January through March is the perfect time to head to Maui. It makes for a nice respite for the cold weather in much of Northern Hemisphere and whales can easily be spotted from shore. It's also less humid than in the summer months.
Maui is also a wonderful place for vegans and vegetarians - from some of the best markets, to farm-to-table feasts to upscale elegant dining.
In Kahului, a few minutes from the airport, is the first Whole Foods to have vegan raw chefs on staff. There is a refrigerated section that when I last visited had freshly prepared raw vegetable pastas, salads and Mexican dishes as well as several desserts. I dislike grocery stores, but this is one of the few I like. It's filled with vegan and vegetarian goods to provision your hotel room with for snacking. There is also a section labeled with organic and veg wines.
Also in Kahului is Hawaiian Superfoods. Not a fancy place and not easy to find, Hawaiian Superfood is in a light green modest office building. Walk through the office building and around the back. There are two tables outside and a couple more inside. The menu has smoothies that include coconut milk, banana, cacao nibs, and mesquite (left). A quinoa burger came topped with all sorts of fresh vegetables on a bed of kale leaves for wrapping (right). I ate it like a salad. Check restaurant.com for coupons. http://hawaiiansuperfood.com/
On Saturday nights, there is a farm-to-table dinner at Ahimsa Farms in Haiku (above). This dinner is advertised as vegetarian, but it was vegan the night I went. Call in advance to check. The farm is on beautiful grounds above the ocean. The family runs a sustainable farm with wind and solar power. Prior to the dinner, farm tours are provided for an extra charge. The dinner uses vegetables from the farm as while as other organic produce. The night I went there were about six courses, featuring farm-fresh produce. There were taro burgers (above right)) and sprouted salads (above left). The herb tea that is the farm's own blend was fantastic. The dinner is a bargain at $25 per person and there is live music afterward from the owners' sons and anyone else who happens to drop by. Feel free to bring your own wine. http://ahimsasanctuaryfarm.com/farm-table/
Not far from Haiku, is Mana Foods in Paia. This amazing market sells organics, fresh prepared foods with a Hawaiian twist and a great selection for vegans and vegetarians at relatively low prices. The aisles are jam-packed and when it comes to marketing, think the opposite of a slick Whole Foods, but you will not regret stopping in to provision either for prepared food or to stock your kitchen if you've rented a condo. A few stores up on the same street Mana Foods has just opened Maka by Mana, a raw foods restaurant. I've yet to visit, but have heard it is great. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays. http://www.makabymana.com/
For more upscale dining, Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea has raw and vegan menus. It's truly a treat to find upscale restaurant that have more than one vegan or vegetarian item on the menu. It's not inexpensive, but it is nice to be in lovely surroundings and have that option. I started with the vegetable tempura (left), which included Kabocha pumpkin, Mokokai sweet potato, Maui onion, carrot and asparagus for $17.
The harvest salad had Pohole fern shoots, heart of palm, Kula baby lettuce, macadamia nuts and passion fruit vinaigrette for $14.
The buckwheat soba stirfry (left)came with mushrooms, edamame, and baby bok choy for $31. http://korestaurant.com/cuisine/dinner-menu/
There is much more vegetarian and vegan on Maui. If you have favorites you'd like to share, please do so in the comments.
Maui is also a wonderful place for vegans and vegetarians - from some of the best markets, to farm-to-table feasts to upscale elegant dining.
In Kahului, a few minutes from the airport, is the first Whole Foods to have vegan raw chefs on staff. There is a refrigerated section that when I last visited had freshly prepared raw vegetable pastas, salads and Mexican dishes as well as several desserts. I dislike grocery stores, but this is one of the few I like. It's filled with vegan and vegetarian goods to provision your hotel room with for snacking. There is also a section labeled with organic and veg wines.
Also in Kahului is Hawaiian Superfoods. Not a fancy place and not easy to find, Hawaiian Superfood is in a light green modest office building. Walk through the office building and around the back. There are two tables outside and a couple more inside. The menu has smoothies that include coconut milk, banana, cacao nibs, and mesquite (left). A quinoa burger came topped with all sorts of fresh vegetables on a bed of kale leaves for wrapping (right). I ate it like a salad. Check restaurant.com for coupons. http://hawaiiansuperfood.com/On Saturday nights, there is a farm-to-table dinner at Ahimsa Farms in Haiku (above). This dinner is advertised as vegetarian, but it was vegan the night I went. Call in advance to check. The farm is on beautiful grounds above the ocean. The family runs a sustainable farm with wind and solar power. Prior to the dinner, farm tours are provided for an extra charge. The dinner uses vegetables from the farm as while as other organic produce. The night I went there were about six courses, featuring farm-fresh produce. There were taro burgers (above right)) and sprouted salads (above left). The herb tea that is the farm's own blend was fantastic. The dinner is a bargain at $25 per person and there is live music afterward from the owners' sons and anyone else who happens to drop by. Feel free to bring your own wine. http://ahimsasanctuaryfarm.com/farm-table/Not far from Haiku, is Mana Foods in Paia. This amazing market sells organics, fresh prepared foods with a Hawaiian twist and a great selection for vegans and vegetarians at relatively low prices. The aisles are jam-packed and when it comes to marketing, think the opposite of a slick Whole Foods, but you will not regret stopping in to provision either for prepared food or to stock your kitchen if you've rented a condo. A few stores up on the same street Mana Foods has just opened Maka by Mana, a raw foods restaurant. I've yet to visit, but have heard it is great. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays. http://www.makabymana.com/
For more upscale dining, Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea has raw and vegan menus. It's truly a treat to find upscale restaurant that have more than one vegan or vegetarian item on the menu. It's not inexpensive, but it is nice to be in lovely surroundings and have that option. I started with the vegetable tempura (left), which included Kabocha pumpkin, Mokokai sweet potato, Maui onion, carrot and asparagus for $17. The harvest salad had Pohole fern shoots, heart of palm, Kula baby lettuce, macadamia nuts and passion fruit vinaigrette for $14.
The buckwheat soba stirfry (left)came with mushrooms, edamame, and baby bok choy for $31. http://korestaurant.com/cuisine/dinner-menu/
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