Balfour Amy C. - Lonely Planet Maui

A top-notch dining scene enhances Maui's natural charms. And the best part? No matter the view or adventure, you're always a short drive from a delicious meal. Unless it's 8pm in Hana and you're looking for dinner...but we digress. From scrappy food trucks to white-linen dining rooms, eateries are embracing locally sourced food, from Upcountry vegetables to grass-fed beef from the ranch down the road. And the local food? The names may be unfamiliar loco moco, shave ice, kalua pork but trust us, the flavors are rich and delicious, and the portions typically hearty.

History

As you hike over the uncomfortable lava rocks on the King's Hwy near La Perouse Bay, gazing out to sea and broiling under the sun, it's easy to connect with ancient travelers who surely felt the same mix of awe and discomfort. Maui is dotted with such spots, where natural formations and historic structures are direct portals to the past. Downtown Lahaina, with its old wooden storefronts and rowdy pubs, channels the whaling era. You'd hardly blink if Edward Bailey, an 1800s missionary, stepped from the stairwell at the Bailey House. And the 100-year-old Komoda Bakery? The past still makes tasty cream puffs.

Haleakal National Park | Don Smith/Getty Images

By Amy Balfour, Writer

On my first visit to Maui I hiked the Waihee Ridge Trail and ziplined through the West Maui mountains. Thanks to those adventures, I'm hooked on the island's outdoor charms. Since then I've kayaked Makena Bay, hiked into a moonscape crater and snorkeled Molokini Crater. It's the mix of beautiful scenery and easy-to-access adventures that pulls me back. That and the genuine alohas from the residents, who have invited me to book-club meetings and a backyard party. I even had an inn manager, running late, send me to Monkeypod Kitchen with a fistful of cash and instructions to have fun. Aloha and