EATING.
Cooking and Costco.
Eating out in Maui is expensive, be careful. In fact it is the most common way people go over budget. The portions are huge, but the prices are high. And mandatory tips are not included on the price.
If you are staying in a place where you can cook, the best way not to spend all your money on food and to not waste in restaurants during the day, is to be organized and cook a lunch at home to take home with you. This also frees up your day for exploring more remote spots. For me being Spanish, eating out is part of my culture. We have amazing tapas and it is quite cheap and quick. But on the island the culture is a bit different. There are just few villages with nice places to eat, and you won’t be always close to those places.
If you go out for dinner on the North Shore, I recommend you try the fish burgers at the Fish Market in Paia, and the Ahi Poke from Kuau Store, a local recipe for raw tuna.
If you plan to stay 15 days or longer and you are not alone, you should definitely get a Costco card for $55. Costco is a big supermarket where every product comes on ridiculously big packages, but it’s worth it for many things. Cereals, bread, cheese, frozen stuff, eggs…For little things, fresh and organic or exotic food, go to Mana Food supermarket in Paia, they have everything you can imagine, but check the prices.
