Beach Life: Tutu's Pantry

Located among the variety of shops on Lahaina's popular Front St. is a store called Tutu's Pantry.  I spent well over an hour there...testing hot sauce!  The shelves here are stocked with a foodies dream - jellies, bbq sauces, seasonings, spices and hot sauce.  The staff are very friendly and have a counter set up with all necessities for taste testing an array of hot sauce, without burning your taste buds.  The reason you NEED to try these out (if you're a fan of hot sauce that is) is because it's impossible to choose!  There's coconut hot sauce, guava hot sauce, tropical vinagrette hot sauce...and then there are the jellies...I could go on and on...and I did one afternoon while the crew were out snorkling.  Might sound like an unusual way to pass the time while on Maui, but I loved it and can't wait to go back there just to stock up my shelves with these island goodies that have become a favorite in our home. 
You won't find these items on the mainland so get 'em while their hot in Maui!  It'll add spice to your life and remind you of paradise while you're killing time until your next Hawaiian adventure.

Beach Cuisine: Castaways and The Gazebo

Castaways

If you are headed to West Maui, there are 2 must-go restaurants when you are in the mood for no-fuss, good grub.  The Castaway Café and The Gazebo.  Castaways is a short beach walk or boardwalk away from The Royal Lahaina Resort (just keep walking north past the luau grounds...you'll find it), nestled in between 2 condo complexes. It has that typical (and perfect) Hawaiian indoor/outdoor feel in that all of the windows and doors are open to walking right outside...or inside from the beach.  The best meal to have...the pancakes! They are as "hawaiian" as it gets with your choice of macadamia nuts, pineapple or banana pancakes and served with the oh-so-delicious coconut syrup found in most restaurants (and also at the ABC store...make sure you buy a bottle or 2 to bring home with you!).

The Gazebo

The Gazebo is another must-do experience.  This one is located in Napili, just a few miles north of Ka'anapali.  You can definitely expect to wait for a half hour or so, as the restaurant only has at the most 10 tables in it.  However, while you wait in line they serve free coffee, have a little knick-knack shop AND you can wander over to the beach and watch for turtles, whales, or people getting married beachside.  Once you do get seated, it's exactly as you imagine it - a little gazebo.  I highly recommend you get the Hawaiian Fried Rice plate.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  Rice, eggs, bacon, portuguese sausage...and the plate is gigantic, you might want to share!