Hey guys! Welcome back to YangYummm. This post is part two of my travels to Hawaii. My honeymoon in Hawaii was so perfect that I just had to share this with you all (even though it’s a year late, haha). We spent the last week or so of our trip on the beautiful island of MAUI. It has its similarities to Oahu, but it is definitely unique in its own ways. Hope you enjoy!
Tin Roof Maui – 360 Papa Pl, Ste 116, Kahului HI 96732
Our first meal in Maui was at Tin Roof, located right outside the Kahului airport. My wife and I were so hungry so we ordered 3 of their “Kau Kau tins”: pork belly, garlic shrimp and mochiko chicken. The garlic shrimp and mochiko chicken were just so-so, but the pork belly was out of this world! Amazing flavor and tender pieces of meat. I would highly recommend giving them a try (definitely get the 6 minute egg on top as well, just trust me!).
Ululani’s Shave Ice – 115 Hana Hwy, Ste D, Paia HI 96779
Head over to the cute little town of Paia where there are many nice shops and eateries in town. Among them is this amazing place called Ululani’s Shave Ice. You have to stop by for their shave ice. It’s incredible! We ordered the Sunset Beach (Passion Orange, Mango, and Guava) with some Ube Ice cream in the middle. It was so good, especially in the hot summer weather.
Paia Bay Coffee Bar – 115 Hana Hwy, Unit G, Paia HI 96779
This cute little coffee bar was awesome all the way – the music, drinks, vibe, and decor. It was so good that we had to come back the very next day before heading out to Road to Hana. It’s located a little off the road, tucked away in a little corner somewhere in Paia. Well worth a visit for the amazing vibes, good music, and underrated coffee!
Like I said before, we had to come back the very next day for some bomb coffee before our long drive. I didn’t know that they sold açai bowls at a coffee shop like this so I just had to try it for breakfast and it was nothing short of amazing! (as expected). Definitely come here for some quick pick-me-up coffees and açai bowls before going on the Road to Hana. Trust me.
Huelo Lookout Fruit Stand – 7600 Hana Hwy, Haiku HI 96708
This is a nice little fruit stand located in the first 2-3 miles of the Road to Hana. If you’re feeling a little thirsty and/or you need something to drink or eat, stop by here for some fresh fruits, smoothies, and shave ice! My honest opinion is that the smoothie was delicious only because most of the fruits on the island are delicious. It was definitely overpriced though, so be prepared for the hiked prices.
Halfway to Hana – 13710 Hana Hwy, Haiku HI 96708
This is about the halfway mark on the Road to Hana. At this point, you’re probably exhausted from the windy roads and the terrible cell phone service. You can’t really do much except enjoy the drive/views. I suggest that you rest as much as you can at this stop. Grab a drink and definitely snag one of their banana breads (which I heard were pretty famous here). I warn you, this is a very touristy stop so be prepared for long lines and difficulty finding parking.
Island Chef – Nahiku Marketplace at Mile Marker 28-29, Hana Hwy, Hana HI 96713
We made it to the town of Hana. This little marketplace was right next to Hana. My wife wanted some coconut shrimp so we got 2 coconut shrimp and chips. It was a bit pricey ($20 each) and honestly, they weren’t that good. I would avoid it if possible.
The hardest part of the Road to Hana is the drive back. Honestly, it was such a drag but the views and experience was well worth it. Plan on heading back before sun down (between 3-4pm) so that the roads are still visible and less dangerous to travel on. By the time we reached our AirBnb in Kihei, we were super tired and hungry so we simply ordered takeout or made our own cup ramyun. You do you. Treat yourself after a long drive.
Wai’anapanapa State Park
This place is beautiful! Such a cool place to visit in the town of Hana. The only annoying thing is that we had to drive ALL the way to Hana again just to visit. Another important fact is that you need to make reservations in advance for entry at the gate (visit the Wai’anapanapa State Park website here)
Huli Huli Chicken – Hana HI
The chicken here was surprisingly moist and juicy! What a nice way to end our visit to Hana (after the disappointing experience with the coconut shrimp from the other day).
Haleakala Summit – Haleakala National Park
One of the most iconic national parks of the world. Haleakala National Park is a thing of beauty. You have to visit Maui JUST for this experience (either sunset or sunrise). My goodness. There’s just nothing like it. I was so awestruck by the views up there at the top of the summit. It was gorgeous beyond belief. Words cannot express the magnitude of its beauty and wonder. It is pretty touristy here as well so be prepared for a slew of other cars (we went at sunset). Definitely bring a jacket or sweater as it gets freezing cold up there!
If you ever decide to have your honeymoon in Hawaii, come to Maui (just for this amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience).
We loved Island Vintage Coffee so much in Oahu that we just had to go back there again here in Maui! This location was in Lahaina since we booked the second half of our stay in Maui here in Lahaina. We got their Hawaiian lattes and an açai bowl for breakfast.
Star Noodle – 1285 Front St, Lahaina HI 96761
This place was an asian fusion restaurant located so close to everything in Lahaina and Ka’anapali. My wife loves Thai food & noodles so this place was a must try for us. The food wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but the ocean views right where we sat made it worth it.
We ordered the Ahi Avo, which was basically a tuna poke topped with scallions. Next, we had the Steamed Pork Buns which was probably my favorite part of the whole meal. If you come here, you MUST order these. Each order comes with only 3 buns so definitely order a bunch if you have a group.
For our entrees, we got the Singapore Noodles, Star Udon, and the Garlic Noodles. The Singapore noodles weren’t very good (in my opinion); it just tasted like a curry-spiced vermicelli noodle topped with a few sprouts. Star Udon wasn’t bad. Noodles were a bit dense, but that broth was delicious. Garlic noodles were pretty good too.
Honu Oceanside – 1295 Front St, Lahaina HI 96761
This place was so damn delicious! I would definitely come back again. We ordered the Ahi Bruschetta, Oyster Shooters, Fresh Fish Dore Style, Seafood Scampi, and the Rock Shrimp Mojo Verde Pizza. Every single dish was excellent and top notch quality. The waitress checked in on us a bunch of times and even moved us more inwards when the waves kept crashing in at us.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue – 3350 Lower Honoapiilani Hwy, Ste 401, Lahaina HI 96761
We wanted something quick and nearby our AirBnb so we found this place that served up some pretty scrumptious barbecue plates. You have to get their Chicken Katsu and Short Rib plates. They’re the most popular menu items and are super delicious. Grab some ice cream in the plaza to-go as well, if you’d like.
For us, we decided to make a trip out to the nearest Ululani’s Shave Ice again since it was so damn good the first time. We tried some new flavors and were not disappointed. Honestly, you can’t go wrong here. Hands down the best shave ice on the island!
That’s right! We came back to Island Vintage… AGAIN. We simply can’t get enough of this place. It’s really that good. Just trust me. You can’t go wrong with any of their açai bowls. The Hawaiian honey latte is a little too sweet for me, but my wife seemed to love it. She kept on getting it again and again. We ordered a new drink, the Mauna Kea Iced Coffee (which comes with a scoop of gelato and some sea salt caramel).
Ono Tacos – 910 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina HI 96761
We had to try at least 2 food trucks during our stay here in Maui (the first one was Coconut Fish Cafe). Ono Tacos popped up on my Yelp feed as a must try food truck here in Lahaina. Thankfully, they were open late (we went at like 8pm). It did not disappoint!
I had to try a little bit of everything so we ordered a shrimp quesadilla, 2 al pastor tacos, 2 fish tacos, and 2 carne asada tacos. I thought we over ordered at first, but it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Each and every taco was so juicy and fresh in every bite. The meat was very tender and juicy. The veggies and salsa were so good. You could even grab some extra salsa on the side of the truck for free as well. There was a nice little outdoor seating area set up next to the truck (but seats were limited availability).
Overall, we loved our simple yet delicious meal. I’d definitely come back. Food was great and came out so fast.
Island Cream Co – 305 Keawe St, Ste 511, Lahaina Gateway Ctr, Lahaina HI 96761
Right after our crazy good meal at Ono Tacos, we came here to Island Cream Co for some BOMB ice cream. Seriously, one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had.
Luau at the Grand Wailea
This luau was an incredible experience. A dinner and a show is the best combo on earth! The food was good, drinks were endless, and the show was breathtaking. They also had some fun, interactive courses that we got to partake in (like rolling lava rocks, playing a Ukulele, and learning how to do a hula dance).
You guessed it – we’re back at Island Vintage Coffee. I know I know. It’s getting old….. NOT. Seriously, we went back so many times. Island Vintage Coffee is hands down one of the best places to go for food and coffee, in my opinion.
For our final meal in Maui, we decided to cook at our AirBnb (since they had such a nice grill on the outside patio). We grilled some ribeye steaks and onions, prepared some neoguri ramyun and ordered a side of volcano fries.
After every trip, my wife and I have a tradition of eating budae jjigae (Korean Army Stew) at our local Korean restaurant called Hahm Ji Bach in Flushing, NY. It’s one of the best spots to get this dish and it just hits the spot.
Hope you enjoyed our honeymoon in Hawaii! (specifically Maui). There were many other excursions and things we did in Maui. But for the sake of time and staying on the topic of food, I shall leave them out of this post. Till next time, fellow foodies. Please follow me for more delicious food content and foodie adventures. Yummmy!
