For two indifferent teenaged boys from Denver, it was just a tree, and a scarred one at that. But to their parents who wanted — no, needed — to see the recovering touchstone for themselves, the side trip to Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree was a pilgrimage.
An observer noticed how hard Mom and Dad tried to explain the deeper purpose of the stopover — that the survival of the 150‑year‑old living landmark on once‑bustling Front Street had become a symbol of endurance for a town still healing in the three years since the wildfires that swept through Lahaina’s historic district on Aug. 8, 2023.
After a quiet moment, the family returned to their rental car, the older half subdued, the younger half seemingly unfazed, and began the roughly 45‑minute drive back to their South Maui resort in Wailea. Soon after, more people gathered, standing behind the sad but necessary fence enclosing the resilient tree, out of respect, curiosity or simple gawking.
Much of beloved Front Street remains closed to visitors, yet the areas that have reopened feel renewed and inviting. Shops and restaurants in Lahaina and nearby neighborhoods are gradually getting busy again, and Maui’s major resort corridors have settled into a calmer, more grounded pace. Like the coastal enclaves of Wailea and Kihei to the south, Kaanapali and Kapalua in the west are fully operational with refreshed rooms, expanded dining options and new retail.
Across the Valley Isle, a new‑normal visitor experience takes shape as Maui moves through late 2026 and into next summer. The tragedy of three years ago remains a defining part of daily life, and many residents are still navigating the long arc of recovery, yet the island also depends on tourism to rebuild its economy and support local families. That balance has guided the changes underway: resorts have been renovated, restaurants have reopened and retail areas are showing new life. For travelers planning a trip to Maui, here are highlights of what’s new at this paradise in the Pacific.
We begin in West Maui, which continues to draw the largest share of visitors each year and remains the island’s most concentrated resort area. Zooming in on Kaanapali, Maui’s busiest resort district shows clear signs of recovery with a steady flow of mainlanders responding to recent upgrades along the master-planned stretch of beachfront.
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa (sheraton-maui.com), recognized as the OG resort built on the planned Kaanapali shoreline and the first to establish Black Rock as the signature landmark, is putting our mouths where their money is. An early August debut of Isolana adds an Italian concept to the resort’s dining portfolio. A June sneak‑peek tasting earned Executive Chef Mitchell Cooper praise for his agnolotti with Italian sausage and Kauai shrimp, pan roasted kampachi and stunningly beautiful hamachi crudo.
Standouts from Ashley Castillo, the recently hired director of restaurants and bars, included Flight 1963, a riff on the paper plane cocktail whose name nods to the year mainland to Maui air travel began to coincide with the Sheraton’s opening, and Pacific Nightcap, her take on an espresso martini made with Cazadores Reposado tequila and a local amaro.
Created in part to give local artists another venue to show their work after losing several spaces in the 2023 fire, the Sheraton Maui’s “Gallery Nights at the Sandbar” is a signature experience that brings curated art and featured artists together in a vibrant open‑air lounge setting. Held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., the series invites guests to explore Maui’s art scene while enjoying the resort’s hospitality. The lobby-level Sandbar provides the backdrop, with panoramic views of Kaanapali Beach, light bites, and artists painting live in real time.
Another literal work of art at the Sheraton is Kuleana, an innovative series of 11 outdoor plaques that, when standing before them and viewed through your smartphone, come to life like paintings at Hogwarts. The year-old augmented reality program is a marvelous way to learn about Maui’s culture and natural wonders.
A couple of resorts up the coast, Royal Lahaina (royallahaina.com) in April opened No Ka Oi Aesthetics, billed as West Maui’s only med spa and an expansion of the property’s wellness offerings beyond its reimagined oceanfront spa. The restored Royal Beach House Bungalow now features multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen and indoor‑outdoor living with a private backyard, pool and direct access to Kaanapali Beach, making it a strong option for groups. Lahaina Noon, the resort’s newer restaurant, has added a weekend brunch and “Tides and Terroir” wine pairing dinners from Friday through Sunday.
On the other side of Whalers Village, The Westin Maui (westinmaui.com) has brought added class to Kaanapali with a recent $160-million, multi-year renovation centered on its 217-room Hokupaa Tower, elevating accommodations along with culinary, cultural, recreational and wellness experiences for guests of the property’s premium, club‑level wing. The Westin’s signature oceanfront restaurant, Ulu Kitchen by Merriman, continues to thrive while The Valley Alley, also opened two years ago, features Topgolf Swing Suites, duckpin bowling, virtual reality experiences and modern and retro arcade games sprawled across a 10,000-square-foot fun zone.
Down the coast, the design-forward Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (andazmaui.com) has introduced a series of quiet, purposeful updates that sharpen its modern profile without drifting into spectacle. Several room categories now carry lighter finishes and improved lighting, part of a broader refresh aimed at keeping the property’s minimalist aesthetic current. Morimoto Maui has added new locally driven dishes, and the resort’s bar program has expanded its use of island botanicals. The Feast at Mokapu (feastatmokapu.com), arguably the best hotel luau in all of Hawaii, raised its own bar by adding a sumptuous kalbi hanger steak as the second-course beef selection.
Meanwhile, the Grand Wailea (grandwailea.com) added a high‑profile dining anchor last year with Nobu, built around Japanese-Peruvian takes on local seafood and produce. The relocated Keiki Club now offers fee‑based half‑day sessions for ages 5 to 12 with games, crafts and on‑property adventures. At Loulu, the resort’s new café and market, guests can try the exclusive Cosmic Bliss sundae created through a partnership with Hawaii‑born actress Sydney Agudong, who played Lilo’s older sister in Disney’s live‑action “Lilo & Stitch.”
Outside the major resorts, the island’s dining scene has seen its own wave of openings and refreshes.
Coco Deck (cocodecklahaina.com) has quickly become one of Lahaina’s standout post‑fire openings, a waterfront hangout with a breezy, open‑air layout with a tight menu of fresh seafood, cocktails and easy daytime plates. The Poke Donut starter and Coco Toast dessert are excellent, as is the Escape — the restaurant’s coconut foam-topped riff on a piña colada that nods to Rupert Holmes’ 1979 pop hit. Opened two years ago, the community‑minded spot gives Front Street a lively anchor as businesses continue to return. Mala Ocean Tavern (malatavern.com) Coco Deck’s older sister across the street, was the first restaurant to reopen in Lahaina after the tragedy, offering an early and much‑needed sign of recovery.
The restaurants’ parent company isn’t close to being done with its own rebuilding effort. After losing the popular Down the Hatch to the 2023 fire, Hana Hou Hospitality plans to revive the seafood concept in February, this time in Kaanapali. The team is taking over the former Kobe Japanese Steak House, and expects to bring back such signature favorites as the lobster and crab stuffed grilled cheese and poke special of the month.
Another restaurant that has risen from the ashes and dusted itself elsewhere is the Lahaina Brewing Co. (lahainabrew.com). Before the fire, patrons were kicking back cold ones about a block from Down the Hatch. Next year, if all goes as planned, they will be 31 miles apart. And while Down the Hatch 2.0 means moving only one town over, its former Front Street neighbor has a far more winding story. Telling it properly — with its merger, move, expansion, conceptual shifts and a string of geographically confusing names — would take a couple of pints. Fast forwarding to today, the present day Lahaina Brewing Co. is a winner with a menu that includes an inventive pretzel and beer cheese starter, a crispy mahi mahi sando, poke nachos and an impressive lineup of stellar suds to wash it all down.
While Lahaina Brewing Co. is making its mark in Wailea Village, a few steps away in The Shops at Wailea (theshopsatwailea.com) luxury lifestyle center is a brand‑new restaurant concept for Hawaii. Opened last July, Aurum Maui offers a locally rooted take on New American cuisine built around seasonal ingredients from island farms and fisheries and served in an indoor‑outdoor setting with handcrafted cocktails. Start with the crispy curried cauliflower — trust me.
Those who get their fill by shopping instead of eating might be excited over a newly expanded Prada boutique opening in July at The Shops at Wailea, right around when fine watch store Bucherer 1888 debuted a few doors down. Nearby, an expanded Lululemon store is expected to open by the holiday shopping season.
What’s new on Maui stretches beyond resorts, restaurants and retail, of course. Visitors through next summer can add a new farm tour at the home of Maui Gold pineapples, a charcuterie and chocolate experience in a scenic treehouse setting, and the relaunch of a guided agricultural tour with farm-to-table brunch. More information on these and other activities in Maui is available at gohawaii.com/islands/maui.