Maui Brewing Company Kaanapali – Suds and Sustenance and the beach at the same location!
One of our favorite spots over the years for lunch and/or an occasional dinner is the Maui Brewing Company, which offers pretty decent pub-type food and a selection of homegrown brews that never failed to impress 
and pairs the fare with a welcoming atmosphere and pricing that won’t break you at oceanfront establishments.
The Kapalua store has since moved to a new location, found at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Yup, right there on the beach. An oceanfront location! What now?
There’s little doubt that the change in locale has added a different quality to the Maui Brewing Company experience, including easier access to a larger sample of luxury vacationers along Kaanapali Beach’s resorts and hotels. We weren’t aware that Maui Brewing had moved, and although it’s only a few miles down the road, the new location comes with its own set of difficulties, including finding parking. There is a garage there and I was told parking is validated.
The old location was typically reasonably busy but I don’t ever recall waiting for a table more than a few minutes. The new location, being near the beach – with views to match – included an hour wait for those without a reservation.
It was unanticipated, but goes with the territory in Hawaii for dinner around sunset, especially in seaside places. We located several lounges in a grassy area and enjoyed the evening until it was our time to be seated.
Remembering back, I actually stayed at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel when I first visited Hawaii in the late 1980’s. The hotel grounds is known for its distinctive whale shaped pool. The pool is still there. It brought back memories from a long time ago.
Once seated, we each selected a beer that sounded appetizing. I had an Amber Ale, whereas a few of us preferred a brown with coconut tones. The beer is always a highlight at Maui Brewing Company. As you’d expect!
For the meal, I opted for the local fish n’ chips, figuring the fresh catch would be suitable for the atmosphere of the joint. I’m not usually a big fish fan, but breaded fish sounded good. Like my grandma used to fix in Minnesota!
The fish was tasty, but I’m not sure I would order it again. The meal came paired with chips/potato wedges, and some in our party requested the garlic fries… which were, pretty garlicy.
The order came in good time. Our server was astute and very friendly. You could do worse than work in a restaurant along the beach. The portions weren’t huge, but filling. It was enough food, and we didn’t order dessert.
The outing was vintage Hawaii, and good for its requisite amount of memories. Some preferred the low-key nature of the previous Maui Brewing Location. I would recommend a visit to Maui Brewing Company, just be prepared to wait for a table and the additional costs involved with eating at a beach location.
Paia and the Flatbread Company – Hippy pizza at its essence!
Stereotypes abound everywhere you look in Hawaii, and some of the most shining examples of pre-fashioned Hawaiian reputations are found in the little town of Paia (Pāʻia), on the north shore of Maui just a few miles east of the Kahului airport.
The town itself is only a couple blocks in length and is set on the Hana highway, the last major stop before getting to the windy dozens of miles-long stretch of highway that’s immortalized on many shirts and tourist maps detailing the unforgettable, paved but wild, journey to the east side of Maui.
Paia itself isn’t what I’d label a destination on its own. It’s just a “quaint” little town that’s catered to surfers and beachgoers over the decades. Paia was discovered by a number of celebrities as well, and legendary country star Willie Nelson used to (still does?) own a restaurant/bar there, which we’ve visited a couple times.
We also stayed (about a decade ago) at an Air BNB about a half mile off the main “drag” in Paia, owned by an enterprising local who’d fixed up his house and rented out its rooms to visitors from all over the world pursuing surfing and water sports of various kinds. The décor of the dwelling and many places in town suggested its lax attitude towards cannabis smoking, from which I theretofore labeled Paia the “pot smoking hippy town”. Is there a way to describe Willie Nelson’s environment that’s more descriptive?
Paia offers the usual touristy trinket shops from which visitors can encounter a large smattering of local keepsakes, several art shops, jewelry, etc. If you envision a place like Paia having it, it’s probably there. Parking isn’t readily available in proximity, so be prepared to search for it. Or be very patient.
One restaurant we’ve patronized several times is the Paia Flatbread Company, which offers, as you would expect, Flatbread Pizzas with local ingredients and themes. Pack your group into a booth and take your time reading the menu, as ordering the precise desired pizza may take some doing. Bring your purchasing power as well, as the pizzas there come at a much higher toll than they do at Costco.
But the atmosphere of the “joint” alone is worth the investment. The place abounds with artwork related to surfing and the culture that made Paia what it is today. The establishment seems proud of its “sustainable” orientation, though you can find items made to your pie preferences there as well. The pizzas are indeed flat and, on the whole, not that filling. But very satisfying. Very tasty, too.
The servers were friendly and laid-back. No chaos or haven for stress in Paia, that’s for sure. It may take some doing to procure the substances the town has become famous (notorious?) for… but there’s no judgment or hurry involved with leaving the place, either. Paia is “local color” well justifying a visit.
Previous Hawaii Reviews:
Going to Maui (Hawaii)? Part I — Tips – Who and what to bring and why bigger is better
https://www.golfintheusa.com/going-to-maui-hawaii-part-i-tips-who-and-what-to-bring-and-why-bigger-is-better/
Going to Maui (Hawaii)? Tips, Part II – Saving money in Hawaii, and Lahaina offers sadness… and hope
https://www.golfintheusa.com/going-to-maui-hawaii-tips-part-ii-saving-money-in-hawaii-and-lahaina-offers-sadness-and-hope/
Going to Maui? Part III – Touring the ocean depths from the comfort of an air-conditioned building
https://www.golfintheusa.com/going-to-maui-part-iii-touring-the-ocean-depths-from-the-comfort-of-an-air-conditioned-building/
Going to Maui? Part IV – Plan golf in Hawaii? — and what you can’t do without (hint: it’s Costco membership)
https://www.golfintheusa.com/going-to-maui-part-iv-plan-golf-in-hawaii-and-what-you-cant-do-without-hint-its-costco-membership/