Are there things to do in Lahaina Maui? Yes, there are restaurants, shops, and activities open in parts of Lahaina and throughout West Maui. But you’ll want to visit mindfully, careful to avoid any closed areas and be respectful to the community.
But you can also have fun in Maui as you support local businesses, visit reopened businesses, and honor Lahaina’s beauty and spirit.
Lahaina Maui Updates
Since the 2023 wildfires, Lahaina has been in recovery and rebuilding mode. Right now, the focus is getting families into homes – not entertaining tourists. Much of Lahaina is off-limits, and there are plenty of areas to avoid. Give residents space and don’t interfere with the rebuilding process.
Throughout 2024, businesses outside of the Lahaina burn zone began to reopen and welcome visitors. These restaurants and shops offer the chance to support Lahaina, and we’re here to share the best places to go.
Where Can You Go in Lahaina?
The stretch of Front Street that once boasted rows of shops and restaurants has been destroyed and closed. You can not drive or walk in the area, including the Banyan Tree and Lahaina Harbor.
But, almost everything north of the burn zone is opened and ready to welcome visitors. This means there are some things to do in Lahaina Maui.
If you are headed to West Maui, you’ll take the Lahaina Bypass. From there, you can visit open shops and restaurants beyond the burn zone. This is the area around the Lahaina Cannery Mall and north of that.
So if you’ve been before, you may remember the Mala boat ramp and the nearby Old Lahaina Luau. That area has recently reopened.
The communities north of Lahaina – like Kaanapali, Napili, and Kapalua – are open as well. That means you can stay in resorts like the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and the Montage Kapalua Bay for your Maui vacation.
Most of the activities, shops, and restaurants in Kaanapali and north of Kaanapali are open and ready to welcome visitors.
But today we wanted to focus on the activities right in Lahaina that have reopened, so we’re sharing those below. These are the Lahaina businesses that you can visit during your Maui vacation!
Things to Do in Lahaina Maui (Updated After the Fires)
Enjoy the Old Lahaina Luau
The Old Lahaina Luau is open! When this top luau opened a few months after the wildfire, it signaled a new era for Lahaina. Sure, most of the town was still closed off, but this spared property invited visitors to return for merriment while also honoring all that Lahaina has endured.
If you plan to visit the Old Lahaina Luau, be sure to make your reservations in advance.
Eat at Mala Ocean Tavern
Mala has long been one of our favorite restaurants in Maui, so we were super excited when it reopened in 2024. This oceanside restaurant boasts a delicious and creative menu along with refreshing cocktails. You can’t beat the setting, and it’s a chance to look out over Lahaina’s calm waters without interfering with any rebuilding efforts.
Go Whale Watching
Many whale watching excursions are departing from the Lahaina area. Some operate out of Mala boat ramp while others leave from Kaanapali beach.
Maui Ocean Adventures is owned by wildfire survivors, and they offer free whale watching excursions for other Lahaina wildfire survivors. Book a spot on one of their tours to see the beauty of Lahaina’s water and get a closer look at majestic whales.
Whales come to Hawaii’s waters in the winter months – typically between November and March.
Go Snorkeling
Most whale watching companies also offer snorkel excursions year-round. These boats will leave from the Mala boat ramp or Kaanapali beach. From there, they’ll take guests to Molokini crater, Lanai, or Honolua Bay.
Visit Lahaina Cannery Mall
Lahaina Cannery Mall is a small, quiet shopping center in North Lahaina. There are art galleries, a toy store, and a few boutiques – and it’s all air conditioned! The Lahaina Cannery Mall is also home to an indoor food truck lot, which is pretty cool!
They also have regular cultural events, so check out their online calendar for fun things to do in Lahaina Maui.
Enjoy a Magic Show
Dinner and a show – it’s definitely something that harkens to the “before times” when there was always something going on in Lahaina. Now, you can still enjoy a bit of that “night out” energy in Lahaina, all while supporting local.
Each Tuesday is Magic Show night at Coco Deck Lahaina. The experience includes a 4-course dinner by Lahaina-born chef Alvin Savella. David Kuraya brings the magic, making for an incredible night that embraces the vibrancy of Lahaina.
Learn the Art of Glass Blowing
Moana Glass is an endearing shop on Keawe Street in Lahaina, full of glass trinkets and masterpieces that are worth taking home as a souvenir (just pack carefully!). But if the art inspires you to try your hand at glass blowing, you’re in luck! Moana Glass offers glass blowing classes that allow visitors like you to create your own colorful work of art.
Pick up Some Groceries
If you need to stock up on essentials in West Maui, you have a couple options in Lahaina. Safeway, by the Lahaina Cannery mall, is open. So is Foodland Farms, which offers produce, fresh poke, and local snacks that you can enjoy on island or bring home as souvenirs.
Take a Chocolate Tour
Looking for something sweet to do in West Maui? Maui Chocolate Tour is a great way to spend time in Lahaina. For your tour, you’ll have a couple of options. You can take a factory tour right in their Lahaina headquarters. Or, you can go to the farm, which is nestled at the feet of the West Maui Mountains.
Both tours include chocolate tastings, so come with your sweet tooth ready. Upstairs, settle into the Ku’ia Chocolate Café, where you can dine on even more chocolatey treats and pair them with tasty alcoholic (or non alcoholic) drinks!
How to Have a Respectful Maui Vacation after the Fires
Whether you stay in West Maui, visit a Lahaina business, or simply travel to another area of Maui, you’ll still want to make sure you vacation respectfully.
This is a community that is deeply affected by the wildfire. Fire victims are living throughout the island, and some still don’t have homes at all. Residents have experienced losses from the fire – loss of life, loss of homes and belongings, neighbors and friends who have moved off the island, loss of the life they loved in Lahaina.
So while tourism is open in Maui – and even in parts of West Maui – it’s important to be mindful and respectful during your vacation. Here are some key ways to do that.
- Avoid asking residents about the fire, as it can be difficult to talk about, especially if they’re trying to focus on their work.
- Don’t go into any closed areas. It’s not only disrespectful but also dangerous.
- Choose a hotel or a vacation condo in a hotel area. Lawmakers and locals are trying to minimize vacation rentals in residential areas. Booking a hotel will ensure you’re staying in Maui as ethically as possible, plus it will minimize the chance that you get a cancellation due to rental crackdowns.
- Support Maui businesses. Enjoy the amazing work of local chefs, artists, merchants, service staff, and others who are here trying to make a living on Maui.
Maui Vacation Planning
Maui is a gorgeous place to vacation, and it’s open to visitors. Working with a locally-based travel agent can help ensure that you are planning a vacation that’s respectful to the local community and lots of fun for you.
Contact Hawaii Aloha Travel today for information on a Maui vacation. We can help book travel for West Maui or other areas of the island. Or, consider island hopping during your Hawaii vacation to experience even more of the Aloha State.
