Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows on Kāʻanapali Beach was once a favorite retreat area for Hawaiian aliʻi, or royalty. From here, you can watch gorgeous sunsets and see the islands of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi just across the channel. I love the friendly hospitality, the retro-chic rooms (especially the bungalows!) and the fact that everything you need is right onsite.

Amenities include two pools, a gift shop featuring local brands through small business accelerator Mana Up, a coffee and ice cream shop, a spa, a full-service restaurant and a pool bar, along with the unbeatable convenience of being steps from the beach. The Myths of Maui Lūʻau is held here as well, and tennis and pickleball courts and a golf course are located right next door.

The resort is also deeply connected to the community. During my last stay, Royal Lahaina partnered with Treecovery Hawaii to plant 1,000 trees on the property to help replace those lost in the 2023 Lāhainā wildfire.

While you are here, you must get a massage at The Spa at Royal Lahaina, which just opened last year. The massage beds are incredibly soft and comfortable and the spa carries a great selection of natural skincare products from brands like Kopari — which carries the only natural deodorant that has ever worked for me. In addition to massage and facials, the spa also offers manicures, pedicures and waxing.

Spa hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Courtesy of Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows.

Chef and co-owner of Sale Pepe, Michele Di Bari, was just nominated for a 2026 James Beard Award in the Northwest & Pacific Best Chef category. Milanese chef and certified pizzaiolo Di Bari prepares traditional Italian cuisine including wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas and regional specialties. Sale Pepe has become a favorite amongst locals and was one of the first restaurants to re-open in Lāhainā after losing their original location to the wildfire.

Water is a critical issue on all the Hawaiian Islands. As a finite resource, it is often diverted to support large developments, golf courses and resorts, away from the communities that need it most. This is one reason West Maui is so dry. That lack of moisture, combined with extreme winds, helped accelerate the wildfires in 2023. According to The New York Times, fire hydrants in Lāhainā began to run dry as firefighters struggled to put out the fire.

Helewai Eco Tours’ mission is to help protect Maui watersheds “through exploration and education.” A key part of that work involves guiding visitors and residents on hikes designed to deepen their connection to the land and inspire stewardship.

The 2-mile Honolua Ridge hike climbs above the Kapalua resort area, passing the historic Maunalei Arboretum, remnants of ancient coffee farms and views of the Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve. Along the way, guests learn about Hawaiian history and why healthy watersheds are essential to island life.

This is a favorite neighborhood spot amongst locals. Come here to watch a football game, pau hana or enjoy a meal on the lanaʻi. Chef and co-owner Alvin Savella loves having fun with the menu, offering bar- and kid-friendly dishes that are comforting and non-pretentious. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried brussels caesar salad, birria ramen and poke donut. Killer craft cocktails too!

Birria Ramen. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Choose Kāʻanapali beach or one of the resort's two pools, they are both steps away from your room. Cabanas are available, as well as cocktails and snacks from Pineapple Moon — located poolside. There is also a huge grassy area where you could lay in the sun, and several cushy chairs around the property for lounging.

I like to sit outside on the oceanfront lanai when I eat here, though the lively wraparound bar, which also faces the ocean, has tempted me many times. Try the Golden Garlic Noodles with Hāmākua Aliʻi mushrooms, shimeji mushrooms and crispy garlic or the mochi-crusted mahi mahi with kimchi fried rice, Portuguese sausage and ginger-scallion sauce. Definitely save room for the Maui Mud Pie. It’s big enough to share with two or three people. Arrive around 6 p.m. and you’ll be right on time for sunset.

After dinner, stroll over to the 100-year-old, 40-foot-tall rubber tree located in the middle of the bungalows. This is where you can find live music and cocktails from 6 to 9 p.m. every night under a canopy of lights. This is my favorite experience offered at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. The show is free and open to everyone in the community, not just guests of the resort.

Check out the line-up of upcoming musicians here.

Lahaina boutique Hana Hou by Hale Zen reopened in November 2024, making it, according to owner Lisa Payne, “the first lost retail business to return after the fire.” The shop was originally located in Dickenson Square and had been in operation for more than a decade before it was destroyed.

Today, the store carries a curated mix of notable brands and local artisan crafts. It is not only a charming place to shop, but also a neighborhood gathering spot where patrons linger and chat.

This tour begins at Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate’s retail shop and factory before a short shuttle ride to the cacao orchard. As you walk through the orchard, you’ll learn how cacao is grown and processed into chocolate, ending in a gazebo overlooking the orchard and the ocean for a tasting of several of the estate’s bean-to-bar chocolates. When you get back to the retail shop, you can browse all of the different chocolates, including one made without sugar (it's actually really good!). There is also a dessert counter that makes a delicious Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate Shake!

If you time it right and do the chocolate tour on a Sunday, you can stay afterward for live jazz upstairs from the chocolate factory. The open-air venue has tables and couches for lounging, wine, beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, light bites such as cheese and charcuterie boards and a chocolate and whiskey pairing.

Another local neighborhood joint with a fun, casual atmosphere, plenty of TVs, great bar bites and karaoke on Fridays. Stick around long enough and you may even see some of the staff from your resort roll through for the late-night happy hour 9 to 11 p.m.