Thanksgiving is a very popular holiday in the United States. It is a day of giving thanks and spending time with your family, friends and loved ones. A typical Thanksgiving includes gathering with your family and friends, and have a big feast. Don’t forget the pies for dessert! Here in Maui, Hawaii, we celebrate this holiday as well. Whether it’s getting together with your Ohana, or friends that have become your family over the years, it’s always heart-filling to dedicate a day to talking story and having fun with your loved ones. Here are 5 things to do in Maui for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Cruise

A unique Hawaiian-style way of celebrating Thanksgiving this year would be to go on a dinner cruise!  Pacific Whale Foundation hosts a wonderful Thanksgiving Day Feast on one of their catamarans. You will enjoy your dinner on the ocean while watching the sunset. The dinner cruise departs from Lahaina Harbor (right across the street from Belle Surf Cafe!). The cruise includes cocktails and a buffet featuring all of the traditional Thanksgiving food. You can expect live music as well. If you’re lucky, you will even be surprised by dolphins or Humpback Whales! The whales begin to arrive around this time of year. Although booking tickets in advance is recommended, they may also have last minute cancellations or a couple of seats that need to be filled.

Hawaiian Luau

We highly recommend grabbing tickets to a Hawaiian Luau here in Maui, Hawaii! There are luaus happening on Thanksgiving Day, however, it is also a fun activity to do during the holiday weekend with your loved ones. If you are not already familiar with a luau, it is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that’s accompanied by entertainment. They feature many Hawaiian dishes, however on the Thanksgiving luaus they also offer a traditional turkey dish as an option. You will be whisked away watching the hula dancers and listening to the beautiful music.

Eating Thanksgiving Dinner in Maui, Hawaii

There are plenty of dinner options in Maui. Some places may be closed on Thanksgiving, while others stay open and have special items on the menu for the evening. The Grand Wailea Hotel and Spa has a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. You will want to make a reservation between 2-9pm in order to secure your table. They serve traditional Thanksgiving cuisine such as Turkey, stuffing, fish, prime rib, or beef. They also have vegetarian options for those of you who don’t eat meat. Enjoy!

Paddle For Hunger 

There is a very prominent paddling community on Maui. Every year they host the Paddle for Hunger event. The event is free, however they do accept food or monetary donations given to the Maui Food Bank in order to help families in need. The paddle is a race that is not timed. You can join by bringing a paddle board, surf board, or any other floating water type of device to take part in the fun. The Paddle For Hunger takes place on November 24 at 7am to November 25th at 11am. Check out more of the details here!

Weekend brunch at Belle Surf Cafe

If you already have plans for Thanksgiving day, but looking for something fun to do over the weekend, bring your loved ones for a brunch at Belle Surf Cafe! We serve organic coffee, smoothies, smoothie bowls, avocado toast, bagel sandwiches, and more! We are a diet friendly cafe, meaning there is something on the menu for everyone.

I hope that you enjoy this list of recommendations on  5 things to do in Maui for Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!