Maui’s Best Businesses, Shops and Services
These are the top voted goods and services on Maui. We asked you Maui, what shops were the best, and you responded with your votes. We tallied up all of your votes and posted them here. These top stores and services are the definitely the best on Maui, because you said so. We tallied up all of your votes and posted them here. Read on for the best Maui places to get tattooed, buy an ukulele, or service your car. Maui’s Best Salon, the top place to get a mani pedi and what Maui’s best head shop.
BEST STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD SHOP ON MAUI
Second Wind
Second Wind is the 3,500 square foot mecca for all of Maui’s water sports gear, and people especially flock to the store for its top notch stand-up paddle boards. The expertise of the staff, versed in the ways of boards and waves, puts you at ease with each purchase. A team member is available to assist you in lessons if you need extra help navigating around swimmers’ heads in the water. @Jadeyylady
35% (111 Hana Hwy., Kahului); 808-877-7467; Secondwindmaui.com
Runners Up: Maui Adventure Sports, 12%; Hawaiian Island Surf & Sport, 9%
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BEST TATTOO SHOP ON MAUI
Paia Tattoo Parlor
When it comes to your body canvas, you’re in great hands with the remarkable artists at Paia Tattoo Parlor. Their Paia shop is where Maui goes for genius ink from Nate Brown, Circle, Tony, Tania Arens, James Cole, Justin Yates and Leah Honma, though not necessarily in that order. Whether you’re flying in for a week or here to stay, the shop serves up plenty of tattoo culture with events, an art gallery and a super cool Japanese import boutique called Tokyo Rose from its iconic second story along Hana Highway in Paia. @Jenrusso
14% (120 Hana Hwy., Paia); 808-579-8515; Paiatattooparlor.com
Runners Up: Mid Pacific, 12%; Soular Tattoo, 11%; Pacific Rootz, 11%; Spike’s Westside Ink, 11%
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BEST ADULT GIFT SHOP ON MAUI
Love Shack
The Love Shack has all the goodies for getting off on the right foot when it comes to quality adult time. When you’re ready to amp up your adult entertainment level, Love Shack is there for you. They’re fully stocked with ticklers, lingerie, adult reading, bachelor and bachelorette party supplies, vibrators, boas and more. The staff is super cool and professional, and no question about their products is too outrageous. But you know all that, because you voted them best. @Jenrusso
89% (1913 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei); 808-875-0303; Loveshackmaui.com
Runners Up: Hot Spot Video, 3%; Alice in Hulaland, 1%; Still Smokin’, 1%; West Side Vibes, 1%
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BEST LOCAL BOUTIQUE ON MAUI
Mahina
Creeping the Mahina Boutique Instagram feeds is one of my fave ways to get a dose of #ootd fashion crack. I guess Mauitime readers are on to them, too, for the best island style trends and reasonable prices. With locations in Paia, Wailea, Kihei and Lahaina, you can look good no matter where you are. @Jenrusso
36% (23 Baldwin Ave., Paia); 808-579-9131; Shopmahina.com
Runners Up: Wings Hawaii, 6%; Hale Zen, 5%; Biasa Rose, 4%
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BEST SALON ON MAUI
Plush Beauty Lounge
This salon offers it all, from haircuts to coloring to waxing to makeup, and its five-star rating on Yelp backs up its services. Previously a threepeatwinner in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Plush is back to reclaim its title as Maui’s Best Salon for 2015. @Jadeyylady
16% (335 Keawe St, Lahaina); 808-667-5874; Plushbeautylounge.com
Runners Up: Salon 253, 10%; Beauty Bar, 9%; Paragon, 6%
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BEST HARDWARE STORE ON MAUI
Ace Hardware
The radio jingle for this hardware store doesn’t lie. Ace really is the place with the helpful hardware folks. Its vast stock of supplies is ready to aid you in your next home remodeling undertaking or Pinterest DIY project. The down-to-earth staff adds to your powertool shopping trip. @Jadeyylady
51% (334 Alamaha St., Kahului); 808-877-3931; Acehardware.com
Runners Up: Kula Hardware, 8%; Ace Lahaina, 6%; Home Depot, 6%; Ace Kihei, 6%
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BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE ON MAUI
Rainbow Attic
Find trinkets, a new chair for your lanai or even a top for date night at Maui’s largest consignment store. Just like your upstairs attic, you can seriously find anything in this spacious shop in Kihei. Unlike your stored-away antiques, the hand-me-down finds at Rainbow Attic won’t be caked in dust and crawling with cane spiders. @Jadeyylady
43% (1881 S. Kihei Rd.); 808-874-0884; Rainbowatticmaui.com
Runners Up: Biasa Rose, 19%; Nita’s Hidden Treasures, 8%
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BEST BOOKSTORE ON MAUI
Barnes and Noble
Okay, it may be Maui’s only book store (well, the only corporate chain that’ll sell all books of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy). That doesn’t take away from the magnificence of Barnes and Noble, and I’m not even referring to the cafe inside. Shelves holding topics from autobiographies of World War II veterans to guides on how to activate your chakras fill the immense store. There’s even a museum of CDs and DVDs to help you remember a past civilization. The Lahaina Barnes and Noble is so popular, people treat it more like an exhibit at the MACC than a retail store where you’ll eventually buy something. @Jadeyylady
63% (325 Keawe St., Lahaina); 808-662-1300; Barnesandnoble.com
Runners Up: Maui Friends of the Library, 18%; Maui Children’s Bookstore, 7%; Awakening in Paradise, 5%
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BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSIC ON MAUI
Request
So we all know that life has become a series of digital files, but here’s the thing. I wanted a trashy London rock band’s sound, but the international politics of music files–which I am far from grasping–prevented me from hooking it up with a click. Enter the world of tangible music files that take up tangible space. Request Music had my back in a heartbeat. Well, a few heartbeats, since we had to special order it. But in no time it was in my hot little hands and rockin’ my rad CD player in my Maui cruiser. (10 N. Market St., Wailuku); 808-244-9315. @Jenrusso
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BEST PLACE TO GET WAXED ON MAUI
Soleil Luna
A warm, chic environment is most ideal to soothe the pain as you rip out every inch of hair on your body. That’s the ambiance Maui’s best salon to get waxed at provides, so comforting that it even looks like a little house. Soleil Luna’s esthetician Aimee often uses a hard wax from Paris, while the swift waxing prowess of the salon’s other esthetician, Kelley, is reputable amongst our readers. @Jadeyylady
18% (242 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina); 808-662-0203; Soleillunasalon.com
Runners Up: VIP Nails & Spa, 12%; Emily Grace, 12%; Paragon, 12%; Salon 253, 12%
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BEST LOCAL SURF SHOP ON MAUI
Hi Tech
There are an infinite number of places to buy and rent surfboards on Maui, which would make you think that this is the hardest title to claim in the Best Of Maui issue. Winning the Best Local Surf Shop category for HiTech is like seeing great waves at Honolua Bay: it’s going to happen. Even more than the number of surfboards on Maui are all the positive remarks about HiTech, whether it’s from a local surfer about to take on Jaws or a tourist leaving a review on Yelp. The island-wide consensus is that HiTech offers the best, both in its water merchandise and staff knowledge. And then there’s its unbelievable selection of Nixon watches, but that’s for a different issue. @Jadeyylady
43% (425 Koloa St., Kahului); 808-877-2111; Surfmaui.com
Runners Up: Second Wind, 6%; Local Motion, 5%; Hawaiian Island Surf & Sport, 5%
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BEST SWIMWEAR SHOP ON MAUI
Pakaloha Bikinis
You want to flaunt 3/4ths of the tush, but conserve the rest of that fraction. That’s where Pakaloha bikinis come in, a favorite amongst our wahines (and especially surfers.) Their cheeky suits are renown for specializing in not revealing your bum to the nice tourist family trying to sightsee at Ho’okipa Beach. Check out their sturdy but totally cute suits available in all kinds of colors, prints, and cuts at the iconic Paia shack. Extra bonus: a full suit price is not equivalent to that of an iPhone 6, which is the going rate of most teeny kinis these days. @Jadeyylady
30% (151 Hana Hwy., Paia); 808-579-8882; Pakalohamaui.com
Runners Up: Maui Girl, 19%; San Lorenzo, 8%; Hi Tech, 6%; Bikini Market, 6%
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BEST SCUBA/SNORKEL SHOP ON MAUI
Maui Dive Shop
The Maui Dive Shop isn’t just a place to pick up a tank and some fins. The island’s most loved dive shop offers an array of charters, courses, rentals, and gear for sale. Experienced staff from diverse backgrounds spanning from a Navy rescue diver to world travelers are available to accompany novices on their quest to swim with manta rays. The dive shop has hopped many milestones since its 1978 days at its Maui Mall location. @Jadeyylady
26% (1455 Kihei Rd.); 808-542-3483; Mauidiveshop.com
Runners Up: Snorkel Bob’s, 18%; Boss Frogs, 17%; Maui Dreams, 6%
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BEST LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON MAUI
MediSpa
Sometimes, it’s better to put away your razor and let science pamper you. MediSpa Maui aims the LightSheer laser at your dark follicles and destroys the hairy weeds growing on your body through a series of eight treatments. If the thought of lasers coming in contact with your skin makes you feel like you’re under attack by stormtroopers, just know that the clinic simultaneously cools your skin during the procedure. There’s a reason our readers trust MediSpa for what is usually considered a terrifying experience! @Jadeyylady
58% (1445 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei); 808-879-4909; Medispamaui.com
Runners Up: Lei Spa, 5%; Grace, 5%; Island Style Hair, 3%
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BEST UKULELE SHOP ON MAUI
Mele Ukulele
The Mele Ukulele store is dedicated in making sure only the most beautiful melodies emit from their ukuleles when you string “Aloha Oe.” Its handmade instruments are constructed out of precious Hawaiian koa and other tropical tonewoods like mahogany. Playing one of the shop’s ukuleles is akin to taking that first bite from grandma’s batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. The quality is amazing and will overstimulate your senses. Also check out the Wailuku store for ukulele accessories, classes, and to listen in on its frequent jam sessions. @Jadeyylady
49% (1750 Kaahumanu Ave., Wailuku); 808-244-3938; Meleukulele.com
Runners Up: Bounty Music, 29%; Lahaina Music, 15%; Kamaka, 1%; Maui Music, 1%
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BEST HEAD SHOP ON MAUI
Westside Vibes
Step inside the expansive head shop in Lahaina and you’ll feel like you just got into a van camped out at Woodstock in 1969. It’s easy to see why our readers voted on Westside Vibes; even a quick walk around the hippie emporium is truly an experience. I only come in contact with hemp if it’s in my jewelry but was still amazed viewing all the colorful and beautiful glass pipes on display. @Jadeyylady
40% (1087 Limahana Pl., Lahaina); 808-667-1900; Facebook.com/pages/Westside-Vibes-Maui-A-shop-for-your-head/285387850031
Runners Up: Still Smokin’, 33%; Maui Mana, 9%; Hi Times, 6%
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BEST RECYCLING/REDEMPTION CENTER ON MAUI
Kihei
Recycling your sticky soda cans is a much more pleasurable experience when the backdrop of the ocean is in sight. That’s what our readers’ favorite recycling and redemption center provides in Kihei. Not only can you recycle all your Arizona Iced Tea cans and kombucha bottles, but the center also accepts cardboard, newspaper, glass and aluminum. @Jadeyylady
34%
Runners Up: Haiku, 18%; Kahului, 12%; Makawao, 7%
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BEST AUTO MECHANIC ON MAUI
Lahaina Foreign Auto
Popped your tire on a keawe branch or insisted that your car’s problems were “endearing” because you defended it as a Maui Cruiser? Then it’s time to pop that buggah into Lahaina Foreign Auto’s garage and have Maui’s favorite car mechanics bring it back to functionality. @Jadeyylady
9% (632 Luakini St., Lahaina); 808-661-8875
Runners Up: Bob’s Car Care, 6%; Chris Rummins, 6%; Valley Isle Motors, 4%
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BEST “GREEN” BUSINESS ON MAUI
Rising Sun Solar and Electric
It may seem like an obvious pick for best green business with the word “solar” in its name, but Rising Sun Solar and Electric is bettering the planet in not so obvious ways. The solar energy company co-founded the Hawaii PV Coalition in 2003, and is partners with the Maui Electric Vehicle Initiative. The installers are also adamant about preserving the environment, planting koa trees for each of their customers and participating in Hawaii’s Clean Energy Goal, which strives to hit the 100 percent goal mark for renewable generation by 2045. @Jadeyylady
31% (810 Kokomo Rd., Haiku); 808-579-8287; Risingsunsolar.com
Runners Up: Green Air Supply, 12%; Mana Foods, 8%; Haleakala Solar, 6%
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BEST LOCAL CLOTHING DESIGNER ON MAUI
Tamara Catz
Countless enthusiastic clients have elevated Tamara Catz to stand on the pedestal for Maui’s best clothing designer. Many people have bought her threads, whether at her Paia boutique or from the numerous department stores across the United States and Japan which stock her designs. She even has a bridal collection with dresses emitting the designer’s trademark free-spirited and bohemian style. @Jadeyylady
9% (83 Hana Hwy., Paia); 808-579-9184; Tamaracatz.com
Runners Up: Maui Thing, 9%; Maggie Columbe, 9%
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BEST PET SUPPLY STORE ON MAUI
Petco
I’d like to start off that this pet store has chinchillas, which already gave it a leg up in the polls for Maui’s best pet supply store. Other than Petco’s impressive selection of critters, it offers a wide inventory of animal food and other trinkets for your little buddy. Does your dog deserve a purifying automatic water bowl? Petco probably has that. They also sell snake terrariums, though considering that snakes are forbidden and illegal in Hawaii, you might want to pay cash for those. @Jadeyylady
33% (270 Dairy Rd., Kahului); 808-877-6150; Petco.com
Runners Up: The Pet Shop, 32%; Kihei Pet Supply, 18%; Del’s, 9%
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BEST HOTEL/ACCOMODATIONS ON MAUI
Westin
From the botanical garden that sweeps its oceanfront landscape to plush bedrooms and five pools that house two slides and its own waterfalls, how could our readers prefer any other resort? The Westin has a great spa, luau and rows of shops to complete the dream vacation package, or a weekend with the squad. @Jadeyylady
15% (2365 Kaanapali Pkwy.); 808-667-2525; Westinmaui.com
Runners Up: Andaz, 13%; Four Seasons, 11%; Westin Ka’anapali Resort Villas, 6%
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BEST HOME FURNISHINGS ON MAUI
Hue
Imagine IKEA, but throw out the generic college bedroom sets and trade in “beach luxe” style home and gift items. You can find luxurious furniture lines and even local-made home accessories and gifts at this interior palace. Not only does Hue offer contemporary island-style furnishings, but you can request owners Jessica McLellan and Wendy Takemoto to be your personal interior designers and perform other services like kitchen and bath design and architectural computer renderings. The store’s sponsors also donate to the community’s charities as well, another reason why our readers love Hue so much! @Jadeyylady
12% (210 Alamaha St., Kahului); 808-873-6910; Mauihue.com
Runners Up: Mind’s Eye, 9%; Hale Zen, 7%; Nita’s Hidden Treasures, 7%
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BEST NEW BUSINESS ON MAUI
Target
Target is the trendy corporate department store-of-choice for America, and Maui has caught the fever. After being gone from the island for six months, the first thing my father asked upon my arrival was if I wanted to go to Target. The red and white retail chain has swooned the hearts of Maui. It’s kind of a big deal here; even the official mascot from the commercials, Bullseye the Bull Terrier, was among the attendees at the grand opening. @Jadeyylady
9% (100 Ho`okele St., Kahului); 808-359-2829; Target.com
Runners Up: Purveyor & Co, 8%; Maui Kayak Adventures, 6%; Sale Pepe, 4%
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BEST OUT-OF-BUSINESS BUSINESS ON MAUI
Stella Blues
Cue Katy Perry’s The One That Got Away. I often wonder what’d it be like to once again eat Stella Blue’s delicious eggs benedict on Sunday mornings while marveling at all the Grateful Dead posters. Seriously, that restaurant was a Deadhead. @Jadeyylady
30% (1279 S. Kihei Rd.); 808-874-3779; Stellablues.com
Runners Up: Fat Burger, 9%; Moose’s Lahaina, 4%; Dragon Dragon, 4%; Koko Ichiban, 4%; Wok Star, 4%
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BEST PRESCHOOL / DAYCARE ON MAUI
Montessori
Montessori goes beyond handing your child a picture of a dog and a box of crayons, labeling the activity as “learning.” Based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s century old principles, Maui’s favorite preschool and daycare states that its teaching methodology is based on the following: “observation, peer learning, tactile learning materials and intrinsic motivation.” The schooling institution sticks it to the man (aka the U.S. Department of Education) by implementing their own specialized teaching style; the overall school even combines different grade levels into one classroom. Set your child on the righteous path of non-conformity from the get-go parents. @Jadeyylady
12% (100 Kulanihakoi Rd., Kihei); 808-874-7441; Mhok.org
Runners Up: Children of the Rainbow, 9%; Sacred Hearts, 8%; Holy Innocence, 4%
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BEST BRIDAL SHOP ON MAUI
Elly’s
Readers chose Elly’s as their favorite bridal shop to visit before getting hitched because the boutique’s racks provide rows on rows of white to produce a wedding dress women have daydreamed of since their keiki days, featuring designers such as Maggie Sottero and Alfred Angelo. Elly’s has the tuxedo of your to-be wife’s dreams, too. @Jadeyylady
72% (145 N. Kihei Rd.); 808-879-7010; Ellysformalwear.com
Runners Up: Myndi’s Finer Things, 7%; Girl’s Heaven, 6%
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BEST BIKE SHOP ON MAUI
West Maui Cycles
Ever wonder who’s responsible for putting those tourists on bikes that race around Maui like they’re competing in the Tour de France? West Maui Cycles isn’t responsible for them all, but they are really popular. The company has 20 years of experience strapping people onto pedals and sending them on their way cruising down Maui’s scenic roads. @Jadeyylady
32% (1087 Limahana Pl., Lahaina); 808-661-9005; Westmauicycles.com
Runners Up: South Maui Cycles, 12%; Krank Cycles, 8%; Maui Cyclery, 7%; Crater Cycles, 7%
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BEST LOCAL JEWELRY STORE ON MAUI
Sophie Grace
The rainbow stones and lovely metals of Sophie Grace’s jewelry has bedazzled the consumerist eyes of Maui. The jewelry line even captured the nation’s attention as the pieces can be seen adorned on models in the 2013 and 2014 issues of Sports Illustrated. @Jadeyylady
13% (36 Baldwin Ave., Paia); 808-214-3325; Sophiegracemaui.com
Runners Up: Topaz, 9%; Hale Zen, 7%
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BEST SHOPPING CENTER ON MAUI
Queen Ka`ahumanu Center
Oh, Queen Ka`ahumanu Center, a nostalgic place for most of Maui’s locals. You probably had at least a hundred dates at its Consolidated Theaters, and your whole high school wardrobe was from Forever 21 or Local Motion. You still probably go to Ruby’s after every sporting event too, whether you’re 15 or 50. Maui’s only mall with department stores continues to grow, now featuring over 100 shops and restaurants. Maui’s “premier shopping and entertainment destination” has also avoided the plague of paid parking which seems to be sweeping the island’s shopping centers. Go Queen Ka’ahumanu Center! @Jadeyylady
39% (275 W. Ka`ahumanu Ave., Kahului); 808-877-4325; Queenkaahumanucenter.com
Runners Up: Maui Mall, 16%; Shops at Wailea, 11%; Whalers Village, 9%
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BEST PLACE TO GET A FACIAL ON MAUI
Spa Helani
This “Heavenly Spa” by the Westin offers not just one facial option, but three: the Sea C Spa Facial, Pure Oxygen Facial and the Hydrolifting Facial. Your Neutrogena Moisturizer may be reliable, but sometimes your face deserves a little more luxury than what Walgreens has to offer. Its treatments are “Hawaiian inspired” so the idea of a hydrolifting facial isn’t as “robot inspired” as you think. The spa also uses local products in its services, so getting pampered is actually giving back to the community. @Jadeyylady
15% (6 Kai Ala Dr., Lahaina); 808-662-2644; Westinkaanapali.com/spa/overview
Runners Up: Spa Grande, 13%; Emily Grace, 8%; Plush, 8%
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BEST PLACE TO GET A MANICURE OR PEDICURE ON MAUI
VIP Nails & Spa
Just like the salon’s name promises, our readers are treated like very important persons when they go in to rejuvenate their nails with an array of colors and designs. Owners of the South Kihei Road nail shop, Derek and Lena, know how to spruce up a bed of dull nails so that your hands and feet can reach their full sassy potential. @Jadeyylady
22% (1215 S. Kihei Rd.); 808-879-0888; Vipnailsnv.com
Runners Up: David’s Happy Nails, 18%; Escape, 9%; Pedicare Center, 7%
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