Whalers Village - Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii - Fine Shopping near Kaanapali Beach

For those who like to combine shopping with a day at the beach, Whalers Village in Maui is just the venue. As the management likes to say, the shops and sand are "separated by the mere flick of a towel.'' And as if to emphasize the point, they claim that Whalers Village is "not a mall; it's your vacation.''

The two-level shopping complex is situated right at the middle of Lahaina's Kaanapali Beachwalk. Swimsuits and slippers are considered appropriate attire for sunning, swimming, shopping and dining. There is plenty of covered parking, too, for visitors who arrive by car, rather than in flip-flops.

More than a dozen categories of items are sold at the 90 or so small stores located here. They include apparel, jewelry, sundries, gifts, art items, specialty goods, and boutiques, among others. Major brand names represented at Louis Vuitton, Coach, Tommy Bahama, PacSun, and Billabong, to name a few.

Local retailers have a strong presence at Whalers Village. They include Maui Divers of Hawaii, Island Pearls, Maui Waterwear, Lahaina Printsellers, Maui Dive Shop, Lahaina Scrimshaw and Maui Toyworks. Other Hawaiian-style outlets are Honolua Surf Company, Dolphin Galleries Jewelry, Na Mea Aloha, Sand People, Crystal Sea, and the Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery. ABC Stores also has a branch here.

In the Food Court located on the lower level, shoppers have their pick of Dragon Wall Express, McDonald's Express, Mr. Sub Sandwiches, Mr. Taco, Nikki's Pizza, and Smooth as Ice. For full-service family-style dining, there are three additional choices: Cane & Taro, Hula Grill, and Leilani's On the Beach. For specialty foods, Honolulu Cookie Company, Sir Wilfred's Coffee Bar, and Hdagen-Dazs are available.

Entertainment is also a focus of Whalers Village. There are several free attractions, such as the Whale Pavilion and a whaling boat to explore on the Main Level. At Center Stage on the lower level, hula dancing and lei making lessons are offered daily. Each evening at 7pm and 8pm, there are live performances, too, featuring acts that range from Polynesian and Tahitian dance to Japanese "taiko'' drums.

One must-see aspect of Whalers Village is its museum. Open daily from 10am to 6pm, it celebrates Maui's whaling traditions and ocean awareness. Admission to Whalers Village Museum is always free for adults as well as children.

From October through April, visitors may be in for a very special treat at Whalers Village. That's when humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters to mate and give birth. Whale watchers are encouraged to come to the property to see the mighty creatures breaching just off shore.

Whalers Village is located between the Westin Maui and The Whaler Condominiums on Maui's west coast. The address is 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Bldg. H-6, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761. The shops' regular hours are 9:30am to 10pm daily. There is a charge of $4 an hour for covered parking, but it is waived for up to three hours with validation from any village merchant.