Guest Guide: Nearby Stores, Eats, and More at Valley Isle Resort

Kahana Beach

This beach is literally steps from the front door or lanai of the condo. Located to the left of Valley Isle (if you’re facing the ocean) just in front of the Sands of Kahana resort next door. Most of the time there is a fabulous little beach, great for laying out and playing in the sand and surfing. Beach access may be closed occasionally due to ocean and swell conditions.

Napili Bay Beach

This beautiful beach is known for great snorkeling but is also a fantastic spot to wade and swim. Plus, it’s nice for playing in the sand and laying out. There is no parking lot, so opt for street parking, but be careful not to block any driveways.

Kapalua Bay Beach

Another incredible beach known for amazing snorkeling and its calm waters makes it ideal for swimming. This beach has been voted “Best Beach in the World” and “Best Beach in America” by multiple publications over the years.

Pohaku Park

One of our favorite little beaches. Nice sand, but can be a small space depending on the tide, offers picnic tables, showers, BBQs, shade, a parking lot, and almost always a turtle sighting.

Honokowai Beach Park

Offers a large grassy area, sandy beach, play structure, and amenities like food and drinks just across the street.

Ka’anapali Beach and Black Rock

The gem of Maui with 2.4 miles of white sand beach and crystal clear waters, is a perennial “best beach” winner. It boasts tons of beach area with beautiful, soft sand making it ideal for laying out. The beach also has a sandy bottom entry into the water which makes it an ideal location to swim, too. At the north end of Ka’anapali Beach is Black Rock or Pu’u Keka’a in Hawaiian. Locals and tourists alike love to swim out and climb to the top of Black Rock to jump in! There are also tons of rental stands for things like surfboards, paddleboards, chairs, umbrellas, etc. Not to mention a myriad of food options if you didn’t feel like packing a lunch! Beware though the fine, soft sand gets HOT under the tropical Hawaiian sun, don’t forget your flip-flops!

Whalers General Store

Located at the Shell station in the Kahana Gateway Plaza. You can see it on the left if you walk out to Lower Honoapiilani Rd. Good for snacks, drinks, essentials, and souvenirs, and they even have a small service deli with some hot and cold food items and sandwiches.

Tradewinds Kahana Grocery

Located directly across the street from the resort in the Kahana Manor Shops. Small store with drinks, snacks, and staple items.

ABC Store #47

All the essentials are covered plus this location has a really nice selection of hot and cold prepared food, sandwiches, drinks, snacks, apparel, beach gear, and souvenirs.

Fun Fact – For as plentiful as ABC stores are around the Hawaiian Islands the only place you will find them on the mainland is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas is home to one of the largest populations of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders outside of Hawaii.

Costco

Costco is very close to Kahului Airport, where you will be landing. We usually stop to get items we know we will be using such as meat, eggs, water, alcohol, coffee, etc. I would suggest planning to go to Costco the day you land, on your way to the condo, if you are planning to get stuff there. Though you may be tired from traveling, you may not want to make the 45-minute to an hour drive back over there another day. Also, be prepared, it is busy no matter when you go. It’s the only Costco on Maui so both locals and tourists are there at any given time.

Safeway

Pretty much exactly the same as any mainland Safeway store. Located in the Cannery Shopping Center. There is also a Long’s in this shopping center, if you’re not familiar with Long’s it’s like a Rite-Aid or CVS.

Times Supermarket

Great full-service grocery store with any and all staples you need, plus a lot of local options you might not find on the mainland.

Napili Market

Another awesome full-service grocery store with familiar favorites and local selections. Great fresh poke that you can purchase by the pound out of their deli cold case, and if they have their homemade potato chips when you go, get them, they are delicious!

Farmers Market Maui and Deli

Just across the street from Honokowai Beach Park. Sometimes there is an open-air farmers market in the parking lot, but the indoor store is always there and is open most days. Awesome selection of organic local fruits and vegetables, locally made and sourced food and body products, plus other grocery items. Great sandwiches, smoothies, vegetarian and vegan items, and acai bowls too!

Napili Farmers Market

The outdoor farmers market is offered Wednesday and Saturday 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Shop for everything from fresh Maui-grown produce to locally produced kombucha and honey along with handmade jewelry and other artisan products, all while you sip on some freshly squeezed juice and listen to beautiful live Hawaiian music.

Miso Phat Sushi

Located directly across the street from the resort in the Kahana Manor Shops. They have terrific sushi, some of the best on Maui, with an extensive menu. Dine-in and takeout.

Dollie’s Pub and Café

Located across the street in the Kahana Manor Shops also. A great place to catch the game or for happy hour! Pizza, salads, sandwiches, pasta, kids menu, and a full bar with happy hour. Dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

Beach House Bar and Grill

Located next door at the Sands of Kahana (to the left if you’re looking at Valley Isle). Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Beach House offers poolside casual dining, a full menu with breakfast, salads, sandwiches, entrees, a kids menu, and a full bar with happy hour. Dine-in and take out.

Maui Brewing Co.

Located just across the street and to the left in the Kahana Gateway Plaza. Tucked in the back left corner of the plaza, this lively brewpub offers great food and over 22 varieties of locally brewed Maui Brewing Co. beers on tap plus a full bar and happy hour! Dine-in and takeout.

McDonald’s

Located at the front of the Kahana Gateway Plaza. Traditional McDonald’s fare but they do have some items with a Hawaiian twist!

Joey’s Kitchen Napili

Hawaiian-inspired Filipino Asian cuisine was featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives.” Dine-in and takeout.

The Gazebo

Located poolside at the Napili Shores Resort this breakfast/brunch institution shines with big portions and incredible views! Dine-in and takeout.

The Plantation House

An upscale restaurant on the Plantation Golf Course at Kapalua offers views from the 19th hole & elegant island fare. Dine-in. Reservations suggested.

The Fish Market Maui

Can’t say enough good things about this unassuming strip mall restaurant. Fresh, delicious, and incredibly reasonably priced for the quality and quantity. Plan to go or place an order early-ish, they do close at 7:00 pm and there is almost always a line. Dine-in and takeout.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

Delicious Hawaiian fast food/plate lunch chain, large menu selection, and reasonably priced. Dine-in and takeout.

Honoapiilani Food Truck Park

Located just across the street from L&L Hawaiian BBQ and Times Supermarket. Multiple food trucks in one location offer a variety of food plus picnic tables to sit down and enjoy your selections.

Duke’s Beach House Maui

Open-air beach restaurant with upscale island menu, cool surfer decor, great ambiance, and ocean views. Similar but not exactly the same as the original Duke’s in Waikiki. Reservations suggested.

Mala Tavern

Pricey, but this small and intimate restaurant is directly on the water with amazing sunset views and delicious food. Perfect for a date night without the kids!

Kimo’s Maui

Kimo’s is a staple of downtown Lahaina. Great atmosphere, food, and right on the water.

Lahaina Fish Co.

Another staple of downtown Lahaina that is one of our favorite spots for great seafood.

Fleetwood’s on Front Street

Owned and frequented by Mick Fleetwood of the band Fleetwood Mac. Really cool rooftop bar.

Captain Jack’s Island Grill

Pirate-themed restaurant, upstairs, open-air, views of downtown Lahaina and the Famous Banyan tree. Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of this kitschy restaurant, plus they make good strong drinks.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Lahaina

For dessert don’t miss Ululani’s, featuring Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Shaved ice may sound like a snow cone but you would be mistaken! It’s much fluffier and softer than a traditional snow cone. They have tons of flavors plus homemade mochi if they aren’t already sold out for the day. Expect a line, but it’s delicious!

Hula Grill Ka’anapali

Located right in front of the beach, this is one of our favorite places in Whaler’s Village to have dinner and watch the sunset. Don’t forget the Hula Pie for dessert!

Leilani’s on the Beach

Eat at either the beautiful main dining room or the open-air casual bar with tables located below the main dining room.

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

Great appetizers and cocktails! Like most Ka’anapali restaurants, it’s usually packed, so be sure to get there early or make a reservation.

Roy’s

This restaurant is located on Ka’anapali Golf Course and is great for drinks and appetizers after a round of golf.

Boss Frogs

Located directly across the street in the Kahana Manor shopping center. They have just about any gear you might need. Snorkel equipment, boogie boards, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, beach chairs, bikes, golf clubs, and more.

Snorkel Bob’s

In the Kahana Gateway Center with Maui Brewing Co. and McDonald’s. Strictly snorkel gear rentals; masks/snorkels, fins, wetsuits, etc.

Island Surfboard Rentals

Place your order online and they will drop it off and pick it up at your condo and at your specified date and time, free of charge! They offer surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, boogie boards, go-pros, snorkel sets, beach chairs, and umbrellas, plus more. We have personally used this service before, it’s super convenient and has a great staff!

Beach Rentals

If you’re looking to just rent some stuff to use for the day some beaches offer rentals. Ka’anapali beach has many small stands on the beach you can rent from. Napili Bay Beach also offers rentals.

Luaus

Maui offers a number of different Luaus all the way from Lahaina on the Westside to Wailea in South Maui. A luau is a great way to spend an evening and immerse yourself in a culturally rich experience with food, drinks, song, and dance.

Our favorite luau on Maui is the Old Lahaina Luau*. It’s a 12-15 minute drive south, located behind the Cannery shopping center (Safeway, Longs) in Lahaina, right on the beach. The show is authentic, the food is delicious, the drinks are great (and all included), and the seating is pre-assigned when you make your reservations. Be sure to arrive as early as you can to experience the activities they have on hand and the beautiful views before the luau starts.

*Old Lahaina Luau is currently closed due to the West Maui Fire, but fortunately, it is still standing. We hope that this fabulous luau will be able to welcome back visitors again in the near future.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling on Maui is an activity you can do just about anywhere there is a beach and water. Not all beaches have an abundance of marine life, but many popular beaches do. There are tons of options out there, from snorkeling yourself to booking a snorkel tour with a guide. One of our favorite beaches to snorkel is Ka’anapali Beach, as it’s easy to snorkel on your own. One of our favorite places to take a tour is Honolua Bay, as it’s a marine preserve with a lot to see! Click the button below to learn more about our snorkeling recommendations.

Whale Watching

If you’re visiting Maui during winter, you’re in for a treat! That is the time of year when humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Maui’s warm waters to mate, give birth, and care for their young. Whales typically start showing up around October or November, with the best months to spot them being January through March.

Whales can be spotted from the shore just about anywhere on the Westside. However, a tour is recommended if you want to get close to these magnificent animals. Check out our guide by clicking the button below to see our recommendations for Maui Whale Watching Tours.

Scuba Diving

Have you always wanted to try scuba diving? Or are you an experienced diver wanting to get out on a beautiful ocean dive? Look no further than In2scuba Diving Maui Dive Co., catering to both beginner and experienced divers; no experience or certifications are necessary. They have a class/dive to fit every experience level.

Ziplining

Another fun, adrenaline-inducing activity to try is ziplining! We recommend Flyin Hawaiian Zipline. Even if you have done ziplining before, this will be an incredibly memorable experience. They offer 2.5 miles of ziplining, encompassing 8 ziplines ranging from 250 ft. up to a 3,600 ft. zipline! The instructors are awesome, super friendly, and outgoing. They have a real passion for sharing the culture and history of Maui. They are also incredibly eco-conscious and emphasize and educate on conserving the natural Hawaiian flora and fauna.

Golf

Golfers are definitely spoiled for choice! There are beautiful courses located all over Maui, but from Valley Isle Resort you are centrally located between, arguably, two of the best on the island!

• Kapalua Golf Courses (2.8 miles, 6-minute drive north) – Offers two beautiful 18-hole course options: The Bay Course and The Plantation course, which hosts the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions every January.
• Ka’anapali Golf Courses (4.1 miles, 8-minute drive south) – Offers two beautiful 18-hole course options as well: The Royal Ka‘anapali Course and The Ka‘anapali Kai Course.

Shopping

There are tons of great stores, boutiques, stalls, and stands to browse while you’re out and about in Maui. The best concentration of stores and boutiques on the west side of Maui will be in two locations, which, lucky for you, are just a short drive from Valley Isle Resort!

• Whalers Village (4 miles, 8-minute drive south) – Located on Ka’anapali Beach, Whalers Village is a mix of chain stores, boutiques, kiosks, and activities.
• Downtown Lahaina (7 miles, 12-15 minute drive south)* – Located along Front Street in downtown Lahaina, you’ll find tons of boutiques, mom-and-pop shops, some chain stores, tons of art galleries, and The Outlets of Maui. A shopper’s dream!

*Due to the devastating West Maui Fire, all of the stores along Front Street were destroyed. We encourage you to seek out boutique stores, visit farmers’ markets and craft fairs, and support local small businesses on the Westside. If there was a store or gallery on Front Street you liked, be sure to check if they have a website where they may still sell items that you can have shipped directly to your house; no need to take up room in your suitcase!

Hiking

West Maui offers loads of beautiful vistas, from amazing ocean panoramas to towering, lush, vegetation-coved mountains. If you’re looking to do a hike while you’re on Maui, one of the best ways to find one that you think will complement your fitness level and what you’re looking to see is to Google “West Maui hikes.” Click some links and do some reading, focusing on the length of the hike, terrain style (paved or gravel/dirt path), and difficulty level of the hike.

Other Points of Interest

• For history buffs, spend some time checking out the historical sites in downtown Lahaina. Many visitors don’t know that Lahaina boasts a rich Hawaiian history. In the early 1800s, it was named the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and served as the seat of Hawaiian government for over 50 years! During the same time, it was a major whaling and fishing port. There are tons of small historical sites dotted around Lahaina Town. Also, be sure to check out the Banyan Tree, which stands over 60 feet tall and takes up a full city block! It really is a sight to see! For more information on historic sites in Lahaina, visit the Lahaina Restoration Foundation website at lahainarestoration.org*
• If you’re on Ka’anapali Beach at the north end at sunset, be sure to check out the cliff diving ceremony that the Sheraton Maui Resort presents. A conch shell is blown, then a brave diver scales Black Rock, lighting torches as he goes, and once at the top, casts a lei into the ocean as an offering before he dives into the waters below. Chief Kahekili, who ruled in the late 1700s and made the same dive himself, inspires the ceremony.

*Due to the devastating West Maui Fire, almost all of the historical buildings and all artifacts contained within them were destroyed. There are still original stone structures, and the beloved Banyan Tree looks to be a true phoenix, rising from the ashes and providing beauty and hope. This area is completely off-limits for the foreseeable future, and you should not make any attempts to try to visit these sites or the Banyan Tree. If you would like to learn more about these historical sites and see some before and after photos, be sure to visit lahainarestoration.org and also consider donating to help support their efforts.