Hi, can anyone tell me a good place/restaurant to spend X'Mas in Maui. Is everything (activities, shops)closed in Maui on X'Mas day? If so, we could possibly do the drive to Hana that day. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

You really need to let us know what area you are booked. It is a big island and not a quick drive from N-S-E-W.

Big island? hehe No, the Big Island is to the east. Maui is a relatively small island. I often drive from end to the other and back again in the course of a normal work day. I was already in Ka`anapali and back to Wailea today and it's not even noon yet!

All of the regular tourist activities will operate and all of the restaurants and hotels will have Xmas menus.

We will be staying at the Embassy Suites in Kanaapali. I did call a couple of restaurants which said they would be closed. What time do the stores in Lahaina normally close? Would it be a good/bad idea to drive to Hana that day? Thanks.

Dear Excited Confused
If you are in Kaanapali, book in that area. Locals know that driving at NIGHT from Kaanapali south to Kahalui and Wailea/Kihei at night can be very dangerous as the crosses and flower memorials along the cliffsides illustrate. OBSERVE!
Zipping up and down the coast in daylite hours are maybe a different thing,But ahead on accident this week south of Lahaina proves that day or night the highway always requires attention.
Check with the hotels and restaurants in the Lahaina to Kapalua area for hours and prices and plan accordingly.
Hawaii shuts down early and there are many choices in your area. Eat early and then get up early on the 26th and think of those freezing the day after Christmas as you have a lovely swim in the gorgeous sea! Mele Kalikimaka!

That is just plain silly. Honoapi`ilani Hwy is a normal road, no more dangerous than any other. I just drove it myself --IN THE DARK! *gasp!* It is nicely paved, sufficiently wide, no hairpin turns or sheer drops. Like any main artery it gets a good volume of traffic and sometimes there is an accident. But since this is an island and this is the only road in and out, an injury accident can close the road and cause delays. So can a freeway closure anywhere on the mainland. And if you look around the island you can see roadside memorials everywhere.

Honoapi`ilani Hwy is much more dangerous during the day because tourists stop unecpectedly when they see a whale or just to take in the breathtaking sights. Most of the accidents along there happen in broad daylight, and are not of the fatal kind.

Excited, which restaurants did you call that are closed? This is a big day for our restaurants because so many visitors are here for the holidays. Most people I know in restaurant biz are working that day and I've already seen Christmas menus for many. What are you looking for? Are you looking for a traditional turkey dinner, a buffet, something casual, fish? Really, you should have no trouble finding a place for Christmas dinner. The Embassy, where you are staying usually does a holiday buffet , and if you want something a bit nicer near by, try Roy's, Pineapple Grill, Plantation House, Vino. If you are brave enough to drive our deadly highways, plenty more to choose from in Wailea.

I don't know about the stores in Lahaina on Xmas, but normally they close at 9. I think, weather permitting it would as good a day as any to drive to Hana. (Watch out, Hana Hwy is worse than the Pali!) If you do opt to go to Hana on Xmas, you might have trouble getting a box lunch from the usual supects, since the little guys usually close on holidays. You'll be able to get sandwiches from the deli at Safeway, or maybe the Embassy has a box lunch options. Most of the stores in Pa`ia will be closed. The Hotel Hana Maui will be open, but that's one terribly pricey lunch!

Most of the activities will be operating as well. Last year we went biking on Haleakala, this year we are most likely going out on a snorkel/whale watch on Xmas morning. The holiday season is our busiest time and it would take more than a holiday to shut most of these guys down when there's money to be separated from tourist's wallets!

dine at Gerard's in the Plantation Inn.

http://www.gerardsmaui.com/

i guess I'm still confused!! We are looking for something in a scenic location where one can feel Christmas in the air but nothing with very fancy food since we have 2 teenagers with us. I would say moderately priced (if upto $25 per entree would be considered moderate for Hawaii?) I beieve the Hula Grill was one of the restaurants I tried, booked it for X'Mas Eve instead, but if everything is open on X'mas, i think driving to Hana on X'Mas eve would be a better idea?
Thanks

Lahaina had their tree lighting ceremony this past weekend - didn't they? Banyan tree that is. I think it would be fun to have Christmas Eve dinner there and walk around enjoying the lights. I'm not sure what to recommend for Christmas Day. For some reason that's not a day I would want to drive to Hana. Traditionally that's a day I like to hang with family and not feel like I'm trying to get somewhere. That's not a totally stress-free drive. And I suspect the low-key Hana residents will be doing family things and not celebrating in the public way they will be in Lahaina. (Not much shopping there either.) What about Makawao? That's a fun and funky place. Wonder what's going on there?

Like Here Today, I've never felt frightened to drive around Maui after dark. I'm not sure where that's coming from...

I would bet that Makawao would be pretty quiet and mostly closed down on Christmas Day. Excited, if you can wait until Thursday, I'll look in the Maui News and see who is advertising what for Xmas dinner. For Thanksgiving most places had holiday meals starting from about $26 up to "WOW, that's a lot for a buffet". A lot of the hotels have their Xmas menus on their websites.

As for the banyan tree, Saturday was fun with snow for the keiki, hula and such, but, really, the tree and lights themselves are not so much. Kind of disappointing, as is much of Lahaina. Not too much to make a Christmassy feel, not a lot of lights and such. The hotels are where I go to get some Xmas spirit, especially the ones in Wailea. I'm going on Thursday night to visit a few to check out the holidy decorations.

I try not to drive anywhere on Xmas eve. Last year I had to drive upcounty to Pukalani to pick up the Christmas tamales and traffic was bad, thick with people doing last minute errands (like me), and those trying to get home or to the other side for holiday celebrations. I know a lot of people who go to Hana and points east for holidays and vice versa to be with family. Your drive might be interrupted with impatient locals trying to get where they need to be for Xmas eve. Xmas day will be much, much quieter traffic-wise. I think I'd do the drive that day, since many locals and visitors alike will be doing family things. It's really up to you.

here_today_gone2Maui, thanks for your detailed input, I do appreciate your time. I guess we will play it by ear. Do let me know which hotels you find with a Christmassy feel & with Christmas menus, I will check some websites as well. We are not big eaters so buffets are not usually worth it.
(I was trying to say "Christmassy" in my earlier post about the restaurant but gave up on the spelling!) I have booked Leilanis for X'Mas as backup, what do you think? Christmas is not a religious holiday for us but my kids may not enjoy it not feeling like X'Mas if we go up to Hana.

I would kick around Lahaina. It's a great town that I'm sure everyone in your family would enjoy. Loads of great moderate priced funky and fun places to eat.

excited confused and
here today gone to maui
In due respect, being a tourist vs a Kaamaiina in Hawaii is no different than anywhere else. Locals usually don't hang in tourist places for holidays.That goes for everywhere.
EC, the location of your hotel is important as the road from Lahaina to Kahalui (Wailea, Kihei) is very dangerous day and especially at nite.
Local friends constantly warn us about that and if you doubt it, check out the memorials on the road.Trust me.
Plan your holiday events close to your hotel. Most hotels in all the Maui areas are very "Mele Kalikilmaka" (Merry Christmas) oriented for the most festive events.I went with my husband and sis have been to Christmas mass in Kihei and had the most wonderful holiday experience with the mass and the childrens' Christmas program.
Check them out and stay close to your hotel so that you can relax, enjoy, be safe, AND GET UP EARLY FOR THAT FABULOUS MORNING SWIM!
Mele Kalikimaka