Maui is home to several great restaurants serving both local and international cuisines. One of the most popular in West Maui is the Hula Grill. The beachside eatery is located in Whaler’s Village a two-level shopping mall in the heart of Kaanapali Beach. It has open-air tables that open to the gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and a bustling open-air kitchen which is a sight to see. The vibe is truly romantic, especially at sunset. It is a wonderful place for people watching. Across the Hula Grill is their bar named the Barefoot Bar for more casual dining area with a different menu and live music. The bar features thatched-roof umbrellas with tiki lamps flickering from the ocean breeze.
Jason ordered his favorite Akamai Tai cocktail and I had the hula Hefeweizen beer to go along with Kabocha Pumpkin hummus with chilled seasonal veggies and wood oven baked naan bread for the table. Cecile, Jason and I had Fresh Tomato Soup and surfing goat cheese focaccia crostini. For our entrees, we collectively had Wood Grilled Mahi-Mahi & local veggies and Kiave Roasted Chicken with rosemary mashed potatoes and balsamic onions. For Dessert we shared the Famous, Heavenly, Hula Grill Ice Cream Pie. It is served on a plate with the name on it, and engraved on fork-edged spoons.
Postscript: The back entrance to Whaler’s Village has a large Sculpture of a female Humpback Whale with the suckling of twin calves which is a rare occurrence that was drawn and documented by Captain Charles Melville Scammon, an explorer and naturalist, in his book “Marine Mammals” in 1874. Whalers Village Museum has adopted this event as its symbol of tribute to Hawaii’s State Marine Mammal, the Humpback Whale.
