Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa

Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa is a tricky word to say. That was our first impression of the restaurant located in the luxurious Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. We guessed how to say it correctly, which led to an in-depth conversation about what we thought a Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa was. Thankfully, our server, Harlod, could not only demonstrate the word's correct pronunciation but also took the time to show us a picture of a Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa near the bathroom. This simple interaction was all it took for our children to imprint on Harold and set the course for us to have breakfast there every day that Harold worked for our entire stay. The breakfast buffet was not just delicious, but also served in a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The calm surroundings were the perfect way to start the day, allowing us to relax and enjoy our meal. A few things that really stood out to us set Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa apart and into a class of its own. First, the food was a delightful adventure. We dined there enough times to explore all they had to offer, and each dish was a unique delight. The staff kept the buffet lines clean and stocked, ensuring that the hot food was always hot, and the cold food was always cold. The bakery items were fresh and undamaged from the humidity, and the separate area for gluten-free baked goods was a thoughtful touch, preventing cross-contamination and catering to a variety of dietary needs. Second, the omelet station had a variety of fresh veggies, egg whites, goat cheese, and an amazing homemade salsa. We met two omelet chefs; both were incredibly kind to our children. Our son ordered egg omelets without any toppings or cheese every day. The chefs cooked the eggs the same way each time, which was especially important for our son. Third, the staff, especially our server Harold, were not just calm and helpful, but also incredibly kind. Their warmth and understanding made our son, who historically would have tantrums in restaurants due to overstimulation, feel relaxed and eat well. We never felt rushed or pressured to do anything differently than what we were doing. All the staff we interacted with were accommodating and kind, making us feel truly valued as guests. I would encourage anyone to try the Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa’s breakfast buffet, especially those traveling with highly sensitive children. The calm environment and tranquil leisurely breakfast sets the tone for the day.

Beautiful setting with ocean views at sunset. But I won’t go back: expensive , mediocre food and terrible service Dinner was lackluster: I have celiac and asked about specific GF options and server said that menu items with Gluten are noted with a “G”. Except that the brioche item was not noted with a “G” and after a guess by the server that the flour was coconut flour (???) she actually checked with the kitchen and found out that ,no surprise, the brioche item actually contained gluten. We were immediately on guard and worried about other menu items that might have been mislabeled. Our server, to her credit, made many tips to the kitchen to determine gluten status for several menu items. Aside from that, drinks took 20 minutes after ordering to arrive. Our ceviche appetizer (chips appeared to be the same that we have had from Costco and were so crumbled that we couldn’t use them as a ceviche “spoon”) took another 30 minutes more to arrive even though we ordered with our drinks. And dinner didn’t show up for 40 minutes after appetizers. After nearly 2 hours we were asked if we wanted dessert despite not having any gluten free options or even recognizing that gf was a challenge. Our server continuously apologized about not knowing the menu well and had very little comfort with describing anything on it. Miraculously I wasn’t sick from gluten or cross contact. Not the place for food allergies or those who don’t have 2+ hours to spend at dinner.