OUR STORY
Built From a
Real Journey
A story of purpose, faith and courage—born in Santa Monica, shaped by Maui, and built to help people experience the real island.
BEGIN THE JOURNEY ↓
JACQUES THURMAN
Founder & CEO
Eat Pray Maui · Eat Pray Hawaii
CHAPTER ONE · THE BEGINNING
From Santa Monica
to Maui soul.
Eat Pray Maui was created from a simple but powerful belief: life should be lived with purpose, guided by faith, and driven by the courage to build something meaningful.
Born in Santa Monica, California, and later making Maui his home, Jacques Thurman created Eat Pray Maui from his own journey of discovery, ambition, family, faith, and island life.
What began as a lifestyle brand grew into something larger: a trusted Maui marketplace and AI-powered concierge designed to connect visitors with authentic experiences and help outstanding local businesses grow.
“From Santa Monica roots to Maui soul, this brand was built to inspire the world.”
SANTA MONICA
WHERE THE JOURNEY BEGAN
ROOTS → SOUL
MAUI
WHERE THE VISION FOUND HOME
CHAPTER TWO · OUR PURPOSE
More than a
travel website.
We help people experience the real Maui—not simply the places that appear first in a search.
Through trusted business listings, personalized recommendations, local partnerships, and Leilani—our AI-powered Maui concierge—visitors can discover the people, places, and experiences that make the island extraordinary.
EXPLORE TRUSTED BUSINESSES ↗Aloha, I'm Leilani.
Your personal Maui concierge
Ask me anything
CHAPTER THREE · COMMUNITY
Local businesses are the
heart of the island.
Our mission is to give Maui businesses greater visibility while helping travelers find companies they can trust.
Experience
Support Local
Every connection supports a stronger local economy and helps preserve the character, culture, and aloha that make Maui unlike anywhere else.
THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME
Three words. One way of life.
EAT
Enjoying life, local food, and the flavors of the island.
PRAY
Faith, gratitude, reflection, and respect for Hawaiian culture.
MAUI
The island, its people, and the community that inspired everything.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
From Maui to
All of Hawaiʻi.
Eat Pray Maui is where the vision began—built to connect visitors with trusted local businesses, authentic experiences, and intelligent island guidance.
Eat Pray Hawaii represents the next chapter: expanding that same mission across Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island while preserving the local character of each destination.
Together, Eat Pray Maui and Eat Pray Hawaii are building a connected platform where travelers can discover Hawaiʻi with greater confidence and local businesses can gain the visibility they deserve.
MAUI ✦ HAWAIʻI
