Maui Is More Than A Golfer's Paradise
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 November 2011 23:19 Tuesday, 22 December 2009 15:53
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by Gayle Moss (www.golfgal.ca)
The Tropical Paradise That Is Hawaii's Island Of Maui Is A Well Known Golfer's Dream Destination.
And Make No Mistake About It, Inside Golf Contributing Writer Gayle Moss, Our Very Own 'Wicked Wahine', Did Get In Her Share Of 'Sweet Swingin' Amongst The Palms And Coconuts.
However, In This Part I Of II Travel Nuggets, She Shares With Us Some Of The Other Special Activiities That Can Be Enjoyed While Visiting 'The Magic Isle'.
Eating And Drinking Your Way Around Paradise
(It's A Tough Job But Somebody's Got To Do It)
As much as we thoroughly enjoyed our 13 rounds of golf in 15 days on the spectacular courses Maui had to offer, there were a ton of other things one could do on the island…Like eating and drinking – my second and third favorite pastimes.
Hula Grill Ka’anapali ($$)
The perfect après-Ka’anapali golf restaurant in Whaler’s Village, Hula Grill, never failed to impress us.
Offering fantastic views of the beach and ocean from every table, friendly servers, tasty cocktails and the best Ahi Sashimi we could find on the island (and we did our research!).
We ate there twice - once for lunch in the lively and sandy “Barefoot Bar”, and again one evening in the main open-air dining room.
I remember enjoying the food and wine both times, but the real bonus was the live entertainment in the evening.
If you ever get a chance, check out the Hula Grill when Derick Sebastian takes the stage with his ukulele.
You won’t believe it - he plays Santana better than Carlos, who, BTW, lives in Kapalua and comes in to the Hula Grill just to listen to Derick play.
Yup, he’s that good!
Mala Ocean Tavern ($$)
There are two Mala restaurants on Maui – one at the north end of Lahaina on Front Street and one at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
We ate at them both and shared a number of dishes that were all delicious.
I can still taste the Lamb Pita appetizer, the Salmon Terrine and the Adult Mac and Cheese - decadent! Lahaina’s Mala is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the patio sits right on the ocean with a gorgeous view of Lana’i, especially at sunset.
It’s a very busy, happening place (i.e. cramped and crowded), so I didn’t think I would enjoy sitting so close to strangers at the tightly packed tables.
But we ended up chatting with tourists on both sides of us, turning the evening into a fun party. Mala’s tag line on all its merchandise is “Practice Aloha” and it fits.
Mala at the Marriott is much more spacious and elegant, which is no surprise, given it is part of a gorgeous luxury resort.
The views are also spectacular of the ocean and west coast of Maui, all the way up to Lahaina.
And Like Mala Lahaina, Stunning Sunsets Are On The Menu
Ma’alaea Waterfront ($$$)
We dropped into the Waterfront restaurant after golf one day for an early dinner and were very glad we did. The food was excellent and the wine list, superb.
They offer fresh fish served at least 6 different ways - whatever fish just came off the boat is offered for you to match with a preparation style, such as Crab-stuffed Mahi mahi or Opakapaka (crimson snapper) Cajun style – both wonderful.
They do Caesar Salad the old fashion way, at your table in a huge wooden bowl with all the bells and whistles and, yes, the raw egg (sterilized so you are safe). It was sooo good. And I don’t even like salad.
The Lahaina Grill ($$$$)
Considered one of the best restaurants in West Maui The Lahaina Grill was a buzz of activity at 8:30 on a Tuesday night.
The food and wine were excellent, but the prices were high, so go there when you have something special to celebrate and you won’t mind paying the prices so much.
Their Brazed Short Ribs on Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes and a Fig Comfit was ‘to die for’! Their Mahi mahi with Crusty Gorgonzola Cheese on top was also delicious.
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