My wife and I visited Maui on our Honeymoon and we had many activities planned. We were doing most of the tourist things (luaus, snorkeling, expensive restaurants, etc.) but we felt that we were missing out on what Maui is really like for people who live there. Thankfully, we had signed up for this Authentic Tastes of Maui Tour but we didn’t truly know what to expect. We were told to park at a Park & Ride lot and wait for the van to pick us up. When the van pulled up, this incredibly happy Hawaiian man jumps out, takes our voucher, and starts telling us that we’re all in this tour together now because we’re family now on the island (us and the other tour guests). This was Darren and this food tour is his brainchild and he leads it with such love and passion. After having been a tour guide for 9 years giving all types of tours around Maui, he hand picked out the local Mom & Pop restaurants that he frequents so that we can truly get a feel for some of the amazing food that people living on Maui get to experience. Darren is a foodie and he loves his job. He was truly what made the experience the best because we could tell how much he loved each one of these places and how much joy he had sharing them with people. He answered all of our questions throughout the day, even ones about the island not related to the food. And if having Darren wasn’t enough, the food was delicious!! And don’t expect to leave this food tour hungry...sure it’s starts off slow, but before you know it Darren has two or three plates of incredible food in front of you and you’ll wish that you could eat more. The order to the tour is a nice design as well because it tapers up to the most filling place and then tapers down with desserts and a Maui Brewing Co. flight tasting. Each of the stops, you are allowed to browse and buy other things as well.
Ultimately, having this tour gave my wife and I the courage to go explore Maui and not be afraid to try some of the local spots. It was so much fun and we cannot day enough great things about Darren.
If you are expecting fancy restaurants however, this is not the tour for you. These are Mom & Pop shops (save Maui Brewing Co.) and they are generally hole-in-the wall places.
However, if you do choose to do this tour you will leave having tried delicious food and desserts, you will leave full, and you will leave feeling like a part of Darren’s family.
