Shearton

The Shearton at sunset is a tradition for my family- we go at least once every trip.  At sundown they have a little show and a warrior climbs out to black rock while lighting all the tiki torches and then dives into the ocean.  The mai tais there are deadly (ask for and old school one) and the bar is situated up a bit, so you have a beautiful view of the ocean and sunset. 

Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Kaanapali Beach Hotel is one of the oldest hotels on Kaanapali Beach.  It's between the Shearton and the Whaler on the south side of black rock (from MKV).  You can either walk there following the "Beach Walk" or take the free trolley to Whalers Village, walk out to the beach and head north.  I love this hotel for it's very "Old Hawaii" feel...the grassy expanse has a huge checkers board where the pieces are painted coconuts and the pool is shaped like a whale.  There is a tiki stand with various fried foods.  My personal opinion is that the food is crap.  The chicken wings are okay, if you must eat.  Or just go for a burger.  Warning, there is NOTHING healthy here.  But the cocktails are cheap and the show is free.  Every single night they have a hula show...from 6-9pm with music and you can get up and dance if you want.  The singers are Hawaiin and it's a laid back show.  If you have little ones they will love it.  The show used to be like a Don Ho show, but the husband and wife duo packed up and moved further south to the Cook Islands.  The show is still good though, sometimes they have the local children perform.  It's definitely worth a stop by and if your kids are anything like mine they will BEG and PLEAD for a hula show every day...and this is a great free option. :)

http://www.kbhmaui.com/cms/View.aspx/Show/Home

Castaways Restaurant at MKV!

MKV is lucky enough to have it's very own restaurant!  Yay!  The food here is good and one of the most resonable around for ocean front dining.  I personally LOVE the low-key, old Hawaii feel of this place.  The tables are the closest to the water that I think you'll find in all of Maui.  (No one is allowed to build new this close to the water due to new city codes).  SO, enjoy it!!  There is rarely a wait.  Also, while you're lying by the pool, you can walk over to the window and grab a drink.  So convenient!  They also have a happy hour and we usually sit out to play some shuffle board and watch the sun set.    Since  I do not rent my condo through the rental program, you won't be able to put your meals on your room.  Sorry.  This place is a gem though and has one of the most extensive wine lists on Maui. 

http://castawaycafe.com/

Hula Grill

Hula Grill is another of the T's Restaurant chain.  It is also one of my favorites.  Situated in Whalers Village right across from Lelani's and with an ocean view it also offers a casual Barefoot Bar  with drinks and food and another area for finer dining.  They have live music every day/night...call for times.  My biggest tip for this place is the crab wontons!  They are to die for.  And (only here) they serve them with both a sweet thai chili sauce and a mustard sauce.  (You may have to ask your server to bring them to you).  The combination with the crab wonton is amazing and spicy- fair warning.  My other favorite dish here is the  "Firecracker"fish preparation.  It is also spicy, but it will not diappoint.  I order it every time and never get tired of it. :)   The view is great...if you're there for Whale season you may see a humpback jumping out towards Lanai!  Gorgeous.  This is what you think of you when you think of Hawaii...a little guitar and ukulele, they have a hula dancer some nights, and cocktails with more calories than alcohol.  :) Aloha! 

Kimo's in Lahaina

Kimo's is another T's Restaurant (Lelani's, Hula Grill, Dukes).  It's in Lahaina and the deck over the water is amazing!  The food is great.  My tip is go for happy hour or lunch and sit on the deck (the bar area).  While dinner here is great, you usually get seated upstairs and you won't have a view. ;(

http://www.kimosmaui.com/menus/dining-room

Reservation for Dinner Recommended

Plantation House in Kapalua

This restaurant is my absolute favorite!!!  The view is absolutely breathtaking...I think it's so interesting that there are pine trees up in Kapalua (on a tropical island).  The story is that they came from Oregon as seeds on the Pacific current.  Cool, huh?  We always try to make it up there for at least one breakfast or lunch.  All the food is good (a little pricey- but you're paying for the view).  Dinners are amazing, but make sure you are there before sunset to take in the 180 degree view.  For breakfast they have an eggs benedict with tuna wasabi hollandaise.  Amazing!!  A heads-up, I would make a reservation for sure and dress a little nicer than most of the casual dining restaurants.  Nowhere in Maui is really stuffy, but this is kinda like a steak house at home, comparatively speaking.  :)

Plantation House website for reservations

The Plantation House is technically the clubhouse for the golf course at Kapalua

la menu

The view...my pictures do not do it justice

The Bar--  good place for happy hour, but the view is kinda to the side

We even took our family picture up here

http://www.theplantationhouse.com/

DUKES- yay!!

Dukes is part of a chain of restaurants called T's. They own Lelani's, Hula Grill and Kimos locally. We have Duke's in Orange County too (which I have to go to when my hankering for fish tacos kicks in). They just opened this Duke's two hotels over from MKV- walking distance- yay! :) They have live music every night and the way the restaurant is situated, it's up high enough that the ocean view is close and beautiful. The food is great too, they have fresh fish and different preparations. The chef usually recommends certain preperations with specific fish, but feel free to ask for the fish any way you'd like it! They have the same crab wontons here as at Hula Grill- but they are served with a sweet chili sauce (warning). I am obsessed with the mustard sauce and sweet chili sauce mixed at Hula Grill- so wait to have them there, but if you don't like spicy, by all means, enjoy! Oh and of course they have Hula Pie here too- if you've never had it- TRY IT. I love it so much, I wanted to serve it as the wedding cake at our wedding --ended up being too hard to keep the icecream from melting. ;( Here are a couple pics, but it was already getting dark. It's definitely worth a visit, even if only for happy hour. Get a reservation.

Here's the link for more info http://www.dukesmaui.com/

http://www.dukesmaui.com/