Ka‘anapali Area

(855) 718-5789 or (808) 662-2800
130 Kai Malina Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This 38-acre condo property opened in 2009 and operates like a resort. Even though each unit is individually owned, all have the same type of furnishings from the on-site agent. Many units are not rented out—they’re second homes for their owners—but a lot are. The condos themselves are furnished luxuriously in a contemporary Hawaiian style. Bosch or Viking appliances throughout—everything a gourmet cook could want. They feel very spacious, like a second home, and all have queen sofa beds, so even a studio can sleep four comfortably. The lanais here are a real asset. Their glass doors fold back all the way so the lanais become part of the main living space, but they also have optional screens (good for buggy nights).

(800) 233-1234 or (808) 661-1234
200 Nohea Kai Dr, Kaanapali
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Wow, where do we start? This is one of the biggest resorts on Maui, sitting among 40 acres of spacious and exotic grounds. The two outstanding pools are large with waterfalls, and one has a fast 150-foot waterslide (users must be at least 4 feet tall), a swinging bridge and a swim-up bar inside a cave. Little ones can enjoy a shorter waterslide, a sand-lined lagoon and synchronized fountains. Between the two is a poolside bar filled with the roar of the artificial waterfalls. The lobby is next to the huge atrium, which, in the mornings, is filled with the sounds of wild birds there to steal some food.

They have tours of the wildlife strewn about the grounds (such as the warm-weather penguins, swans, flamingos and parrots), and there’s a nice oceanside state-of-the-art fitness center. Their Kamaha‘o: Marilyn Monroe Spa has all the bone-melting fixin’s.

(866) 664-6410 or (808) 667-1400
50 Nohea Kai Dr, Kaanapali
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This is a very well-run condo property with particularly competent staff. Their beach is a winner. The pools are pleasant with a designated quiet pool. If you don’t love to cook but love to eat, some weekend nights they have a grill master who will season (from the on-site herb garden) your food and grill it with you for free—sweet! (You supply the food; they supply the plates and utensils.)

Rooms are spacious with mostly upscale furnishings. The oceanfront units (which are corner condos) have particularly dreamy views from second or higher floors. There are four 11-story buildings: 1 and 3 are closest to the water, but some views may be partially blocked by palm fronds, and units in other buildings may face the ocean more directly. You have charging privileges at some of the nearby resorts. Grocery delivery service is available for a fee, and there is a small sundries shop that also has sandwiches and salads. Room service is available from the Westin.

(800) 262-8450 or (808) 661-0011
2525 Kaanapali Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This is one of the early Ka‘anapali resorts, and it shows. It shows in the look of the buildings and rooms, but it also shows in the warm hearts of the employees. This isn’t the place to go for the jaw-dropping opulence of some of the other Ka‘anapali resorts. You go here for its old-fashioned feel, the awesome beach location, the aloha of the employees and the price. Rooms are clean but not remarkable. If you don’t like your room, ask for another. The property consists of mostly sloping, green lawns with mature shade trees.

The staff here has a very family feel. Every employee undergoes extensive Hawaiian cultural training. Many of the items around the resort were actually made by the employees. From the outrigger canoe on the lawn to the Hawaiian artworks around the resort—each piece was created in the traditional way.

(800) 222-5642 or (808) 661-3611
2780-A Kekaa Dr, Kaanapali
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This three-story hotel building used to be a tower of the Royal Lahaina Resort. Think of it as the stepsister to the Royal Lahaina. It’s older, and even with room refreshes done in 2016, it’s still not on par with the main hotel. The bathrooms have showers only (no tubs). Since it’s next to the lu‘au grounds, you get to hear the lu‘au every night (especially if you’re in one of the odd-numbered rooms). But you do have access to all the facilities and signing privileges at the Royal Lahaina Resort. Parking is $15 per day, valet parking is $20, local calls and 800 numbers are an extra buck. You can pay a $21-per-day optional fee (the Paradise Value Package) to cover self-parking, local calls and two free mai tais per day, and if you add $5 more, you can get valet parking, too. It’s the only budget place right on the beach at Ka‘anapali. Rooms (355 sq. ft.) are $135–$275.

(800) 676-4112 or (808) 661-3484
2560 Kekaa Dr, Kaanapali
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This is sort of the forgotten condo resort of Ka‘anapali. It’s far from the beach and is very quiet (except for some traffic noise from the nearby highway), and you may not see many people. The 2/2s are huge—1,434–2,032 sq. ft. with split-level layouts on third-floor units. Most are long term or owner-occupied, and the remaining vacation rentals display a variation of decorative styles, but we saw none we wouldn’t stay in. This property is in great condition because it seems under-used, and they have a long list of house rules on their website. Some units have room safes. Most have DVD players. Rates are $315–$630. 5- or 14-night minimum (at Christmas). They have an annoying “vehicle registration fee” of $80 per car, per stay.

(800) 688-7444 or (808) 661-0021
2661 Kekaa Dr, Kaanapali
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The condominium is a mix of good and bad. Their location is long walk from the beach, but, if you like, they’ll ferry you to and from there up to 5:30 p.m. Also, the layout is such that you can’t drive to most units. They’ll take your bags to your room on the first day and will drive you around if you need a hand with groceries or are physically limited.

Like most condos, each unit is individually owned. Some are beautifully furnished and worth the money. Others are poorly furnished, but you pay the same price. This is the risk you always take when you rent a condo. If you don’t like your room, ask for another. Life’s too short, and so is your vacation.

Grounds and pools are unimpressive but well-maintained. Local and toll free calls are $1. Room safes are free if you book direct; otherwise, they are $1.56 a day.

(888) 671-5307 or (808) 667-7791
45 Kai Ala Dr, Kaanapali
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On 11 acres of land, theses five condo buildings have poor views but are comfortably furnished. The Dolphin and Emerald buildings are the most popular, but they rightfully refer to them as “ocean side” instead of “ocean view.” Some other resorts would call them “ocean view,” though the ocean isn’t visible from the ground floor. So kudos to these guys for being honest. However, some of their “ocean view” rooms we felt were actually “partial ocean view.” So go figga!

The rooms have three quality categories, standard, deluxe and premium. We felt the standard rooms really needed updating, so go with deluxe or premium. (The images on their website are mostly of premium rooms.

(800) 222-5642 or (808) 661-3611
2780 Kekaa Dr, Kaanapali
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This 27-acre resort on heavenly Ka‘anapali Beach currently consists of cottages and a tower called the Lahaina Kai. Of the two, you’re best off at the Lahaina Kai Tower, with stunning rooms, including Egyptian cotton sheets and feather beds. The cottages (available as hotel-type rooms or one- or two-bedroom suites) at press time were undergoing renovations consisting of new bathrooms, kitchens and furnishings. The results are clean, simple and very comfortable.

Of the oceanfront cottages, only Buildings E & F are worth the upgrade price; others have more blocked views. Cottage F (called the Royal Beach House) is a 1,600-sq.-ft., three-bedroom/two-bath unit that can be rented in combination with attached cottages to sleep up to 14 people.

(866) 716-8109 or (808) 661-0031
2605 Kaanapali Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This was the first resort built in Ka‘anapali on a property that does not feel particularly Hawaiian but more modern and a tad spartan. It lacks the same splash offered by other mega-resorts. (Well, except for the cliff diver who dives into the ocean every night at sunset from Black Rock.) Instead, the 23 acres of grounds are green but comparatively simple and less exotic, dominated by large expanses of lawn.

The beach is the star here, and don’t you forget it. Located at the north end of Ka‘anapali Beach, the water here is heavenly, and the swimming is good during calm seas. Their swimming pool has a cool mist coming from the rocks that feels pretty good when you walk by. It’s laid out so that adults tend to hang out on one end (with drinks and food), and the children’s side is on the other end with food service nearby that caters more to their tastes.

(855) 747-0763 or (808) 661-4861
2481 Kaanapali Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This condo property consists of two towers on delicious Ka‘anapali Beach. The resort is well-run and friendly, and the services are admirable. Staff is excellent; many of them have been here for a long time. The pool courtyard looks very dreamy with large koi ponds and perfectly manicured green lawns. The pool is very popular here, but it’s very basic. Casabella chairs by the pool are free for the taking.

On this visit, we noticed that many owners have upgraded their units. Make sure you ask for a “premium” unit; it may be worth the price over a standard. Rooms have a great layout with a bedroom and living room sharing the view. We debated which ocean views were best and lean toward north-facing views because Moloka‘i looks better than Lana‘i from your large lanai. Oceanfront has the best views, of course, but the extra cost is pretty painful. Studio units are not oceanfront.

(866) 716-8112 or (808) 667-3200
6 Kai Ala Dr, Kaanapali
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With over 1,000 condominium units, this is the mother of all properties on Maui. Seven plantation-style buildings on 26 acres located on beautiful Kahekili Beach. Built as a timeshare property, they also maintain a healthy inventory of vacation rentals.

If you have kids, this is the place to be. They have a dreamy kids’ program and center, which offers everything from arts and crafts to cultural activities to video games. The program is $80 for the day for kids 5–12 and includes lunch and a seasonal night camp for $65. You have to love the pirate ship keiki pool because your kids will have a blast (no pun intended) using it. The other pools are lagoon-shaped with a 109-foot waterslide at the south pool, but they do tend to jam a lot of chairs around all the pools. There is also an adults-only pool. Cabanas with four chairs are $150 a day up to 10 p.m.

(866) 716-8112 or (808) 667-2525
2365 Kaanapali Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This resort prides itself on two things: their pools and the beach. And their boasts ring true. Their part of Ka‘anapali Beach is outstanding. This is the kind of beach scene you’ll always remember. The pools consist of an outrageous 87,000-square-foot water playground that includes two waterslides and waterfalls, swim-through grotto, a family-friendly pool and an adults-only pool.

The larger Beach Tower rooms achieve their goal of “modern luxury” with their trademark Heavenly Beds and tasteful decor. The Ocean Tower building has smallish rooms with modern decor, including showers-only with handhelds in all bathrooms and glass paneling on lanais for a less-obstructed view. They have a long list of items that guests may request, including “Heavenly” dog beds and “Heavenly Cribs” for your other little angel.

(866) 837-4271 or (808) 662-6300
45 Kai Malina Pkwy, Kaanapali
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This is the newest resort in Ka’anapali—and that’s a title they’ll probably be able to hang on to for a long while since the resort was built in 2017 on the last remaining stretch of vacant land along this part of the coast.

The comfortable, modern, apartment-like villas are ideally suited for people who want to stay a week or longer. Spacious with well-appointed living rooms, “Heavenly” king beds (yeah, that’s their branding not-so-subconsciously working its way into this review, but the term fits), fully equipped kitchens and luxurious bathrooms. There’s a consistent design theme that runs throughout the resort that incorporates elements of ancient Hawaiian culture, but it’s subtle and not at all stereotypically Hawaiian.