A Vegan’s Premium Guide to Maui

Exploring Maui on a Plant-Based Diet

Aloha and welcome to The Leaf and Luggage! If you think being vegan in Hawaii means surviving on nothing but fruit bowls—think again. Today, I’m taking you through my February trip to Maui. We stayed on the west coast in Kaanapali, headed out on an incredible eco-friendly whale-watching tour, and ate our way from casual food to fine dining at the Four Seasons.

February is the absolute best time for whales, but the weather can be a little more unpredictable. Stick around because I’m also sharing my biggest packing fails so you don’t make the same mistakes I did. Let’s dive in!

Home Base: The Westin Maui & Kaanapali

• The Resort: We stayed at the Westin Maui for 10 days. The rooms are spacious, and you can pay extra for an ocean view balcony. Staying in Kaanapali suited us perfectly because everything is accessible, including Whalers Village for shopping and dining. You can even see whales right from the beach or your balcony, and the resort features a separate adults-only pool.
• Hotel Dining & Drinks: The Westin has solid plant-based options right on-site. I mainly ordered from their Eat Well menu, enjoying the plant-based salad and a Beyond Burger that is probably the best I’ve ever had. At the on-site Mahele Market and Eatery, I had a tofu sandwich one day and nachos another. There is also a Starbucks on the property where I grabbed a non-dairy latte most days.
• The Luau: We attended the on-site Luau, which was great and featured clearly labelled vegan and vegetarian options. I enjoyed the salads, Maui Gold Pineapple, and bread.

The Adventure: Whales & Waves

• Eco-Friendly Tour: February is peak whale season in Maui, so a boat trip was something I definitely wanted to do. We booked an eco-friendly tour with Hawaii Ocean Rafting, which I highly recommend. The smaller boat offered a much more intimate experience with only about 10 people on board, putting us closer to the water.
• The Experience: Seeing the whales breach just a few yards away is something I’ll never forget. We saw a mother and her calf, two male whales, a dolphin jumping over the whales, and even a turtle while waiting to dock.
• The “Luggage” Tip: Because it is a small vessel, there is no food or drink on board. Portable toilets are available at check-in, but there are none on the boat itself.

Fine Dining: Spago & The Four Seasons

• The Uber Ride: We took a 45 to 60-minute Uber from Kaanapali to Wailea to visit the Four Seasons. We had to wait about 20 minutes for our return Uber, which gave us time to look around the beautiful hotel, famously the location for the first season of the White Lotus.
• The Vegan Menu: Spago is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant that offers a completely separate vegan menu. I started with vegan sushi and then had the blackened tofu Hong Kong style. If you are celebrating, you can contact them ahead of time to order a custom cake; we chose chocolate, and it was incredible.

Key Tips for Plant-Based Travellers in Maui

1. The Uber Strategy: Ubers in Maui can be pricey, but they are great if you want to enjoy a cocktail at Spago without worrying about the long drive back to the Westin.
2. The “February” Weather: While winter is perfect for whale watching, the weather can be chilly and rainy. Do not make my packing mistake—bring a light sweater or jacket for the breezy boat rides and cool evenings! (The hotel also has umbrellas you can use if needed).
3. The Luau Review: Always mention your dietary needs when you book your Luau ticket so they can accommodate you.

Maui in February was amazing, and I’d definitely recommend it. Mahalo for reading.

Travel Further. Eat Better.