25th Anniversary in Hawaii
 

My husband and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary in September and want to make it special and a second honeymoon. We had little money so our first honeymoon was on a shoe string.

We would love some suggestions of great restaurants on Maui and the "Big Island". we are staying atthe Hyatt in Maui and the Orchid on the Big Island.

Also if there are any specific things we should not miss, let me know. Thanks in advance. I always get great tips from my feloow travelers on Fodors!

For Maui - Check out the dining section in www.mauihawaii.org lots of info on dining and everything else on the island.

Other good sites, some with dining sections:

www.thisweek.com

www.spotlighthawaii.com

www.101thingstodo.com

www.alternative-hawaii.com

www.hawaiiweb.com

We honeymooned at the Hyatt on Maui last summer and loved it! Some of the restaurants we enjoyed were:
Hula Grill
Leilani's
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Nick's Fishmarket

We were also on the BI last summer, and are returning to the BI and Oahu in August. BI restaurants that are good are:
Huggo's
Roy's
Cafe Pesto
Big Island Steakhouse

Have a wonderful time, Hawaii is amazing :)

Thanks.Is there a LUAU that you recommend ?

We didn't do a luau, but most people recommend Old Lahaina Luau or Feast at Lele on Maui.

The Hyatt on Maui has one of the better luaus.

Some hotels offer discounts for activities if people stay at their hotel.

I don't know if Hyatt discounts their luau if you are a guest there.

Go to their website and contact them for that info.

Hi, hubby and I just returned this morning from our 25th anniversary trip to Oahu, Maui and Kauai. This was our third trip, so we did a very relaxing, slow-paced, hang out where and when we wanted to trip.

For a luau, we have done the Old Lahina twice. It is a great show and the food, for luau food, is not bad.

I think the Road to Hana is a must do..........once. We did it back in 96 (had our three kids with us). If you get car sick, take something before you go, and allow a full day.

No matter what you do, you will have a wonderful time.

janie........who needs to go to bed after the long flight home

On the Big Island:

Merriman's in Waimea
Roy's at Kings' Shops
Canoe House at the Mauna Lani
Pahu I'a at the Four Seasons
Coast Grille at the Hapuna Beach Prince
Brown's Beach House at the Orchid --(usually ranges from good to very good, not great)

Another vote for Huggo's on BI.

On Maui -- Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua -- great food and great views.
Pacific'O in Lahaina -- right on the beach, great food.

We recently returned from the Big Island. We had three very enjoyable meals at Alan Wong's Hualalai Grille, at the Four Seasons. Imaginative menu, artful presentation, playful culinary ideas, we preferred it to the even more expensive Pahui'a (which does have slightly better views, perched as it is at the ocean's edge). In '02 we enjoyed Spago at the Maui FS, and we did the Old Lahaina Luau. It was widely recommended as the "best" luau choice available to us during our three-island trip (Oahu, Maui, Big Island). It was the only one we did, so I cannot compare it with others, but the performance was very enjoyable and the food was good, though perhaps secondary to the show. We did "traditional seating," which meant on pillows on the ground before a low table. Traditional it may have been, but three years later my family still tells me they wish I had arranged for a conventional table!

We celebrated our anniversary in Maui in January. We recommend the Feast at Lele in Lahaina. Make reservations for a table at the front. we had our own table. Food is gourmet and they serve it to you, great service, mixed drinks of your choice included, plus a fun and romantic dance show from the many islands. Worth every penny of the $95 minus the discount that Pleasant Hawaiian gave us with our AAA package deal. (Maybe it was $75 each for us in the end?)

Loved dinner at Mama's Fish House on an exquisite little beach...I recommend lunch or early dinner reservations because you gotta see the exquisite setting while it's still light out. You won't get any table without a reservation. Reserve a table with a good view.

If you are going to Hana try to stay in a searanch cottage for 2 nights in Hana. It's a 3-hour drive to Hana, then 3 hours back to the other side of the island...that's 6 hours of driving. I don't recommend hana as a day-trip unless you like getting up real early and going all day long. We loved only having the 3 hour drive and being able to stay 2 nights at the very romantic searanch cottage at the HOtel Hana maui.

Cogratulation on your 25th Anniversary! We are celebrating our 25th Anniversary too!We will be staying in Hawaii during
August.Actually staying at the Orchid on the Big Island & visiting Maui & Kauai too. I will post more information later. Best wishes!!!

Thank you all for the great advice. We are looking forward to this trip and your suggestions will make it even more memorable!

my wife and i are celebrating our 11th in september in maui. we always go back
to maui. a few favorite dinner places for us are longhi's. there is one on front street in downtown lahaina. and a newer location in wialea. excellent california cuisine with an italianate twist, with local island ingredients. another place in lahaina is "pacific o". another of our faves.
for a luaua, the old lahaina luaua is the best for setting and show, and the food is pretty good.
a sunrise on mt. haliakela is a once in a lifetime treat. (they pick you up EARLY at your hotel).
if you are into sushi, the sushi bar at the ritz carlton is very good, and there is an even better japanese restaraunt\sushi bar in the shops at kapalua, right near the ritz.
if you are into steak, the old standby, ruth-chris' steakhouse in wialea (near the other longhi's) is good. i just looked at your post again, my wife and our friends will be at the hyatt as well!!! enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to Maui for our 30th anniversary. On the day itself we went to The Feast of LeLe luau. It was fantastic!!! We loved it. I realize I have nothing else to compare it to but it was awesome!!

It was quite some years ago (well over 10) and I was with my parents but I do remember particularly enjoying Canoe House on BI. (it's w/in a hotel). Open air around the sides with lots of nice wood, etc ... looks right out at the ocean which was lit up w/a few lights, etc ... I just remember thinking it was beautiful. To be honest, I don't even remember the food, but I'm sure it was quite good! I do remember we really enjoyed it. Happy anniversary! Hubby & I went back to Maui on our 5th 2 yrs ago!