Maui, Hawaii

[SofiEmiMom]

I would appreciate any suggestions regarding places to eat in Maui that are accomodating to Celiacs. Thanks so much!

[wdavie]

I too am travelling to Maui so Please if there is anyone out there with suggestions please let us know.

Wendy

[mannabbe]

I will post all my gluten-free Maui highlights when I return in mid-April, but in the meantime, I wanted to report that the St. John's listerserv has made their archive searches MUCH easier. Go to

Open Original Shared Link

and select "search archives"

I did a search on Maui from Jan 2000-Jan2004 and came up with a ton of gluten-free information for Maui.

We'll have 2 gluten-free 7 year olds, and 2 gluten free mamas on this trip (and my husband, bless his soul) - so I will be full of information in just a few weeks!

Aloha!

Laurie

[flagbabyds]

ROYS IS REALLY GOOD AT ACCOMIDCATING

[hsd1203]

yay Laurie! Thanks so much for passing that along... I am heading to Maui in early April as well, but was getting frustrated as I had not been having any luck trying to find places to shop for food or eat out there. This info is sure to make for a better trip. I promise to pass along any extra info as well when I get back.

Aloha, Heather

[hsd1203]

Okay, just got back from Maui and here's what I have to share. Sorry it is so long but I learned a bunch (and couldn't resist including some non-food info)

Right outside of the airport:

McDonalds, of course, and a Super Kmart where food is supposedly pretty cheap (didn't make it there to check it out, though). Be glad you rented a car with good mileage 'cause gas is 2.50 a gallon here.

In or near Wailea:

Hawaiian Moons Natural Food store (theres one on S. Kihei road... and there may be more than one on the island, check the phone book) has a few yummy gluten-free things... including some limited gluten-free cereals (hot), pastas, and even brownie mix if you're feeling so inclined.

Outback steakhouse between 31 and S. Kihei road, on Pi' ikea. There is also a decent safeway foods on this road (and another Outback at 4405 Honoapiilani Hwy #218 Kahana )

Harry's sushi near the grand wailea was excellent, if you don't mind double checking with the waitstaff about the fancy kinds (some of the fancier ones came with some kind of sauce drizzled on top, just a warning) and if you're ok with having the whole experience sans soy sauce, no gluten-free choices for that here.

Some of the beaches near here were amazing, check a lonely planet or a maui revealed for the ones the locals go to.

On the way to Hana (such a beautiful trip... take your time exploring):

Mana Foods in Pai'a. Take a right at the stoplight and it will be a little ways down on your left. gluten-free breads in the coolers, and what looked like a decent selection of health foods and the like (didn't go till my last day but would be worth stopping for anyone at the beginning of their trip).

Also, the guidebooks suggest picking up a picnic lunch in Pai'a (supposedly the food in Hana leaves a little to be desired) also, this way you can eat wherever you get hungry, instead of rushing to Hana when your tummy starts grumbling. There are a bunch of options for lunch there, but we went to a place called the Maui Grown Market (on the left in the middle of Pai'a... if they're closed in the am they have another location about 8 mi... I think, but it will say on the door... up the road on the right). The woman who made my salad for the day was totally unsurprised by the "wheat allergy" thing, and was happy to discuss ingredients, make suggestions, and let me read the ingredients on the salad dressing bottles. They'll let you borrow a cooler and a Hana tape or celiac disease for a deposit, and even have dogs you can borrow for the day if you're missing yours at home. So funny.

Also in Paia... some yoga, some really neat craft and souvenir stores (with stuff we didn't see elsewhere) and a huge really cool bead store (random, I know, but a fun surprise for me).

In Old Lahina:

We went to Kimos, and my waitress was great. She got me a plain salad (dinner usually comes with a premade caesar)... now that I think about it you might want to ask for plain rice (it comes seasoned), and helped me through which fish choices were safe. Super helpful. Beautiful place to eat while watching the sunset and having a fruity drink.

Get there early enough to see the museums and such... we went late in the afternoon and missed out on some interesting things. Also not a bad idea use the afternoon to stake out a place to talk to waitstaff/chefs and make dinner reservations, especially if you don't want to get stuck eating in the bar or waiting until 9 to have dinner.

Overall, almost everyone was super helpful, the island was just so beautiful, and I ate well (hooray first gluten-free major vacation). Do stock up on snack bars before leaving home, just in case. No one gave me any trouble about carrying them, and they came in handy the morning of a snorkeling trip (pacific whale company does a pretty great eco-conscious job with interesting tutorials on what you're seeing and even some games for the kids while you're on the boat) where breakfast was muffins, and whenever my travel buddies stopped for pastries and such. All in all, though, just have fun. If you're staying in a place with a kitchen or a grill, buy your own and cook it. Those were some of the best dinners we had (the super expensive restraunts were a little out of the budget, and like any place where the tourists are trapped, some places are sadly lacking some of the incentive to make really good food, but read your guidebooks, because there are a few good ones).

Aloha and mahalo (thank you) for reading all this,

Heather

[mannabbe]

Heather,

It would have been fun to run into you on Maui! Here's a summary of my trip, which contains different info from Heather's, for the most part:

Near the Airpot:

"Down to Earth" is a health food store on Dairy road, across from the large shopping center where Borders Books is located. This store, and Mana Foods in Paia, are the best health food stores on Maui and I purchased all my gluten-free stock foods at these two locations. There is a smaller Down to Earth in Lahaina as well (downtoearth.org)

Kaanapali Beach:

My favorite restaurant on Maui is the Hula Grill. It was literally the only restaurant I went to where they had heard of gluten intolerance. We had late lunches / early dinners here 3 times (and I have a 7 year old, so it's obviously kid friendly). Not cheap though.

Lahaina:

Maui Taco is walking distance from the Lahaina Down to Earth grocery store, and is a fab place to get rice and beans and guacamole (adn cheap!)

Compadres is a Lahaina mexican restaurant that also had surprisingly good food (e.g. grilled fish wrapped in lettuce leaves instead of tortillas!)

Kehei

We ate at the Sansei restaurant twice - it has quite a fine reputation locally, and we had a 1 hour wait the first time we went. The 2nd time we went at 5:30 (when it opened) and found out they give a 25% discount for people who arrive between 5:30 and 6:00. Probably the best japanese restaurant I've ever been to (sanseihawaii.com).

My eating habits changed drastically for this trip - I had fruit for breakfast, whatever was around for lunch (I hauled rice cakes and hazelnut butter around in a cooler), and then splurged on an early dinner. We found grilled fish EVERYWHERE, so I know you all can make this trip work.

In addition to gluten, I also have to avoid dairy and corn and soy - so if I can enjoy 10 days on Maui, you probably can to!

Mahalo and Aloha! Laurie

[lisabp]

Here is a reply that I just got from Roy's about the restaurant here in Austin and also Maui for an upcoming trip:

Aloha Lisa,

Thank you for your interest in dining at Roy's in Maui. Our chef has prepared a sample gluten-free

menu for your son. The following menu may vary depending on what is fresh and available to our

chefs when you arrive in December.

Appetizers:

Warm Grilled Shrimp Sticks

Grilled Vegetables with an Herb Butter Sauce

U-10 Sea Scallops with an Orange Glaze on Fresh Greens

Entrees:

Asian Pesto Steamed Island Fish Over White Rice and Baby Bok Choi

Grilled Filet Mignon in a Truffled Demi Glace on a Mushroom Leek Cassoulet

Short Ribs of Beef on Mashed Potatoes

Dessert:

Roy's Signature Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle

If you would like to make any modifications to this menu please feel free to contact us here at

Roy's Kahana Bar and Grill.

We look forward to your visit,

Katie Finn

Restaurant Manager

[jenvan]

I ate at Roy's too--very good!

[Rubicon1954]

Hi - I see that this is an old thread, but thought I'd add my 2 cents worth in case any late comers read this.

One really GREAT place to eat in Lahaina is Penne Pasta. This is an inexpensive little bistro, located on a quiet little street just off the main drag. The address is 180 Dickenson Street. Lahaina, HI.

The chef/owner is a fine cook with a lot of knowledge about gluten free cooking. You can order rice pasta with your meals, but he has not found a source for gluten free bread. If anyone knows where he can get it on the island, he is willing to carry it, provided it is good tasting. However, he isn't interested in the heavy rice loaves usually associated with gluten free. He would rather carry something like the breads offered by the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakery. Since there is no Whole Foods on the island, he has not found a source, yet.

We ate there twice and loved it both times! The prices were extremely reasonable, and the portions were generous. And so YUMMY! It is so rare to find Italian restaurants that will serve rice pasta with meals. Friendly people and quiet atmosphere - very nice!

Here is their website: Open Original Shared Link

And here is another site with great information: Open Original Shared Link

[kenlove]

The Chef Mark will not have to wait to long, Whole Foods is opening in 2009 on Maui. Opened a few weeks ago in Honolulu.

Some of the stores here on the big island do carry a number of better than average gluten-free breads.

ken

Hi - I see that this is an old thread, but thought I'd add my 2 cents worth in case any late comers read this.

One really GREAT place to eat in Lahaina is Penne Pasta. This is an inexpensive little bistro, located on a quiet little street just off the main drag. The address is 180 Dickenson Street. Lahaina, HI.

The chef/owner is a fine cook with a lot of knowledge about gluten free cooking. You can order rice pasta with your meals, but he has not found a source for gluten free bread. If anyone knows where he can get it on the island, he is willing to carry it, provided it is good tasting. However, he isn't interested in the heavy rice loaves usually associated with gluten free. He would rather carry something like the breads offered by the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakery. Since there is no Whole Foods on the island, he has not found a source, yet.

We ate there twice and loved it both times! The prices were extremely reasonable, and the portions were generous. And so YUMMY! It is so rare to find Italian restaurants that will serve rice pasta with meals. Friendly people and quiet atmosphere - very nice!

Here is their website: Open Original Shared Link

And here is another site with great information: Open Original Shared Link

[Guest chooch]

We are travelling to Maui for 5 days at the end of October then over to Oahu for 2 weeks....I am glad to hear Whole Foods is finally in Honolulu. Where is it located? Also does anyone have anything else to add to safe restaurants for celiacs.....my celiac daughter is 10.

[burdee]

I would appreciate any suggestions regarding places to eat in Maui that are accomodating to Celiacs. Thanks so much!

We've visited Maui 3 times since I was diagnosed with celiac disease and 6 other food allergies (dairy, soy, eggs, cane sugar, vanilla and nutmeg). We usually stay in a condo in Lahaina. Right after we get off the plane and pick up our rental car, we head to Down To Earth (health food store) in Kahului near the airport. We can buy fruits, vegies, meats, etc. at the 3 grocery stores in Lahaina, but we buy most gluten/allergy free foods at Down to Earth.

To save money, we eat dinners out, but eat breakfasts in our condo and pack lunches from grocery or health food store items. We make reservations for dinner in the mid afternoon (around 3 pm) and ask to speak to the chef or manager about which entres will meet our allergy needs (I have 7 allergies and my husband has 9). At restaurants which require reservations the chefs are most willing to alter preparations and make safe substitutions to accomodate us. We've safely eaten at restaurants in Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kihei, Paia, and Maalea, after speaking to the manager or chef when we make reservations. During our last visit to Maui a year ago, we enjoyed safe dinners at 8 different restaurants. In Lahaina that included Kimo's, Gerard's, the Fish Company, Lahaina Grill (rooftop dining), Maalea Oceanfront Grill (near the aquarium in Maalea), Mama's Fish House (outside Paia) and several more restaurants at Whaler's Village. Sorry I can't remember all the names. However I feel safe eating at any restaurant where I talk to the manager or chef when I make reservations. I ALSO hand my allergy card (laminated list and description of my food allergies) to the waiter when we order our meals.

I also use that method when I make reservations at a new (for us) restaurant in Seattle (where I live). Even if the restaurant advertises that they have 'gluten free' entres, I need to speak to the chef about our other allergies. For example, PF Chang's uses egg whites on all their meats. Both my husband and I have egg allergies. So we only learn about those risky preparation policies by speaking to the chef.

BURDEE

[scotia]

Aloha people...been a long time since I've posted, but I check in from time to time to read some of the forum threads.

We have just returned from a great week in Maui.

We stayed at a condo in south kihei, which was steps from Charley Young Beach (you can check the beach out on Google, as they have a LIVE webcam)

We arrived at Kahului airport around 9pm and figured everything would be closed and we would have to wait until the morning to grab some breakfast/groceries...we inquired at the car rental where the Safeway was, and we found it easily as it was on our way itno town...and it's open 24 hours.

We bought some corn pops (Gorilla pops) gluten free cereal...tasted good...and I don't do the sugary sweet cereal, but this was quite good in the mrning with yogurt and fruit.

We stocked up on the usual, fruit, vegetab;es, juice etc as we ate breakfast in the condo before hitting the beach or going on day trips.

We ate at the OUTBACK steakhouse...great staff, very helpful, they knew about gluten-free and Celiac...so I had a great NY steak, garlic mashed potatoes and veggies...cooked to perfection.

The great thing was that it was in the same complex as Safeway so was very easy to find.

Other options picking up groceries were FOODLAND, also Costco, Walmart, and K Mart for all your trinkets and Walmart had the best prices and selection for t shirts, macadamia nuts etc...if you're into that sort of thing.

There are plenty of markets around Kihei and don't forget to have a coffee at Lava Java,and try their 'Donkey Balls' ;-)

We orefer to do our own thing when it comes to cooking but when we were in restaurants we were pleasantly surprised to find most knew about Gluten intolerance etc.

Maui Taco was good also, we had soft corn tacos...chicken and they hit the spot in Lahaina on one of our day trips.

There's also a maui Taco in South Kihei.

Someone asked where Down to earth Foods was, it's near the airport and easy to find.

They have a website and you can do a mapquest for directions.

That's what we did as well as take our GPS with us but we didn't have to use that.

The maps provided were more than adequate.

It's about 20 minutes drive to South Kihei from the airport.

The highway is well lit and well signed...so give it a go, and enjoy your vacation.

Totally relaxed when we arrived and got right into the Aloha spirit, we found the people friendly, and helpful wherever we went...hopefully you will too.

Mahalo ;-)

[19scarlett]

Hawaii is just an amazing place to be! And it is not the first time that im thinking of moving there. As you seam to be specialists do you probably know some more Open Original Shared Link?