How one tequila lover turned a Makawao bike park into Hawai‘i’s only blue agave distillery.
The Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute heals injured Hawaiian sea turtles.
The 20th ‘Aipono Awards celebrate the best of Maui's culinary community.
POSTMASTER:
ON THE COVER Pan-fried mahi mahi from ‘Aipono Award winner Māla Ocean Tavern pairs with Moloka‘i sweet potatoes, veggies and ginger-garlic black bean sauce.
Photo by Keegan Kim
Tales of the island fresh off the coconut wireless. Maui Off-Road Adventures explores the island, and the Fairmont Kea Lani gets an upgrade.
Hawaiian kanpachi recipes from ‘Aipono Award winner Chef Kyle Kawakami.
Everything you need to know about dining on Maui, from casual bites to luxury experiences.
Discovering island events and people through photography, featuring the winners of the 20th annual ‘Aipono Awards.
JUNE-JULY 2024 VOL. 28, NO. 3
Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi is an internationally-distributed magazine dedicated to exploring the life and culture of Maui Nui. There’s a saying known in the islands: Maui nō ka ‘oi, Hawaiian for “Maui is the best.” We hope you think so, too.
Publisher & Executive Editor Chris Amundson
Associate Publisher
Angela Amundson
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Darren Smith
SENIOR DESIGNER
Jennifer Stevens
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
Victoria Finlayson, Lauren Warring
ADVERTISING SALES
Maile Kekona, Marilyn Koponen
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
Carol Butler, Janice Sudbeck
SUBSCRIBE
Call 1-844-808-6284, visit MauiMagazine.net or return a subscription card from this issue to subscribe: 1 year (6 issues) for $30 or 2 years (12 issues) for $52. Call or email subscriptions@mauimagazine.net for fundraising opportunities and bulk rates.
ADVERTISE
For rates and premier position availability, call (808) 242-8331 or email advertising@mauimagazine.net. Reservation deadlines are three months prior to publication dates.
CONTRIBUTE
Send queries, stories, photos and letters to the editor to editor@mauimagazine.net.
COPYRIGHT
All text, photography and artwork are copyright ©2024 by Flagship Publishing, Inc. For reprint permissions, email editor@mauimagazine.net.
Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine
220 Imi Kala St, Unit 204 PO Box 1450 Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 242-8331
MauiMagazine.net
Maui Nō Ka 'Oi Magazine is printed on acid- and chlorine-free paper from Sappi, an environmental leader whose paper products comply with the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
Fresh off the coconut wireless
by Ashley Probst
Maui Off-Road Adventures offers exhilarating rides and opportunity to plant trees to help restore island
STRAP INTO AN ALL-TERRAIN vehicle and feel the engine purr as you set off on winding trails in the West Maui Mountains. Whip around rocky curves and tunnel under natural canopies, the path shifting beneath your wheels. Laughter erupts as ATVs splash through puddles, throwing mud on occupants — a badge of honor on this thrilling adventure.
As high energy as the experience is, there’s also a sense of peace while navigating the lush landscape. Sunlight filters through the trees, butterflies and dragonflies flit through the soft air, and bright blooms pop with color amid the scent of fresh rain mingled with earth. Beyond the jungle-green interior, breathtaking views of Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and the ‘Au‘au Channel arise in vivid splendor. Whether exploring dense grassy expanses untouched by time, revving up exposed hillsides to capture those panoramic vistas or traversing gullies, the rough terrain feels
surprisingly smooth atop Maui Off-Road Adventures’ Can-Am Maverick Sport MAX all-terrain vehicles. And the sharper the corner, the greater the surprise around the bend.
“The vehicles themselves are very apt to do whatever we could throw at them. They’ll climb up just about anything,” said Jesse Sword, vice president of operations. They’re made to handle the muddy flanks of this fertile mountainside located below one of the wettest places on the planet.
With expert staff guiding the way, guests of all ages and skill levels can enjoy a seamless journey across thousands of acres and 25 miles of interconnected trails. “We had a 92-year-old lady come up by herself and drive herself the whole two hours. She loved it,” Sword recalled of one of his most memorable riders. “She came back with three friends a month later.”
Providing an exhilarating ATV ride that also celebrates Maui County’s rich history and stunning natural beauty lies at the heart of Maui Off-Road Adventures — an island tour company committed to education and environmental stewardship. “We’re ripping around in a four-wheeldrive machine, but also getting to give back to Maui,” Sword said.
Over the last several years, Maui Off-Road Adventures’ crew and customers have planted approximately 30,000 koa, ‘a‘ali‘i, ‘ulei,
pōhinahina and other native Hawaiian trees and shrubs in partnership with Pu‘u Kukui Watershed Preserve. The reforestation project aims to transform former plantation lands into a thriving grove to help mitigate prevalent island issues such as soil erosion and freshwater scarcity, with a future goal of introducing up to 15 native species at higher elevations.
Maui Off-Road Adventures extends its philanthropic efforts beyond reforestation, demonstrating a commitment to animal welfare through a collaboration with Good Cat Network. The team also took on a humanitarian role following the Lāhainā wildfire, raising more than $40,000 for Maui Off-Road Adventures ‘ohana affected by the disaster.
The company’s present focus is returning to pre-fire operations, which Sword estimated will take about a year. From there, the company hopes to build its own shop, which will include a dedicated check-in area and parking lot.
Currently, Maui Off-Road Adventures runs its two-hour tours daily for guests ages 7 and older, bringing to life a vision in which adventure and conservation coexist and charting a path toward a more sustainable island for all.
Riders explore 25 miles of West Maui trails. Sustainability commitment includes reforestation efforts. The muddier the ride is, the bigger the smiles.
by Mike Morris
IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE, piko is known as the center — or where life begins.
That concept was applied to the recent remodel of the Fairmont Kea Lani, with the resort’s new cultural center, Hale Kukuna, serving as the piko of the 22-acre property on Maui’s south shore in Wailea.
As k ukuna means “rays of the sun,” the center’s name is symbolic for spreading Hawaiian culture throughout the resort as well as the larger Maui community, said cultural ambassador Kamalei Purdy.
Despite a museum-like atmosphere, the relics on display at Hale Kukuna are interactive and tangible. “Everything in our space is meant to be touched,” Purdy said as she retrieved items from themed cabinets.
One display showcases colorful leis along with a hat band made of peacock feathers. As most native Hawaiian birds are now extinct, these leis are replicas featuring brightly dyed duck, goose and chicken feathers.
Next to them, a “fishing and war cabinet” has shelves filled with handmade fishing hooks, an octopus lure and weapons made with shark teeth.
There are two music-themed cabinets — one displaying ukuleles made of koa and monkeypod, and another with more traditional drums created from coconuts and gourds.
“I like to stump a lot of people and tell them that the ukulele is not a Hawaiian instrument, it’s a Portuguese instrument,” Purdy said with a laugh.
Educating guests is one of the goals of the immersive cultural center, which boasts a curated collection of Hawaiian books that people can read in the lounge area or even borrow like a library.
A statue of the hotel’s matriarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani — the last queen of Hawai‘i — oversees the reading area. Another of sculptor Dale Zarrella’s pieces, titled “Mermaid Dream,” can be found on the other end of the resort’s expansive lobby.
Plans are in the works for select artifacts
Hale Kukuna, the Fairmont Kea Lani’s new immersive cultural center, boasts books, instruments, implements, artwork and artifact replicas made by Native Hawaiians. Nearby, guests enjoy sushi and elegantly crafted cocktails at the new ocean view lounge, Pilina.
from Hale Hō‘ike‘ike, the Maui Historical Society in Wailuku, to be displayed at Hale Kukuna, which sits just beyond the Kea Lani’s main lobby. The highly visible space also hosts ukulele and hula lessons along with lei making classes.
“People coming in from any angle can see us,” Purdy noted. “A lot of the guests tell us they’re very happy to see a space like this.”
T HE SAME PHILOSOPHY of sharing Hawaiian culture can be found just a few steps away at the Kea Lani’s new open-air bar and restaurant, Pilina, where the bartender is known to forage the property for edible flowers and herbs.
Manager Cameron Hall worked for a year to source ingredients and help connect guests to tastes that are unique to the Hawaiian Islands.
“Mauka,” one of three specialty cocktails, combines ingredients including FY O rganic Hawai‘i Wet Gin, ‘Ōhi‘a lehua honey from Big Island Bees, Ali‘i Kula Lavender and smoked bee pollen from the Big Island. Another cocktail, “Makai,” blends
Kula-based Ocean Organic Vodka with aloe, limu and sea asparagus, among other flavors.
P ilina’s Hawaiian-infused innovations apply to its signature Mai Tai, which includes a kukui and macadamia orgeat syrup.
Kukui nuts actually play a small part in a prominent display back over at Hale Kukuna: an exhibit of kapa, or bark cloth, features a pattern printed using the ash of burned kukui nuts. It’s details like these that convey an authentic experience, whether exploring the educational displays at the cultural center or sipping a craft cocktail and watching the sunset in the tropical breeze.
Pilina, which means relationship or connection, also serves lunch and dinner; the latter includes sushi rolls, sashimi and an interactive hot rock bar serving everything from ahi and ebi to wagyu and venison.
T he opening of P ilina e arlier this year marked the completion of Fairmont Kea Lani’s extensive, multi-year transformation project. In addition to 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two-story villas, the resort unveiled its reimagined lobby with Hale Kukuna as the piko.
How one tequila lover turned a Makawao bike park into Hawai‘i’s only blue agave distillery.
by Todd A. Vines
photographs by Rachel Olsson
Blue agave plants are harvested by hand using a coa to remove needle-sharp leaves. The bulbous core, the piña, is then cooked for more than 42 hours.
AHEAVY MIST rolled across Makawao. The moisture enveloped Paul Turner’s agave fields and triggered a heady petrichor, the unmistakable scent of wet Earth.
“ The plants are happy here,” said Turner, owner of Waikulu Distillery, a farm-tobottle maker of blue agave spirits. “It’s a perfect crop for Hawai‘i.”
What began as an experiment with just a handful of plants has grown into a budding adult beverage business. Waikulu is the only distillery in Hawai‘ i producing agave spirits, a distilled alcohol similar to tequila. The word “waikulu” in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i means “dripping water” and has historically been used to describe distilling alcohol, which drips slowly from the still.
Turner’s farm is home to some 3,000 agave tequilana destined for distillation. The spiky, blue-green plants, arranged in tidy rows across six acres, take roughly seven years to mature. The plant’s compact, bulbous core, known as the piña, is harvested by hand and brought to the property’s distinct, turquoise
barn, where it’s cooked, crushed, fermented and distilled. About half of the spirits produced are placed in barrels for aging, while the rest are bottled and sold as a crisp, unaged “silver.” Both aged and unaged varieties are offered in the adjacent tasting room, which opened to visitors in 2023.
Agave aficionados tend to be extremely passionate. In fact, many of the young distillery’s visitors are tequila drinkers that spontaneously stop in after spying the agave fields from Baldwin Avenue.
“They’re driving by, and they see the plants, and they U-turn and come in, and they’re just like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ ”
“I happened on this by accident,” said Turner, who got his first blue agave plants by mail in 2011 and put them in the ground for landscaping. Turner soon found that Makawao’s temperate climate and reliable rainfall produced agave that grew larger and matured faster than that grown elsewhere.
“The plants are super resilient to drought and extreme temperatures, but they’re only
happy in a narrow temperature range,” Turner said. “Here, all day, every day, they’re pretty much growing.”
For the self-professed lifelong lover of tequila, making the leap from landscaping to liquor may have been natural, but it was a leap, nonetheless.
Turner’s first business venture on the Valley Isle was Bike Park Maui, a sprawling space with trails and berms for mountain bikes that opened in 2014, not long a fter Turner’s first agave plants arrived. Within a few years, bike spokes gave way to agave spikes. Turner closed the bike park, planting more and more blue agave, sowing the seeds of what would become Waikulu Distillery.
“I didn’t always want to be a farmer,” Turner said. “That kind of came when I moved to Maui. But distilling has always been out there, fascinating me. The big thing was the added value, turning something you grow into booze, and the machinery and methods to do that was really what was interesting to me.
“So, why not give it a go?”
The company filled its first bottle in 2022. The tasting room and small-group farm tours soon followed. In 2023, Waikulu Distillery sold 5,600 bottles in its first full year of production. Despite limited distribution, the company is on track to double that number in 2024. Outside of the farm, Waikulu spirits are only available at select local restaurants and a handful of Maui retailers.
While most people are familiar with tequila, the term “agave spirit” is less commonly used.
An agave spirit is any distilled spirit made from an agave plant, the most recognizable being tequila and mezcal. Unlike other a gave spirits, tequila and mezcal enjoy a geographic distinction, designating spirits made in specific states in Mexico, much the same way that true champagne designates sparkling wine that specifically hails from the Champagne region of northeastern France.
“There’s a culture around tequila that we respect, but we’re trying to develop our own lingo and a culture that’s more Hawaiian
style, not just copy Mexico,” Turner said.
Though Waikulu Distillery’s spirits are similar to tequila, the blue agave plants they’re made from have shown distinct differences from their counterparts in Mexico. A mature Maui piña weighs nearly 400 pounds, roughly four times the weight of those grown south of the border. (One piña recently weighed in at more than 600 pounds.) Local agave plants boast a higher sugar content, too, making the piña sweeter.
“If you look at all the other spirits, they’re made from really benign ingredients: sugar, corn, potatoes, barley. They couldn’t be more boring in their natural state. Whereas this plant is badass and prehistoric. It’s not edible until it’s cooked. There’s an acid in there that’ll rip your throat apart. And the spines, and needles and everything. It’s a wrangly plant.”
Agave distilleries have popped up across a handful of U.S. states in recent years, including California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. In Hawai‘i, there is no agave industry. Just Turner.
“Tequila has always been my spirit of choice. Now, completely understanding
the process, I can see why people get so passionate about it.”
Turner moved to Maui from Colorado in 2008. A design pioneer in the bicycle industry, Turner is credited with crafting the first front suspension fork for a mountain bike, a common feature today but novel a generation ago. He started the bicycle-suspension company RockShox with a partner in 1989, which g rew to employ hundreds and eventually went public. The hands-on Turner discovered, however, that corporate success demanded a change in his role with the company.
“I was the creative person behind the company, but it got to the point where I couldn’t do creative work,” Turner said. “I had to go to board meetings and production meetings. That’s not going to happen again.”
Turner’s vision is to keep the Waikulu Distillery brand boutique.
“The plan is to not be much different than we are now,” Turner said. “It’s really frustrating, if you’re trying to do a craft, to have that disconnect from your customers. The bigger
Fermentation takes about a week before the juice, or mash (top left), is double distilled in Turner’s handcrafted still — partially modeled after his exhaust pipe designs for 2-stroke dirt bikes. Maui agave can weigh up to 400 pounds, each yielding 40 bottles of spirit, unaged or barrel-aged for up to 12 months.
you get, the more you’re pulled away from so many parts of the process.”
The entire Waikulu Distillery team consists of just four employees in addition to Turner, one of which is Viviana Amezola. As manager of Waikulu Distillery, Amezola is a familiar face around the farm and often engages with visitors. For Amezola, it’s an opportunity to expound on how the small team is doing more than just making booze — they’re telling a story.
“Everyone is drinking this huge journey,” Amezola said. “These plants have been here for a long time, and the entire process is just so hands-on and small-batch. It really makes you appreciate the plant, craft and hard work that went into it.”
Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute gives injured sea turtles a fighting chance story
Amputation used to be the first response to injured sea turtle flippers, but the MOCMI team found a way to save honu from the knife.
DUSTIN PARADIS LIGHTS up when he talks about turtles. As the director of Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, he gets excited discussing the gadgetry by his side and how it’s instrumental in healing injured honu, the Hawaiian word for sea turtle.
“See this?” he asks, holding up a wandlooking thing that emits various frequencies of red and blue light. Just as he is about to reveal the million-dollar answer, the door to the small treatment room cracks open.
“We got a call. There’s a turtle stranding in West Maui,” someone unseen informs, the voice trailing off as the speaker moves through like a town crier with news of the day. “So sorry, but I have to go,” Paradis says apologetically, grabbing his gear as he darts out into the midday sun.
It’s a scene that unfolds regularly in Mā‘alaea, where the Institute operates adjacent to its titular benefactor, Maui Ocean Center. Part of a global network of marine parks owned by Coral World International — a longtime advocate of ocean health and biodiversity — Maui Ocean Center provides office and lab space, fresh and saltwater tanks, utilities and other in-kind support. In return, the scrappy marine conservation nonprofit is giving the island’s beloved sea turtles a helping hand.
While the two entities share space, part of a name and executive leadership under MOCMI board president and MOC General Manager Tapani Vuori, each operates independently. “He’s kind of our Switzerland,” Paradis quips of Vuori, whose dual role helps ensure synergistic flexibility in the always shifting nonprofit landscape, or seascape, in this instance.
Already in Maui Ocean Center leadership, Vuori accepted the GM position in 2002 on one condition: the greenlighting of Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, a federally recognized nonprofit focused primarily on coral restoration and sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation.
Vuori officially introduced the nonprofit marine institute at the International Union for Conservation of Nature conference on O‘ahu in 2016. Maui conservationist Cheryl King, a longtime community organizer of sanctioned turtle-rescue efforts, was brought on as a short-term consultant followed by the installation of the institute’s first director.
When Paradis first became involved with MOCMI programs in 2019, the institute primarily focused on turtle stranding response, research and education. Badly injured turtles, usually the result of boat strikes, shark
attacks or fishing-gear entanglement, were transported to O‘ahu’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Science Center where the standard protocol for severely injured flippers was amputation. Once recovered from surgery, the turtles were returned to Maui and released.
There simply wasn’t the staff or infrastructure for extensive rehabilitation, Paradis explained. “A lot of hard decisions had to be made,” he said. There were multiple factors to consider, such as estimated age, injury severity, breeding potential, projected species contribution over lifespan, etc., not to mention further stressing already compromised turtles with confinement, plane t ravel and likely one less appendage.
Then Covid hit, shuttering state and federal agencies — including NOAA — which enlisted MOCMI to oversee turtle rehabilitation in the interim, believed then to be a few months at most. “That kicked us into the turtle rehab game,” Paradis said.
Witnessing the sheer scope of flipper damage from fishing-gear entanglement and other major threats left the young director wondering if amputation was the only solution. “You wouldn’t amputate an injured ankle on a human, unless there’s gangrene perhaps,” he theorized. “It felt a little like
turtle rescues through earlier grassroots efforts helmed by King and others. Whether in the turtle yard assisting with daily cleaning, feeding, treatments and patient notes or in the water offering on-site relief or capture for treatment, MOCMI volunteers are “the foundation of our field-response program,” Paradis said.
After turtles are admitted for rehab, the patients are microchipped internally with PIT tags commonly used for cats and dogs. For the short-term, identification numbers are lightly etched into shells, or carapace, and painted. After about a year, the carapace etchings disappear as the permanent PIT tags continue t o reveal repeat offenders, with one turtle coming through the system six times. “We’re like, ‘C’mon man, I know you want that easy snack on the line, but you better figure it out,’ ” Paradis said with a laugh.
Encountering a turtle previously released from entanglement is not uncommon. Hawaiian green sea turtles consistently return to the same habitat. “We find a lot of turtles are reported multiple times because our inwater teams know the reefs, the spots where turtles go to feed, rest and clean themselves,” Paradis said.
The art of distinguishing individual turtles, which sport unique scale patterns on their face and flippers, developed over time for MOCMI volunteers Bruce Weyermann and Alan Espiritu. “You also discover their habits, when and where they sleep and eat,” said Weyermann, eyeing the rocky shoreline beyond Kīhei Beach Resort’s lush grassy knoll. “I can point out where they probably are right now.”
The married couple had barely unpacked after moving to South Maui in 2015 before they jumped at the chance to participate in sea turtle rescues. For these MOCMI volunteers, seeing previously triaged turtles turn up hearty and healthy is worth the many hours of unpaid labor and salt-puckered skin. “When you see an individual you assisted earlier, you really get that sense of reconnection,” Weyermann said, “plus the satisfaction of knowing you were part of its recovery.”
For Espiritu, the bond has a more spiritual bent. Before he enters the water, whether as a citizen scientist or simply a citizen, he meditates on sending energy to distressed turtles nearby. “I sort of quietly chant, letting the turtles know that we’re here for them,” he said.
Whatever they’re doing appears to be
‘Aumākua
(ancestral spirits) may return as honu to protect and guide their people.
Above: Tiki art by Tasini Tiki Gallery at The Shops at Wailea.
by Pomaika‘i Krueger MNKO Cultural Advisor
Hawaiian tradition believes ancestors may return to the living to act as protectors and guides in an earthly form called ‘aumākua. Whether a manō — a shark, a pueo — an owl, a specific plant, a particular rain, or even a honu — a green sea turtle. A family would recognize the ‘aumākua as a specific ancestor and revere and care for the ‘aumākua.
The most popular story of a benevolent honu ‘aumākua is from Punalu‘u o n the Big Island. Kauila was a honu born at the freshwater springs: Ka Wai Hū O Kauila, meaning the rising water of Kauila in reference to the bubbling springs.
Kauila is a shapeshifter who changes from a honu into a young girl to play
with the children of Punalu‘u. When young children who cannot swim fall into the springs, Kauila saves them. She is a benevolent protector, a guardian angel.
K ānaka maoli (native Hawaiian) traditions tell an interesting history concerning the origin of the honu. The ancient mother goddess Hina was once kidnapped by a giant moving hill named Hā‘upu. Hina’s heroic sons Kana and Nīheu learned the source of power for Hā‘upu were hidden flippers beneath the sea. Kana removed the flippers and cut them into many little pieces, creating the honu we know today.
Hā‘upu, the sea cliff off North Moloka‘i is a stationary reminder of the origin of the honu, the sacred and marvelous creature who is born on land, lives in the sea and breathes air — a mysterious symbol of mana — spiritual energy
working as the pair have a knack for locating distressed turtles, assisted with more than 1,000 turtle rescues to date. “We’ll go in for a snorkel and, sometimes within a few minutes, there’s an entangled turtle in the same spot, at the same time, that needs freeing,” Espiritu said. “I don’t think it’s coincidence. I think the turtles are looking for us.”
And they very well could be. A symbol of longevity and mana (life energy) in Hawaiian culture, the amphibious honu are considered a type of ‘aumākua or ancestral spirit uniting earth and water. While myths and legends involving honu are many and varied, the tale of Kauila — a turtle that assumed the shape of a young girl to help guide and protect keiki in the ocean — is a well-known retelling of the honu as guardian angel.
AT MOCMI, PARADIS and his mostly volunteer team are flipping the script. Just shy of guardian-angel grade, the lifesaving work they do is near sacrosanct for both human and reptile. While it is patently unscientific to assign anthropomorphic qualities like gratitude and appreciation to a turtle, Paradis shared a story of one long-term patient with second thoughts about his regifted freedom.
Upon releasing a rehabbed turtle near Honokeana Bay, an in-water team member wearing a GoPro camera recorded the large male underwater swimming off without hesitation. However, drone footage shot from above captured a much different outcome. After initially skirting away, the turtle turned and followed its unwitting liberator back to shore before finally heading out to sea.
It’s moments like these that drive MOCMI staff and volunteers into the water time and again, upending their plans in a heartbeat for a distressed honu. “They’re incredibly resilient with an amazing capacity to heal,” noted Paradis, who’s witnessed turtles in the wild recover from gruesome injuries — back flipper and part of their shell missing — that would permanently sideline most living things.
Since time immemorial, the enduring sea turtle has managed to survive when other species could not. Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute is committed to continuing this trend through rescue and recovery programs designed to keep Maui Nui’s honu healthy.
“The turtles do all the hard work,” said Paradis. “We’re just helping them out.”
Rehabilitated honu are safely released back to their ocean habitat while Paradis’ team and volunteers carefully watch their return, both from shore and underwater. Honu are resilient, and with the help of MOCMI, hundreds of turtles swim freely with all four flippers.
What’s in a name? In Hawaiian, ai means “to eat,” and pono means “excellence.” Put them together and you have an awards competition that honors Maui’s best restaurants, as voted by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi. This year, we announced the winners at a special ‘Aipono Awards Reception, held at Seascape Restaurant, that raised funds for UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
GOLD Huihui**
SILVER (tie) Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**
Honorable Mention Kō, Mama’s Fish House
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD Duckine*
SILVER Lima Cocina + Cantina
Honorable Mention
Marlow, Tiffany’s, Oao Sushi Bar & Grill
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
GOLD Māla Ocean Tavern
SILVER Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mention
Seascape Restaurant, Star Noodle, Honu Oceanside*, Pacific’o on the Beach**, Kimo’s**
MOST “MAUI-EST”
GOLD Huihui**
SILVER Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mention
Kō, Māla Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST SERVICE
GOLD Lāhainā Grill**
SILVER Kō
Honorable Mention
Māla Ocean Tavern, Mama’s Fish House, Monkeypod Kitchen, Ka‘ana Kitchen, Huihui**
BEST CHEF’S TABLE
GOLD Ka‘ana Kitchen
SILVER Fond
Honorable Mention
Māla Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**, Huihui**
BEST LOCAL FLAVOR
GOLD Tiffany’s
SILVER Star Noodle
Honorable Mention
Kō, Monkeypod Kitchen, Down the Hatch**, Huihui**
MOST ROMANTIC SETTING
GOLD Mama’s Fish House
SILVER Merriman’s Kapalua
Honorable Mention Cafe O’Lei, Japengo, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea, Lāhainā Grill**
*Temporarily closed **Permanently closed
BEST HEALTHY FARE
GOLD (tie) Choice Health Bar, Moku Roots
SILVER Fork & Salad
Honorable Mention
A‘A Roots, Earth Aloha Eats, It’s Cherry**
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
GOLD Kō
SILVER (tie) Lineage, Duckine*
Honorable Mention
Ka‘ana Kitchen, Moku Roots, SixtyTwo MarcKet
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD Papa‘aina at Pioneer Inn**
SILVER SixtyTwo MarcKet
Honorable Mention
Mala Ocean Tavern, Gazebo Restaurant, Ka‘ana Kitchen, Kihei Caffe, Down the Hatch**
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD SixtyTwo MarcKet
SILVER Marco’s Grill & Deli
Honorable Mention
Cafe O’Lei, Lima Cocina + Cantina, Star Noodle
BEST PIZZA
GOLD Maui Pizza Truck
SILVER (tie) Marlow, Sale Pepe*
Honorable Mention
Flatbread Company, Pizza Paradiso, Lāhainā Pizza Company**, Prison St. Pizza**
BEST HAPPY HOUR
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Down the Hatch**
Honorable Mention
Esters Fair Prospect, Māla Ocean Tavern, Sea House Restaurant
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
GOLD Kō
SILVER Japengo
Honorable Mention
Māla Ocean Tavern, Huihui**, Pacific’o on the Beach**
BEST HAWAI‘I REGIONAL CUISINE
GOLD Kō
SILVER Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mention
Ka‘ana Kitchen, Lineage, Tiffany’s
BEST LŪ‘AU
GOLD Old Lāhainā Lū‘au
SILVER (tie) The Feast at Mōkapu at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Maui Nui Lū‘au at Black Rock at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Honorable Mention
Drums of the Pacific at Hyatt Regency Maui, Feast at Lele**
BEST GOURMET GRAB & GO
GOLD Island Gourmet Markets
SILVER Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Honorable Mention
Choice Health Bar, Tin Roof Maui
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
GOLD Star Noodle
SILVER Duckine*
Honorable Mention
Isana, Japengo, Lineage, Nuka
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE
GOLD Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
SILVER Thai Mee Up
Honorable Mention
A Saigon Cafe, My Thai, Duckine*, Star Noodle, Thai Chef*
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
GOLD Pita Paradise
SILVER Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill
Honorable Mention
Café des Amis, Mediterranean Grill
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Fork & Salad sources local ingredients that are good for the body and the environment
by Lauren Warring
CHEF-INSPIRED farm-to-table restaurant Fork & Salad makes local, healthy food accessible and affordable — all while doing it sustainably.
Fork & Salad founders Jaron Blosser, Cody Christopher and Travis Morrin opened Fork & Salad in 2016 as a fast casual, farm-to-table restaurant that uses locally sourced Maui ingredients. The menu features chef-inspired salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, wraps, soups and kombucha.
Fork & Salad partners with over 20 local farmers and suppliers across the state to find fresh produce for their chef-inspired dishes. The Waihe‘e Valley Plantation in Wailuku provides the macadamia nuts for the pesto spread on sandwich favorites like the Ancho Chile-Seasoned Steak. Dish staples like beets, papaya and corn — often treated raw because they are so sweet on their own — come from Kumu Farms in Waikapū. Salad greens are harvested from Waipoli Hydroponic Greens in Kula while the on-tap kombucha is from Pauwela Beverage Co. in Ha‘ikū-Pauwela. Most of these farms practice full-circle or organic farming, using sustainability practices of their own to recycle water, reuse byproducts and limit waste.
Waste and byproduct are key considerations in Fork & Salad’s daily operations, with the use of compostable utensils and agave straws. Food scraps are donated to feed animals at the Maui Animal Farm in Lāhainā.
These everyday practices, local partnerships and business values define Fork & Salad as a leader in sustainability. During the 2023 ‘Aipono Awards Reception in April, Fork & Salad received the ‘Aipono Excellence in Sustainability Award for their commitment to keep the business green, salads and all.
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
GOLD (tie) Alaloa Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Maui
SILVER Botero Lounge at Grand Wailea Maui
Honorable Mention
Lehua Lounge at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, The Birdcage at Hotel Wailea, The Sandbar at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
BEST BAR
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Down the Hatch**
Honorable Mention
Esters Fair Prospect, Lima Cocina + Cantina, The Pint & Cork
BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
GOLD Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER Esters Fair Prospect
Honorable Mention
Lineage, Māla Ocean Tavern, Duckine*
BEST WINE LIST
GOLD Lāhainā Grill**
SILVER Ka‘ana Kitchen
Honorable Mention
Kō, Māla Ocean Tavern, Merriman’s Kapalua, Monkeypod Kitchen, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
GOLD Down the Hatch**
SILVER Māla Ocean Tavern
Honorable Mention
‘Umalu, Tiffany’s, The Pint & Cork
BEST PLATE LUNCH
GOLD Kalei’s Lunchbox
SILVER Tin Roof Maui
Honorable Mention
Da Kitchen, Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice, Nagasako General Store**
BEST COFFEE SHOP
GOLD Akamai Coffee Co.
SILVER Espresso Mafia
Honorable Mention
Bad Ass Coffee, Kraken Coffee Maui, Maui Coffee Roasters, Napili Coffee Store, Wailuku Coffee Company
BEST FOOD TRUCK
GOLD Thai Mee Up Maui Fresh Streatery
Honorable Mention
Maui Pizza Truck, Sun’s Out Buns Out, It’s Cherry**
BEST RESTAURANT POKE
GOLD Down the Hatch** Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice
Honorable Mention
Star Noodle, Huihui**
BEST DESSERT
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
SILVER Kō
Honorable Mention
Monkeypod Kitchen, Lāhainā Grill**
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
Pacific’o on the Beach**
SILVER Moku Roots
Honorable Mention
Ka‘ana Kitchen, SixtyTwo MarcKet
FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE AWARD
‘Aipono Award winner Kyle Kawakami reveals the secrets of his famed fish
by Chris Amundson
FROM HIS EYE-CATCHING Big Red Maui Fresh Streatery truck parked in Maui Lani Commercial Area, a thirdgeneration native of Maui prepares fish so clean and flavorful that it draws not only loyal locals but also return visits from the star of Food Network.
The Maui-born chef, Kyle Kawakami, slices his fish super thin, then splashes it with hot chili oil, releasing aromas from cilantro and scallions. He makes the dish
for customers and family alike. The dish is an experience that is meant to be shared. There’s something timeless and attractive about such simplicity and community.
Kawakami prefers kanpachi, bred sustainably off the Big Island’s Kona coast by Kona-based Blue Ocean Mariculture.
“Instead of using tuna or swordfish, which may not be as sustainable, kanpachi is pen-raised,” Kawakami said. “You don’t see penetration of body fat in kan-
pachi like you do bluefin tuna on the East Coast or Japan, where it’s ultra cold — that fat content is penetrating the flesh. Here the fat is closer to the skin.”
That fat helps make kanpachi a more forgiving fish to prepare, compared to other choices that overcook rapidly. “Say you’re cooking tuna or swordfish,” Kawakami said. “You have such a small margin before it turns into shoe leather.”
Kawakami serves the kanpachi with a
Chef Kyle Kawakami’s Big Red food truck travels island-wide, dishing out awardwinning fresh cuisine all along the way.
mix of Maui-grown vegetables, such as pohole fern. The meal requires no special equipment, and there are plenty of options for alternatives that home cooks on the island and the mainland alike can use.
Kawakami makes local fish and greens a high priority, and not just because of the August 2023 fires, which destroyed farms and backyard specialty producers of flowers, fruits and microgreens. Kawakami is committed to supporting local agriculture; he estimates that 95 percent of his ingredients originate on Maui. He wants sustainable agriculture — on land and sea.
Chef Kyle takes care of the island, too, cultivating relationships with local farmers and fishermen.
One famous chef on Food Network can’t seem to stay away from Kawakami’s cooking, nor his way of living.
“Guy Fieri is so inspirational — his joy and his knowledge of food,” Kawakami said. Fieri and the Food Network crew recently spent two and a half days filming episodes with Kawakami. “He’ll usually drop me a line and say, ‘Hey, we’re coming out.’ ”
If mainland cooks don’t have easy access to kanpachi, Kawakami suggests some alternatives: Atlantic salmon or halibut. And he offers special instructions: Leave the skin on. “I always do crispy skin,” he said.
Wherever someone lives, Kawakami encourages them to consider timeless choices: locally sourced food whenever possible, taking only what you need when fishing and harvesting, and providing for others who cannot provide for themselves.
“Always think of kūpuna, or the elders,” Kawakami said. “They fed you when you’re young, but now that they’re older they may not be able to go out into the ocean or go out into the mountains. Now you are the steward to take care of them.
“And then you pass that on to the children so that they take care of you.”
Chef Kyle’s service to the community and Maui’s agriculture industry are what earned him the 2023 Friend of Agriculture ‘Aipono Award.
Congratulations, Chef Kyle!
Topped with fresh ginger, scallions and cilantro, and quick-seared with smoking oils, Kona kanpachi bursts with vibrant flavor.
2 lbs Kona kanpachi filets, skinned and quartered
Substitution: hamachi-yellowtail or salmon
1 Tbsp ginger, finely chopped
1/4 cup scallions, thin sliced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp mirin sweet cooking sake
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp crispy garlic chili sauce (Taberu Rayu)
1/4 cup canola oil
⅛ cup sesame oil Kosher salt, to taste
Slice kanpachi as thinly as possible and lay out on plate without overlapping slices. Lightly season with kosher salt. Sprinkle with ginger, scallions and cilantro. Combine the canola and sesame oils in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until smoking.
Using a spoon, carefully drizzle smoking hot oil over the sashimi slices, quick searing the flesh and aromatics. Drizzle with soy sauce and mirin. Finish with a sprinkling of chili garlic sauce and serve.
Serves 4
2 lbs Kona Kanpachi filets, skin on. Substitution: hamachi-yellowtail or salmon Kosher salt, to taste
Portion filets into desired serving sizes. Score skin lightly to allow for crispier skin. Season with kosher salt. Heat nonstick skillet with light oil on medium high heat. When hot, start with skin side down, cooking until crispy and brown. Flip and finish on flesh side, cooking filet to medium rare. Hold warm until ready to plate.
Serves 4
This light and refreshing salad features pohole fern, which grows wild on Maui and is available from farmers in local stores.
1 lb pohole fern shoots, cut in to 1-inch sections. Substitution: asparagus or fiddlehead f ½ red onion, fine julienne 1 pint cherry tomato, quarter 1/4 cup oyster sauce Kosher salt, to taste
Bring 1/2 gallon of water to boil. Salt water. Blanch pohole fern shoots for 1 minute in boiling water then immedi ately shock in ice water. Drain and dry fern shoots. Combine fern shoots, onions, tomato and oyster sauce.
Serves 4
‘Ulu paired with pesto creates an herba ceous twist to this starchy staple of Hawai‘i.
1 mature ‘ulu (breadfruit)
Substitution: fingerling potatoes 1 cup pesto sauc
Roast whole ‘ulu over fire embers, a grill, or in the oven. Once the skin is charred and flesh tender, remove the skin and core. Rough smash ‘ulu with a spoon. Mix in pesto and hold warm before serving.
Serves 4
B=Breakfast BR=Brunch L=Lunch H=Happy Hour D=Dinner N=Dinner past 9 p.m.
R=Reservation recommended $=Average entrée under $15 $$=Under $25 $$$=Under $40 $$$$=$40+ =2023 ‘Aipono Restaurant Award winner =Live music! Check venue website for information. Phone numbers are area code 808.
A‘A ROOTS Nāpili Plaza, 5095 Napilihau St., Ste. 103, Nāpili, 298-2499 Vegan cuisine made with the freshest Maui produce. Try the açai bowl, soba bowl with peanut sauce or bagel sandwich with hummus, avo and veggies. Vegan. B, L, $
ALALOA LOUNGE The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, 1 Ritz Carlton Dr., Kapalua, 669-6200 Creative farm-to-table cocktails, mocktails and an exciting selection of savory dishes from the dining menu, such as spanish octopus, smash wagyu burger, and tuna carpaccio. International/Lounge. D, $$$
ALOHA MIXED PLATE 1285 Front St., Lāhainā, 6613322 This oceanfront restaurant offers innovative plate lunches and other island favorites. The titular aloha mixed plate comes with shoyu chicken, thinly sliced teriyaki rib eye and fresh fish. Mixed Plate. L, $$
AUNTIE’S KITCHEN The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 6 Kai Ala Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-3259 Saimin, burgers and fresh-fish plate lunches mingle with poke. Mixed Plate. B, L, D, $$-$$$
BAD ASS COFFEE 3636 L. Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Lāhainā, 738-8223 Hawaiian coffee blends, breakfast sandwiches, and stuffed muffins are located just across the way from Honokowai Beach Park. Coffee Shop. B, L, $
BANYAN TREE The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., 665-7089 Start with a seafood tower for two. Then try the banyan tree seafood curry or wild caught New Zealand king salmon. End with a warm island-inspired malasada trio. Great cocktails, too! Italian/Hawai‘i Regional. D, $$$$
BURGER SHACK The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua, 669-6200 Al fresco beachside joint serving burgers, milkshakes, cocktails and beer. American, L, $$-$$$
CANE & CANOE Montage Kapalua Bay, 1 Bay Dr., Kapalua, 662-6681 Try the avocado toast and mimosas for breakfast, and herb compressed lamb and ragout for dinner. Lunch at the Hana Hou Bar includes chicken katsu sandwiches and vegetarian selections. Pacific Rim. B, D, $$$-$$$$
CHOICE HEALTH BAR Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali All juices, smoothies, salads, soups and açai bowls are made with fresh ingredients. Daily specials. American. B, L, $
CLIFF DIVE GRILL Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 661-0031 Order Hawaiian-style edamame, a juicy burger, or fish tacos to accompany your poolside mai tai or Bikini Blonde Lager. Hawai‘i Regional. L, D, $$
DRUMS OF THE PACIFIC LŪ‘AU Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-4727 Enjoy a traditional imu ceremony and Hawaiian cuisine, plus the dances and music of Polynesia. Kid-friendly. Lū‘au. D, R, $$$$
DUKE’S BEACH HOUSE Honua Kai Resort & Spa, 130 Kai Malina Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 662-2900 Imagine old Hawai‘i while dining on crab-and-macadamia-nut wontons or filet mignon at this open-air beach house. American/Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $$-$$$
FOND Nāpili Plaza, 5095 Napilihau St., #115, Nāpili, 856-0225 Enjoy a specialty burger or bowl for lunch and try the seafood tsunami for dinner. Finish off with a warm chocolate brownie topped with ube ice cream. Eurasian. B, L, D, $-$$
THE GAZEBO Nāpili Shores, 5315 L. Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Nāpili, 669-5621 Have breakfast for lunch, or lunch for breakfast! Fluffy pancakes, omelets, plate lunches with Cajun-spiced chicken or kālua pork, salads and seven burgers to choose from. Ocean views are free! International. B, BR, L, $
HONOLUA STORE 502 Office Rd., Kapalua, 6659105 Market in the Kapalua Resort with extensive selection of grab-and-go items like salads, sandwiches and sushi. Made-to-order pizzas, burgers, hot sandwiches and breakfast items are also available. Deli, B, L, $-$$
HULA GRILL Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 667-6636 Dip your toes in the sand at the Barefoot Bar, and enjoy poke tacos, mai tais, original hula pie and live music. Don't miss the nightly hula show after dinner. Kid-friendly. Hawai‘i Regional. BR, L, D, $$-$$$
INU POOL BAR The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, 45 Kai Malina Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 662-6370 Inu means “drink” in Hawaiian, and this poolside bar serves up island-inspired cocktails, local beer and wine. Sip and snack on pūpū, burgers, wraps and salads Hawai‘i Regional/Bar. L, H, D, $-$$
ISLAND CREAM COMPANY Lāhainā Gateway, 305 Keawe St., Lāhainā, 298-0916 Classic flavors meet island fruit! Make your own Glacier Ice snow cone, or choose from 36 delicious flavors of ice cream. Can’t decide? Take home a few pints. Treats. $
ISLAND PRESS COFFEE 2580 Kekaa Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-2003 Homey coffee shop in the Fairway Shops serving hard-to-find Maui grown coffee beans. Start your day with a cup of Maui Red Catuai or a Hawaiian Honey Latte. Don't forget to add a breakfast croissant. Coffee Shop, B, $
JAPENGO Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-4909 Great steaks and authentic sushi prepared with the finest seafood are among the reasons Japengo won ‘Aipono Silver for Pacific Rim Cuisine in 2023. Come taste Pacific Rim. D $$$-$$$$
JOEY’S KITCHEN Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 868-4474 Second West Maui location: Napili Plaza, 5095 Napilihau St., Nāpili, 214-5590 Start your day with delicious ube french toast or a kālua-pork omelet at Whalers Village, and end with dinner at the Nāpili venue. Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $-$$
KIHEI CAFFE Lāhainā Gateway Plaza, 305 Kiawe St., Lāhainā, 879-2230 See South Shore listing.
LEILANI’S ON THE BEACHWhalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 661-4495 Chef Ryan Luckey rocks island flavors with mac nut hummus, and ‘ahi poke with taro chips. Entrees include filet mignon with green onion gremolata or Parmesan-crusted fresh catch. Don’t forget the Hula Pie! Kid-friendly. Hawai‘i Regional. L, H, D, $$-$$$$
LEODA’S KITCHEN & PIE SHOP 820 Olowalu Village Rd., Olowalu, 662-3600 Try the house-made sandwiches on Maui Bread Company bread with pineapple coleslaw. The mac-nut chocolate cream pie and fresh-squeezed lemonade will make you want to dance! American. B, L, D, $
LONGHI’S Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, 100 Nohea Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-2288. Try a crisp pinot grigio and a romaine salad tossed with lemon-feta vinaigrette and anchovies. Italian. BR (Fri-Sun), D, $$
MĀLA OCEAN TAVERN 1307 Front St., Lāhainā, 667-9394 Māla delivers delicious food and killer cocktails with oceanfront seating. Start with an oyster shooter and some ‘ahi bruschetta. Then dig into seared scallops with truffle pesto, huli huli chicken with warm potato salad, or the daily catch with kabocha puree. Mediterranean. BR, H, D, N, $-$$$
MAUI NUI LŪ‘AU AT BLACK ROCK Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 661-0031 Experience the history and culture of the Valley Isle through Polynesian song and dance. Lei greeting, all-you-can-eat Hawaiian buffet and open bar included. Kid-friendly. Lū‘au. D, R, $$$$
MERRIMAN’S KAPALUA 1 Bay Club Pl., Kapalua, 669-6400 Peter Merriman casts his spell on locallysourced seafood, beef and produce to create delectable fare. Pacific Rim. BR (Sun), L, D, R, $$-$$$$
MISO PHAT SUSHI Kahana Manor, 4310 L. Honoapi‘ilani Rd., #111, Kahana, 669-9010 See South Shore listing.
MONKEYPOD KITCHEN Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 878-6763 See South Shore listing.
MYTHS OF MAUI LŪ‘AU Royal Lāhainā Resort & Bungalows, 2780 Keka'a Dr., Lāhainā, 877-2737394 Enjoy all-you-can-eat Hawaiian fares like kālua pork, Moloka‘i sweet potato and fresh fish. Menu also includes keiki friendly choices like chicken nuggets and baked mac and cheese. Kid-friendly. Lū‘au. D, $$$$
NAPILI COFFEE STORE 5095 Napilihau St. 108B, Nāpili, 669-4170 Start your day with a fruit smoothie and a savory sandwich, or pop-in for a coffee and baked treat. Fresh-baked goods, yogurt-granola parfaits, chia pudding and to-go items. Coffee Shop. $
OLD LĀHAINĀ LŪ‘AU 1251 Front St., Lāhainā, 667-0700 This oceanfront venue has won the Gold ‘Aipono Award for Best Lū‘au on Maui 20 times – come see why! Begin with kalo (taro) hummus, then enjoy traditional Hawaiian dishes like lomilomi salmon or imu-roasted pork. Save room for the mangococonut chocolate bombe! Open bar. Kid-friendly. Lū‘au. D, R, $$$$
PIZZA PARADISO MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
3350 L. Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Kā‘anapali, 667-2929
Juicy gyros, flavorful falafel in warm pita with a side of tabbouleh, kabob platters and pizza. Dine in or take out. Pizza/Mediterranean. L, D, $-$$
ROY’S 2290 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 669-6999
Line up for the half-pound Maui Cattle Co. burger on a brioche bun for lunch. For dinner, try the blackened ‘ahi or the honey-mustard-glazed beef short ribs. Pacific Rim. B, L, H, D, $$$$
ROYAL OCEAN TERRACE Royal Lāhainā Resort & Bungalows, 2780 Keka‘a Dr., Kā‘anapali, 661-9119
Breakfast offerings include loco moco and eggs Benedict, or go light with avocado toast topped with microgreens. Burgers and prime rib, too. Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $-$$
THE SANDBAR Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 661-0031
Sample craft cocktails and island bites while enjoying an ocean view on the lanai at Kā‘anapali's only lobby bar. Hawaiian/Bar. B, D, $$
SANSEI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR
600 S. Office Rd., Kapalua, 669-6286 Small and action-packed, D.K. Kodama’s classy sushi bar draws lines late into the night. Try a Kenny G roll (snapper with shiso and ponzu sauce) with a sip of sake. Pacific Rim/Sushi. D, N, R, $$$
THE SEA HOUSE RESTAURANT Nāpili Kai Beach Resort, 5900 L. Honoapi‘ilani Rd., Nāpili, 669-1500 Start the day with oven-baked pancakes laden with fruit. Enjoy coconut-crusted shrimp as the sun sinks into Nāpili Bay. On Wednesdays, stay for Grammy Award-winner George Kahumoku Jr.’s Slack-Key Show. Pacific Rim. B, L, H, D, $$$
SON’Z STEAKHOUSE Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-4506 Moroccan-spiced blackened ‘ahi with soy-mustard sauce will rock your evening. Sink your teeth into filet mignon carpaccio, rib-eye steak, or mahimahi in lemon-caper butter. Pacific Rim/Steak. H, D, N, $$-$$$$
STAR NOODLE 1287 Front St., Lāhainā, 667-5400 Big-city style and local flavors unite. Enjoy a Golden Star sparkling jasmine tea as you drink in the view of
Lāna‘i across the channel. The ramen broth is extra smoky, the Singapore noodles bright and flavorful. ‘Aipono for Best Asian and Noodles. Asian. L, D, $$
SUNSET LŪ‘AU AT KAPALUA BAY Montage at Kapalua Bay 1 Bay Dr., Kapalua, 662-6627 This twiceweekly lū‘au caps at just 40 guests for an intimate experience. Dig into plates of ‘ulu mac salad, ribeye and kanpanchi poke. Kid-friendly. Lū‘au, D, R, $$$$
TAVERNA 2000 Village Rd., Kapalua, 667-2426 House-made pasta, agrodolce-style fish of the day and Italian desserts stand up to the grand finale: espresso with grappa. Great wine, cocktails and craft beer. Italian. B, L, H, D, $$-$$$
TEDDY’S BIGGER BURGERS 335 Keawe St., Lāhainā, 661-9111 The staff hand-pat the burgers, charbroil them to order and serve them in a fun diner ambiance. American. L, D, $
ULU KITCHEN The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 2365 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., Kā‘anapali, 868-0081 A chefdriven restaurant led by award winning Chef Peter Merriman, serving up local dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hawaiian. B, L, D, $$-$$$$
‘ŪMALU Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kā‘anapali, 667-4902 Head poolside for Kobe beef sliders or ‘ahi poke nachos. Knock back a “Mutiny on the Carthaginian” cocktail inspired by Lāhainā’s rowdy whaling past. American/Pacific Rim. L, H, D, $$$
WAILELE POLYNESIANLŪ‘AU Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 2365 Kā‘anapali Parkway, Lāhainā, 661-2992 Sunset lū‘au featuring Polynesian entertainment and fire dancers on Kā‘anapali Beach. Menu runs the gamut of traditional Hawaiian and contemporary island fares. Lū‘au, D, $$$$
AKAMAI COFFEE CO. 1325 S. Kīhei Rd., #100, Kīhei, 868-3251 and 116 Wailea Ike Dr., Wailea, 868-0003 Offering 100 percent Maui-grown coffee roasted locally for the highest-quality flavor. Espresso, French press and nitro brews available. Coffee Shop. $
AMA BAR & GRILL Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 875-4100 Swim-up bar located at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort offering refreshments, lunch and ocean views. Hawaiian/ Bar. B, L, D, $$
AMIGO’S 1215 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 661-0210 Real Mexican fajitas, tostadas, flautas and their famous wet burritos. Kid-friendly. Mexican. B, L, D $
THE BIRDCAGE Hotel Wailea, 555 Kaukahi, St., Wailea, 874-8581 Elegant, high-ceilinged bar in Hotel Wailea. Japanese-inspired tapas, small plates, wine and an extensive list of craft cocktails. Japanese/Lounge. D, N, $$$
BLING BING South Maui Gardens, 30 Alahele Pl., Kīhei, 419-1256 A unique Chinese shave ice experience with different toppings daily. Treats. $
BOTERO LOUNGE Grand Wailea Maui Resort, 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 875-1234 Named for the surrounding Fernando Botero sculptures, this lounge offers nightly entertainment. On Thirsty Thursdays, a three-cocktail tasting is just $20. Lounge. L, D, H, N, $
CAFE O’LEI 2439 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 891-1368 Choose from macadamia nut-crusted chicken, seared ‘ahi tuna, tiger shrimp linguine and other favorites. See Central listing. American/Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $$
COCONUT’S FISH CAFE Azeka Shopping Center Mauka, 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 875-9979 and 2463 S. Kīhei Rd. Kīhei, 875-4949 Dive into fresh fish tacos, a grilled fish burger or fish and chips. The cabbage slaw with coconut dressing and mango salsa sets this eatery apart. American. L, D, $$
COOL CAT CAFE 1819 S Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 6670908 New location, same ‘Aipono Award-winning eats. Burgers, chicken, fresh fish, tacos and more in a ’50s diner atmosphere. Kid-friendly. American. L, D, $
DA KITCHEN 1215 S. Kīhei Rd., Ste. E, Kīhei, 446-3486 Local food and good vibes meet! Spam musubi, chicken katsu, kalbi ribs, locomoco and da Hawaiian plate. Hawai‘i Regional. L, D, $-$$
DIAMONDS BAR & GRILL 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei 874-9299 Casual watering hole with live music, billiards, TVs and darts. Daily food and drink specials, outdoor seating and late-night offerings. American/ Bar. B. L. D. $$
DUO STEAK AND SEAFOOD Four Seasons Resort Maui, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 8748000 Breakfast buffet or à la carte? Did someone mention chateaubriand? Four Seasons never disappoints. Pacific Rim/Steak. B, D, $-$$$
EARTH ALOHA EATS 1881 S Kīhei Rd. 111, Kīhei, 867-1171 Plant-based family favorites like tacos, burgers, wraps, plates and bowls. Vegan. L, D, $
EKOLU KITCHEN1279 1279 S. Kīhei Rd. Ste. 201, Kīhei 793-3333 Craft cocktails and inventive international menu with fresh seafood, locally sourced smoked meats and wood roasted flatbreads. International. D, $$
FABIANI’S PIZZERIA & BAKERY South Maui Center, 95 E. Līpoa St., Kīhei, 874-0888 Bagels and lox, fresh croissants, caprese salad with local tomatoes, thin-crust and gluten-free pizza and spaghetti with pork sausage meatballs. Italian/Bakery. HR, D, $-$$
FAT DADDY’S SMOKEHOUSE 1913 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 879-8711 Pulled pork, beef brisket and pork ribs smoked 15 hours over kiawe wood. Enjoy sides: cornbread, chili-garlic beans and two cabbage slaws: sweet/tart and blue cheese/apples. American. D, $-$$
FEAST AT MŌKAPU LŪ‘AU Andaz Maui Resort, 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 5731234 Upscale beachside lū‘au with an emphasis on Polynesian voyaging history. Known for its unique cocktails and artful, chef-crafted traditional Hawaiian plates served family-style. Lū‘au, D, $$$$
FERRARO’S RESTAURANT & BAR Four Seasons Resort Maui, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 8748000 For lunch, enjoy a veggie quesadilla or grilled tenderloin sandwich served poolside. For dinner, ahi rigatoni. Italian. L, H, D, $$$$
FORK & SALAD 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 879-3675 Chef/owners Cody, Travis and Jaron serve up green superfoods topped with pastrami-style seared ‘ahi, baked quinoa falafel, or ginger tofu. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free options. International. L, D, $
LOBBY LOUNGE Four Seasons Resort Maui, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 874-8000 Impeccable service, a locally sourced menu, swanky cocktails and performances by local musicians. Pacific Rim/Lounge. H, D, N, $$$$
GATHER ON MAUI 100 Wailea Golf Club Dr., Wailea, 698-0555 Try a mana bowl with citrus vinaigrette or the scallop and crab orzo with mac nut pesto. Panoramic views. Pacific Rim. H, L, D, $$$
meet us at the sandbar, ka‘anapali’s only lobby bar. Sample craft cocktails and local bites infused with island flavors, while taking in panoramic views of Ka‘anapali Beach from our wraparound lanai.
Open daily: 5 - 10:30 PM | Sunset Hour: 5 - 7 PM at sheraton maui resort & spa @sandbarmaui
Scan for menus and more info
HAVENS 30 Manao Kala St., Kīhei, 868-2600 Eat noodles with chopsticks in one hand and a smash burger in the other! Hawai‘i Regional. B, L, D, $-$$
HOME MAID CAFE 1280 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei 8746035 Family-owned hole-in-the-wall known for its made-to-order malasadas. Classic breakfast plates, saimin and sandwiches. American/Local. B. L. $
HUMBLE MARKET KITCHIN Wailea Beach Resort, 3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 879-4655 Chef Roy Yamaguchi amazes with Hawaiian sweetbread French toast for breakfast, calamari and a Magnum P.I. cocktail at happy hour, and Roy’s classic blackened island ‘ahi for dinner. Hawai‘i Regional. B, H, D, $-$$$
HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUĀPUA‘A Grand Wailea Maui Resort, 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 8751234 Idyllic restaurant constructed from Big Island ohia wood overlooking Wailea Beach. Menu features a balance of land and ocean sourced Hawaiian fares like Huli Huli chicken and miso butterfish. Hawai‘i Regional. D, $$$$
ISANA Maui Beach Vacation Club, 515 S Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 874-5700 Dine on bold sushi made from fresh-caught local fish while enjoying friendly service and an ocean view. Japanese. D, N, $$
ISLAND GOURMET MARKETS The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 874-5055 Sushi to go, deli sandwiches, plate lunches and more. Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $
KA‘ANA KITCHEN Andaz Maui Resort, 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 573-1234 A Wagyu hangar steak on a green papaya salad, charred octopus with local goat cheese, Kona abalone risotto, and a modern take on chicken and waffles. Curated wine list and mixology at its finest. Asian Fusion. B, D, $$$$
KAMANA KITCHEN 1881 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 879-7888
Eye-catching art and Indian relics accent a menu highlighting exotic spices and dishes, all lovingly created from family recipes. Lunch buffet. Indian. L, D, $-$$
KIHEI CAFFE Kīhei Kalama Village, 1945 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 879-2230 Hungry at 5 a.m.? Head to this local hangout for banana-mac-nut pancakes, loco moco and a cuppa joe. Cafe. B, L, $-$$
KŌ Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 875-2210 Plantation Era cuisine takes the spotlight. Try the Kobe beef poke appetizer and “On the Rock” – three mouthwatering morsels of ‘ahi served with a 300-degree lava rock to sear them to perfection. 2022 ‘Aipono Restaurant of the Year. Pacific Rim. L, H, D, R, $$$
KRAKEN COFFEE MAUI 1975 S Market Pl., Kīhei and 1 Piikea Ave., Kīhei 495-1885, 879-2230 See Central listing
LE BAZAAR Azeka Shopping Center Makai, 1280 S Kīhei Rd. #107, Kīhei, 268-0545 Start your dining experience by cleansing your hands with orange blossom water, then immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Middle East through a six-course dinner, ending the night with Moroccan mint tea. Moroccan. D, $$$$
LEHUA LOUNGE Andaz Maui Resort, 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 573-1234 Cocktails created with local seasonal ingredients, such as lychee, liliko‘i (passion fruit) and Hawaiian navel oranges, pair perfectly with Ka‘ana Kitchen’s award-winning menu. Asian Fusion/Lounge. H, $
LINEAGE The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 879-8800 If Cantonese lobster noodles and leeks, ginger and XO butter, crispy Korean chicken with pickles made in house, and Wagyu Kalbi short ribs with garlic rice get your juices flowing, head to Wailea. Eat. Drink. Talk story. Pacific Rim. D, $-$$
MANOLI’S PIZZA COMPANY 100 Wailea Ike Dr., Wailea, 874-7499 Manoli’s believes in fresh, organic and sustainable ingredients. Order a pizza with organic wheat or gluten-free crust, or dig into authentic chicken scaloppine. Italian/Pizza. L, H, D, N, $$
MATTEO’S OSTERIA Wailea Town Center, 161 Wailea Ike Pl., Wailea, 879-8466 Matteo’s meatball sandwich with Maui Cattle Co. beef and Italian sausage, or ‘ahi crusted with Calabrese olive tapenade. Italian. L, H, D, $$-$$$
MAUI BREWING CO. 605 Līpoa Pkwy., Kīhei, 201-2337 This off-the-grid brewery offers 36 craft and specialty beers, as well as burgers, pizzas, fish tacos and salads. Brewery/Pacific Rim/American. L, H, D, N, $-$$
MAUI THAI BISTRO Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 874-5605 Thai food cooked by Thai chefs. Kaffir-scented tom yum fried rice, green mango salad with crispy fried-fish filets, and house curries. Beer and wine bar. Thai. L, D, $-$$
MISO PHAT SUSHI Azeka Shopping Center Mauka, 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 891-6476 Sushi served on-site, to-go, or delivered. Sashimi platters, sushi rolls, nigiri and specialty rolls. Omakase heaven! See also West Side listing. Japanese. L, H, D, $$
MONKEYPOD KITCHEN Wailea Gateway Center, 10 Wailea Gateway Pl., Wailea, 891-2322 Lunch at this Peter Merriman chain includes pizza, burgers, tacos and ramen. For dinner, Big Island rib-eye with chimichurri sauce, gnocchi with pork sausage and banana cream pie. See also West Side listing. Hawai‘i Regional/American. L, H, D, N, $$
MORIMOTO MAUI 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 243-4766 Headed by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto, this sleek restaurant in the Andaz Maui Resort fuses Japanese and Western fares; wagyu steaks, sushi and sashimi. Japanese/American. L, D, $$-$$$
MULLIGANS ON THE BLUE 100 Kaukahi St., Wailea, 874-1131 Guinness poured properly at Maui’s only Irish-owned pub. Enjoy fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. Great music and sports-bar action, too. Sláinte! Irish/ Bar. L, H, D, $-$$$
NALU’S SOUTH SHORE GRILL Azeka Shopping Center Makai, 1280 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 8918650 Generous portions made with local ingredients served with aloha. Try the ahi club with smoked bacon, fresh fish and chips and hearty burgers. American/Pacific Rim. B, L, H, D, $-$$
NICK’S FISHMARKET Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 879-7224 Enjoy classic seafood dishes beneath the stars. Woo your date with plump strawberries drenched in Grand Marnier and set aflame. Pacific Rim/Seafood. H, D, R, $$$$
NOODLES AND RICE BY NUTCHAREE Azeka Shopping Center Makai, 1280 S. Kīhei Rd. #128, Kīhei, 298-0579 This newest restaurant from Nutcharee offers unique stylings of Asian staples. Vietnamese. L, D, $$
NUTCHAREE’S AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD Azeka
Shopping Center Makai, 1280 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 633-4840 Start with the ‘ahi laab tartare salad or crispy fish and mango salad, then dig into tender braised short ribs smothered in massaman curry. Don’t forget the spring rolls! Thai. L, D, $-$$
Lineage
Wagyu Kalbi Short Rib ($65) with roasted bone marrow, garlic rice, seasonal vegetables, "kudeesh" finadene (gluten free). See listing on page 53.
OAO SUSHI BAR & GRILL Wailea Gateway Center, 34 Wailea Gateway Pl., Kīhei, 666-8139 One of Maui's newest sushi sensations founded by Chef Bernardo Oao Jr. featuring fresh sushi, juicy steak, and delicious cocktails. Pacific Rim. L, D, N, $$$
PAIA FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 1913 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 874-8888 See North Shore listing.
PEGGY SUE’S 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 214-6786 Bright 1950s style diner with jukebox serving burgers, milkshakes and creative hot dogs. American. L. D. $$
PILINA Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 875-4100 Fairmont Kea Lani's reimagined lobby lounge highlights culture and connection with island-inspired lunch, dinner, drinks, and dessert served daily. Hawaiian/Lounge. L, D, $$$
THE PINT & CORK The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 727-2038 Mac ‘n’ cheese with black truffles, shrimp and grits with chorizo, poke bowls and burgers. During football season you can score breakfast, too! American/Bar. L, H, D, N, $-$$
PITA PARADISE Wailea Gateway Center, 34 Wailea Ike Dr., Wailea, 879-7177 Start with spinach tiropitas with caramelized onions, feta, mozzarella and tzatziki wrapped in phyllo dough, then move on to kabobs, pasta and gyros. Finish with baklava icecream cake. Mediterranean. L, H, D, $-$$$
PIZZA MADNESS 1455 S Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 270-9888
Classic pizza joint with thick-crust pies, salads and wings in the heart of Kīhei. Open for dine-in, takeaway and happy hour. Pizza. L, D, $$
POINT BREAK PIZZA & PANINI Maui Harbor Shops, 300 Mā'alaea Rd., Mā'alaea, 868-0014 Homemade pizza dough and focaccia bread is hand-crafted and fermented days in advance to pack artisan pizza and paninis full of flavor. Pizza. L, D, $$
THE RESTAURANT AT HOTEL WAILEA Hotel Wailea, 555 Kaukahi St., Wailea, 879-2224 Produce from the hotel’s gardens, fish plucked from the sea and a gorgeous outdoor setting are among the reasons this venue won ‘Aipono Gold in 2022 for Most Romantic Restaurant. European-inspired. B, D, R, $$-$$$$
ROASTED CHILES Azeka Shopping Center Mauka, 1279 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 868-4357 Ofir and Suki Benitez share family recipes like chicken mole, pozole verde and langostino enchiladas with tomatillo cream sauce. Giant margaritas! Mexican. L, H, D, $-$$
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 874-8880 Steaks and homespun side dishes worthy of devotion, top-flight service and a superb wine list. American/Steak. H, D, N, R, $$$$
SEASCAPE RESTAURANT Maui Ocean Center, 192 S. Mā‘alaea Rd., Mā‘alaea, 270-7068 Adjacent to an award-winning aquarium, Seascape serves up harbor views with a hearty side of aloha. Mahimahi sandwiches with fresh cabbage slaw, half-pound burgers and fresh veggies. Save room for Maui Mud Pie! American/Pacific Rim. L, H, D (Sat & Sun), $$-$$$
SOUTH SHORE TIKI LOUNGE Kīhei Kalama Village, 1913 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 874-6444 Gourmet pizza, burgers, salads and vegetarian items round out the menu at this hip bar. American. L, D, N, $
SPAGO Four Seasons Resort, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 874-8000 Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck's Hawaiian outpost is a celebration of fresh local ingredients in a casually elegant atmosphere. Start with fresh poke nestled in crunchy sesamemiso cones then explore our ever-evolving menu. Pacific Rim. D, N, R, $$-$$$$
SUNS OUT BUNS OUT 1 Piikea Ave., Kīhei, 8652867 Fresh, handcrafted bao buns of all different flavors with an island flair. Don't miss the specialty ube bao. Food Truck/Fusion. L, D, $
TANPOPO 1215 S. Kīhei Rd., #F, Kīhei, 446-3038 Lunch includes Japanese-style chicken curry, California rolls and beef burgers. Dinner fuses Italian and Japanese with pasta, flatbreads, sashimi, sushi and tempura. Japanese/Italian Fusion. L, D, $-$$$
THREE’S BAR & GRILL 1945-G S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 879-3133 Eggs Benedict six ways, including seared ahi, smoked salmon and prime rib. For lunch, Peruvian pork tacos or signature ramen. For dinner, truffle-yaki marinated flatiron steak. Pacific Rim/ Southwestern. B, L, H, D, $$-$$$
TIKEHAU LOUNGE Wailea Village, 116 Wailea Ike Dr. #2104, Kīhei, 214-6500 Innovative cocktails and pūpū inspired by Polynesian places and flavors. Pacific Rim. H, D, N, $$
TOMMY BAHAMA RESTAURANT & BAR The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 875-9983 Who’d guess a clothing company could deliver such delish pork sandwiches and Caribbean-inspired libations? Caribbean/Pacific Rim. L, H, D, N, $-$$
THE TREEHOUSE HOTEL WAILEA, 555 Kaukahi, St., Wailea, 874-0500 A unique dining experience tucked in the branches of mango and avocado trees. Seven course private chef dinner with wine pairings for up to six people (seated). Private Dining, D, R, $$$$
ULULANI’S HAWAIIAN SHAVE ICE 61 S. Kīhei Rd., Kīhei, 877-3700 Homemade tropical-flavored syrups such as liliko‘i and coconut set this shave-ice business apart. Treats. $
WAIKIKI BREWING COMPANY The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr. B25, Wailea, 8680935 Paddy’s Irish Stout and Waikele Wheat brew temper the heat of the jalapeño queso dip served with a giant pretzel. American. B, L, H, D $$
808 OLD TOWN 2051 Main St., Wailuku 242-1111 Soup, paninis, sandwiches and salads in a stylish spot on Main Street. Open for breakfast, and a Wailuku lunchtime favorite. American. L, $$
ACEVEDO'S HAWAICANO CAFE 190 Alamaha St. 7A, Kahului, 385-3752 A family owned business combining Mexican and Hawaiian heritage with California Mexican style fare and plate lunches. Mexican/Mixed Plate. L, D, $-$$
ALIVE & WELL (BROTH CAFE) 340 Hāna Hwy., Kahului, 877-4950 Alive & Well’s revamped Broth Cafe is known for its health-conscious wraps, bowls, smoothies, bahn mi and salads. Go for a green burrito with purple sweet potatoes or try taro bahn mi and tan tan ramen for lunch. International, B, L, $-$$
AMIGO'S 333 Dairy Rd. 110B, Kahului, 872-9525 See South Shore listing
A SAIGON CAFE 1792 Main St., Wailuku, 243-9560 Squeeze into a booth and order a Vietnamese burrito, clay pot, or lemongrass curry. Vietnamese. L, D, $-$$
BA-LE 1824 Oihana St., Wailuku 249-8833 Vietnamese counter-service eatery with bahn mi, pho, plate lunches and fresh baked bread and croissants. Additional locations in Kahului, Kīhei and Lāhainā. Vietnamese. L, D, $$
BALAI PATA 425 Koloa St. #104, Kahului, 727-2230 Discover the vibrant flavors of the Philippines at Chef Joey Macadangdang's innovative new restaurant. Indulge in specialties like crispy duck pata and balai sigang. Filipino. L, D, $-$$
BISTRO CASANOVA 33 Lono Ave., Kahului, 8733650 This downtown bistro serves paella for two, fresh-cut french fries and burrata caprese. Best pau hana (happy hour) in Kahului! Mediterranean. L, H, D, R, $-$$
BLAZIN STEAKS MAUI Wailuku Town Center, 790 Eha St., Wailuku, 463-5807 Plate lunch style steak with rice and salad on the side. Other offerings include chicken, salmon, spam, and eggs. Mixed Plate. L, D, $-$$
CAFE O’LEI AT THE MILL HOUSE Maui Tropical Plantation, 1670 Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Waikapū, 5000553 Fun, expanded menu at the restaurant group’s newest venue. The most beautiful mountain view in the Central Valley! Hawai‘i Regional. L, H, D, R, $-$$$
ESTERS FAIR PROSPECT 2050 Main St., Wailuku, 868-0056 Serving classic cocktails, tiki drinks, spirits, rum, mezcal, wine and beer. Local farm-to-tableinspired small bites. Rosé wine and daiquiris during happy hour. Open 2-10 p.m. Bar. H, N, $
FORK & SALAD Pu‘unene Shopping Center, 120 Ho‘okele St., #330, Kahului, 793-3256 See South Shore listing
FUEGO ARGENTINIAN STEAKHOUSE 1333 Maui Lani Pkwy., Kahului, 633-4436 Cozy indoor and outdoor seating on the Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. Argentinian-style barbeque, pasta, sandwiches, cocktails and wines. Latin-inspired. B, L, D $$-$$$
GIANOTTO'S PIZZA 2050 Main St., Wailuku 2448282 Bodega-style eatery with pizzas and homestyle Italian served with aloha. Pizza. L, D, $
HAVENS Plate Lunch Marketplace, 591 Haleakalā Hwy., 868-0555 Enjoy the same smash burgers and sushi at this gourmet food truck. Plenty kau kau! See also South Shore listing. Food Truck/ American. L, D, $
KALEI'S LUNCHBOX 52 Maui Lani Pkwy., Wailuku, 793-3104 Hawaiian comfort food and plate lunches Mixed Plate. B, L, D, $$
KING’S CHINESE BBQ 197 N. Market St. #1717, Wailuku 242-8848 No frills, counter-service joint serving Chinese BBQ and local favorites like saimin and spam musubi. Additional locations in Kīhei and Ha‘ikū. Chinese, Mixed Plate. B, L, D, $$
KRAKEN COFFEE MAUI 520 Keolani Pl., Kahului, 633-7499 and 329 Alamaha St., Kahului 866-9817
Specialty coffees include the Haleakalatte, Kīhei Kicker, and Mochawao. Iced drinks are served over coffee ice cubes. Coffee Shop. $
LAS ISLITAS 520 Keolani Pl., Kahului, 359-1631
Island tacos, burritos and quesadillas filled with fresh ingredients Mexican. L, D, $$
LAS PIÑATAS OF MAUI 395 Dairy Rd., Kahului, 877-8707 Try one of the signature kitchen sink burritos stuffed with your meat of choice, guacamole, beans, rice and more. Mexican. B, L, H, D, $-$$
MARCO’S GRILL AND DELI 444 Hāna Hwy, Kahului 877-4466 Family friendly Italian-American diner with homestyle eats like meatball subs, vodka rigatoni and shrimp scampi. Classic breakfast plates available before 12 p.m. Italian, B, L, D, $$-$$$
MAUI COFFEE ROASTERS 444 Hāna Hwy., Kahului, 877-CUPS (2877) Pastries, muffins, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and bagels and lox made to order. Fresh-roasted coffee beans set this experience above the rest. “Happy Cappy Hour” 2-6 p.m. Coffee Shop. B, L, H, $
MAUI FRESH STREATERY MauiFreshStreatery .com Kyle Kawakami dishes up imaginative poutine, ethnic dishes from around the world, and a modern take on local fare. Follow him on Facebook for locations. Food Truck/Hawaiian/Fusion. L, $
MIKO’S CUISINE 1764 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, 8682914 Small off-the-beaten-path eatery with Chinese, Korean and Japanese fares. Asian. L, D, $$
MIYAKO SUSHI 1883 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, 2440085 Sequestered Okazuya style sushi joint also specializing in antiques and local snacks. Carryout only. Japanese. B, L, $
MOMONA BAKERY AND COFFEE SHOP 7 E Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, 214-5389 Chic, spacious coffee shop serving fresh pastries, including cakes and Argentinian-style croissants. Come early for best selection. Bakery/Coffee Shop. B, L, $
MY THAI MAUI 230 Hāna Hwy, Kahului 877-8887
Hole-in-the-wall eatery serving authentic Thai plates like tom kha, larb and pad woon sen. Favorites like curry, pad thai and bao are also on offer. Thai, L, D, $$
ONLY ONO BBQ Heritage Hall, Pā‘ia, onlyonobbq. com, 777-9026 Crispy-skin Chinese-style roast pork and duck, bao pork buns, plate lunches, smoked brisket. Location varies (see website for schedule). Food Truck/Chinese/American. L, D, $
RAMEN YA Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, 275 W Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Kahului, 873-9688 Explore over a dozen unique ramen options. Opt for the big bowl ramen to savor a variety of flavors in one dish. Japanese. L, D, $$
Wailuku, Maui Breakfast | Lunch | Brunch Monday - Friday : 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
www.SixtyTwoMarcKet.com
808-793-2277
SAM SATO’S 1750 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, 2447124 This beloved Maui restaurant sets the standard for dry mein, saimin and chow fun. Asian. B, L, $
SHIKEDA BENTO PATISSERIE 2050 Main St., Wailuku 500-2556 Japanese bento and patisserie shop located in the food court on Main Street in Wailuku. Get there early for a selection of bentos and colorful Japanese pastries like azuki cream puffs, matcha berry rolls and ube coconut shortcake. Japanese, B, L, $-$$
SIXTYTWO MARCKET 62 N Market St., 7932277 Part market, part brunch joint with artfully plated eggs benedict, frittatas and omelettes. Lunch time offerings include soup, sandwiches and salads. Gold medal for Best Business Lunch at the 2023 ‘Aipono Awards. American. B, L, $$
THAI MEE UP Plate Lunch Marketplace, 591 Haleakalā Hwy., Kahului, 214-3369 Addictive fried pork ribs and luscious pad Thai noodles. Curry, too! Thai. Food Truck/Thai. L, D, $
TIN ROOF MAUI 360 Papa Pl., Kahului, 868-0753 Sheldon Simeon of Bravo’s Top Chef fame builds memorable kau kau bowls filled with mochiko chicken or garlic shrimp. Try the saimin, kale salad, or double-fried-chicken sandwich on a brioche bun. Pacific Rim. L, $
TJ’S WAREHOUSE 875 Alua St., Wailuku, 244-7311
Located in Wailuku Industrial Park, TJ’s serves plate lunch to go: chicken katsu, fried saba (mackerel), and a hot line of daily specials, like potato croquettes, nishime and poke. Asian. B, L, $
TASTY CRUST 1770 Mill St., Wailuku, 244-0845 A Maui mainstay since 1942 serving breakfast classics and island-style lunch and dinner. Cash or debit only. American, Mixed Plate. B, L, D, $
THE EMPANADA LADY 2119 W. Vineyard St., Wailuku, 868-4544 Garden-like eatery in the heart of Wailuku serving authentic Puerto Rican fares. Puerto Rican. L, D, $$
TIFFANY’S 1424 Lower Main St., Wailuku 2490052 Revitalized local eatery helmed by celebrity chef Sheldon Simeon. Filipino, Japanese and localstyle fares. Pacific Rim Open for lunch on weekends. Asian, Local. L, D, $$
TOKYO TEI 1063 Lower Main St., Wailuku 2429630 Longstanding Wailuku staple with authentic Japanese fares in a family-friendly atmosphere. Japanese. L, D, $$
ULULANI’S HAWAIIAN SHAVE ICE 333 Dairy Rd., Kahului Second Central Maui location: 50 Maui Lani Pkwy., Wailuku See West Side listing.
UMI MAUI 1951 Vineyard St., Wailuku, 500-1802 and 1440 Lower Main St., Wailuku, 633-2502. If a California roll topped with tuna, hamachi, salmon and unagi rocks your world, then chef Jayse Sato’s restaurant is your earthquake! Creative presentations, epic soft-shell crab bao buns. BYOB. Japanese. D, $-$$
WAILUKU COFFEE COMPANY 26 N. Market St., Wailuku, 495-0259 Espresso, salads and sandwiches in a relaxed and eclectic setting. Coffee Shop. B, L, $
CASANOVA 1188 Makawao Ave., Makawao, 5720220 Upscale Italian with delicious fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas and polished service. Italian. D, R, $$
ESPRESSO MAFIA 3617 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, 286-9422 Options for every coffee lover with light bites on the side. The ube latte is a violet delight! Coffee Shop. $
GRANDMA’S COFFEE HOUSE 9232 Kula Hwy., Kēōkea, 878-2140 The eggs Benedict and baked goods made from scratch are worth the trek. For lunch, enjoy a hamburger with Swiss cheese and caramelized onions. Coffee Shop/Cafe. B, L, $-$$
HALI‘IMAILE GENERAL STORE 900 Hali‘imaile Rd., Makawao, 572-2666 Located on the road to Haleakalā, this farm-to-table restaurant blends Hawaiian and Asian cuisine. Don't miss the signature Maui Gold pineapple upside down cake. Pacific Rim. L, D, $$$
KALEI'S LUNCHBOX 55 Pukalani St., Makawao, 793-0151 See Central listing.
KULA LODGE 15200 Haleakalā Hwy., Kula, 8781535 Come for the beautiful views and manicured garden, stay for a farm-to-table brunch and woodfired pizzas. Now under 5 Palms management. American, Pacific Rim. B, L, D, $$$
KULAMALU FOOD TRUCK LOT Kiopa‘a St., Pukalani, (next to Upcountry Longs) An eclectic array of fare, including vegetarian, plate lunch, açai bowls, barbecue and more. Food Truck. $-$$
LA PROVENCE 3158 L. Kula Rd., Kula, 878-1313
Perfect croissants, fruit tarts, blueberry-mango scones and artisan breads baked fresh daily. Great coffee. Cash only. French/Bakery. B, L, (Weds-Sun), $
MARLOW 30 Kupaoa St., A104, Pukalani, 8683366 Chef Jeff and Kaili Scheer know good food, and this family-owned restaurant serves wood-fired sourdough pizza, killer meatballs and rustic salads. Great wine menu, too! Italian. D, $-$$
MAUI PIZZA TRUCK 24 Kiopaa St., Makawao, 276-6529 Wood-fired pizza topped with island ingredients like Maui pineapple and kalua pork. Pizza. L, D, $$
MAUIWINE 14815 Pi‘ilani Hwy., ‘Ulupalakua, 878-6058
Enjoy wine tastings and light fare on the open-air lānai. Immaculate grounds surrounding the winetasting room. Winery. L, $-$$
MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 2810 Ha‘ikū Rd., Ha‘ikū, 868-3518 A mediterranean food truck to satisfy all your shawarma, gyro, and falafel cravings. Food Truck/Mediterranean. L, D, $$
POLLI’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1202 Makawao Ave., Makawao 572-7808 A Makawao cornerstone, this local watering hole is famous for its margaritas, Tex-Mex style fares and buzzy vibe. Mexican. L, D, $$
NUKA 780 Ha‘ikū Rd., Ha‘ikū, 575-2939 Izakaya food with flavor and style. Start with paper-thin fried gobo chips, then ‘ahi tataki with ponzu sauce. Creative lunch and dinner specials. Save room for black-sesame or green-tea ice cream! Japanese. L, D, $$-$$$
OCEAN ORGANIC VODKA 4051 Omaopio Rd., Kula, 877-0009 Relax and enjoy the panoramic view of the island as you sip on signature Ocean Organic Vodka and Kula Rum cocktails. For dinner, try the Uncle's Favorite flatbread or fresh ocean poke nachos. Pacific Rim. L, D, $$
O‘O FARM 651 Waipoli Rd., Kula, 856-0141 Learn about gardening and coffee roasting. Enjoy a breakfast veggie frittata, bread from the wood-burning oven and fresh-roasted coffee. Lunch includes chicken/fish entrees, veggies and dessert. American. B, L, R, $$$$
SATORI 3655 Baldwin Ave., Makawao 727-9638
Food truck serving healthy sushi hand rolls, ramen and inventive sushi specials. Cozy outdoor seating in heart of Makawao. Food Truck/Japanese. L, D, $$
THE WOODEN CRATE AT LUMERIA MAUI 1813 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, 579-8877 Fresh, locally caught fish and healthy fare highlight a menu that changes daily. Produce grown on site is the foundation for many dishes at this charming retreat. Pacific Rim. B, L, D, R, $$-$$$$
ULUPALAKUA RANCH STORE & GRILL 14800 Pi‘ilani Hwy., ‘Ulupalakua, 878-2561 Deli fare, lamb burgers with tzatziki and beef or grass-fed venison burgers. Plus, homestyle chili and rice, or kālua pork plate lunch. American. L, D, $
CAFÉ DES AMIS 42 Baldwin Ave., Pā‘ia, 5796323 Savory crêpes served with wild greens and a dollop of sour cream. Lightly spiced curries come with chutney and raita (Indian yogurt sauce). Kid-friendly. Mediterranean. L, D, $
CHOICE HEALTH BAR 11 Baldwin Ave., Pā‘ia, 6617711 See West Side listing.
FLATBREAD COMPANY 89 Hāna Hwy., Pā‘ia, 579-8989 Big booths, a snazzy bar scene and organic flatbreads laden with maple-fennel sausage and roasted veggies. Kid-friendly. Pizza. L, D, N, $$
LIMA COCINA + CANTINA 71 Baldwin Ave., Pā‘ia, 868-0520 Airy restaurant serving artful Peruvian cuisine like saltados and ceviche. Inventive pisco-heavy cocktail list and late-night offerings on Fridays/Saturdays. Latin-inspired. L, D, N, $$-$$$
MAMA’S FISH HOUSE 799 Poho Pl., Kū‘au, 579-8488 Famous for its beautiful beachside setting and Polynesian-inspired cuisine, Mama’s evokes old-time island hospitality. 2023 ‘Aipono winner for Most Romantic Setting and more. Hawaiian/ Seafood. L, D, R, $$-$$$$
NYLOS 115 Baldwin Ave., Pā‘ia, 579-3354 This six-course prix-fixe menu is created with the finest ingredients, like Osetra caviar, wild truffles and line-caught local fish. International. D (5 & 8 p.m. seatings), R, $$$$
PAIA FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 100 Hāna Hwy. Pā‘ia, 579-8030 Huge slabs of fish served with coleslaw on burger buns explain the line out the door. Order your ‘ahi burger rare and squeeze in beside surfers and families. Kid-friendly. Seafood. L, D, $-$$
TOBI'S POKE & SHAVE ICE 137 Hāna Hwy., Pā‘ia, 579-9745 A north shore go-to for heaping poke bowls and seared ahi plates. Or, cool down with a colorful shave ice with up to three flavors. Local. L, $-$$
VANA PAIA 93 Hāna Hwy. #3, Pā‘ia, 579-6002 Start with a liliko‘i mezcalita, then work your way down the menu and try the hamachi carpaccio, nigiri sushi, dragon roll or black garlic-miso eggplant. Asian Fusion. H, D, $-$$
WAIKOMO SHAVE ICE 43 Hāna Hwy., Pā‘ia, 6515169 Earth-friendly, delicious shave ice served in a souvenir coconut bowl all topped with fresh fruit, coconut cream and local honey. Treats. $
DA FISH SHACK 5260 Hāna Hwy., Hāna 269-3922 Your favorite island fish dish is on the menu at Da Fish Shack, from fresh fish tacos to poke and coconut shrimp. Not in the mood for fish? Go for a Paniolo burger with black angus beef. Seafood. D, $
THE RESTAURANT Hāna-Maui Resort, 5031 Hāna Hwy., Hāna, 359-2401 Hāna-sourced fish and local produce are the basis of this original menu. Try a craft cocktail with fresh juice. Pacific Rim. B, L, D, R, $$-$$$$
APRIL 25 | Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine’s ‘Aipono Restaurant Awards | A benefit for the University of Hawai‘i Maui College Culinary Arts Program | Hosted by Seascape Restaurant at Maui Ocean Center.
