According to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, more than 2 million visitors arrived in Maui in 2007, making it one of the most popular tourism destinations in the US. No doubt drawn by the magnificent beauty of the coastline and majestic mountains, visitors to Maui will also enjoy a myriad of activities available after the sun goes down.
Dining and Dancing
With its well-heeled visitors and five-star resorts, Maui is fertile ground for famous chefs and their ritzy restaurants. Such luminaries as Wolfgang Puck (Spago) and Roy Yamaguchi (Roy's) have establishments here. If your budget allows, pick a cuisine and splurge.
That said, it's still possible to dine well without taking out a second mortgage. With Hawaii's Asian heritage and seaside location, Japanese and Asian Pacific cuisine are popular choices for dinner. The Lahaina Fish Company offers everything from cheeseburgers to pot stickers to freshly caught fish.
Mexican food in Maui? May sound strange, but Maui Tacos has become a very popular chain within the span of a few years. Try the fresh fish tacos or the surf burrito.
After dinner, for a lively club scene, head to Lahaina, where the sound of live music fills the streets from clubs like Kimo's, the Maui Brewing Company and Cool Cat Cafe.
Arts and Culture
In Maui, Lahaina is the center for arts and culture. Fans of original art flock to Lahaina for its galleries and exhibitions, earning it the nickname Art Capital of the Pacific. Each Friday evening in Lahaina is Art Night, where dozens of galleries open their doors for special showings, live art demonstrations and the chance for collectors to meet the artists in Lahaina.
A trip to Maui isn't complete without a luau. The Old Lahaina Luau is considered by many travel experts to be the best in Maui. For a more formal affair, with ab oceanfront setting amid candles and white tablecloths, the Feast at Lele began in 1999 as an extension of the Old Lahaina Luau. Today both performances feature an evening of Hawaiian cuisine, dancing and hula.
Stargazing
After sunset, the stars over Maui shine bright, especially over the Kaanapali area, because of the lack of pollution and big city lights to distort the view. The Hyatt Regency Maui offers amateur astronomers a chance to stargaze nightly with Hawaii's only recreational telescope, "Great White."
Or hop aboard a catamaran for a lunar cruise with Maui resident and astronomer Harriet Witt as a guide.
Tags: Lahaina Luau