Sunset Cookout at Wailea Beach Resort
3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea
808-707-2022
Wailea Beach Resort continues to redefine luxury with its new Sunset Cookout summer series ($125 per adult, $85 for keiki). This oceanfront barbecue buffet is held on the Lūʻau Gardens lawn, where the Te Au Moana Lūʻau is held on other days throughout the week.
This casual dining experience is available on Wednesday evenings through Aug. 16 and is open to visitors and locals alike. Massive lawn games that emulate classics like Battleship, Connect 4 and Guess Who? were scattered throughout the grounds to entertain families and those of us who were children at heart. Other forms of entertainment included live music, lei making and, of course, a fire dance finale.
Adult guests were welcomed with a complimentary cocktail, which could be paired with comfort food like burgers, hot dogs and Maui-style potato chips or chef-driven dishes like rosemary-guava barbecue-glazed salmon and house-smoked beef brisket with homemade rub. Vegan options included baked beans, plant-based hot dogs and Beyond Beef burgers. A dessert buffet included summer favorites like peach and berry cobbler as well as a s’mores station. Shave ice and additional alcoholic beverages were also available for purchase. (@waileabeachresort)
Booch + Social
824 Kokomo Rd., Haʻikū
boochandcoco.com; 808-707-0043
Those who frequent the North Shore may have noticed that Booch + Coco is no longer at the Maliko Country Farmers Market. The vegan-friendly restaurant has rebranded to Booch + Social, partnered with Toohey’s Butchery and taken over its kitchen in the heart of Haʻikū, where I went to try the new dinner menu. Guests order at the counter, where they can choose from the likes of salads, burgers and bowls as well as Pauwela kombucha available on tap or bottled.
Though I was tempted to join a game of pool, I opted to sit at a picnic table and enjoy live music alongside the families and friend groups gathered in the outdoor seating area — some of whom were taking advantage of the BYOB policy. I sipped on a refreshing ginger-turmeric kombucha ($7), which won a 2023 Good Food Award, and had a taste of the Mauka burger ($19), which has a flavor that was accurately likened to an In-N-Out burger.
Booch + Social is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breakfast is served until 1 p.m, followed by dinner and live music at 5:30 p.m. Grab-and-go options including parfaits, salads, tempeh poke and kombucha are available all day. (@boochandsocial)
Ramen Bones
44 Hoʻokele St., Kahului
ramenbonesmaui.com; 808-871-9898
Nestled in an unassuming location near Target, one could easily drive right past Ramen Bones — if it wasn’t for the constant crowd of diners eager to snag a seat at one of 10 tables. After one failed attempt to get in, I returned with a determination to finally get a taste, no matter how long I would have to wait. Following a 30-minute wait, my party of three ordered a feast that included pūpū like the coconut shrimp ($8.75) and five-piece fried gyoza ($6.95) as well as the beef fried noodle ($15.75); unadon, a grilled eel rice bowl ($18.95); black garlic ramen ($15.95) and spicy shoyu tonkotsu udon ($15.95).
The food came out quickly and despite a harmless human error of accidentally swapping the noodles in our ramen and udon dishes, everything from the flavors to the service was exceptional. As an apology for the inconvenience, we weren’t charged for one of the ramen dishes and also given a 15% discount on the total bill. It’s because of this dedication to its customers paired with the delicious dishes I was able to try that I’m hungry for more.
Ramen Bones is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with extended hours until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. (ramenbonesmaui.com)