Christmas Buffets Around Maui Make Overeating Easy

By Vanessa Wolf

Odds are you don’t have to squeeze down any chimneys this Christmas Eve, so go ahead and indulge yourself at one of several holiday buffets being offered around the island.

Christmas Eve Buffets

The Molokini Bar & Grille at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort is hosting a buffet from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Their buffet starts with traditional holiday favorites like roasted whole turkey served with traditional giblet gravy, cranberry relish and cornbread stuffing and spit-roasted rosemary leg of lamb. Keeping it fancy, there will also be roasted pork loin with blue cheese stuffed fingerling potatoes, coconut and macadamia nut-crusted prawns and a seafood bar filled with tiger prawns, house smoked salmon, Dungeness crab legs, fresh sashimi, rolled sushi, and a selection of freshly made pokes.

The feast is $60 per person, $45 for those aged 9 to 12, and $30 for those five to eight. Reservations are recommended.

The Kahili Restaurant at the Kahili Golf course in Wailuku is also offering a Christmas Eve buffet from 5:30 – 9 p.m.

For $34.95 per person, enjoy freshly carved prime rib, pineapple glazed ham, herb rubbed Cornish hen, and pepper crusted Alaskan salmon. There will also be salads, sides, seafood on ice such as shrimp cocktail and pokes, and (maybe don’t tell the kids this part) succotash.

Reservations are recommended.

Christmas Morning Brunch Buffets

The Molokini Bar & Grille at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort is holding a brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Molokini’s holiday breakfast offerings include eggs Benedict, toasted macadamia and banana pancakes, a made-to-order omelet station and plenty of bacon. Less breakfast-y offerings include portabella mushroom and porcini ravioli, chicken saltimbocca and even Cuban Mojo Pork Loin with pineapple salsa.

The buffet is $60 per person, $45 for those aged 9 to 12, and $30 for kids five to eight. Reservations are required.

The Grand Wailea’s Christmas morning buffet is held in the Grand Dining Room from  11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They, too, will be featuring eggs Benedict  and Belgian waffles. Those in a more lunch-minded mood might enjoy the smoked Berkshire pork, slow roasted turkey, prime rib, pan seared lobster and seared confit of duck. A keiki buffet filled with kid-friendly items and favorites treats will also be available at a price of $76 adults and $38 for children. Reservations are required.

Christmas Dinner Buffets

Still have room after all that?

You don’t ever have to leave Makena, as the Molokini Bar and Grill is at it one last time with a Christmas dinner buffet from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Feast on roasted prosciutto and basil-brined chicken with wild mushroom sauce, south Maui BBQ baby back ribs and a sage and more turkey.  Island sashimi and poke once again make an appearance and the dessert corner offers warm Molokai sweet potato soufflé, macadamia nut tartlets, and mini key lime pie.

The buffet is $60 per person, $45 for those aged 9 to 12, and $30 for kids five to eight. Reservations are recommended.

On the west side?

The Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa in Ka’anapali is also having a Christmas dinner buffet from 4 to 8 p.m.

Their “Christmas By the Beach” menu features slow roasted ham with pineapple and brown sugar glaze, roasted turkey with poha berry corn bread, and slow roasted prime rib of beef. Not so much a meat eater? The Sheraton is also offering array of domestic and imported cheeses, sashimi, poke, pan seared volcano spiced ‘ahi, a pacific medley of seafood, leeks and Hamakua mushrooms, and seafood chowder for $68 per adult and $32 per child aged six to 12.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line. Mahalo. -Vanessa (@mauinow.com)