My Hawaii trip was SUPER last minute and I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know about the weather, the layout of the islands, what being alone in a hostel would be like, what the food would be like. Overall, the weather kind of sucked, it was easy to get around Maui, my hostel was SO beautiful filled with incredible people from all over the world and the food was….freaking expensive.
I envisioned Hawaii to be filled with tons of fruits and smoothies (which it was!), but it was fairly lacking in things like greens, salads and overall healthy options. There’s a huge emphasis on pork and fish, which I get, but not a whole lot in terms of plant-based eats.
You know me though, I made eating my top priority and traveled near and far to find the best stuff! Here’s where to eat vegan if you find yourself in Maui 🙂
(And if you need other activity recommendations, shoot me an email!)
I stayed in Paia, which is an uber cute beach town on the northern part of the island. Everyone’s favorite grocery store and healthy food spot is Mana Foods, which is a moderately priced natural/organic store that was walking distance from my hostel. It’s got a hot bar and deli filled with lots of yummy options, both vegan, non-vegan or gluten-free. I mostly stocked up on grocery items to cook stuff at the hostel and found almost all of my fave vegan company’s products here. Lots of vegan cheeses, nondairy yogurts, frozen meals, homemade pastries, you name it, they had it. I was especially fond of their smoothie bowls like this GORGEOUS pitaya bowl.
The only chain restaurant I even SAW in Maui, Flatbread Company was always jam packed. Everyone knows they know how to do a really great pizza. And even though I’ve tried a few of their locations, this version with macadamia nut pesto was the BEST I have ever had. People from my hostel drooled over it and eventually got the same one for themselves later in the week.Â
I didn’t plan around the bus schedule all that well (public transportation is VERY new to me), so I barely made it in time before they closed. Sadly, they wouldn’t serve food at that point, even though they’ve got lots of insane raw options like burgers, wraps, pizzas, salads and desserts. I did get their strawberry lemonade booch though, which was extremely yummy and refreshing.
I really wish I got better photos at this place, because it was superrrrr good. BUT, we ate our wraps on the beach and the wind and sand whirling around us, meant we had to eat fast. Which was fine, because I inhaled everything pretty quickly because it was so tasty! We got the peanut tempeh wrap, which was loaded with bold flavors and tons of veggies. We also shared a breakfast burrito that was literally oozing with rice, beans, vegan chorizo and a delicious homemade vegan queso, that was too messy to even try to capture. It’s a really quaint, hidden spot, with lots of great baked goods, too.
Another somewhat hidden gem, is the Kuau store, which is a cute little organic shop with a deli that’s got some great vegan options. I stopped in halfway through a long walk to the beach, so just grabbed a pre-made wrap to go. It seemed like just a basic tempeh BLT, but for whatever reason is was more delicious than your average sandwich. And is likely the best priced meal you’ll find in Maui! I enjoyed it while watching dozens of sea turtles on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island 🙂
Known for their fresh fruit, all of the islands are no stranger to a good smoothie bowl. What sets Paia Bowls apart is their greens! I had never been craving kale so bad in my life. There’s tons of good smoothie and smoothie bowl spots on every corner, but almost none of them have greens. Which is OK, I just think having ONLY fruit is too much sugar! Paia Bowls have gorgeous bowls, but I opted for their Hana smoothie which included chia, spirulina AND kale. Everything is super fresh and delicious, and I honestly felt like a whole new person after getting some greens in me. They also have a chill, relaxing outdoor space right near the water, that’s a beautiful place to just hang out and read. HIGHLY recommend!
But hands down, the best spot to hang out and chill is Paia Coffee. Their outdoor/indoor seating is downright gorgeous, with cute decor, live music and delicious coffee, drinks and food. Even in the rain (and it rained A LOT), their outdoor seating stays dry and it’s weirdly comforting and soothing. They don’t have a ton of vegan options, but what they do have is phenomenal. Everyone raved about the vegan pesto and hummus bagel, which was bursting with veggies and was satisfyingly warming on dreary morning. They’ve also got acai bowls, salads and some veggie sushi rolls!
I was REALLY excited for Veg-Out because it was really the only place that was all vegetarian/vegan that I could find. Maybe I just didn’t choose the right meal, but I was slightly underwhelmed. The space itself is lacking in any character or ambiance, which didn’t help. I opted for their Muffelata sandwich, which really just ended up being a tofu, lettuce, tomato and onion sandwich, that was good, just kind of blah and lacking in flavor. Their desserts looked AWESOME, but I already had some sweet stuff from Mana back at the hostel, so I regretfully, didn’t get any. If you check them out, maybe try something OTHER than what I got!
Though Lahaina is a bit far from my hostel, it’s very touristy with lots of shops, good coffee and great sights. And my visit to Ono for coconut cream gelato was WELL worth the two hour bus trip. One of the richest, creamiest and most flavorful ice creams I’ve ever had, I was happily full with just one little scoop. Their oceanside, deck seating also made the overall experience there even more enjoyable. Their coffee is also the best I had in Maui!
Last but not least, another delightful, hole in the wall, spot. It’s celebrity endorsement photos all over the wall make for an entertaining stop here, too. Also in Lahaina, Maui Tacos is also a bargain compared to other spots. I got a huge Mexican bowl for just $8 that was loaded with flavor and good texture of all the ingredients it was composed of. Crispy potatoes, rich refried beans, crunchy homemade chips, fresh lettuce and salsa and spicy rice. It was super filling and my wallet was especially pleased.
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