Makawao was the perfect location for driving to different parts of Maui (e.g. 15 min airport, 1 hr Haleakala, 45 min Lahaina, 15 min Paia, 30 min Kihei). We tried to do as many touristy things as possible: went to a luau; drove the Road to Hana; went for sunrise on Haleakala; and of course, saw some sea turtles. We didn’t have time to go whale watching or snorkeling unfortunately. Instead, we enjoyed our time on a number of great beaches and did a coffee tour at a local farm. Specific places we went…
Groceries
- Upcountry Farmer’s Market (Makawao) — weekly on Saturdays so we got lucky and bought bread and some vegetables for cooking later. Arjun had a breakfast burrito and I had a hot dog at one of the food stands. Then picked up a fresh coconut from another stand.
- Rodeo General Store (Makawao) — stopped here for some jam and cheese to go with our bread.
- Foodland (Pukalani) — grocery chain on the island for all other essentials.
Specialty Food Places
- T. Komodo Bakery (Makawao) — recommended stick donut
- Sip Me (Makawao) — coffee was ok; they were training a new barista that day.
- Coconut Glen’s (Hana) — vegan coconut-based ice cream; it was fantastic!
- O’o Farm (Kula) — took the “Seed to Cup” Coffee and Breakfast Tour; great experience, great food, great coffee, but I was so wired afterwards.
- Akamai Coffee (Kihei) — great little coffee place; they roast their own beans.
Food Establishments
- Feast at LeLe (Lahaina) — I definitely overate for our first-time at a luau. Food and entertainment were both fantastic; plus unlimited drinks.
- Thai Food by Pranee (Hana) — a pretty good Thai place in the town of Hana.
- Paia Fish Market (Paia) — THE MOST AMAZING FISH. Hands down. We got the Ahi + Blackened Fresh Catch Plate and onion rings.
- Grandma’s Coffeehouse (Kula) — a very popular place for breakfast plates.
- Coconut’s Fish Cafe (Kihei) — excellent fish tacos.
- Da Kitchen (Kahului) — excellent Ahi Poke Bowl; who knew fish made like this could taste so good?
Sights
- Whalers Village (Lahaina) — there’s a whale skeleton at the entrance to this shopping complex.
- Waikamoi Nature Trail (Road to Hana) — very lush green rain forest; the mosquitoes loved me…
- Garden of Eden Arboretum (Road to Hana) — indeed a tad pricey for admission, but it was a great garden to wander and get lost in.
- Hana Lava Tube (Road to Hana) — now this was a cool stop. The owner’s brother is actually a geophysics professor here at the U!
- Haleakala National Park — of course, we had to come here for the sunrise. Unfortunately, the day we picked was rainy and windy.
Beaches
- Ka’anapali (Lahaina) — near Whaler’s Village; not much shade and lots of resorts nearby.
- Hamoa (Road to Hana) — the most BEAUTIFUL and PICTURESQUE beach I have ever been to.
- Ho’opika (Paia) — where we saw sea turtles and surfers go wild in the rain.
- Kamaole (Kihei) — a beautiful spot facing west to watch the sunset.
And this concludes our adventures in Maui. Click here for photos (and click the ⓘ or see comments for captions). Mahalo!
Shirley Zhao 