For many, Maui is nearly synonymous with relaxation, peace, and calm. Whether you live in Hawaii or visit from elsewhere, you're likely to slooooooow down and appreciate life when you're basking in our mellow weather.
And if you're visiting Maui on a major holiday - Easter, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's - you'll find much to appreciate. Come a holiday, most of the resorts just about bend over backward to tempt you to their celebratory over-the-top brunches. So if you're in the mood for an all-you-can-eat, leisurely meal for two or twenty, check out this list for our favorites. Each of the resorts listed below lays out a brunch on major holidays that makes us dizzy.
Hours will vary according to the holiday, and reservations tend to sell out, especially at the busiest holidays like Christmas and New Year - so call ahead for reservations!
Makena Resort Maui's Molokini Bar & Grille has a lovely view and one of the most popular brunches on the island. On any given Sunday you'll find their buffet tables positively groaning with local favorites and traditional brunch items, and your champagne flute overflowing (the refills come unless you stop them). There's a carving station, seafood bar (with lots and lots of sushi and poke), and an astonishing dessert section. At holidays, they extend their menu to include just about everything your little heart could desire. We eat, and eat, and eat. And so do all the other locals. If you're living in South Maui and haven't eaten here yet ... well, gather up the aunties and keiki and make your reservations. If you're visiting, pick up the phone and speak with the resort, where aloha oozes and the smiles are sweet. Reservations are a must, call 808-874-1111.
Grand Wailea Resort's Grand Dining Room features a crazy-good champagne brunch every Sunday of the year, but they really extend themselves at the holidays. Where Makena Resort Maui is old-school Japanese-Hawaiian resort, Grand Wailea is the Disney-perfect version of Maui you've seen in the movies. The Grand Dining Room is completely open to the sea breezes and features several-stories-tall murals, graceful arches, and breathtaking views of the grounds below, the pools, the beach and the ocean. The menu features many local favorites and many traditional items, from teriyaki chicken to macadamia nut encrusted mahi mahi to a generous carving station, omelet station, and seafood bar. The food is very good, and our favorite malasadas on the island (Portuguese donuts with optional fillings) are made fresh in front of you. Champagne is included in the regular brunch, and the holiday edition features tables set up in the lobby outside the restaurant to hold all the extra dishes. Call 808-875-1234 for reservations.
Duo at the Four Seasons in Wailea makes one of our favorite brunches on the island. The lack of champagne notwithstanding, we love their extensive carving station, omelet station, pancake and waffle station, and seafood bar. Waiting for an omelet made by the smiling chefs is always easy for us, because the smile on their face as they make your breakfast is just precious. Service is Four Seasons-impeccable, and we always drink too much of their delicious coffee. Some of the best artists on Maui show their work in the lobby just outside the restaurant, and few things put us in a better mood than having a morning meal here followed by a stroll on the Wailea beach walk. Call 808-874-8000 for reservations.
The
Ritz-Carlton Kapalua's Terrace Restaurant goes all out for their holiday brunches. Whether it's a champagne brunch or not (depends upon the holiday), this is one of our favorite places to pig out on the island. The fresh seafood bar often features Alaskan King Crab legs, plenty of ahi sashimi, and we've even had lobster. The carving stations always have wonderful sauces in warmers that perfectly complement the slabs of ham, turkey, or prime rib, and the
bouche de noel at Christmas makes our heart expand with joy. (Bouche de noel is a chocolate sponge cake rolled and decorated with icing and marzipan to look like a Yule log. It's delightful to look at and sinfully rich - definitely a celebratory dessert.) The view of the grounds and Molokai across the water can be a tad obstructed by the restaurant's thick plate glass windows ... but you don't want to be eating in that wind, anyway. Your plate will likely be so full of beautiful food you won't mind a bit. Call 808-669-6200 for reservations.
Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is in the heart of the resort and known for its extensive Sunday champagne brunches. If you want a taste of every local dish you have heard about - including very good manapua (pork filled buns) - this is the brunch for you. The waffles are the best on Maui, the carving station is loaded down, and you'll find endless desserts to try. If you're here on a Holiday, it only gets bigger. With indoor and outdoor seating, friendly staff, and live entertainment, this "Most Hawaiian Hotel" works hard to earn their reputation as best local brunch on the West side of the island. While all of these brunches are family friendly, keiki seem especially welcome at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Call 808-667-0124 for reservations.
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