General Geographic Area: Central Maui

In a nutshell: Central Maui is the isthmus between West Maui and Haleakala. It is also where most business gets done on Maui. Visitors will pass through here several times, usually on the way to somewhere else.
Minuses: The Pu’unene Sugar Mill spewing smoke from its stacks into the blue sky sure is a buzzkill.
Sound-bite: “OMG, OGG!”

Central Maui is where Maui’s business gets done. The Kahului Airport and Harbor are where all our “stuff” (and people) come in. The Maui County government, Costco, WalMart, two protected wetlands and ‘Iao Valley…just to name a few of the many reasons you might end up in Central Maui on purpose. Like most of the island, there are also several absolutely spectacular beaches here – including the beach where kitesurfing was born.

Central Maui is comprised largely of the isthmus between West Maui and Haleakala. Kahului and Wailuku are the largest towns in this area. Most visitors will fly in to the Kahului airport.

While it is largely not a tourist destination in and of itself, Central Maui is a hub virtually every visitor will (and must) pass through several times. Traveling from either of the resort areas (West and South Maui) to any other region of Maui requires passing through Central Maui.

Central Maui has several main highways crossing through it, many of which you’re bound to find yourself on. Practically every visitor will take Airport Road, which turns into Dairy Road (Hwy 380) to the junction of 380 & 311. If you are staying in West Maui, you’ll continue on 380 (which becomes the Kuihelani Highway here) to the other side of the central valley. South Maui visitors will take the Mokulele Highway (Hwy 311) from the junction. If you happen to be one of the few lucky folks staying in on the North Shore, Upcountry or Road to Hana regions, you’ll be exiting Central Maui sooner, and by hanging a left onto Hana Highway (Hwy 36) at the K-Mart on Dairy Road.

Ma’alaia Harbor, the Maui Ocean Center and ‘Iao Valley are among the main tourist attractions in Central Maui – but many visitors will find themselves shopping at one of the big box stores, supermarkets or Central Maui’s only two-story shopping mall, the Ka’ahumanu Center. (Don’t be tempted to avoid trying to pronounce Ka’ahumanu by calling it the “Maui Mall” – especially if you’re asking for directions – there is a shopping center/strip mall just a bit down the same road with that very name.)

For more specific information on Central Maui, browse the Central Maui category.

You may also be interested in:

• Maui Coffee Roasters
• Amigo’s Kahului
• Ba-Le Sandwiches (Kahului)

Doors off!

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: The only optional doors-off helicopter flight in Maui.
Minuses: Some folks think this is a substitute for driving the Road to Hana – don’t make that mistake, do both!
Sound-bite: [...speechless...]

Stunning views of the untouched remote areas of Maui. Many of these places can only be seen by helicopter, and that is something you’ll never forget. Even if you’re on a tight Maui budget, you don’t want to skip this activity if you can help it.

AlexAir has been flying since the early 70’s – and they focus exclusively on Maui. Not only are they the best and most experienced on Maui, they’re also the least expensive.

AlexAir has A-Star & Hughes 500 helicopters – all are outfitted with 2-way headsets so passengers can ask questions and communicate with the pilot (only one other company offers this on Maui.) The A-Star is pretty much the standard six-passenger tour helicopter for Hawaii and is a great helicopter designed for touring. But the real star at AlexAir is a classic four-passenger Hughes 500 helicopter – the only one like it in Hawaii. This old-school beauty has optional doors-off tours that will wow and provide views and photography options that no other operator on the island can. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the founder of AlexAir, Eli Alexander developed the aircraft for Hughes? Yeah, I suppose these guys might know a thing or two about how it works

Key Info:
Location: Kahului Airport #108
Phone: 888-418-8455
Rating source: MauiGuidebook.com & Yelp
Web: http://www.helitour.com
Price: $89 – 300+

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Downhill Bikers starting at Haleakala Summit.

Rating: 4.85 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Half the price of the competition, plus you won’t be herded like cattle.
Minuses: Riding on Maui’s narrow winding roads can be dangerous, especially if you haven’t been on a bike in a while.
Sound-bite: “We were so smug and thought ‘HA!’ every time we passed by one of the crowded guided tours…”

Downhill bike tours are one of the more popular activities and hundreds of visitors do it every day – that is exactly why Haleakala Bike Company got rated #1: because using them you won’t feel like the equivalent of tourist cattle.

...and this is what it looks like if you choose to be cattle.\

Most of the companies who offer downhill bike tours accompany a fairly large group all the way down the mountain. Using those vendors means you don’t stop when you want, or get to be next to your honey (single file only please), or go at the speed you want – you’re lined up single-file in a pack of tourists, several of whom have no business whatsoever being on a bike.

The big tours also keep you in such a tight pack that you spend most of your time looking at the bike in front of you so you don’t hit it. If you see something interesting, you can’t stop to look at it. And unless you’re one of the very first in line, you won’t hear a word the guide has to say about the sights you’re seeing.

Now, if you do have business being on a bike, going on one of the cattle tours is not what you want. Haleakala Bike Company frees you of the herd, and puts you on top-quality well-maintained Gary Fischer mountain bikes. Being free of the herd means that you’re free to ride at your own pace and stop as often, and wherever you like.

The big plus of being on your own also comes with a word of caution: if you really don’t have any business being on a bike, a downhill bike tour with anyone can be dangerous! That is yet another reason these guys get rated number one: they will actually tell you that! Most of these other guys hide it and make it look as safe as getting on a Disneyland ride. Folks, it is riding a bike on a road. There is nothing extra safe about it because you’re on vacation not thinking about practical matters – these are the same risks you take on any road with cars. If you feel like you could veer into traffic unexpectedly because you haven’t been on a bike in a decade, then perhaps just renting the bike and taking it somewhere offroad would be a wiser choice – and you can do that with these guys too.

Haleakala Bike Company offers Haleakala sunrise tours which are the most popular (if you don’t already know, sunrise at Haleakala Crater can be absolutely spectacular.) Sunrise or not, most visitors opt to take one of the tour vans that take you up, and then coast back down the mountain using gravity. On the way up the guide gives you an important safety lesson and interesting info about all the stuff you’ll be seeing again on your way back down.

Unlike most other bike tours they also rent bikes by the day or week (car rack, helmet, tools and gear included.) If you opt to rent a bike without the shuttle, Haleakala Park also still permits non-guided bikers to begin their ride at the summit (with a shuttle you must begin your decent at the entrance of the park.) If you are an experienced biker you can even take a pretty cool alternate route from the summit “off-road” (kind of) down Skyline Road. (Dedicated Skyline article coming soon.) By renting the bike without the shuttle option you can also ride anywhere else you want on the island. That said, (and I’m sure you’d realize it sooner or later), if you’re going to do the Haleakala downhill trip their shuttle drop-off service is a lot less tricky than riding all the way down the mountain to realize your car is still at the top

Key Info:
Location: Haiku Marketplace, Haiku (North Shore)
Phone: 808-575-9575
Rating source: MauiGuidebook.com & Google
Web: http://bikemaui.com
Price: $55 – $115

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You may also be interested in:

• Haleakala Crater (Haleakala National Park Summit Area)
• Pony Express Tours
• Maui Sunriders Bike Co.

Half-day snuba & snorkel charter w/Molokini, “turtle arches” and whale watching (in season) along the way.

Key Info:
Location: Slip # 51, Ma’alaea
Phone: 808-573-2104
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.mauisnorkelsnuba.com/
Price: $75 – $150

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You may also be interested in:

• Trilogy Excursions
• Aloha Blue Charters
• Paragon Sailing Charters

Comprehensive, intermediate & advanced wind/kite/sail lessons. Note: rating reflects intermediate and advanced lessons.

Key Info:
Location: Kanaha Beach & Kihei
Phone: 808-871-5857
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.actionsportsmaui.com
Price: $80 – $1000+

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You may also be interested in:

• CJ’s Deli & Diner
• Kusina Oriental
• Stopwatch Sports Bar & Grill

Prime produce

In a nutshell: The best natural food store on Maui. Better food, selection & pricing than the chain supermarkets.
Minuses: Parking.
Sound-bite: “Absolutely the best Calamari salad I ever ate.”

What makes Mana Foods #1 is that they’re well beyond just being “the local natural foods store.” They carry the island’s widest selection of the highest quality fresh and healthy food. The icing on the vegan chocolate cake is their fair pricing – I come out of there with a consistently smaller receipt and a much healthier bag of groceries than I do at Safeway or Foodland.

Located on the North Shore in Paia Town, Maui’s old plantation town has a defining character all its own. In a trip through the isles of Mana you’re guaranteed to see more than your fair share of yogi’s, surfers, hippies, trust-fund babies and tourists. Mana Foods is a hub of the highly diverse North Shore Maui community.

Prepared Foods
Positioned between the vitamin room and the bulk foods are deli-cases of delicious freshly prepared foods. Cakes, pastries, raw, vegetarian, meat and seafood dishes. And unlike Down To Earth (yummy, but all veg, more $, less selection) they rotate the variety of prepared foods here endlessly. You can’t even compare the quality and taste to a supermarket deli. For real, this stuff is good.

Baked Goods
Mana Foods has a bakery on-site that makes unusual and tasty cakes, breads and other baked goods. (Marzipan fans must try the Princess Cake.) Everything is baked fresh daily. They also have several vegan cakes and pies (and I’m no vegan, mind you) that taste so absolutely non-vegan that I bet they’ve had to talk down their share of freaked out hippies. My two favorite baked treats in the place are both vegan: the mini pumpkin pie and the vegan chocolate cake – the latter of which is actually my number one favorite cake, anykind, anywhere. It is so freeking good I’m astounded they don’t use milk, butter or eggs in the thing.

Meat & Dairy
Mana foods also has a gourmet selection of local and fancy imported, organic and natural dairy products, meats and seafood. Regular items, and more exotic meats like buffalo, ostrich and venison are also stocked.

More than vitamins here...

Vitamin Room
The vitamin room is like a store within the store – it is also somewhat misnamed. Much more than vitamins, like the rest of Mana this room is packed with a very diverse selection of items. You can find everything from remedies, candles, incense and cosmetics to oils, lotions, tarot cards and clothing. The vitamin room also has its own dedicated staff who have specialized knowledge of the products.

Chocolates, Teas (& everything else)
Their tea and chocolate selections are legendary – with over 600 teas and a wall of 200 chocolates. Their website puts numbers on all the other stuff – like 75 nut and seed butters – these examples are representative of the kind of options and selection you’ll have throughout the store.

What Isn’t Going to be Spectacular
The huge selection crammed into the place also means that it can be hard to find stuff. (To their credit, staff is always present and very helpful.) Also, if you’re more impressed by glitz and high-end merchandising, then the old-school shelving and deli cases won’t impress you a bit. The isles are also so narrow that the Fire Marshall goes into cold sweats every time he sees an organic goji berry.

Parking is also in high demand around Mana. If this were truly paradise the lot next door would be twice as big. Fortunately parking does turn over rapidly, so five minutes of patience will typically pay off. If the lot is full and you’re not feeling patient, your best bet is to park in the dirt lot between Bank Of Hawaii and Charley’s (see the map below: blue box.) Note: you’re only supposed to use this dirt lot if you’re doing some shopping/browsing in the interesting (and worthy of a look) shops and eateries adjacent.

Key Info:
Location: 49 Baldwin Ave, Paia
Phone: 808-579-8078
Rating source: Maui Guidebook & Yelp
Web: http://www.manafoodsmaui.com
Price: As reasonable as Maui gets.

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You may also be interested in:

• Anthony’s Coffee Co.
• Cool Cat Cafe
• Gazebo Restaurant

The Dunes At Maui Lani

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Challenging true old-world-style links course..
Minuses: Wind.
Sound-bite: “I swear they would have shined my shoes if I asked them to.”

SUMMARY:
18 hole regulation | 72 par | 6,841 yards | 73.5 USGA | 136 slope | Driving Range | GPS | Collared shirt & soft spikes are mandatory

DETAILS:
Very well kept true old-world-style links course. Uncrowded with spectacular views of Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. The only view-spoiler (for some) will be the homes scattered along the course – but that has become the rule rather than the exception on many courses here in Maui, and they truly have pulled it off well here with careful placement.

Now countless courses back on the mainland call themselves “links” without remotely resembling the true classic links courses that started it all. Not the case here. This is a British Open course on Maui, built into the rugged terrain, and not the other way around. The course plays with the land, traversing up, around and over the natural million-year-old dunes – as their website says quite accurately: “Golf shots must be played through these gaps formed by nature, much like they are in the greatest links courses on earth.” and goes on to define the course “Like many classic links courses, the front nine heads out, and the back nine heads in. According to Nelson, “Anyone who has seen Ballybunion, Wild Dunes, or Shinnecock Hills will recognize a similar look and feel at The Dunes.”

The Dunes is designed to be very challenging for good players, but with the significant challenges presented it is also cleverly engineered to be an enjoyable play for higher handicap players as well.

Playing aggressively and trying to shave off some strokes will prove ill-advised. You definitely want to read the yardage book notes as a primer, and if you have the opportunity to join a local player or two, seize the advantage to garner insider tips as your ace-in-the-hole during play. Also bear in mind the holes closest to the clubhouse are not dune protected and #1 & #18 are long par 5’s that push the limits to a point where not respecting the wind can absolutely wreck your game. This is especially true later in the day when the tradewinds typically pick up – Nelson’s design is merciless for those who opt to rest on their laurels coming in to that final hole with an otherwise hard-earned scorecard.

Service:
When it comes to service, the genuine Aloha spirit and attention to your every need here is absolutely undeniable – even the high-maintenance types will leave impressed with the attention to detail. In one review I read the gentleman said “I swear they would have shined my shoes if I asked them to” when speaking of how eager the service was to please. That was no exaggeration – the staff here has genuine Aloha spirit and the kind of service you like to think you could expect (but don’t always get) when playing at a top-notch golf club.

This is a newer course on Maui (1999), and like most here, they have GPS in the carts. Oh and even more Aloha: your kid can come and play with you for just ten bucks! (You will be kind and tell him about the wind, right?!)

Designed by Robin Nelson (ASGCA). Dave Gleason manages the course as the General Manager.

Course Tour on their website

Key Info:
Location: 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului
Phone: 808-873-0422
Rating sources: Maui Guidebook, Yelp & multiple Golf publications.
Web: http://www.dunesatmauilani.com
Price: $75 – $125

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You may also be interested in:

• Kapalua Resort Plantation Course
• Wailea Old Blue Golf Course
• Wailea Emerald Course

Maui Coffee Roasters

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
^{*how we rate restaurants}

Rated #1 Coffee Shop in Central Maui

In a nutshell: Reasonably priced fresh-roasted local coffee – and tasty food to go with it.
Minuses: One location, outside the resort areas.
Sound-bite: [the frothing sound of steaming cappuccino milk]

Location:   444 Hana Hwy., Kahului, HI 96732 Phone:   808-877-2877 Website:   www.mauicoffeeroasters.com Menus:   Not Available

Hours:   M-F 7am - 4pm; Sat 8am - 5pm; Sun 8am - 2:30pm Price:   Affordable Credit Cards:   Yes Views:   No Outdoor Seating:   Yes Entertainment:   No Booze:   No Reservations:   No

Description:
Maui Coffee Roasters has two things you'll rarely find side-by-side in Maui: Reasonably priced, and top-notch quality. Located in the center of Kahului, seriously consider skipping over the many Starbucks locations for something more authentically Maui. Just off of Dairy Road on Hana Highway, while it isn't located in the resort areas, the location is actually hidden in plain sight en route to many popular places, including the Kahului airport, Haleakala, the Road to Hana and Iao Valley.

Maui Coffee Roasters is our pick for #1 in Central Maui. The staff is friendly, and they're focused on helping you choose from a diverse choice of Hawaiian coffee selections - and they'll even grind a batch just right for your tiny hotel coffee maker if you ask. They have coffees from all around the world, but save the familiar Moka Java for the Seattle trip, and go with Hawaiian coffee when you're here. You'll have the option to sample the international coffees in every coffee house in every city, but you'll rarely have the opportunity to sample many of these local coffees elsewhere. (You can thank me later by sending me a gift box of your favorite Hawaiian beans!)

About the size of a Starbucks, even though Maui Coffee Roasters finds themselves on the "Best Of Maui" list year after year, this is actually still the only Maui Coffee Roasters location.

Besides coffee, MCR also has breakfast, wraps, salads and sandwiches that are surprisingly superior to your typical coffee shop fare. Maui Coffee Roasters also offers coffee and gifts to carry on the plane or ship. And they've got coffee packaged as gifts starting at five bucks. So, with that said, let me tell you a little bonus hint that has saved my okole more than once: if you buy Hawaiian coffee as gifts for your friends and coworkers, and then you totally space on your boss or mother-in-law, with a few clicks on the MCR website your can have a selection of coffee coming their way via second-day air. Combine that tip with a little white lie like "they had to roast a batch just for you and so I arranged to have them ship it" and you're golden! (Sheez...I really hope a certain someone doesn't read this!)

Wireless Internet, ambiance and book reading are a few other reasons folks come to a coffee shop, and they've done all of these right as well. Besides the obligitory wireless Internet, the place is decked out in colorful art and has abundant natural lighting. Honestly, the only thing wrong with the place is it is in a strip mall in Kahului - I tried to stuff the suggestion box with "Dude, set up on the beach in a in a tiki-bar motif" notes, but they're still hidden in plain sight behind a regular-old Kahului storefront.

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

Google

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Yelp

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Tripadvisor

You may also be interested in:

• Casanova
• Mana Foods
• L&L Drive-Inn (Wailuku)

Inexpensive and close to the airport. The shop isn’t all tourist-glitz, so you don’t have to pay for that! Rent or buy new/used surfing gear. Not stuck-up on dealing with surfer-dudes (although plenty in the know come in the door.) Plus they’re really nice folks to rent from even if you don’t have a clue.

Key Info:
Location: 111 Hana Hwy., Kahului
Phone: 808-877-7467
Rating source: Maui Guidebook
Web: http://secondwindmaui.com/
Price: Inexpensive

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You may also be interested in:

• Hi-Tech Surf Sports
• The Perfect Surf Lesson
• Honolua Bay

Horseback riding on family owned & operated ranch.

Key Info:
Location: 3530 Kahekili Hwy, Wailuku
Phone: 808-871-5222
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.mendesranch.com
Price: $90 – $130

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You may also be interested in:

• Maui Stables
• Haleakala Crater (Haleakala National Park Summit Area)
• Lahaina Stables