The sugar cane fields that once defined Maui’s landscape may be largely gone, but the island’s sweet tooth lives on in every bakery case, gelato counter, and roadside fruit stand along the South Maui coast. From Portuguese malasadas still warm from the fryer to li hing mui–dusted mango sorbet and macadamia nut pies that could end any dinner debate, Maui’s dessert scene goes far beyond the shave ice stand—though we’ve covered those thoroughly in our best shave ice on Maui guide. This is the rest of the story: the cakes, pastries, frozen treats, and island-made confections that make dessert one of the best parts of a Maui vacation.
Maui’s açaí bowls blur the line between healthy snack and decadent dessert
Kihei’s Best Bakeries & Sweet Shops
Kihei’s walkable strip along South Kihei Road is home to some of the island’s most beloved bakeries and dessert counters—many of them tucked into unassuming strip malls that locals swear by. If you’re staying in Kihei (our Kihei guide maps the full neighborhood), dessert is never more than a short stroll away.
808 Grindz Café
Known for their massive cinnamon rolls and lilikoi cheesecake, 808 Grindz in Kihei is a local breakfast institution—but the pastry case is the real draw.
Arrive early; the cinnamon rolls sell out by mid-morning. Their haupia (coconut) cream pie is a Hawaiian classic done right, and the banana bread with macadamia nuts is the kind of thing you’ll crave on the plane home. The vibe is casual, no-frills, and authentically local—exactly the kind of place you want to discover.
A dedicated pie shop in Kihei’s Azeka Mauka shopping center, Maui Pie turns local ingredients into exceptional slices.
Maui Pie
Their macadamia nut cream pie is the signature—a buttery shortbread crust filled with roasted mac nut cream and topped with hand-whipped coconut cream. The Maui Gold pineapple pie is another standout: fresh, tangy, and nothing like the canned version. Whole pies are available for pre-order—ideal if you’re hosting a holiday dinner at your vacation rental.
Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade
More than just lemonade, this Kihei trailer-turned-café serves açaí bowls, smoothie bowls, and fresh fruit combos that satisfy every sweet craving.
The signature açaí bowl is layered with Maui-grown granola, local honey, and seasonal tropical fruit. It’s technically breakfast, but we’re counting it as dessert. The lilikoi lemonade with a splash of coconut is the perfect pairing.
Local’s Tip: The Kihei Kalama Village night market (happening on select evenings) is a goldmine for dessert grazing. Local vendors set up with haupia squares, mochi, chocolate-dipped macadamia nuts, and fresh fruit pops. Walk slowly, sample generously.
Wailea’s gelato shops turn Hawaiian flavors into artisan frozen art
Wailea’s Upscale Dessert Scene
Wailea’s resort corridor brings a more polished approach to dessert, with pastry chefs trained at top programs turning Maui’s tropical bounty into refined confections. These are the kinds of desserts that make you glad you got dressed up for dinner.
Honolulu Cookie Company (Shops at Wailea)
The iconic pineapple-shaped shortbread cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company are available at the Shops at Wailea—and they make the perfect edible souvenir.
Flavors rotate seasonally, but the dark chocolate macadamia nut and Kona coffee dipped varieties are perennial favorites. Gift boxes ship well if you want to send aloha home ahead of you.
Lappert’s Hawaii Ice Cream
A Hawaiian-born ice cream brand with roots in Kaua’i, Lappert’s serves ultra-premium, small-batch ice cream with island-inspired flavors.
The Kauai Pie (coffee ice cream with coconut flakes and mac nuts in a chocolate shell) is legendary. Their Wailea location is a post-dinner tradition—grab a cone and stroll the Wailea Beach Walk as the stars come out.
Hotel Pastry Programs
Several Wailea resort restaurants offer standalone dessert experiences worth visiting even if you’re not a guest. The chocolate lava cake at one of Wailea’s oceanfront restaurants, paired with a dessert wine, is a memorable way to end an evening. For more dinner-and-dessert pairings, browse our full Maui restaurant guide.
Local’s Tip: Ask your server about the off-menu “chef’s dessert” at Wailea’s top restaurants. Many pastry chefs create experimental plates that never make the printed menu—seasonal fruit compositions, house-made mochi, or tasting flights of island chocolates.
Malasadas—Portuguese doughnuts—are one of Hawai’i’s most beloved sweet traditions
Authentic Hawaiian Desserts You Can’t Miss
Hawaii’s dessert traditions draw from Polynesian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Filipino culinary heritage, creating a unique sweet landscape you won’t find on the mainland.
Malasadas
These Portuguese doughnuts—brought to Hawai’i by plantation workers from the Azores and Madeira—are deep-fried, rolled in sugar, and best eaten within minutes of coming out of the oil.
On Maui, T. Komoda Store & Bakery in Makawao is the legendary source (their cream puffs and stick doughnuts are equally famous), but arrive early—the line forms before they open and favorites sell out fast. In South Maui, several bakeries and food trucks serve their own versions on rotating schedules.
Haupia
This coconut milk pudding is the quintessential Hawaiian dessert—cool, creamy, and subtly sweet.
You’ll find haupia served as a standalone square at luaus and local bakeries, layered into pies, blended into milkshakes, and even tucked inside chocolate-covered macadamia clusters. The texture falls somewhere between firm Jell-O and panna cotta—completely unique.
Mochi & Butter Mochi
Japanese mochi (pounded rice cake) has been a Hawaiian staple for generations, and butter mochi—a uniquely Hawaiian-Japanese fusion—is a dense, chewy, coconut-rich bar that’s part cake, part candy.
Look for butter mochi at local bakeries and farmer’s markets. The texture is unlike anything on the mainland. For more local food discoveries, our Maui food experiences guide covers the full culinary landscape.
Local’s Tip: If you’re visiting Upcountry for farm tours or the lavender farm, build in a stop at Komoda’s in Makawao. Plan to arrive by 7:30 AM on a weekday—by 9 AM the cream puffs and malasadas are gone. It’s been a Maui institution since 1916.
Macadamia nut pie is Maui’s answer to pecan pie—and many say it’s better
Frozen Treats Beyond Shave Ice
Maui’s year-round warm weather makes frozen desserts a daily ritual, not just an occasional treat. Beyond the shave ice stands, you’ll find artisan gelato, tropical sorbets, and frozen innovations unique to the islands.
Gelato & Ice Cream
Several gelaterias in South Maui churn small-batch frozen desserts using Maui-sourced ingredients. Look for flavors you won’t find anywhere else: Maui Gold pineapple sorbet, li hing mango, haupia coconut, and Maui-grown chocolate. The best shops rotate flavors daily based on what’s fresh from local farms.
Açaí & Smoothie Bowls
Thick, frozen açaí bowls topped with local granola, fresh papaya, banana, coconut flakes, and a drizzle of Maui honey have become the island’s unofficial dessert-for-breakfast. Kihei has a half-dozen spots serving excellent bowls, each with their own take on toppings and base blends.
Fresh Fruit & Dole Whip
Don’t overlook the simplest sweet on the island: perfectly ripe Maui-grown fruit. December through spring brings citrus season, while summer delivers the famous Maui Gold pineapples, apple bananas, and starfruit. Roadside fruit stands along Pi’ilani Highway and at farmers markets sell fruit at a fraction of grocery store prices.
Local’s Tip: For the ultimate DIY dessert experience, stock your vacation rental kitchen with local ingredients. Pick up Maui-made mac nut brittle, Roselani ice cream (a Hawaiian favorite), and fresh tropical fruit from Foodland or the Kihei farmers market. A sunset dessert spread on your lanai beats any restaurant table.
Coffee & Dessert Pairings
Maui’s growing specialty coffee scene—highlighted in our best coffee shops in Maui guide—pairs beautifully with the island’s pastry scene. Several cafes in Kihei and Wailea serve house-made pastries alongside Maui-grown beans, creating a complete morning or afternoon experience.
A few standout pairings to seek out: Maui-grown Ka’anapali Estate coffee with a warm malasada. A creamy Maui mocha alongside butter mochi from a local bakery. An afternoon espresso paired with a lilikoi tart on a shaded café patio.
Local’s Tip: Ask baristas at independent shops which local bakeries supply their pastry cases. Many of Kihei’s best pastries are baked by home-based cottage bakers who don’t have storefronts—the coffee shop connection is how you find them.
Local pastry chefs transform Maui’s tropical fruits into works of art
Where to Stay for a Sweet Maui Vacation
Kihei and Wailea put you within walking or short driving distance of every dessert spot on this list. A vacation rental with a full kitchen lets you do something hotel guests can’t: pick up a whole Maui Pie, grab a pint of Roselani ice cream, stock up on Komoda’s pastries, and create your own dessert tasting on the lanai after a day at the beach.
South Maui vacation rentals offer the perfect blend of proximity to the island’s food scene and the comfort of a home away from home. Browse our curated selection and find your perfect base for eating your way through Maui’s sweetest offerings.
Explore Kihei vacation rentals →
Quick Reference: Maui’s Best Dessert Spots
- 808 Grindz Café (Kihei) — Cinnamon rolls, haupia pie, banana bread
- Maui Pie (Kihei) — Mac nut cream pie, Maui Gold pineapple pie
- Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade (Kihei) — Açaí bowls, smoothie bowls
- Honolulu Cookie Company (Wailea) — Pineapple shortbread cookies, gift boxes
- Lappert’s Hawaii (Wailea) — Small-batch ice cream, Kauai Pie
- T. Komoda Store & Bakery (Makawao) — Malasadas, cream puffs, stick doughnuts
- Kihei Farmers Market — Butter mochi, haupia, mac nut brittle