crab cakes | Memorable Dishes

On our last day in Maui, we had to check out of our condo at 11:00 AM. However, our flight didn’t leave until 11:00 PM. So we had to hang out ALL day, hence we called the last day of our trip, “Hobo Day”. After eating all the leftovers as breakfast in the condo, we headed out for some fun.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

I found Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary really close to where we stayed to kill some time. It’s free and the kids got to learn about humpback whales. The volunteers at the sanctuary were very helpful in answering any questions we had. There’s also a small play area for the kids and they spent at least a good half hour playing there.

Nalu’s South Shore Grill

Nalu’s South Shore Grill was also very close to where we stayed. Read good reviews about the place and decided to check it out. It was packed during lunch time because the food was so good! We almost didn’t get a table sitting our family of five together if it weren’t for a nice couple who gave us their table and moved to the high stools instead. We ordered at the counter and they brought us the food to our table. This casual joint is decorated nicely and has a lively vibe. Another thing I love about this place is that they have two huge self serve water dispensers full of flavoured water—cucumber mint and pineapple lemon. How refreshing!

Flavoured Water: Cucumber Mint & Pineapple Lemon

CBLT – Crab cake sandwich with bacon, lettuce and tomatoes with a side order of chips. So flavourful!

Crab BLT

Fried Chicken Waffle – Large pieces of seasoned chicken strips on top of a big fluffy waffle, top with bacon with the right amount of syrup.

Fried Chicken Waffle

Straight Up Burger – Comes with greens and chips. Straight to the tummies of the boys.

Straight Up Burger

Next stop, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice! When we got there, there was a huge line up. My husband almost didn’t want to line up. I said to him, “We have ALL day! We don’t get on the plane until 11:00 PM tonight so I think we can wait for 15-20 minutes!” It was well worth the wait. As their motto says, “All shave ice is not created equal.” Tis too true! We had some shaved ice at one of the tourist attractions in Honolulu and it wasn’t as good as Ululani’s. The ice texture is perfect and the syrup tastes like real fruits! The other place’s syrup was too sweet and tasted artificial. The kids got a large one to share and the adults did the same.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

We could only eat so much food for the day. So we snuck back into our condo pool and swam for a bit before driving to Paia to walk around and have dinner. There are lots of cool shops at Paia but with our stroller, it was sometimes a bit tough since the shops are quite small. I heard that parking was tough but we lucked out and got a spot on the street because we got there around 4ish-5pm.

Café Mambo

As always, I found a few restaurants in the area to check out and we decided on Café Mambo. I’m so glad we did. I really loved the atmosphere there. We got to sit by the window bench and it was nice to absorb the ambiance. The staff at the restaurant was friendly and accommodating. Please note there is only one bathroom for men, and one for women and no change tables.

Pinchos Tapas Platter – Organic Maui Cattle Co. Steak, Grilled Chicken Breasts and Jumbo Shrimp. Served with Tortilla Chips, Curry Dip, Chipotle Salsa and Mixed Green Salad. The whole family went crazy over this platter—great for sharing. I have to say, the steak was so tender and delicious that I had to fight over it with my oldest son.

Pinchos Tapas Platter

Island Fish of the Day Burger – I know. Another fish burger. I can’t get over it because they are so fresh and delicious in Hawaii. But this time, my husband ordered it.

Island Fish of the Day Burger

Fish and Chips – Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Comes with tons of fries.

Fish and Chips

Jumbo Shrimp in Garlic Butter – So garlicky and delicious.

Jumbo Shrimp in Garlic Butter

Paia Gelato

When you see a gelato place, you have to go to it even if you are super full from your main meal. So when we saw Paia Gelato, we were like zombies drawn to human flesh—must eat gelato. The place was busy which is a good sign because you know it’s always fresh. I’ve been to less busy gelato places and their gelatos weren’t really good. Even in Italy, home of gelato, I’ve had not so good gelatos because the locale didn’t have enough traffic.

Big Island Macadamia Nut Coffee Crunch – Of course I had to try the local flavour! Unless you’re eating gelato everyday comparing from place to place (like when we were in Italy), there’s really no bad gelato if you’re having a one-off. Plus if there’s a lot of people eating there, it’s a good sign because it means the gelato is always made fresh.