It’s not just beautiful beaches and pristine nature that draw people to Maui. Its food scene is unique among the Hawaiian Islands – food caters for dedicated locavores, and a drive across the island can leads you to renowned restaurants and roadside food stalls, tucked into the curve of valleys and on the backstreets of characterful towns.
The beach resorts that draw so many visitors in add a luxurious flourish to the locally sourced ingredients; their on-site restaurants produce great quality food. There’s also the traditional Hawaiian extravaganza – the luau, where hula-skirted dancers shimmy to ukulele notes as you feast on a menu of local snacks – like pig roasted in a traditional imu (an underground oven). Ingredients are plucked, caught and harvested in a sustainable manner and then transformed into culinary delights.Haiwaii’s residents famously have a quirky love for spam – try it in favourite dish saiman, where ramen noodles are cooked with fried spam, kamoboko (fish cakes), egg and beansprouts.
Lahaina
Lahaina was the former capital of Hawaii, and today remains a historic town, with a relaxed, village-like atmosphere. The Old Lahaina Luau is considered Maui’s best traditional feast. Try a buffet of traditional fare, like baked Mahi Mahi, a local fish that is served cooked to perfection, and of course the star of the show, imu-roasted pork. When you’ve eventually got your appetite back, head out for a light but sweet treat at Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice. Try their piles of powdery ice fragments in every flavour under the sun, including passion fruit and green tea.
• The Old Lahaina Luau, 1251 Front Street, Lahaina. Kapalua
Kapalua is the place to try cuisine that feels as wild and natural as your surroundings do. Merriman’s is a must if you stop here, the brainchild of Peter Merriman, an innovator of Haiwaii’s locavore movement. Dishes that showcase the raw local ingredients available are the best on the menu – like smoked taro homous, made from the traditional Pacific Island staple root. Or for similar local goodness but with high end sheen, feast on house-smoked salmon at The Terrace Restaurant, part of the renowned Ritz-Carlton hotel, and located in their gardens.
• Merriman’s, 1 Bay Club Place, Kapalua. West Maui
Watching the sun slowly rise from the crest of the Haleakala volcano is one of Maui’s most awe-inspiring sights. If you want a delicious local breakfast to double the sensory delights, visit T. Komoda Store & Bakery, located at the base of the summit. Fluffy cream puffs and guava-jam filled doughnuts make a delicious breakfast with a local twist. Or, take a picnic – the Rodeo General Store has homemade vegan deli dishes to take away, like Smoked Marlin Dip, Lilikoi (passion fruit) Tapioca, and Maclava (balaclava topped with macadamia nuts).
• T. Komoda Store & Bakery, 3674 Baldwin Ave, Makawao. Hana
Your journeys end is a beautiful, rural area of Maui, and fittingly, Hana isn’t bursting with restaurants. For that you have to turn to the food stalls, mirroring the untouched atmosphere of the place. Nutcharee's Authentic Thai Food, creates spicy wonders out of fresh fish, local vegetables and zingy sauces, and showcases sustainable and accomplished cooking. Alternatively, try Clay Oven Pizza – a food stall which bakes pizzas in a field next to the highway, a few nights every week. Bring your own beer, and enjoy locally grown toppings while you sit in stunning natural surroundings.
• Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food, 5050 Uakea Road, Hana. • Clay Oven Pizza, Mile Marker 31, Hana.
