Maui - West Maui - Day 8-11

We spent 11-days (without the kiddos) in Maui. We previously covered Days 1-4 in Upcountry Maui and Days 5-7 on the Road to Hana. After 7 days of adventures it was time to activate beach mode. West Maui is home to some beautiful beaches and we spent Days 8-11 in West Maui soaking up the sun.

Day 8: Beach Mode

Amanda was reading on the balcony, and I went out to pick up breakfast. I grabbed an iced latte from Cruizin Cafe. Then jumped in line for the legendary Papi’s Ohana. The line only took about 15 mins. The line was long, but the payoff was a warm, gooey, giant cinnamon roll. The best cinnamon roll in Maui. I brought back some cinnamon rolls and buttery croissants stuffed with Portuguese sausage to eat on our balcony.

Fueled up, we headed to Olowalu Beach Park for an afternoon of snorkeling. We rented snorkel gear from Snorkel Bob’s. They have locations all over the island but there was one right across the street from Papi Ohana. Olowalu Beach Park is across the street from Leoda’s Pie Shop. As snorkel beginners, this location became our favorite. The waters were calm and crystal-clear. It made it easy to enjoy the coral, tropical fish, and sea turtles. The reef here stretches far and wide, and the peaceful vibes make it a hidden gem for marine life lovers. The beach park has a simple parking lot and every time we visited there were hardly any people there. We spent 4 hours lounging on the beach, reading books, and snorkeling.

Crossed the road for an early dinner at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. This place is a Maui staple; serving up delicious grandma comfort food. We enjoyed our sandwiches, reuben and a roasted turkey. The star of the show is the pies! Their banana cream and chocolate macadamia nut pies were incredible.

Sometimes I find joy in little details. It puts a smile on my face to drive through the stunning canopy of monkeypod trees in Olowalu! The way the branches stretched across the road, creating a tunnel of lush greenery, is delightful. I fell in love with this drive! We got back just in time for another marvelous sunset.

Day 9: Luau

Started the morning at Kihei Caffe Lahaina. I dove into a classic Spam Loco Moco, while Amanda went sweet with their thick-cut French toast. Massive portions and great flavors are precisely why this is a popular Maui breakfast joint. Their original location is in Kihei across the street from the Kalama Beach Park which would have been a 40 min trip. Luckily, they have a second location in West Maui near Lahaina. The majority of Lahaina remained closed to visitors as the community continued to recover from the devastating 2023 wildfires. Visiting over a year after the wildfires, it was clear that the Lahaina community was still in the midst of a long recovery and cleanup efforts.

We spent the late morning at Whalers Village. Did a little shopping, grabbed a refreshing acai bowl, and dipped our toes in the soft sand of Kaanapali Beach. In the afternoon, we couldn’t resist heading back for more snorkeling at Olowalu. An afternoon of coral, fish, and more sea turtles.

We had an incredible evening at the Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton in Kaanapali! The show was an amazing celebration of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, including hula, traditional music, and fire dancing. Each performance shared the stories and legends of Maui and the Pacific Islands. The all-you-can-eat Hawaiian buffet featured island-inspired dishes, and the open bar flowed all evening long. We opted for preferred seating ($228 per adult), which placed us in the first two rows and first in line for dinner. From the music to the food to the oceanfront setting, this luau was a true highlight of our West Maui stay.

Day 10: West Maui Coastline

Breakfast at The Gazebo is a tradition in West Maui. This popular breakfast joint is nestled in Napili Bay. It doesn’t have much seating and as mentioned its a popular place, so if you visit pack your patience. We waited about 30 to 40 mins to be seated. It is worth the wait. Their macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup were light and fluffy balanced with sweet and nutty.

We set off on a scenic drive up the rugged West Maui coastline with the Shaka Guide on in the background. This road trip isn’t nearly as long or narrow as the Road to Hana, but it still winds dramatically along the cliffs and coasts. Stunning views along the whole drive. Our destination was the Nakalele Blowhole, where powerful ocean swells force sea water through a lava rock opening, shooting geysers into the air. You can see the blowhole from a lookout near the parking area. The hike down to get closer can be tricky with uneven, jagged rocks. Sturdy shoes and caution are a must if you are going to hike down for a closer look. We stood at a safe distance, watching as ocean waves sent mist 50 feet into the air.

We also made time for Slaughterhouse Beach. The beach gets its name from an old slaughterhouse that once stood on the neighboring cliff. The slaughterhouse is long gone but the name stuck. We had to spend a little time finding parking. We spent about an hour sitting on the beach watching people boogie board and body surf (apparently its a popular place for those activities). Relaxing afternoon.

We got a late lunch at Monkeypod Kitchen. It was a laid back atmosphere with live, acoustic music and excellent food. Amanda got the saimin which is a Hawaiian noodle dish and a cousin of ramen. We enjoyed their famous Mai Tai (with a honey-lilikoi foam that’s next level). Great food, great vibes. We spent the rest of the afternoon reading on the balcony and watching for sea turtles plus took in another perfect sunset.

Dinner was at the iconic Merriman’s in Kapalua. Peter Merriman has been a fixture in Hawaiian culinary scene for three decades. Merriman’s and Monkeypod Kitchen are both restaurants founded by Peter Merriman. Perched on the water’s edge, this upscale spot delivered a memorable experience with its fresh, “ocean”-to-table seafood menu, and exceptional service. We were lucky to grab a reservation that day but I would recommend trying to do it in advance.

Day 11: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!

Our last morning started with a peaceful breakfast at Castaway Cafe. After 11 days, any guesses what we got? Loco moco for me and French toast for Amanda. As we sipped our coffee and looked out over the ocean, a pod of spinner dolphins appeared in the distance, leaping from the water. It reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where dolphins bid farewell with a simple message before leaving Earth: “So long, and thanks for all the fish.” It felt like Maui’s playful way of saying goodbye.

We couldn’t resist squeezing in one more snorkel at Olowalu. The calm, clear waters gave us one last chance to slow down and soak in Maui’s incredible marine life. Since our flight wasn’t until after 9:00 PM, we booked our VRBO for an extra night, even though we’d be gone by evening. It gave us the flexibility to shower, relax, and avoid spending the whole day living out of the car. Totally worth it for a more comfortable sendoff.

Before heading to the airport, we stopped for one final meal at Paia Fish Market (this time in Kihei). Fresh and delicious fish was the perfect final dinner on Maui. We couldn’t leave without one last stop, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice. Pure aloha in a cup to cool down and wrap up an unforgettable adventure.