Presents
What’s in a name? In Hawaiian, ai means “to eat,” and pono means “excellence.” Put them together and you have an awards competition that honors Maui’s best restaurants, as voted by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine. This year, we announced the winners at the 2025 ʻAipono Awards Gala, held in the ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua on April 26, 2025, that raised funds for UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program.
About the Awards:
Maui’s only high-profile restaurant awards
Celebrating excellence in the island’s culinary community
A benefit for:
Voted by readers of Maui Nō Ka ʻOi, Maui residents and island visitors
Voting period: Dec. 1, 2024-Jan. 31, 2025 / Ballots collected online and in print
Participation: 5,000+ votes cast and 500+ restaurants represented
140 winners honored in 2025 (Gold, Silver, Honorable Mention)
MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS
Host Sponsor
Lead Sponsor
Additional Sponsors and Supporters
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Chef Zach Sato
Executive Chef & Co-Owner of Havens Chow Cart
and Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE
Chef Ryan Luckey
Executive Chef of The Pint & Cork
“BEST OF” CATEGORIES
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Gold
My Thai Maui
Silver
Māla Ocean Tavern
BEST SERVICE
Gold
Mama’s Fish House
Silver
Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mention
Kaʻana Kitchen
Kō
Lineage
Merriman’s Kapalua
Sea House Restaurant
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
Gold
Lineage
Silver
Honu Oceanside
Honorable Mention
Monkeypod Kitchen
SixtyTwo MarcKet
Kaʻana Kitchen
Kō
Māla Ocean Tavern
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
Gold
Māla Ocean Tavern
Silver
Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mention
Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Honu Oceanside
Mama’s Fish House
Merriman’s Kapalua
Seascape
MOST “MAUI-EST”
Gold
Mama’s Fish House
Silver
Māla Ocean Tavern
Honorable Mention
Sea House Restaurant
Monkeypod Kitchen
Aloha Mixed Plate
BEST ROMANTIC SETTING
Gold
Mama’s Fish House
Silver
Merriman’s Kapalua
Honorable Mention
Ferraro’s Restaurant & Bar
Japengo
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
Son’z Steakhouse
Spago
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Gold
Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Silver
(Tie)
Coco Deck
Koholā Brewery
Honorable Mention
Point Break Pizza & Panini
Makawao Public House
Lahaina Noon
ʻUlu Kitchen by Merriman
BEST HAWAIʻI REGIONAL CUISINE
Gold
Kō
Silver
Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mention
Kaʻana Kitchen
Māla Ocean Tavern
Merriman’s Kapalua
Monkeypod Kitchen
Sea House Restaurant
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
Gold
Kō
Silver
(Tie)
Japengo
Lineage
Honorable Mention
My Thai Maui
Banyan Tree Kapalua
Tales of the Kapa Moe Lūʻau
Star Noodle
Balai Pata
BEST LŪʻAU
GOLD
Old Lāhainā Lūʻau
Silver
The Feast at Mōkapu
Honorable Mention
Drums of the Pacific Lūʻau
Grand Lūʻau
Myths of Maui Lūʻau
Te Au Moana Lūʻau
Tales of the Kapa Moe Lūʻau
BEST CHEF’S TABLE
Gold
nyloS
Silver
Kaʻana Kitchen
Honorable Mention
Banyan Tree Kapalua
Fond
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
Gold
Moku Roots
Silver
O’o Farm
Honorable Mention
Kaʻana Kitchen
Merriman’s Kapalua
SixtyTwo MarcKet
BEST PIZZA
Gold
Point Break Pizza & Panini
Silver
(Tie)
Pizza Madness
Flatbread Company
Honorable Mention
Pizza Paradiso
Da Grateful Dough
Manoli’s Pizza Company
Black Rock Pizza
BEST BURGER
Gold
Cool Cat Cafe
Silver
Havens Chow Cart
Honorable Mention
Koholā Brewery
Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Makawao Public House
Burger Boys
BEST HEALTHY FARE
Gold
Choice Health Bar
Silver
Fork & Salad
Honorable Mention
A’A Roots
Alive & Well
Down to Earth
Moku Roots
Earth Aloha Eats
BEST RESTAURANT POKE
Gold
Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice
Silver
Tikehau Lounge
Honorable Mention
Coco Deck
Nuka
BEST STEAK
Gold
DUO Steak & Seafood
Silver
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Honorable Mention
Son’z Steakhouse
Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Fuego Argentinean Steakhouse
Spago
BEST FISH & SEAFOOD
Gold
Mama’s Fish House
Silver
Māla Ocean Tavern
Honorable Mention
Paia Fish Market
Honu Oceanside
South Maui Fish Co.
Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Nick’s Fish Market
BEST DESSERT
Gold
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Silver
Mama’s Fish House
Honorable Mention
Kula Bistro
Monkeypod Kitchen
Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Spago
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
Gold
Star Noodle
Silver
Japengo
Honorable Mention
Lineage
Izakaya Genbe
Oao – Sushi Bar & Grill at Wailea
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE
Gold
My Thai Maui
Silver
Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
Honorable Mention
Thai Mee Up
A Saigon Cafe
Star Noodle
Maui Thai Bistro, Lineage
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/
MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
Gold
Pita Paradise
Silver
Cafe de Amis
Honorable Mention
Le Bazaar
Mediterranean Grill
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
Gold
Amigo’s
Silver
Sergio’s Cantina
Honorable Mention
Polli’s Mexican Restaurant
Roasted Chiles
Las Islitas Tacos Y Mariscos
Acevedo’s Hawaicano Cafe
Las Piñitas
BEST ITALIAN CUISINE
Gold
Matteo’s Osteria
Silver
Casanova
Honorable Mention
Marlow
Fabiani’s Pizzeria & Bakery
Taverna, Ferraro’s Restaurant & Bar
Bistro Casanova
BEST PLATE LUNCH
GOLD
Kalei’s Lunchbox
Silver
Aloha Mixed Plate
Honorable Mention
Tin Roof
Da Kitchen
Joey’s Kitchen
BEST NOODLES
Gold
Star Noodle
Silver
My Thai Maui
Honorable Mention
Thai Mee Up
Sam Sato’s
Tin Roof
Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food
BEST SUSHI
Gold
Miso Phat
Silver
Oao – Sushi Bar & Grill
Honorable Mention
Nuka
Isana
Japengo
Sansei Sushi
Koiso Sushi Bar
BEST SHAVE ICE
Gold
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
Silver
Tobi’s Poke & Shave Ice
Honorable Mention
Bling Bing Maui
Waikamo Shave Ice
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold
Thai Mee Up
Silver
(Tie)
Maui Fresh Streatery
Havens Chow Cart
Honorable Mention
Sun’s Out Buns Out
Aloha Prime Eatery
Da Grateful Dough
Maui Pizza Truck
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Gold
Akamai Coffee Co.
Silver
Espresso Mafia
Honorable Mention
Crema Maui
Alba’s Cuban Coladas
Maui Coffee Roasters
Kraken Coffee
Wailuku Coffee Co.
BEST BAKERY
Gold
Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop
Silver
Stillwell’s Bakery & Cafe
Honorable Mention
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Maui Bread Co.
Four Sisters Bakery
Sugar Beach Bake Shop
Komoda Store and Bakery
BEST BREAKFAST
Gold
Kihei Caffe
Silver
(Tie)
SixtyTwo MarcKet
Nalu’s SouthShore Grill
Honorable Mention
The Gazebo
ʻUlu Kitchen by Merriman
Sea House Restaurant
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Gold
SixtyTwo MarcKet
Silver
Marco’s Grill & Deli
Honorable Mention
Bistro Casanova
Sea House Restaurant
Monkeypod Kitchen
Cafe O’Lei at the Plantation
Cafe O’Lei Kihei
BEST GRAB & GO MARKET
Gold
Island Gourmet Markets
Silver
Kuau Store
Honorable Mention
Spoon & Key Market
Honolua General Store
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
Gold
The Pint & Cork
Silver
(Tie)
Pizza Paradiso
Tiffany’s
Honorable Mention
Manoli’s Pizza Company
Māla Ocean Tavern
BEST WINE LIST
Gold
Kaʻana Kitchen
Silver
Merriman’s Kapalua
Honorable Mention
Māla Ocean Tavern
Matteo’s Osteria
Spago
Honu Oceanside
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea
BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
Gold
Tikehau Lounge
Silver
Monkeypod Kitchen
Honorable Mention
Esters Fair Prospect
Māla Ocean Tavern
Lineage
Pilina
Cafe at the Point
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Gold
Monkeypod Kitchen
Silver
Sea House Restaurant
Honorable Mention
Coco Deck
Tikehau Lounge
Māla Ocean Tavern
Three’s Bar & Grill
Maui Brewing Co.
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
Gold
(Tie)
Pilina
Lobby Lounge
Silver
Alaloa Lounge
Honorable Mention
The Birdcage
Botero Lounge
Lehua Lounge
The Sandbar
BEST BAR
GOLD
Tikehau Lounge
Silver
Esters Fair Prospect
Honorable Mention
Monkeypod Kitchen
The Pint & Cork