Maui is one of Matthew’s and my favorite places! We came to this island for the first time to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, and this past month we went to celebrate our 5th, as well as our babymoon! There’s no question that Maui holds a special place in our hearts. This trip was a little different than our previous trips because I wasn’t able to be quite as active, but we had such a fun and relaxing time. We also checked out a bunch of new food spots which we loved. Check out photos from our Maui babymoon and also get some recommendations on where to stay, what to eat, and what to do!
wearing this dress, these wedges {more colors here!}, and my turquoise tassel earrings
This gorgeous silk maxi dress {here’s a similar style} was so comfortable! I added these boho earrings.
wore these wooden bracelets throughout our whole trip!
Love this pink bow swimsuit top and bottoms {here’s the cute one piece version!}, with a tassel kimono, pink and nude slides {also here!}, and this fun clutch
loved this beaded toucan cover-up!
wore a comfy blue off the shoulder top with black shorts and these sunglasses
How pretty is this embroidered off the shoulder dress?! {also available in black!}
OUR MAUI BABYMOON
STAY
We stayed at the Sheraton in Kaanapali {west shore} the first half of our trip and have so many great things to say about this hotel! We loved the location, the views were incredible, and the room was clean and spacious!
For the second half of our trip we stayed in Makena {south shore} at the Makena Beach Resort. We loved the more tropical location {we saw a family of deer while walking to our car one night!}, but I definitely wasn’t a fan of the room. The bathroom needed a major makeover! We heard they’re closing in July for a big renovation which will probably be a great improvement. Nevertheless, it wasn’t terrible and we got a great deal!
The thing I like about staying in two hotels is that you can explore more areas. We love Wailea but this time we had such an incredible time finding new favorite spots in Kaanapali!
EAT
Mama’s Fish House {north shore}- I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, no trip to Maui is complete without a trip to Mama’s! It’s definitely an incredible experience. The food is delicious and they even let you know who caught the fish you’re eating and where. Everything is caught locally same day too! There are gorgeous views of the ocean from this restaurant so definitely go in the evening before sunset. The restaurant is a little pricier but it was the perfect place to celebrate our 5th anniversary! I really think this is the best restaurant on Maui.
Merriman’s {west shore}- My cousin recommended Merriman’s for another nice meal out. This restaurant is on the west coast and also overlooks the water. I love that they had a double entree option where I could get two half entree portions. It helped this indecisive girl out!
Monkeypod Kitchen {south shore}- When we stayed in Wailea we were really close to Monkeypod, a slightly more casual restaurant related to Merriman’s. We got the wild mushroom pizza with truffle oil that was so good!
Nalu’s South Shore Grill {south shore}- This is a newer restaurant on the island but gaining popularity, and with reason! It’s in an unassuming strip mall, but there’s a great ambiance with outdoor seating and live music. We got the special which was fish and chips {locally caught!}, and the CBLT {Crab BLT with Avocado}. Their breakfast menu also looked amazing but unfortunately we weren’t able to make it back.
The Market {south shore}- This place is located right below Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea and it’s great for grab and go sandwiches or picnic food. They have a few tables outside but really this place is a deli where you can order meats, cheeses, coffee, prepared sides, etc. They also have a little marketplace to buy dried pastas, sauces, and little gifts. I loved their Caprese Sandwich! Matthew also got a delicious Grilled Cheese that used a few types of cheeses.
The Fish Market Maui {west shore}- Fresh fish market on one side and seafood grill on the other side. Amazing ceviches and pokes and fresh grilled fish. We also had an incredible shrimp burrito here!
Tamura’s {west shore}- This is a store that specializes in wine and beer but they also have an incredible poke selection. It was voted #1 in Maui! Stop here to pick up a casual poke lunch to go.
Foodland {south shore}- This is a supermarket that also has a good poke selection! All the locals told us that the best poke is at Tamara’s and Foodland, and Matthew agreed!
Choice Health Bar {west shore}- We found this place in Lahaina and it was a great healthy lunch spot! They have yummy acai bowls, smoothies, and juices, and they even make soups, salads, and wraps. We wanted to go here every day! Everything they serve is used with organic and local ingredients, and it’s all vegan and vegetarian!
Bamboo Fresh {west shore}- This is another great healthy lunch spot. I ordered the Mamma’s Garden Wrap that had a bunch of fresh, locally grown veggies inside, including sweet potatoes, as well as avocado and local goat cheese with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. This is something I definitely want to recreate at home!
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop {west shore}- We go here every time for the banana cream pie, but this time we stopped for lunch. They had a really good veggie burger and veggie sandwich. Always save room for pie though! Skip on the $4 lemonade. There’s better {read below!}
SNACK
Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade {south shore}- If you like lemonade you have to stop here after a day at the beach! There are so many gourmet lemonades to choose from and they also sell them in Mason jars that say Aloha on them. So cute! We loved the Strawberry Mint and the Guava Limeade was delicious too!
Belle Surf Cafe {south shore}- We loved this adorable coffee shop in Kihei that even makes their own vanilla and macadamia nut syrups! They also serve crepes for breakfast but unfortunately we went after we’d already eaten.
Maui Mike’s Beach House {west shore}- We stopped here for shaved ice one day {it’s right around the corner from Choice Health Bar}. We got the guava and coconut flavors and they were both delicious! I also liked that they served Coconut Glen’s Ice Cream, which we had last time on the road to Hana. We weren’t doing that drive this trip but we loved that we could still get the ice cream if we wanted! Maui Mike’s Beach House is also a rental shop for boards and beach gear.
DO
Old Lahaina Luau {west shore}- Every time we’re in Maui we want to go to the Old Lahaina Luau but they’re always booked! This time we got lucky! People say that the Old Lahaina Luau is the best and most authentic luau in Maui we can see why! We’ve been to “the best luau in Oahu” and this one definitely trumped that one. There’s an Aloha greeting where we were given fresh flower leis and escorted to our seats. During the first hour there are various presentations where you can walk around and learn about the Hawaiian history and culture, see the kalua pig unearthed, and learn how to hula dance. Then there’s the feast! The food was so good {lots of fish and veggie options for me!}, and the show was so entertaining. I loved the storytelling aspect. The luau is right on the beach in Lahaina and the views are breathtaking in the evening. While this luau is a little more expensive than the other ones on Maui, it’s so worth it! Not only do you have really good food options, but it’s also all you can drink! The last luau we went to had 1 drink coupon and that was it. They can make any of the drinks non-alcoholic too! At the end we were given a delicious loaf of banana bread. I have to say, I think it was better than Julia’s Banana Bread!
Snorkel at Black Rock {west shore}- We loved staying in Kaanapali the first half of our trip! The Sheraton is right in front of Black Rock, one of the best places to snorkel in Maui. Matthew saw so many types of fish and sea turtles, as well as eels and Eagle Rays.
Snorkel Boat Tour to Molokini {south shore}- We loved our experience on the Seafire. We called a bunch of different boat tour companies and the Seafire was by far the best value and the most snorkel time in the water. Plus the staff was super nice and friendly and they didn’t pack their boat with tons of people!
If you’re heading to Maui, check out my other posts too! I have other favorite activities and restaurants listed there too!
I’m so glad Matthew and I were able to take this little vacation. Babymoons are such a funny thing but now being pregnant I feel like they make so much sense. Taking a trip just the two of you, before baby, is so important. Matthew and I were able to get some much needed rest and relaxation that I’m sure we’ll look back on in a few months and be extremely grateful for! It was also nice to take the time to celebrate this big life change, reflect on the past five years, and get excited for what’s to come! Matthew was joking that it’s our last hoorah but we both know the adventure is just getting started!
xox
SHOP THIS POST
