Kahului's best shopping is concentrated in two places. Almost all of the shops reviewed are at one of the following centers:

The once rough-around-the-edges Maui Mall, 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave. (tel. 808/877-7559), is the talk of Kahului. Newly renovated, it's now bigger and better, and has retained some of our favorite stores while adding a 12-screen movie megaplex that features current releases as well as art-house films. The mall is still a place of everyday good things, from Long's Drugs to Star Market to Tasaka Guri Guri, the decades-old purveyor of inimitable icy treats, neither ice cream nor shave ice but something in between.

Queen Kaahumanu Center, 275 Kaahumanu Ave. (tel. 808/877-3369), 5 minutes from the Kahului Airport on Highway 32, offers more than 100 shops, restaurants, and theaters. Its second-floor Plantation District offers home furnishings and accessories, fabulous Naot and Kenneth Cole shoes (Native Soles), and gift and accessories shops. Kaahumanu covers all the bases, from the arts and crafts to a Foodland Supermarket and everything in between: a thriving food court; the island's best beauty supply, Lisa's Beauty Supply & Salon (tel. 808/877-6463), and its sister store for cosmetics, Madison Avenue Day Spa and Boutique (tel. 808/873-0880); mall standards like Sunglass Hut, Radio Shack, and Local Motion (surf and beach wear -- including the current fad, women's board shorts, a combination of hot pants and men's surf trunks); attractive gift shops such as Maui Hands and standard department stores like Macy's and Sears.

Edibles--The Star Market and Long's Drugs in the Maui Mall, Foodland in the Kaahumanu Center, and Safeway at 170 E. Kamehameha Ave. will satisfy your ordinary grocery needs. On Saturday, you may want to check out the Maui Swap Meet .

Down to Earth Natural Foods, 305 Dairy Rd. (tel. 808/877-2661), a health-food staple for many years, has fresh organic produce, a bountiful salad bar, sandwiches and smoothies, vitamins and supplements, fresh-baked goods, chips and snacks, whole grains, and several packed aisles of vegetarian and health foods.

Maui's produce has long been a source of pride for islanders, and Ohana Farmers Market (tel. 808/871-8347), Kahului Shopping Center, is the place to find a fresh, inexpensive selection of Maui-grown fruit, vegetables, flowers, and plants. Crafts and gourmet foods add to the event, and the large monkeypod trees provide welcome shade.