of the last eruptions on Maui in 1790. It is like walking on the moon with a spectacular ocean view and the chance for a cooling dip in a small, private Blue Grotto. Take the road through Wailea towards Makena, past Big Beach and Ahihi Marine Reserve all the way to the end of the road. There is parking at the end of the road on lava rock. Wear solid shoes, no open toes. Take lots of water, and wear a bathing suit in case you can get into the Blue Grotto. The trail starts at the parking lot and goes south along the shore through a sandy/rocky treed area. You will then start a small climb and get onto the lava path, where you will feel like you are on the moon. The walk from the car along this trail to a lighthouse is 45 minutes to an hour. Go up to the lighthouse for pictures, and you can also go past this down to the beach where some stone shelters have been made by locals. When you return back from the lighthouse, start on a path closer to the waters edge, not the main path. There are some flat stepping stones. Follow these for about 150 yards until you see a small pool of water on your left. It is a bit of a climb down, but not hard if you go slow. The water pool is fed by waves coming over the lava coast and it stays the same depth as it also drains. We always go for a cooling swim here when we do this hike; it is a highlight for many of our visitors. Always look towards the ocean as a larger wave can wash water into the pool. The water is warm and only about 6 feet maximum depth, so this is a great place to hang out and enjoy wild nature. When ready, climb back up to the path, turn left, follow the path for another 100 yards and you will be close to the main lava trail you walked out on. Get back on the trail and work your way back to La Perouse Bay. The bay is a marine sanctuary and is the birthing place for pacific dolphins; if you’re lucky you will see them while looking out from the waterfront near the parking lot.
BEACH DAYS
All of the beaches on Maui are public and have both public access and parking. Some have washrooms and showers near the parking, which is great when you need to do a sand rinse or salt rinse after swimming. Frankly all the beaches are great, but have different features.
Ulua, Wailea, Keawakapu, and Polo are all in Wailea. Keawakapu borders Kihei and is easily walkable from The Palms at Wailea.
Further south is Chang’s Beach. The best spot to park here is right at the entrance to Makena Surf Condos. Walk down the sidewalk to the beach. There are showers when you leave, but no washrooms.
Secret Cove is a small, unbelievably beautiful cove that is great to stop at for pictures and to spend a bit of time, but swimming is not recommended here. (This is the beach pictured on our website!)
Our favourite beach, and where we are having the post-wedding beach day, is South Maluaka Beach which is just past the Discovery Development. This beach has a great grass area left of the beach with trees for shade. It has very clean washrooms and outdoor showers as it is maintained by the Discovery Resort.
Finally you can try Big Beach (or hike over a small lava cliff on the north side to clothing-optional Little Beach) which is very famous, but be careful here when swimming as the waves here crash very hard at shore and you can get a big surprise dump if you do not watch the wave action.
KAYAKING & PADDLEBOARDING
An early morning treat is to rent a kayak or paddleboard and go out in front of Wailea or Makena to enjoy the ocean. There is a real good chance in a kayak that you can get close to whales. Just watch out for boats or groups of kayaks that are stationary and they are probably near some whales. Make sure you keep a life jacket on and if the winds start, head closer to shore. You can rent at the major hotels, but the best place is at the Mana Kai hotel which is right on South Kihei Road and borders Kihei and Wailea. There are some companies that do tours out of Makena Landing, but if you have any experience it is just as easy to rent and go on your own.
SURFING & PADDLE SURFING
If you are a beginner and want to give surfing a try, just go to the surfboard rental shops across from Kamala Park in Kihei. The waves here tend to be small and are a great place to try surfing. They also have lessons available, which are fun. This spot is really safe and is the beginner spot for this part of the island. If you are a serious surfer you can figure it out as there are lots of wave reports available.
GOLF
There are a number of golf courses that have reasonable green fees: Pukalani, which is in the Kula area upcountry, The Dunes which is closer to Kahalui, and Maui Nui which is in Kihei. They are all fine but not the experience and view of the Wailea Golf Courses. The best are the Emerald and Gold Courses then the Blue. All are in Wailea, have great rental gear and will cost around $300 with the gear. We may try to set up a golf day, so if you are interested let Jason or Ron know and we can arrange a slightly cheaper rate if we are in a group that Trudy and Ron sponsor.
SHOPPING
There are some good shops in The Shops at Wailea, the Four Seasons hotel and Kihei. But Maui is not a shoppers paradise unless you’re looking for art, bathing suits, t-shirts, sandals, fun jewellery, tiki mugs, sarongs and souvenirs.
If you venture to Paia or Makawao you will find a handful of great boutiques!
DAY TRIPS
There are lots of wonderful parts of the island to explore. These are a few of our family favourites if you’re up for a bit of a longer excursion.
Going to the north/east side of the island is a perfect Maui experience as the waves tend to be bigger and this is where most of the surfing happens. A great drive is to go Up Country on Highway 37 until you see the sign to Makawao. This is a quaint small town with art stores, some great boutiques and good browsing. Visit Viewpoints Gallery to see some of the best local artists and go to the back of the same building to see the glass blowing factory and the artisans in action. After you leave Makawao, go down Baldwin Road towards Paia. This is a surfing town with lots of fun shops, swimwear, clothing and decor boutiques, great small restaurants for lunch and some smaller craft stores. Afterwards, drive south on Hana Highway (the Main Street through town) towards Mama’s Fish House, the most famous restaurant on the island. If you can get a lunch or dinner reservation, take it as the food is excellent. If not, go down in front of the building and get a great view of the ocean. Past Mama’s about 1 mile is the famous Ho’Okipa Beach which is a great place to stop, sit on the sand or stay up on the bluff near the parking and watch the surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing etc action. You may see large groups of Turtles sunbathing in the cove below the parking lot. This is a world famous area for the water sports of all kinds and a must-see when you visit Maui.
UPCOUNTRY AND PAIA
NORTHEAST MAUI
WEST MAUI LOOP
NORTHWEST MAUI
This is a real treat, but a scary drive in some areas as the road is only wide enough for 1 car so you need great driving skills. If you do the full loop, go counter-clockwise around the island. Along the way you’ll find amazing viewpoints, a famous banana bread stand, and an art gallery or two. Another way to experience a good portion of it (which is very safe) is to drive clockwise from Kihei to the old Lahaina, past here to Kapalua, then to Fleming Beach for a swim or to watch the surfers. Golfers can visit the Kapalua Plantation Course Pro Shop (playing is $500, so out of my price range). After Kapalua keep going clockwise for about 5 miles and you will come to the famous Nakalele Blow Hole. The view from here is spectacular as you look out towards Molokai across the channel. You can park here and walk down towards the Blow Hole. Do not go all the way down and stay clear of the Blow Hole, as the backwash has swept a few fools out to sea.
When you finish the drive or turn back from the Blow Hole, you will come to the burnt town of Lahaina. There are still a few good restaurants that escaped the fire so you can stop at Star Noodle for Asian Fusion dishes or Honu Oceanside. Another great option is to stop in Kapalua at Merriman’s which is the best restaurant outlook on the island. Just get there before 5PM and go out on the outdoor deck for Happy Hour drinks (not for the driver) and pupu’s.
THE ROAD TO HANA
NORTHEAST MAUI
The Road to Hana is a famous scenic drive that connects the towns of Kahului and Hana. It's known for its ocean views, waterfalls, black sand beaches and hairpin turns. Wai'anapanapa State Park features a famous black sand beach, bamboo forests and waterfalls are beautiful to explore, and the lava rock formations along the route are cool to see. There are a few spots to stop for snacks along the way, but bring all your adventure gear: water, snacks, sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, good shoes, bug spray and a camera!
DINING
As a general rule, eating out here is expensive, but there are lots of great options for the economically-minded and the local cuisine is wonderful. For the higher end restaurants, it is very wise to make a reservation as they tend to be busy. When you go to a restaurant in a hotel just valet your car as parking is free and you just need to give the drivers a small tip when leaving.
BREAKFAST
Don’t skip on the local fresh fruit and coffee for fueling up your morning activities. The hotels all have breakfast options but they are expensive, so try out a local cafe or coffee shop, or stock up on groceries for home.
AKAMAI COFFEE
A great spot just above the Blue Golf Course building and in Kihei.
SPOON & KEY MARKET
A high-quality local eatery with a full breakfast and lunch menu. Located in the shops above the Blue Golf Course.
MAUI GELATO & WAFFLES
NALU’S SOUTH SHORE GRILL
A busy local hangout, in Azkeka Mall on the water side.
KIHEI CAFFE
A local Hawaiian diner voted best breakfast in Kihei. Across from Kalama park, this very popular spot is known for big, delicious breakfast plates (hangover specials).
This local health food store has great takeout options for breakfast and lunch. Grab a smoothie and some granola for your morning beach walk!
HAWAIIAN MOONS NATURAL FOODS
AMIGOS
Mexican/American style breakfast served all day, near the Longs Drugs on South Kihei Road.
Located in Dolphin Mall across from Kamaole 1 Beach. Good for Gelato but they do waffles etc for breakfast.
CASUAL DINING
There are plenty of great casual options than are not expensive for both lunch and dinner. We also love getting takeout to enjoy at the beach or the pool.
FOOD TRUCKS
KIHEI & WAILEA
The food trucks are famous on Maui! This is a great way to get a variety of options for a group of people. Visit the Kihei Food Oasis (on Auhana Road), or South Maui Gardens. These are connected and have over a dozen options of food styles. Bring your own drinks if desired as liquor is not available. You will also see food trucks on the side of the road, and even a couple along the Wailea Beach Path.
TIKI BARS
KIHEI
A Tiki lunch or happy hour is a must-do. The South Shore Tiki Lounge on Keala Place across from Foodland is our favourite. This is a classic booze and pizza bar that is a must for lunch with outdoor picnic tables, mai tais, zombies and margs (oh my!). A Bagan annual family tradition. Cheap and tiki-taki, count on an afternoon snooze after a visit.
Thai restaurants are fantastic on Maui. Our two favourites are Nutcharee’s in Azeka Mall or Maui Thai Bistro across from Kamaole 2 Beach.
THAI
KIHEI
KIHEI & WAILEA
SUSHI
You can buy great sushi to go at Island Gourmet Market or Foodland, but if you want to go out try Oao in the shops at the top of Wailea Ike Drive, or Nikkei Sushi in the shops just above the Blue Golf Course. The best takeout sushi is at Koiso Sushi Bar in the Dolphin Mall. The best Japanese dining by far is at Marimoto at the Andaz Hotel, but is expensive and a reservation is needed.
KIHEI & WAILEA
ITALIAN
There are 4 great Italian style spots. In order of cost and quality they are:
1) Manolis at the Blue Golf Course: great pizza, plus pastas burgers etc on the menu. A casual and fun outdoor atmosphere.
2) Fabiani’s on Lipoa Street: casual, a bit of a mall atmosphere, but very good food. Pizza, great pasta, blackened Mahi Mahi, cheap wine and beer. Also a good takeout place.
3) Matteo’s Osteria: a step up, very good Italian food, great wine list, nice atmosphere, need reservations, not open Monday and Tuesday.
4) Ferraro’s: one of the best restaurants on Maui. In the Four Seasons Hotel with open air water views. Expensive, but worth the splurge, this is Ron’s personal favourite for a special occasion (“buck up guys as this is a romantic spot”). Need a reservation.
PIZZA
Fabiani’s, Manoli’s, and Pizza Madness all are good and make for a cheaper takeout dinner.
MONKEYPOD
KIHEI & WAILEA
Known for their Mai Tais, good vibes and Happy Hour from 3:30-5pm. It can get busy.
MORE CASUAL DINING
KIHEI & WAILEA
All of these are across from Kamaole 2 Beach: Maui Fish’n Chips (Dolphin Mall) / Cafe O’Lei (local and cheap Mai Tais) / Coconuts (great fish or beef tacos, best to call ahead for pickup) / Fred’s Mexican Cafe (big portions and cheap margaritas) / Paia Fish Market / Moose McGillycuddy’s (hamburgers, bar food)
In the Wailea Shops try The Pint & Cork for great food and a sports bar atmosphere.
LOCAL AND FINE DINING
Wailea has some very good restaurants, and we highly recommend you make reservations well in advance. Most have bars that do not require reservations.
GATHER ON MAUI
A beautiful, newly renovated restaurant the Wailea Golf Club with amazing ocean views, good local options and some casual choices.
TOMMY BAHAMA
In the Shops at Wailea. What you expect, consistent and a bit cheaper, good happy hour and local choices
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
Steak and more steak. A few other options on the menu, but this is probably the best pure steak deal.
NICK’S FISHMARKET
HOTEL WAILEA
MATTEO’S
From the Italian section above. Very good Italian food. Try for a patio table. They can take a bigger group up to 8 people.
FERRARO’S
Also in the Italian genre. On the waterfront garden at the Four Seasons Hotel, this is the best outdoor/ocean atmosphere in Wailea. A step up from Matteo’s but more expensive.
A Wolfgang Puck restaurant, also in the Four Seasons with great views, so ask for a window seat. Very good local cuisine, and traditional steaks etc.
KO
SPAGO
In the Fairmont Hotel, this our standby for very consistent great local food, lots of fish options as well as meat. One of our favourites. Sit at the bar if just two of you.
Also in the Fairmont Hotel, this is a great spot for Happy Hour (4:30-6pm) at the bar if you can get a spot and has the best beef sliders on Maui. Don’t skip the Mai Tai with pineapple foam! But a real good menu in the sit down area as well, again with lots of local choices.
We will be here at The Birdcage lounge for our Welcome Party on March 2nd. If you come back, they have great burgers and high-end lounge food.
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea is as close to Michelin as you will get on Maui. They have an expensive 3-course option, but you can just choose fewer options. This is a very beautiful place for special occasions.
