A Day in Kihei

I like to start the morning at Early Bird Coffee, the food truck. It's my first stop before heading toward the water and a simple way to get the day moving.

After coffee, my girlfriend and I head to Mana Kai in Kihei. We take a kayak out and paddle. I like getting there around 8 in the morning.

On the mornings I love, the sky looks clear, visibility is good, and the water feels calm. It's also a beautiful place to swim, and sometimes we see turtles in the water. That experience is never guaranteed: weather, wind, visibility, ocean conditions, and wildlife all change from day to day.

By lunchtime, we're ready for South Maui Gardens Food Trucks. I like dessert first, so my first stop is Da Sweet Spot by Bling Bing Maui for Taiwanese shave ice. It is so good after the beach. It hits the spot—really hits the spot.

Then it's time to look around South Maui Gardens and choose lunch. There are so many food-truck options that you can come back more than once and have something different each time.

After lunch, I like to go back home and rest for a while. If you're visiting, this is a good time to head back to wherever you're staying, cool down, and take it easy before going out again.

There's no need to pack every minute. A little break makes the evening feel like a second part of the day.

Later, we head to Kalama Park for sunset. The Cove is in the same general area, and I love watching people surf there while the day winds down.

Kalama Park and The Cove are separate stops in this guide. They're close enough to feel like one part of the evening, but you can save either one—or both—for later.

If you want to stay around the Kalama Park area after sunset, you have plenty of choices nearby. You can return to South Maui Gardens Food Trucks, stop by The Triangle, shop for souvenirs at Kihei Marketplace, or sit down at Three's Bar & Grill.

The Triangle, Kihei Marketplace, Kalama Park, and The Cove are separate destinations, but they're all in the same general area and super close by.

My preferred ending is Maui Brewing Co. Kihei. It's farther from The Triangle and Kihei Marketplace, more toward North Kihei, but it's where I like to wrap up a full Kihei day.

That's my day: coffee, a morning paddle, dessert before lunch, an afternoon rest, sunset by The Cove, and Maui Brewing to finish. If you want to spend a whole day in Kihei, this is what I would do.