Car rentals on the Island of Maui can get quite expensive. Here is a quick guide on how you would be able to save while booking a car rental in Maui (Hawaii).
Simply go on either travel website and enter your travel dates, and they will provide you with quotes from multiple car rental agencies.
Example Car rental quote from Autoslash for Maui (1 week)
Autoslash offered me the best rates in Hawaii as I was the only driver but if you have additional drivers while renting then Costco Travel sometimes might have better deals especially if you are looking to opt for high end cars.
If you don’t have Costco Membership then my recommendation would be to just go with Autoslash straightaway as that is my preferred way of booking car rentals in the United States and Canada.
How To Get To The Car Rental From The Airport?
Maui International Airport has a tram service that leaves from the airport towards the car rental lot. Once you leave the terminal you would just need to cross the road, and go to the stop for the car rental tram service. You can carry all your luggage with you on the tram.
Car Rental Tram Service
All of the major car rental companies have their rental cars parked there –
Alamo
Hertz
Avis
National
Budget
Payless
SixT
Dollar
Enterprise
Thrifty
There might be a long wait at the car rental offices during peak season.
Check Your Rental Car Before You Leave
It is recommended to check your car for scratches, or any other damage before you leave. You can take pictures of the condition of the car as well before you leave.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
While Maui may not claim the spotlight for the ultimate drinks experience among the islands, there are a few places that are definitely worth the visit –
Nalu’s Restaurant Maui
Address: 1280 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, United States Business website: https://naluskihei.com/
Nalu’s Restaurant
If you are looking for the best Mai Tai on the island then you must head to Nalu’s South Shore Grill. The restaurant has a nice décor as well as atmosphere, and they often do live music and entertainment. Also the restaurant is dog friendly.
Some of their popular food menu items are: Loco Moco, Poke Bowl of the Day, Island Pancakes, Acai Bowl, Chicken and Waffles, and Corn flake Crusted French Toast.
Hawaiian cuisine
Live music
Upscale casual dining
Pet friendly
Monkeypod Kitchen
Address: 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy Bldg I-1, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States Business website: https://monkeypodkitchen.com/
Mai Tai at Monkeypod
Located in Whalers village, the Monkeypod is a really large bar. The bar is most popular for it’s Mai Tai which was nice and strong though I wouldn’t say the best I have had. The atmosphere is great at this place, and once you are done, you can always check out the shops nearby or head to another bar.
Monkeypod does get quite busy so there might be a bit of wait before you get a table. If you are visiting this bar then make sure to get credit for your parking.
Milagros is a Mexican restaurant and has a variety of tropical cocktails that they offer. I went with a coconut based cocktail called Coco-Rita which is tequila blended with lime and coconut cream, a potent drink and tasted similar to pina colada with coconut in it. Other popular drinks at the restaurant include – Mermaid water and Cadillac margarita.
Casual dining restaurant
Large patio
Mexican cuisine
Ester’s Fair Prospect
Address: 2050 Main St STE 1B, Wailuku, HI 96793, United States Business website: https://www.estersmaui.com/
Ester’s Fair Prospect
Ester’s Fair Prospect according to me was the most elegant cocktails bar I found in Maui. Whether you are on a date or with a small group of friends, this would be a good spot to go. It has a really nice and cozy atmosphere. Their drinks are great as well!
Pet friendly
Upscale casual bar
Elegant
Limited food options
Other places to consider for drinks –
Maui Brewing Company (Address: 605 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753, United States) If you are looking to try some craft beers then why not visit Hawaii’s largest brewery! They also have island inspired dining options. This place is massive and I think one of the large drinking spots on the island.
Tante’s Fishmarket RestoBar (Address: 300 Maalaea Rd Upper Level Maalaea, Wailuku, HI 96793, United States) If you are looking for a happy hour place then it might be worth going here. Drinks were relatively cheap compared to other places I went. There are a bunch of shopping places and attractions nearby the place so it might be worth visiting for convenience.
Haleakava Bar (Address: 1794 S Kihei Rd Suite 20, Kihei, HI 96753, United States) Offers non-alcoholic but kava based drinks. This would be a nice place for a relaxed hangout and if you enjoy local live music.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
There is a lot to do on the Island of Maui besides water sports! Here is a list of things that you can do with your partner, friends or family on the Island of Maui!
Depending on the season, you might be able to engage yourself in strawberry picking or if you visit during autumn, you can get a chance to explore their pumpkin patch, where you can find the perfect pumpkin to carve/decorate with your family.
The Kula Country Farms also features has a farm stand from where you can get fresh locally produced goods, and besides that they also have a variety of plants, seeds, jams and other products. I tried out their chocolate honey which is something unique I have never seen before and it was quite delicious!
If you are visiting this place, I think you just go and ask for some feed for the goats and pet them! I am not sure if I would recommend their casual tour as for me it was quite boring but the milking tour might be more interesting. There is no entry fee for the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm.
The Dairy Farm also sells goat products like truffles, gift baskets and cheese which is something you might be interested in.
Surfing Goat Dairy Farm
Ocean Organic Farm and Distillery
Address: 4051 Omaopio Rd, Kula, HI 96790, United States Business website: https://oceanvodka.com/
Since you are on Hawaii why not try some locally produced vodka? Ocean Organic Vodka offers a tasting experience of their organic vodka. You can get discount on your booking if you are a local, active military or are a senior citizen.
The Maui Butterfly Farm is the only walk-in butterfly house on Maui where you get to interact with colored butterflies and other insects like praying mantis. The Maui Butterfly Farm has guided farm tours for adults, children and infants (free).
I found it quite pricey but if you have never been to a butterfly farm before then it might be worth having the experience.
Maui Butterfly Farm
Magical Enchanted Forest
Address: Lahaina, HI 96761, United States
The Magical Enchanted Forest features a short but easy trail. It’s absolutely worth visiting this amazing forest that offers a unique experience. Street Parking might be a little tricky depending on what time you are headed there.
Enchanted Forests Maui
The Birdstand Maui
Address: Lahaina, HI 96761, USA, 658 Wharf St, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States
The Birdstand is a little setup located on Wharf Street for taking pictures with different types of Parrots. You can also ask questions regarding the birds as the handler is pretty knowledgeable.
The Birdstand
Lahaina Banyan Court
Address: 671 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States
The Lahaina Banyan Court features the largest Banyan tree on the Island of Hawaii. Close to the trees is a courthouse which has been converted to a museum and features art gallery and has an interactive exhibit with videos/photos/historical objects. There are also a lot shops and restaurants located close to the area.
If you are looking to take some locally made gifts with you then have a visit at UI Gallery. The store has a variety of high quality products from local artists including glasses, pillows, tables, chairs, jewelry (including shell jewelry). Some of the art at the store can be quite expensive though but is definitely worth having a look!
The Fun Factory has multiple locations on the Maui Island and features a number of video games, air hockey tables, dance dance revolution, basketball arcade machines and more. The place is a bit pricey so make sure to have a budget and only go for select games.
Maui Ocean Center is the largest tropical reef aquarium and offers a number of experiences like shark dive, snorkeling, yoga, plant tours, naturalist presentations. They also have an Immersive 3D theater which I think made the visit worth it for me. So if you are headed there make sure to not miss the 3D show.
The Ocean Center also has a gift shop and I found the prices to be a bit better than most gift shops around the area.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
Looking for the best taco restaurants in Maui? Here are some really good taco restaurants that you should visit if you are visiting Maui!
Ono Tacos Truck Lahaina
Address: 520 Keolani Place , Kahului, HI, United States, Hawaii
Steak and Fish Tacos at Ono Tacos Maui
If you are visiting Ono Tacos then my recommendation would be to go with their Steak Tacos which I found just amazing! They also have cow tongue tacos which is something you don’t get to see often at Taco joints. Make sure to have your taco with some of the hot sauces that they have.
Ono Tacos Truck
I did try their Fish Taco as well but for it was alright and not as impressive as the Steak Taco. Besides Tacos, the Food Truck also has Quesadilla, Burritos, Tortas and Hot Dogs. If you are vegan and don’t like meat, then they do have salad options as well.
While the most popular items at the Maui Grill Food Truck are their Crispy Coconut Shrimp Plate and Chicken Satay, I decided to try out their tacos with coleslaw, lime crema sauce and cilantro. Each order has 3 tacos and If you make a request, you can actually get different types of meat/seafood on your tacos.
I was able to try their Mahi Mahi Paradise, Mahi Fish and their Jump Shrimp tacos, all of which were so delicious. Size of the tacos was decent as well.
Food Truck
Limited seating area
Casual Dining Experience
Maui Tacos
Address: 5095 Napilihau St #111A, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States Business website: https://mauitacos.com/
Maui Tacos
Maui Tacos restaurant has a tiki like vibe. I tried different meats for my tacos, and all of them were spot on! They also a variety of hot sauces for the tacos to go with. This one definitely felt like an authentic Mexican taco for me! You order of Tacos comes with a free side of chips!
My order of Fish Tacos at South Maui Fish Co came with spicy aioli, slaw, grilled fish, and unagi. The portion size was amazing and the flavors were great! There are also a bunch of shops around the area that might be worth visiting and walking around.
If you are looking for a restaurant with stunning views then you should try Kimo’s. Their Fish Tacos were great. My Taco came with a lot of cheese, and felt quite refreshing with the salad and meaty flavor. The Tacos also came with chips/salsa.
Fine Dining Experience
Scenic views
Limited Tacos menu
Awesome desserts
Here are some other restaurants that I tried but did not meet my expectations –
Paia Fish Market (Paia) – At Paia, I had their fish and chicken tacos and while the ingredients were fresh, I did not find them not flavorful enough. If you are looking for non-spicy version of tacos then this might be the spot though.
Island Tacos (Haiku) – They had really big tacos but I was left disappointed with the flavors. I think they could have done a lot better job with the Tacos.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
Eating out while traveling can get quite get expensive, especially when you are in Hawaii. Here are some of the best restaurants in Maui that won’t break your wallet –
This was the first restaurant I tried in Maui and I think it was the best meal I had on the Island. Tin Roof is a Hawaiian fusion restaurant and I had the opportunity to try their Michiko Chicken w/ Garlic noodles and Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Both meals turned out to be delicious and flavorful. The restaurant is also popular for their Pork Belly and Chop Steak.
While Tin Roof is a takeout only restaurant, it is absolutely worth going there and ordering yourself a meal. You won’t be disappointed!
Tin Roof Restaurant
Bearded BBQ Maui
Address: 3135 Lower Kula Rd, Kula, HI 96790, United States
This is one of the few restaurants where I have ordered some food and then enjoyed it so much that I ordered some more. Their pork ribs are just awesome! My order of ribs with mac and cheese was just delicious. The ribs were perfectly seasoned and the flavor just had me ask for more.
Apart from ribs they do have sausages, chicken, sandwiches and even ice cream with chocolate sauce!
Ribs at Bearded BBQ Maui
Okus Sushi Kihei
Address: 1993 S Kihei Rd unit 17, Kihei, HI 96753, United States
After trying a couple of sushi places, I was able to find a sushi restaurant on Maui that actually serves fresh quality sushi! Oku’s Sushi offers kind service and amazing food! My order at Oku’s Sushi was their rainbow roll which is California roll topped with Tuna, Salmon and Avocado.
Also customers get free edamame as an appetizer at this Japanese restaurant!
My order of the Drunken Noodles at the Happy Belly Food Truck was so delicious and are probably one of the most delicious noodles I have ever had. The pork belly was nice and crispy with the perfect balance of fat and proteins which you would want on your pork belly. Their food menu items are also very much affordable.
Drunken Noodles at Happy Belly Food Truck
Duke’s Beach House Maui
Address: 130 Kai Malina Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States Business website: https://www.dukesmaui.com/
Duke’s Beach House is a really good location for having breakfast or lunch. My order of Loco Moco was delicious and if it’s your first time having Loco Moco then I would recommend that you have it with Tabasco or Soy Sauce for extra flavoring.
There is a pool located right across since the restaurant is located in a resort area. Though compared to the other restaurants that I ate at, I felt this one was quite windy.
My order of Big Kahuna came with a variety of meat/seafood combo, a savory sauce(gravy) and white rice. The serving portions are decent and I think this one would be a good spot for having lunch.
While it’s a chain restaurant, I found their service fast and food quality decent. L&L has a number of locations throughout Hawaii and you can experience what Hawaiian Fast-food tastes like. The serving sizes are good and at a reasonable price though there isn’t much seating at the location. If you are headed there, just go for the takeout option.
L&L Hawaiian BBQ
Other restaurants that did not make the list –
Waikapu on 30 (Address: 1486 HI-30, Wailuku, HI 96793, United States) – While their Pork Lau Lau w/ Lomi salmon didn’t meet my expectations, It might be a unique Hawaiian dish that might be worth trying. I found it a bit salty for me and since it was my first time, I wasn’t sure if that is always the case. The restaurant also offers hamburger steak, shoyu chickens, baked chicken, bowls, noodles and more.
The Plantation House Maui (Address: 2000 Plantation Club Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States) – The restaurant offers stunning views however I wasn’t impressed with the food. I think they need to offer better items on their menu.
Miso Phat Sushi (Address: 1279 S Kihei Rd #108, Kihei, HI 96753, United States) – I tried out their most popular roll – the Miso Phat Roll but I think for the price paid it seemed to be just above average.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
