Mal & Nicole's Must Do's
Our Location guide
Personal Recommendations from the owners
Mal & Nicole
Our condo at the Lahaina Shores sits on one of the most desirable stretches of shoreline in West Maui. The beach is quiet and private. The location provides convenient access to Kāʻanapali, Napili, world-class beaches, shopping, golf, and outstanding restaurants. Stroll to the Banyan Tree and Lahaina Harbor or venture out on a full day trip to explore this beautiful Island. Below we are sharing some of our personal favorite things to do, places to eat and more. To be clear, we have no affiliation with any of the service providers or places we recommend… we just love them ourselves! If you want recommendations on anything else, just reach out and we will share our thoughts!
Mal & Nicole
Maui sunsets are famous the world over… some of the best we have ever seen are right in front of our condo! Pour a drink, sit on the lanai or take a beach chair and walk the 100 feet to the beach… sit back and watch in awe! (A little preview, taken from our condo):
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Bring your camera & get amazing photos
- Ask someone to take a picture of your party with the sunset behind you
Lahaina has a history of food trucks that serve a variety of delicious food and beverages at good value. From coffee to fro-yo, juices to ice cream, various Hawaiian food dishes, and sometimes Mexican, pizza and more. These are a great option for breakfast or lunch…trust me, you will not regret it!
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Check with the resort front desk for the current truck locations and recommendations
- Try a couple of different ones, find your favorites and let us know!
A Hawaiian Lūʻau is a wonderful evening where you will be immersed in Hawaiian culture, storytelling and feasting. We have attended several, but we recommend the Old Lahaina Lūʻau as we think it’s the best on the island of Maui and it provides a truly genuine and authentic Hawaiian experience. In addition, it is located just a 5-minute drive or Taxi ride from the Lahaina Shores. A must do Hawaiian experience.
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- If you have any Hawaiian clothes, wear them!
- There is usually an abundance of food and choices so go hungry
Sunsets are spectacular on Maui, but witnessing one on a sailboat is an incredible experience. We recommend Trilogy Tours as we have used them many times, they have been around for over 5 decades, and they operate out of the ‘walk to’ Lahaina Harbor. Enjoy appetizers and drinks while under sail, chat with a crew member and learn more about the waters and amazing geography that is Maui… they may even share some great stories from the sea! Every time we bring guests to our Condo, we take them on this particular experience…they never forget it!
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Bring a full water bottle, sunscreen (No spray sunscreen), and a hat
- Ask your crew lots of questions, they are very knowledgeable and love to shar
Snorkeling on Maui is spectacular, there is an abundant of sea life, from Monk Seals to Spinner Dolphins, from giant Sea Turtles to a rainbow of Tropical Fish, from Octopi to Manta Rays. We recommend PacWhale Eco Adventures snorkeling trips as 100% of their profits go to ocean conservation. They are also operating a short walk from the Condo out of Lahaina Harbor (next to the Banyan Tree).Please note a lot of Maui Wildlife are protected species, so enjoy seeing them but don’t go too close or touch!
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Bring an underwater cover for your Phone – This is the best seller on Amazon
- Unless you are an experienced swimmer and knowledgeable of the marine landscape, I recommend you join an organized tour
Maui has some of the best food in the world, for obvious reasons the seafood is exceptionally fresh and deliciously prepared. Local in Lahaina (North End near Safeway) these are some of our favorites
- Mala Ocean Tavern – Stunning Ocean Front Dining
- Star Noodle – Stunning food (Book at least 4 weeks before you travel)
- Honu Oceanside – Voted Maui’s Best Seafood
- Coco Deck – A great variety and an awesome happy hour!
- Leilanis on the Beach – This is our favorite place for lunch, happy hour and afternoon music. It’s located in nearby Ka’anapali, about 4 miles from your condo
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- As the best dining experiences get booked out ahead of time, we usually book 2-4 weeks ahead of our stay. With Star Noodle, make that 6 weeks! Exception is for Lunch or Happy Hour
- These restaraunts have many choices so its good to review their menus online ahead of time… also gives you something to look forward to
If you are fortunate to be visiting between November and mid-April, you absolutely must do a Whale watching tour. We again recommend PacWhale Eco Adventures as their tours are amazing, the crews are knowledgeable, friendly and they share so much information about the Whales and other wildlife you are likely to see. The last time we took this tour out of Lahaina we saw many Humpback Whales, pods of Spinner Dolphins speeding alongside the boat, Sea Turtles doing their thing, and even flying fish… I did not believe that they actually existed until I saw them with my own eyes!
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Bring your best camera and prepare to be amazed by the sheer beauty of these creatures
- Bring sunscreen (no sprays), water bottle and a hat
This is a must-do! Take a day and drive the unforgettable Road to Hana. This 64-mile scenic journey winds along Maui’s lush northeastern coastline, offering breathtaking ocean views, cascading waterfalls, tropical rainforests, bamboo forests, and peaceful coastal villages. The goal is not to reach the town of Hana; the adventure is truly the drive and the stops you take along the way. Swim under one of the many waterfalls, take a hike, explore local culture, and enjoy fresh island treats along the way. A must stop, in our opinion, is The Garden of Eden. Take your time, follow the winding road carefully, and embrace the beauty around every turn. Whether you complete the entire route or visit a few favorite stops, the Road to Hana will create lasting Maui memories.
Note: If you don’t want to drive it yourself, there are tours that you can join (we have no specific recommendation as we have always driven ourselves).
Mal & Nicole’s Tips:
- Pack your swimming gear, towels and I recommend bring water shoes as walking under waterfalls can be hard on the feet. I recommend these ones as good value and do the job
- Pack some snacks, lunch, water etc., it’s a long day and while there are some food options along the way they can get very busy