If you’ve spent time in Kihei over the past several years, you might have had an opportunity to grab a burger at a small window in a Shell station out on Piilani Highway, near Ohukai Road. That would have been at Havens, and you may have thought, hey, pretty good burger for a gas station. Or you may have gone there with intention, knowing that something was up at that Havens in the Shell station. And probably you were glad you went.

Well, Havens has grown up. In a BIG way. I’m not sure exactly what part of the original burger stand crew is part of this new large high-end Havens in Maalaea, but the emphasis on good food is most definitely there.

What you’re looking at there is the special appetizer. Four oyster shooters, four big and juicy and springy shrimp with cocktail sauce, and some ahi poke. Liked it a lot. It could maybe use some fine-tuning as there was no real way to get that oyster shooter to shoot, but the flavors where there and the presentation was fun and the $65 was gone. So here’s a good place to mention: Havens is not cheap. Is $65 too much for this reinvented, low-brow seafood plateau? Yeah, probably. But this Maui.

Really, most everything we had here was pretty excellent. The Caesar was surprisingly good actually – I’d have another one of those right now. I was a little less enthused with my cioppino but maybe I should have ordered something more on the fresh side. We didn’t try the steaks (also quite pricey). Brussels sprouts: two thumbs up. And the fried chicken (Bucket List) was definitely a winner (especially the side of mashed!).

I’d go back. I will. And I’ll update this post when I do. I left feeling like yes, very good food, but two issues:

-pricing – maybe they just started high out of the gates so they wouldn’t have to raise prices again soon? I mean, this was pretty much Wailea hotel pricing (but for better food)

-location – I guess you take what you can get, and they have a lot of space, both inside and out. But it’s Maalaea, so it’s windy AF and that doesn’t really make for a relaxing meal. But it might be OK for a quick burger? If you’re weather-sensitive, consider an inside table

They deserve another shot and I will give them that for sure when I’m ready for another high-end meal.

Havens Harborside

Address:

300 Maalaea Rd

Wailuku, HI 96793 (note, this is really in Maalaea despite the USPS address in Wailuku)

+1 808 214 6503