by Taylor Bennett

Hawaii is filled to the brim with posh resorts and luxurious beach clubs—there is world-class nightlife, five-star dining and enough stores selling Gucci that you might as well be in Beverly Hills.

But there’s a different part of Maui. One that is refreshingly local and just as magical. It’s mere steps from the glitz and glamor of resort towns like Wailea and Ka’anapali, but it is worlds apart in charm and character.

Lahaina.

Once a bustling whaling village, Lahaina is home to Front Street, one of the country’s most beloved shopping streets. Though Front Street itself might be a little touristy, beyond the shops and glamor is a town rich in culture and history. It takes a special eye and a penchant for adventure to discover some of Lahaina’s hidden gems, but I’ve visited Maui multiple times and, today, I’ll be your tour guide.

During my visits, I’ve explored extensively and gleaned insider tips from some of the old-timers, so grab yourselves a shave ice, sit back, and let me show you the secrets of Hawaii’s most enchanted isle.

Looking Beyond the Guidebook

Chances are, your guidebook fails to mention the crumbling seawall where honu (sea turtle) sightings are almost a guarantee. It might not point you toward Foodland, a refreshingly local market which offers free sample of poke, an island-style favorite: marinated raw tuna. Baby Beach while home to a gorgeous, shallow reef, rarely makes the cut.

If you’re looking to turn your Hawaiian vacation into a more laid-back, local experience, look no further than this handy list of memorable, magical island-style adventures. I’ve included some of my favorite local-style jaunts, as well as a few can’t-miss “touristy” activities.

The BIG LIST: Unforgettable Hawaiian Experiences

• • Sea turtle watching! Stroll down Front Street until it becomes Honoapi’ilani Highway, and veer off the road. There is a narrow opening between the guardrail and the ocean, where you can slip off onto a nearly hidden path that leads to a narrow, crumbling seawall. Hold your arms out to balance yourself and make your trek across the wall. When you’ve made it about halfway, stop and look out to sea. Chances are, you’ll happen upon a whole family of turtles, frolicking in the warm, foamy surf! Keep going along the seawall and follow the unofficial path through a patch of dirt and you’ll find a well-manicured walking/biking trail that will take you past several beaches, eventually turning into the famed Ka’anapali Beach Walk.

 

• • Free poke! Poke, a beloved island-style treat, graces the menus of every respectable Hawaiian dining establishment. But if you’re just interested in trying it (or are on a budget!) head on over to Foodland, Lahaina’s most eclectic, eccentric grocery store. There, you’ll find oddities such as mochi-wrapped ice cream, fresh breadfruit, and SPAM in place of rotisserie chicken. You can ALSO find poke—several different varieties of it—at the seafood counter. Ask for a free sample and they’ll happily give you one. Smile extra-big, thank them with a mahalo, and enjoy your treat.

 

• • Hang out with rock stars. Well…maybe not. But you can get an education in everything Fleetwood Mac—for free! The legendary drummer for this 70’s icon band has a restaurant right in the middle of Front Street. Besides serving up some of the island’s most mouth-watering delicacies (don’t miss their happy hour snacks!) Fleetwood’s is also home to a Fleetwood Mac memorabilia collection. Some of it—like vintage vinyl records and autographed drumsticks—is for sale. Other items—like Mick Fleetwood’s vintage car—are for admiring only, though Fleetwood Mac fans and car aficionados are invited to sit in the rig for a pic. Mick Fleetwood himself has been known to visit with patrons, so keep your eyes peeled and your camera close at all times!

 

• • See the pretty fishies. Sure, you can book a snorkeling excursion with a five-star company, but it’s just as rewarding to rent your own snorkel equipment and take the short walk to Baby Beach, a hidden gem only steps away from Front Street. The water is shallow and warm, and the reefs are home to many different types of fish. You’re almost guaranteed a peek at the famous humuhumunukunukuapua’a, and there’s plenty of beachcombing to be done onshore, too.

 

• • Take a road trip! Hop in your rental car (you do have one, don’t you?) and escape the sun and surf for a day. Head toward the upcountry, a magical place where gardens are lush and verdant and tourists are less prevalent. A perfect tour of the upcountry includes stops at the Kula Botanical Garden, the Surfing Goat Dairy, and the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm (don’t miss out on those lavender scones!!) A quick tip: Temperatures in the upcountry can get a little chilly, and rain is more common here than at sea level—check the weather and bring a sweater.

 

• • Get cultural. At Whaler’s Village, a swanky shopping center a short jaunt away in Ka’anapali, there are several free classes offered throughout the week. Usually, these include hula and ukulele lessons, as well as lei-making sessions. Lead by the locals, these classes are enjoyable and informative. While strolling along Front Street, don’t miss the plaques that offer curious readers a glimpse at Maui’s old whaling days.

 

• • See the sunset—and stay for the fun after dark. Sunsets are one of west Maui’s most amazing attractions. And they’re always free! Make the trek up to the north end of Ka’anapali Beach to watch a sunset cliff-diving ceremony at the Sheraton, or find a place to stop on Front Street. If your timing is just right, you should be able to listen to the drumming and chanting from the dancers at the Old Lahaina Luau. And envy those who choose to gaze out to sea on days when a cruise ship docks in Lahaina—they can watch these grand sailing vessels chug across the channel as the sun slips beneath the sea.

   

• • Hula pie at Kimo’s. Okay, so this is one of the more touristy things you can do while vacationing in Lahaina, but it’s popular for a reason. This mile-high slice of ice cream pie is chock full of macadamia nuts, chocolate, and pure deliciousness. It’s enough to make anyone—even a non-chocoholic such as myself—swoon and beg for more. Plus, you can usually find yourself a coupon for FREE Hula pie if you do some poking around…

 

And there you have it—a few of my go-to tips and tricks for living like a local and having a picture-perfect Hawaiian vacation. But, before you go, consider this one last (and most important!) suggestion:

Hang loose and live aloha!

At its core, island-style life is all about relaxing and going with the flow. Do just that, and you’ll really be living like a local.

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Homeschooled since kindergarten, Taylor Bennett is the seventeen-year-old author of Porch Swing Girl, which will be released by Mountain Brook Ink on May 1. When she’s not reading or writing, Taylor can be found playing her violin or taking walks in the beautiful Oregon countryside. She loves to connect with readers via her author website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (her favorite!) and Goodreads.