Hula Grill Kaanapali — Restaurant in Maui

This restaurant group has so many waterfront popular establishments. I was drawn to try one out of curiosity. The restaurants in this area definitely offer a great place to watch the sunset or listen to the waves crashing. After we were seated, we enjoyed a basket of bread, which resembles fluffy focaccia. With a setting like this, we added cocktails to the equation.

$11 Lime in da Coconut - coconut water vodka, lime juice, cream of coconut: an alcoholic version of a very sweet coconut slurpee

$11 Plantation Lemonade - citrus vodka, lemonade, cranberry splash: citrus + vodka = very good, also quite sweet

$32 Ti Leaf Steamed Monchong & Shrimp w/ coconut rice and diced tomatoes: After having recently learned about the ti plant, which is used for clothing and cooking, I was curious to try a dish wrapped and steamed in ti leaves. I didn't know what a monchong was, but a quick search on the phone educated me and it is a white meaty fish, tastes like mahi mahi too. It was topped with some peppers and a green paste, which gave a bit of a kick. The flavor was alright, though it could have been steamed a little less. It was a little overcooked

$43 Crab Topped Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi - coconut sesame rice, Maui gold pineapple buerre blanc: Quite a pricey fish, but it is topped with a little bit of crab meat. Tastes like a normal mahi dish.

$11 Kimo's Original Hula Pie - oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream: I had heard so much about hula pie. After hearing so many people rave about it, I was keen to try it. This is definitely meant to be shared, and it was still too much for us. It was monstrous decadence, complete with its own dedicated plate. The crust is the best part, as it usually is in a pie. There was so much ice cream, in a cliff shaped wedge, coated in solid chocolate, hot fudge dripping over the top, topped with more macadamia nuts and whipped cream. If you like ice cream cake, this is for you. I think it's an easy dessert to replicate, as it is mostly ice cream, but definitely not something I'd eat regularly.

Like most of the TS restaurants, Hula Grill offers the typical American dishes, complete with island ambience, and friendly our service. Our server was a very friendly lady. For me, the food was 7/10, service 9/10, and...

Came in with friends visiting from South America for my 27th birthday. Host was unresponsive to our friendly hellos and never even looked at or acknowledged us. I then tried to order a drink at the bar using my Real ID State Drivers License and happily told the bartender it was my birthday because I was excited to celebrate it finally with friends. Unamused, she took my ID and told me it was not the exact day of my birthday as it was two days previous with quite some attitude then handed my ID back. After pouring the drinks she again with attitude asked for my ID again. I sat patiently for about 10 minutes then asked politely if there was a reason she was holding onto my ID and with even more attitude then before said, “It’s just a little weird you have no idea when your own birthday is, isn’t it?” then very quickly left before I could provide any details, response or alternative identification. She then held my ID for approximately 30 minutes longer before coming back and said it was unverifiable and that she and the manager were refusing me service with an even more offensive attitude then the first two times like she was saying to f-off. I naturally was upset by this point and asked for the manager who was very polite and said my ID was fine and especially so after showing him another form of Federally issued work ID. I also offered to show him both my passports and my pilots license if he needed additional verification.

IMO if they are unable to verify a federally/TSA approved State issued Real ID as a genuine form of identification to serve alcoholic beverages then they must be illegally serving everyone at their establishment from their perspective because I don’t know what other, more official, forms of identification could possibly be considered valid to prove one’s age eligibility.

The bartenders there really showcased an unprofessional and snobbish attitude hiding behind a “just doing my job” approach and don’t seem to care about their customers at all.

Living on island, I would never recommend Hula Grill to anyone. There are far better options with genuine people doing their jobs professionally and kindly who don’t look down on customers or...

I put a shellfish allergy -on my reservation-. We ordered a vegetable and bread appetizer, and mentioned the allergy again. Was told the bread was baked in an oven with lobster, so one party member decided not to eat it. That’s totally fine.

Moving on, we waited over 20 minutes for drinks (never arrived). All in all, we decided to ask for the check early.

The result: Talked down to about dining on the Hawaiian islands, and how they’re known for their seafood and shellfish dishes, and how we should mention that first next time. Ma’am: we did. On the reservation and in person.

We were then told this establish was an expert in allergy management, and even had separate cooking areas for people with allergies. But this was not offered for the bread and vegetable dish. So why even bring that up?

We tipped above the cost of the appetizer anyway and left - unfortunately put the tip in mid-berating from our waitress. Would not have otherwise if we had heard all she had to say to use before we left.

Very off putting experience. First causes me to lack faith in her preached allergy expertise, and second being talked down to in such a way for no reason. And again the drinks never arrived.

Do not eat here or at its sister restaurant if you have a deadly allergy. It will not be taken seriously or registered (as again, we gave it in advance - clearly no one will read it), you will not be offered an alternative, and you will be berated for deciding to step out (and again, we ultimately decided to do so because our drinks were never made - it wasn’t even the allergy concern).

But the revelation that they didn’t even read the reservation - berating me for not bringing my allergy up when appropriate (even though we did - twice!) - with no correction offered - no. Will not visit again, and I urge anyone with allergies to skip entirely. They will not...