A Taste of Paradise

There's an old saying among travelers: "If the food is good, the vacation is good." Well, the food has always been good on Maui, but now it's just flat out fantastic. The advent of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine—which originated on Maui and has been winning culinary awards around the world—has spawned a cornucopia of superlative restaurants that cater to every taste imaginable, with dishes made all the more enticing by the commitment of Maui chefs to use fresh local fish and custom-grown local fruits and vegetables, Some of the more famous establishments whose taste transport diners into sheer culinary ecstasy are the Haliimaile General Store, Roy's Kahana Grill, A Pacific Cafe, Sam Choy's, Mama's Fish House, David Paul's Lahaina Grill, Carelli's and the Hula Grill. Yet no Maui vacation is truly complete without a trua Hawaiian lu`au, not just for the marvelous lu`au food—the kalua pig and kiawe steaks, the grilled mahi mahi and the lomi slmon—but also for the entertainment experience offered by such authentic establishments as the Old Lahaina Lu`au, with music and dance reflecting the history of Maui from ancient times to present day. And when you're out and about exploring the Magic Isle, don't forget to stop in at a lunch counter or out-of-the-way eatery to try some tasty local fare, like savory plate lunches, delicious saimin, rainbow shave ice, and of course manju—flaky pastries filled with sweet apple, coconut, and pineapple.

Courtesy of Maui Visitors Bureau