Visit Maui: Jaws Country Store

We made a stop at Jaws Country Store to see what they offered.

They had baked goods and banana bread, so of course I had to try some (when I asked who made the baked goods, the employee said she doesn't remember the person's name, but it was baked at someone's home).

The banana bread was good.  I liked the flavor, although it was not as moist as I had hoped.  The chocolate chip cookie was okay, but a bit on the dry side.

You'll also find omiyage in the store, and a cafe right around the corner.  Next time I hope to try the cafe!

Kamaʻaina get 15% off!

Jaws Country Store

4320 Hana Hwy

Haiku, HI 96708
 

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Visit Maui: El Bondi

We wanted to pick up a late lunch / early dinner for the airport on Halloween day, but to our surprise, most places closed early for Halloween!  

So after searching online for what could be open, we found the El Bondi food truck, which specializes in empanadas.

They offer meat-filled and veggie-filled empanadas.

We ended up getting a 3-pack (a single is $7, but the more you buy, the less per empanada it is).  We got Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Spinach.

I unfortunately didn't take decent photos of the filling (I was too hungry and just dug in), but they were all very delicious!  The crust was the perfect texture, and still held up even though we ate them about an hour later.  

Pepperoni and mozzarella is a classic combo that can't go wrong.  The Mushroom empanada was filled with white mushrooms, green onion, whipping cream, olive oil, salt, pepper, and mozzarella.

The Spinach turned out to be my fave, surprisingly.  It was also filled with onions, red bell peppers, hard boiled eggs, Parmesan, mozzarella, white cream sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano.  

The peppers and the eggs really made the empanada in my opinion.  

The empanadas were so filling and satisfying.

El Bondi turned out to be a great find!

El Bondi
380 Dairy Rd

Kahului, HI 96732

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Visit Maui: Grandma's Coffee House

We had a meeting in Kula, and I wanted to stop by Grandma's Coffee House to see what kind of treats they had.

They offer a breakfast and lunch menu with lots of local favorites, and they also have a nice display case of decadent baked treats - cheesecakes, brownies, and more!

I decided to get a Chocolate Chip Cookie, and it was enormous!  It was soft and chewy, with a nice crispness around the edges, and it was the best cookie I bought during our Maui visit (I bought cookies from 3 different spots).

Next time I hope to try breakfast or lunch!

Grandma's Coffee House
9232 Kula Hwy

Kula, HI 96790

 

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Visit Maui: Cupies Maui

I fell in love with Cupies the moment we pulled up into their driveway.  It's got that old school drive-in look and feel!

A friend recommended this restaurant for their dry mein and breaded teriyaki sandwich and slushies. It would be our last meal on Maui and we were excited to try this place out!

Since the husband doesn't eat meat, he opted for the breaded fish plate with chow fun. It came with three decent-sized pieces of fried fish and good-sized portion of chow fun. 

The son and I were planning to share a breaded teriyaki sandwich and regular dry mein just to try it out, and the son ended up eating both items! 

The other son ordered the chili bowl. It was huge! It also had a slight kick to it, which was unexpected. I ended up eating most of it, and I ordered a few more breaded teriyaki sandwiches (one for him to eat for lunch, and the rest to snack on at the airport).

We had our hearts set on trying the slushies, but they were out of slushies, so we settled for a strawberry shake. It was rich, but satisfying.

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 Cupies Drive In
134 W Kamehameha Highway
Kahului, HI
808-877-3055

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Visit Maui: Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop

 We passed by Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop numerous times on our recent trip to Maui. It's located in Olawalu, which lies in between Kahului and Lahaina. Since we had already eaten lunch, we stopped by to pick up some pies to-go, to enjoy for dessert at our hotel later that evening.

They had 4 different flavors of pies in the display case. We ended up buying the apple crumb pie and the chocolate mac nut pie. They were both AMAZING! I thought $10 per pie was reasonable, because it is easily sharable by two people. And I like how the pies are smaller than the usual 8" pies, so that you can try different flavors (like how we did).

If you love chocolate, you need o try the chocolate Mac nut pie. The chocolate is rich and creamy!

I liked the apple pie because of the crumbly topping. 

I wish they had the key lime pie because I really wanted to try it. I guess I'll have to come back the next time I'm on Maui!

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LEODA'S KITCHEN AND PIE SHOP

820 OLOWALU VILLAGE ROAD

808-662-3600

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Visit Maui: Tiffany's Restaurant & Bar

I was excited to return to Tiffany's Restaurant & Bar for the Fat Chow Funn!  

Fat Chow Funn

It never disappoints!  What I didn't expect was to fall in love with another dish . . . 

Crispy Chicken

The Crispy Chicken was sooooo good! It was sprinkled with sinigang dust, and served with shrimp chips and a calamansi shoyu. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and the entire dish was just umami-filled!

Miso Butterfish

The Miso Butterfish was very delicious as well. The fish was delicate and so flavorful.

I need to go back with more people so I can try out even more dishes from the very extensive menu at Tiffany's!

Tiffany's Restaurant & Bar

1424 Lower Main St

Wailuku, HI 96793

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Visit Maui: Koholā Brewery

While on Maui, we dined at Koholā Brewery for lunch one day.

It's a very family-friendly eatery, with shareable dishes and alcohol-free drinks that the kids can enjoy!

Baby Beach Sprtiz

Crispy Mahi Mahi Sando

Side 'O Fried Fries

I'd Smash That Burger

Hurricane Musubi

The Hurricane Musubi was filled with crab and spicy tuna.

Steamed Southern Fried Chicken Buns

The Steamed Southern Fried Chicken Buns were delish!  The chicken was juicy, and served with bacon jam and Mama Helen's southern gravy.  The bao buns made this dish extra filling.  I think the chicken would've been great on its own too!

Crispy Corn Dog

The Crispy Corn Dog was huge!  It was filled with prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella. 

Service was good and we really enjoyed the food.  

Koholā Brewery
112 Wailea Ike Dr
Kihei, HI 96753

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Visit Maui: Haven's Harborside Fish & Chophouse

I was so excited to visit the recently-opened Haven's Harborside Fish & Chophouse, helmed by the talented Chef Zach Sato.  

Hanapaʻa Daily Raw Bar

The Hanapaʻa Daily Raw Bar is a daily selection of fresh seafood offerings presented in a tackelbox - how clever is that!

On the night we went, there were prawn cocktails, oyster shooters, and poke (my co-worker said it was some of the best poke he ever had - so flavorful!).  

Chef Zach, although not present that night, generously had this dish, along with the Oysters Rockefeller, brought out to us.  

Oysters Rockefeller

Cast Iron Focaccia

The Cast Iron Focaccia was amazing.  It was like a hybrid focaccia / milk bread that had such an amazing texture - soft and fluffy with a crispy outer crust, and with a little bit of heat from chili pepper salt.  It was so good - I legit ate majority of the pan myself! 

Maui Ohana Wagyu Croquettes

The Croquettes were served with a tomato jam and castelvetrano olives.

Lapa`au Farm Grilled Broccolini

The Broccolini was served with a 25 year balsamic. 

Risotto

The Risotto had Hamakua mushrooms, parmesan reggiano, and a truffle emulsion. It was an umami-packed dish!

Diver Scallops

The Diver Scallops was another fave - topped with an XO sauce and sitting in a miso brown butter hollandaise.  It was perfectly cooked! 

Kokoleka Ice Cream Cake

I was beyond stuffed, but I had to try the Kokoleka Ice Cream Cake.  Ice cream was sandwiched between chocolate cake layers, and accompanied by caramel.  It was indulgent!

Being harborisde, the restaurant has access to the freshest fish, so if you love seafood, this is a must visit!

And if you don't love seafood, you'll find other foods like fried chicken, steak, salads, and more.  

Congrats to Chef Zach and the team!

Haven's Harborside Fish & Chophouse
300 Maalaea Rd

Wailuku, HI 96793

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Visit Maui: Manoli's Pizza Company

While on Maui we ordered pick-up from Manoli's Pizza Company so we could eat in the comfort of our suite.

Homemade Garlic Bread

The Homemade Garlic Bread was unsliced (unlike the photo on the online menu), which I thought was odd and inconvenient, but it was very garlicky!

Raging Bull Meat

The Raging Bull Meat pizza came topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon, mozzarella & pomodoro sauce. The crust was thin and crispy, and the toppings were plentiful.

Pizza is always a good idea!  

Manoli's Pizza Company

100 Wailea Ike Dr

Wailea, HI 96753
 

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Visit Maui: Fairmont Kea Lani

Ever since my first visit to Fairmont Kea Lani with the family in 2018, I was hooked.  I returned multiple times since then for work or with friends, and I was very excited to go back with the family last month, as the property had recently undergone a refresh.

We arrived a couple of hours before check-in time and our connecting suites were not ready yet, so some of the family decided to enjoy the pool while the rest of us hung out in the lobby.  

The lobby was recently renovated, boasting a welcoming airiness, with marble floors and elegant domed features.

The lobby beckons you to the opposite end, where a magical view opens up to the fishpond and the ocean.

A new feature in the lobby is the Hale Kukuna Cultural Center, where guests can read books, view artifacts, or sign up to take ukulele lessons or play kōnane (Hawaiian checkers).

I got a text from the Front Desk when our suites were ready.  Speaking of text - the resort makes it easy to communicate with the hotel via text.  Whether it was requesting a late check-out or checking out, this service came in very handy!

Love the room keys!

We were fortunate to get a media rate on Deluxe Ocean View connecting suites.  Located on higher floors, these suites provide a stunning view from the spacious lanai. 

The suites have been refreshed as well.  I thought the former suites were lovely and had a comfy and cozy vibe, but the new suites were more inviting, with lighter tones and pops of color.  The palette felt more in sync with the surroundings, in my opinion, and the decor was modern, yet seamlessly blended in with the ambience.

The living area had a large sofa that converted into a bed, along with a small dining table and large screen TV.

The bedrooms (we had doubles and a king) had a large screen TV as well, and both the bedrooms and living areas had air conditioning as well as ceiling fans.  

The large bathrooms had a double vanity, a soaker tub, and a walk-in stone shower.  

The suite also has a foyer pantry with a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. 

Bottles of water are available in the suites, and the bottles can be re-used and refilled at water stations throughout the property.  

Needless to say, we spent a lot of time hanging out on the lanai, soaking in the most beautiful views.  

A super cool experience was being able to see the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from the balcony!  We were able to catch it the night it was closest to the Earth.  

The Fairmont Kea Lani offers three pools - the adults-only Tranquility Pool, a Lower Pool, and an Upper Pool.

Tranquility Pool

Lower Pool

Upper Pool

The Lower and Upper Pools are connected through a 140-foot water slide, which my kids loved.  You'll also find a couple of hot tubs on property.

Hot tub + part of the slide

One of my kids practically lived in the pool on our second day there, and fortunately we had a hosted cabana that made the day so comfortable and convenient.  

Forgot your sunscreen?  No problem - the property has several complimentary sunscreen stations so you stay protected!

The beach is just steps away!

Fairmont Kea Lani has a number of dining options.  The Breakfast Buffet at Kea Lani Restaurant offers a variety of options no matter what you're craving - sweet, savory, healthy, or indulgent.  

The Makana Market + Cafe is perfect for grab-and-go and to eat in the comfort of your suite.

Kō Restaurant  is also on property.  We didn't get a chance to dine there during this visit since we were limited in time, but I highly recommend for a fabulous dinner - I've had great experiences dining there.

Pilina recently opened on property, specializing in sushi and seafood.  

Our stay at Fairmont Kea Lani was fabulous.  The resort is very family-friendly, and you really don't need to leave the property, as dining, shopping, activities, and more can all be found at the resort.

What I appreciated most was how the staff treated us with aloha.  Every employee we encountered was helpful and friendly, which really made our stay special.

Mahalo to Fairmont Kea Lani for another unforgettable stay!

Fairmont Kea Lani
4100 Wailea Alanui Drive
1 808 875 4100

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