Maui Pie - Deep Research Report

Overview

Maui Pie is a small pie bakery in Kīhei’s Azeka Makai center, focused on sweet and savory pies rather than full sit-down restaurant service. For a traveler, the appeal is straightforward: it is a place to grab pie by the slice, a mini pie, or a full pie, with enough variety to work as dessert, a casual lunch stop, or a take-home treat. (mauipie.com)

The identity looks stable and well-matched to the Google Places record: the name, address, phone, and website all line up across the business site and third-party listings, and the business is operating. One small caveat is that some sources format the unit number as #101 or 101B, so the suite detail should be treated carefully even though the street address is consistent. (mauipie.com)

Cuisine & Specialties

Maui Pie’s lane is classic American-style pie with a local Maui twist: fruit pies, cream pies, savory hand pies and quiches, plus coffee and a few breakfast baked goods. The strongest pattern in the menu is that the shop leans heavily on fruit-forward desserts and rich cream fillings, while also offering a smaller savory lineup that can make it a light meal instead of just a dessert stop. (mauipie.com)

Overall menu style: Pie bakery with fruit pies, cream pies, savory pies, muffins, coffee, and a morning menu. The website and Toast menu both show a clear split between morning items and the fuller pie lineup later in the day. (mauipie.com)
Notable specialties: Mango Strawberry Crumb Pie, Mountain Berry Crumb Pie, Lilikoi pie, Chocolate Haupia pie, Chicken Pot Pie, Portuguese Sausage Quiche, and Breakfast Handpie. These are repeatedly highlighted across the business site, Toast menu, and review coverage. (mauipie.com)
Best-supported signature items: Chicken pot pie is described in one feature as a top seller, while fruit pies such as Mango Strawberry and Mountain Berry are specifically called out as standouts. Lilikoi and coconut-leaning cream pies also appear often in traveler commentary. (hawaiimagazine.com)
Price range / spend: Google Places lists it at price level 2, and current menu pricing suggests a modest-to-moderate spend: slices around $7, minis around $16, large pies around $29, and savory minis around $15–$17. That makes it affordable for a snack or dessert stop, but not cheap if you’re buying multiple pies. (mauipie.com)
Dietary usefulness / limits: The business states that fruit pies are vegan, but it does not make gluten-free pies. It also says sugar-free versions of some classic fruit pies can be made with advance ordering. (mauipie.com)

Notable Features & Ambiance

This is a compact bakery stop in a shopping-center setting rather than a destination dining room. The experience appears to be mostly counter-service with takeout, slices, and whole pies; travelers should expect a practical bakery visit more than a lingering meal. (hawaiimagazine.com)

Service model and seating style: Counter-service bakery with takeout, in-store pickup, and delivery options listed on third-party platforms. Tripadvisor also notes outdoor seating and wheelchair access, but the site itself emphasizes pies to-go and pre-ordering. (restaurantji.com)
Atmosphere and decor: No strong evidence of a flashy dining room; the business positions itself as a warm, small bakery. One reviewer and the business description suggest a friendly, low-key local shop rather than an upscale café. (hawaiimagazine.com)
Amenities or practical features: Coffee is available, including a “bottomless coffee” deal with a muffin in the morning menu. The FAQ says pies are baked in house daily and that pre-orders are recommended during busy weekends and holidays. (mauipie.com)
Best fit: Good for a dessert stop, a casual breakfast item, a picnic/takeaway box, or picking up pie for later. It also fits travelers who want a quick Kīhei stop near the beach. (mauipie.com)
Weaker fit: Less ideal for travelers wanting a full-service meal, a long sit-down lunch, or a very broad savory menu. The shop is specialized and can sell out of popular items, especially around holidays. (mauipie.com)

History & Background

Maui Pie has a clear founder story. Ryan and Kellee Houghtaling, originally from Michigan, learned pie-making through Kellee’s family business, sold pies first at the Maui Swap Meet, and then opened their own kitchen and bake shop in Kīhei in 2015 after demand grew. That backstory matters because it explains both the pie-shop format and the mix of mainland pie traditions with local Maui flavors. (hawaiimagazine.com)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Review patterns are strongly positive overall. Travelers repeatedly praise the flaky crust, rich fillings, and island-friendly flavors like lilikoi, mango strawberry, coconut cream, and chocolate haupia. The savory pies also get good marks, especially chicken pot pie. Across Google-derived and Tripadvisor-style feedback, the most repeated compliment is that the pies taste homemade and memorable enough to justify a special stop. (restaurantji.com)

Common Gripes

The main complaints are not about concept but about value and variability. A few reviewers say the pies feel pricey for the size, and some mention counter-service inconsistency or not especially friendly help. Those negatives are present, but they read as mixed rather than dominant: the shop’s overall ratings remain strong, and the criticism does not appear to overwhelm the praise. (tripadvisor.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

Current official hours on the website: Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–8:00 PM for the morning/full menu split, Saturday 11:00 AM–8:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM–6:00 PM. Google Places still shows an older-looking schedule without the morning-menu distinction, so the business site should be treated as the better current signal. (mauipie.com)
Pre-ordering is recommended for holidays and busy weekends, and some holiday orders may close early or require prepayment. (mauipie.com)
If you want the full range, go after 11:00 AM; the morning menu is limited to coffee, muffins, and a breakfast handpie. (mauipie.com)
Popular fruit flavors and seasonal specials can sell out, so travelers with a specific pie in mind should not wait until late in the day. (hawaiimagazine.com)
The shop is in the Azeka Makai Shopping Center on S Kihei Road and faces Kihei Road rather than the inner parking lot, which can make it easier to miss on a first visit. (mauihawaii.org)
It is a better stop for grab-and-go pie, breakfast pastry, or dessert than for a long meal. (restaurantji.com)

Verification Notes

Official business identity matches the supplied baseline: Maui Pie, 1280 S Kihei Rd #101, Kihei, HI 96753, (808) 298-0473, mauipie.com. (mauipie.com)
Business is operational. Google Places and the business site both show active current service, and Toast ordering is live. (mauipie.com)
Minor suite-format drift only: sources alternate between #101 and 101B, but the street address and location are otherwise consistent. (mauipie.com)

Sources

Maui Pie official website home page — https://mauipie.com/ — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for the current operating-hours framing, brand positioning, and confirmation that the business is active.
Maui Pie official menu and pricing page — https://mauipie.com/pages/menu-and-pricing — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for current menu structure, prices, morning/full-menu split, vegan fruit-pie note, and notable items.
Maui Pie official FAQ — https://mauipie.com/pages/f-a-q — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for address confirmation, baked-in-house claim, dietary limits, pre-order guidance, and drink availability.
Maui Pie official contact page — https://mauipie.com/pages/contact — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for the official phone number and contact details.
Hawaiʻi Magazine feature on Maui Pie — https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/mauis-best-new-restaurant-is-a-pie-lovers-paradise/ — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for founder story, origin history, signature items, and the chicken pot pie / tropical fruit-pie emphasis.
Tripadvisor listing for Maui Pie — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60632-d8465625-Reviews-Maui_Pie-Kihei_Maui_Hawaii.html — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for recurring traveler sentiment, price perceptions, and practical feature signals such as takeout and seating.
Restaurantji listing for Maui Pie — https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/kihei/maui-pie-/ — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for corroborating hours, popular items, and the pattern of strong food/service ratings.
Toast ordering page for Maui Pie — https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/maui-pie-1280-s-kihei-rd — Retrieved 2026-04-01. Useful for current menu categories, address formatting, live ordering status, and price examples.