What is the best Maui fruit?

The best fruit on Maui is widely considered to be the Maui Gold pineapple,

Celebrated for its exceptional sweetness and flavor that surpass many other pineapples worldwide.

Maui Gold pineapples are renowned for their golden yellow skin and exceptionally sweet and juicy flesh. They are available year-round and stand out from typical pineapples due to their consistently high quality and sweetness. Maui Gold is often highlighted as a premier fruit on the island, enjoyed fresh or in various local delicacies.

Alongside this, Maui is known for a vibrant array of tropical fruits including papayas, mangoes, and apple bananas, each offering unique tastes emblematic of the island’s fertile soil and ideal growing climate. 

Other Popular Maui Fruits

• Papaya: Grown year-round, Maui papayas come in varieties like rainbow and strawberry papayas, prized for their sweet, orange flesh.
• Mangoes: Especially celebrated during their peak season from May through October, Maui mangoes come in different varieties such as Hayden and Pirie, known for their juicy and sweet flavor.
• Apple Bananas: Unique to Hawaii, these bananas are smaller with a sweet apple-strawberry taste and are popular among locals and visitors alike.
• Lilikoi (Passion Fruit): A tropical favorite from June to January, known for its tangy-sweet pulp. s.

Where to Buy

Maui’s farmers markets and farm stands are the best places to find the freshest and highest quality fruit on Maui. Notable places include the Maui Tropical Plantation, Upcountry Farmers Market, and fruit stands like Yee’s Orchard in Kihei. These venues often offer fruit picked at peak ripeness with more authentic flavors than supermarket imports

In sum, while there are many delicious fruits native and cultivated on Maui, the Maui Gold pineapple remains the flagship fruit prized for its sweetness and quality, making it the best fruit on Maui in many local and visitor opinions.

Maui Luau FAQs Answered

What is a Luau?

A luau is a traditional Hawaiian gathering and feast. It has three main elements: traditional Hawaiian feast, mele (song) and hula (dance). The first recorded luau was held by King Kamehameha II in 1819. Today families in Hawaii will sometimes celebrate special occasions with luaus. These are however private and not open to the public.

Is a luau authentic?

Commercial operators have stepped in and organize luaus for tourists to attend. Typically they are held at or near resorts next to the beach with sunset views. They will include a meal of traditional Hawaiian foods (including roasted pig). Typically drinks are included (Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Blue Hawaiian etc). After-dinner entertainment will include various hula dances, perhaps a fire or knife dancer etc. Are they authentic? Well, considering that they are a commercial business, they are okay. Definitely check out reviews on Trip Advisor, the Maui Time’s ‘Best of Maui’ section and other review sites to see what others have thought. Additionally we have a great concierge (Concierge Connection) that can recommend a Luau near you, and help with great seats.

Should you book a Maui luau?

It depends what you are expecting. If you want to try authentic Hawaiian foods and enjoy a Hawaiian-esque show, book a luau. The food is usually very good, and I am not sure where else to go for traditional roast imu pig (it is so good). However, if you are more interested in culture or history, take a pass and book the Ulalena show in Lahaina – no dinner included, but a great indoor show, depicting the history of the Hawaiian islands with great live music and dance. [edit] this show is closed - we hope it will re appear in 2022.

What is the best luau on Maui?

I recommend seriously considering the luaus near your condo. Keep in mind the free drinks and how far you will need to drive after the luau. Maui Police cracks down on impaired driving, so unless you have a designated driver, plan on taking a cab. Uber is also now on Maui. Remember that the drive from Lahaina to Kihei/Wailea can take an hour in post-luau traffic (and that’s if there is no accident on the two-lane highway).

If you prefer a sit-down dinner, check out the Feast of Lele in Lahaina. All other luaus on Maui are buffet-style which is nice as you get to pick and choose what you want to eat. The Old Lahaina Luau consistently rates well. The Grand Luau at Honua’ula (Grand Wailea) and Te au Moana (Wailea Marriott) are good South Maui options.

What is the best place to buy luau tickets?

The cost is anywhere from $100-$130/adult. Children usually get in at a reduced rate. Tips are extra (expected and appreciated). You can book tickets directly from the luau organizers (online or at the resorts). Remember, most luaus do not run daily, you will want to pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment.

If you are considering the Grand Luau (Grand Wailea), buy your discounted tickets at Costco and then phone the resort to reserve your seats.

Where you sit at a luau is important. The right seats can insure a much better experience. For that reason we recommend using our concierges. They know all the luaus intimately and in talking with you about your expectations can recommend the best for what you want. You’ll be able to see and hear the show, sit on the ground traditional style at low tables or standard tables for just you or with a group. They earn a small commission for doing this but the cost you pay is no more than you would pay directly to the event – you’ll be much happier.

There are also time share stands that will sell you heavily discounted tickets (in return for attending one of their time share presentations). This is one way to save money however ask yourself: are you willing to give up several hours of your vacation in a time share presentation and do you have the willpower to say ‘no’ to their sales pitch?

What to wear to a luau?

Dress code is Hawaiian casual: a nice Aloha shirt with shorts/khakis, an Aloha dress for the ladies. Most luaus have lei available for purchase. Also most have a professional photographer present – a great opportunity for a family picture!

Where to park?

Double check this when you make your reservations. At the Grand Wailea for instance, valet parking is included in the price of the tickets. However, you will want some change to tip the valet.

Best Poke on Maui

Top 5 best Poke on Maui

Are you a poke lover? Or are you not quite sure why I am talking about poking?

Poke (poke-ay) means “to slice or cut crosswise into pieces”. It consists of small chunks of raw marinated fish, very popular here in Hawaii. It typically is served as part of a ‘poke bowl’, sticky rice on the bottom with a few different types of marinated poke and seaweed salad on top.

What kind of fish? Most often it’s made with sashimi grade ahi (tuna), however you can also find shrimp, tako (octopus) or even non-fish varieties. Without a doubt, but favorite is the ahi poke.

I have heard poke is gaining in popularity along the West Coast, maybe you can get it where you live on the Mainland. Generally you either love it or hate it – kind of like with sushi and sashimi. Yes, many restaurants serve poke, but in case you are wondering…

Where do the locals get their poke on Maui?

All the locals I have asked say: Foodland. Seriously? Yes, while all the grocery stores (including Costco) have a poke bar (it’s just that wonderful), Foodland’s poke bar is the best. With 20+ varieties to choose from, don’t be shy to ask for a sample, you can get it with rice, or ask for a few small sample size containers to try different varieties. The price averages at $12/lb. In case you’re wondering, ‘shoyu’ is a local-style soy sauce.

Eskimo Candy is another local favorite, located in Kihei’s industrial part of town (across from Napa Auto Parts and Lokelani Intermediate School). They usually have four different types of poke. A poke bowl is around $13 and is quite filling. This is a small take-out place with limited indoor and outdoor seating, so get it to go. (closed in 2020)

Tamura’s Fine Wine and Liquor. What, what? Why would you buy your poke at a liquor specialty store? Not sure, but this is a chain store from Oahu with three locations on Maui: Tamura’s on Dairy Road in Kahului, a new store in Kihei on Lipoa (close to Fabiani’s) and one in Lahaina on Kupuohi Street.

Another favorite is the ‘Like Poke?’ food truck. There is a gravel parking lot with various food trucks across from the main Costco parking lot entrance. Just in case you don’t want your $1.50 Costco hotdog. Who knew, right?

Takamiya Market in Wailuku. This is the only one I have not been to myself. Though when talking to others about poke, this always comes out during the conversation. Takamiya is a ‘very local style place’, you will not find many tourists. One of their specialties is that they make poke to order.

As always when eating raw fish, it is best to eat it right away and not to let it sit (especially in a hot car). You definitely don’t want to get sick on vacation.

Any other ideas for a “Top 5” list? Let us know in the comments!