No plans? No worries. Go holoholo (out for the fun). On Maui, you can take your days as they come, and plan your adventures spontaneously. The journey is the destination.
People say Maui no ka oi (Maui is the best) because Maui has it all. The gorgeous coastlines have some of the best waves to surf and serene habitats to snorkel. Relaxation becomes an art when you're watching a sublime sunset on a picture-perfect beach. What color sand do you like on your beach? Take your pick, because we’re all about variety -- from black to green to red. This island is yours to explore... the way you want to explore it.
Upcountry is the place to go holoholo. The only thing sweeter than the lavender and eucalyptus-scented air, is the eclectic boutiques and organic ranches.
Lahaina is more than just a cute beach town with a lot of t-shirt vendors. It’s full of great dining, shopping, and historical landmarks. The humpback whales love to swim by its shores in winter.
Wailea is where you find the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii. You’ll have a tough time deciding between going snorkeling, surfing, or just relaxing -- and an easy time doing them all.
If you ask for directions on Maui, the locals will answer in the amount of time that it takes to get there, and landmarks along the way.
Maui will literally blow you away. It can be very windy on the Island, especially in the afternoon.
Take a helicopter tour to be let in on Maui’s marvelous secrets, like hidden waterfalls. A 40-50 minute tour will give you the most bang for your buck.
From late November to early April, Maui gets a visit from its favorite winter tourists: humpback whales. Take a boat from Lahaina or Maalaea to see them up close. They're hard to miss.
Hotel common areas were gorgeous and most rooms are situated with a very nice view of the ocean. It is clean and everything is in order, although the rooms themselves are a bit dated. The bed however was crazy comfortable, couldn't feel my wife move. Had the best sleep while there!
The pools and outside lawns are well manicured. The restaurant and food are okay, while the drinks were top notch. There are food trucks nearby and higher quality restaurants and better food to choose from if you are willing to walk or drive a couple minutes.
The staff was pretty friendly, although we had one negative interaction with the concierge desk representative who was very rude to me.
Location was near Lahaina and other nice restaurants and resorts. For the best eating and relaxing on the beach, this is the perfect location. We spent most of our days hiking, doing the road to Hanna, scuba diving, etc. so we were constantly driving to the other side of the island.
Overall, very good value for the money. Not the fanciest hotel, but nice mid-range resort that you can relax at with plenty of good food nearby.
Family getaway #2
Cbmarkle75
Overall my family and I enjoyed our stay. It was our second time staying here. One issue we had this time around was that we had a lot of mosquitoes in our room. My 4 year old got bit up pretty badly the first night and still has huge bumps a week and a half later. The rest of us got bites too over the duration of our stay. The other issue was that due to Covid they didn't come in periodically to clean and after a week with 5 people in a room going to the beach daily, it got pretty dirty. They were very good about getting us new towels, bedding, or anything we needed in a timely manner. Again the cleanliness issue was a Covid issue so really out of their hands. I feel they did the very best they could given the circumstances. I would most definitely stay there again and recommend it to anyone. Next time though if there's a mosquito problem, I will definitely say something.
Perfect place to stay
512janiced
(League City, Texas)
We booked 3 ocean view rooms and each had a spectacular view of the water. We loved the pool and the drinks there. One pool is more kid oriented and the other is closer to the ocean and quieter for adults. Walked across the street for groceries as the rooms have a full kitchen as well as a washer and drier. Hosted an engagement dinner in the restaurant and it went very well. Not much beach access but we had access to a rental car as well as Uber .
Filthy room, circa 1990, little assistance from staff.
Vicki S
(Dallas, Oregon)
We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite with friends. Room was nothing like advertised...so much for Covid cleaning. Loud walkway behind BR 2, filthy kitchen, disgusting carpet (thank goodness for slippers) - previous guests snacks and glass found. Hotel finally offered us a chance to switch rooms 2 days before departure. Big disappointment...big!!
Great Resort in Kaanapali Area
Moncana11
(Phoenix, Arizona)
This place is just perfect! We rented a 2 bedroom condo and it was exactly as described, if not better. Very clean and with tons of amenities and extras. Plenty of room for our family of 4, which includes 2 boys, 11 and 15. The location cannot be beat. The pool areas are clean and well maintained. The pool side restaurant and bar is great. Staff is friendly. There’s a nice little sandy beach next to the resort, not directly in front, but this works for us. Our boys have spent the last two days enjoying the pool and the beach. Really enjoying our stay and would recommend to other families.
I’ve stayed at the Whaler twice before this stay.10th time vacationing in Maui. It’s a very busy, touristy area, but I wanted my 31 year old daughter who is an RN in Orange County and my sister to enjoy vacationing in Maui.It offers a superb beachfront location. Aston Whaler offered a wonderful two bedroom, two bath ocean view premium unit at a Heroes, First Responder discounted rate for our 9 night stay. We were very pleased with our unit on the eleventh floor. The unit was very clean upon arrival . Lanai was huge and the view of the ocean was wonderful.Staff were very pleasant. They responded quickly to any request we had. Check in and Check out was effortless. They are located next to Whalers Village. Access to Whalers Village is convenient. Our room card opens a secure gate leading to the shops. The staff at the pool area were friendly and helpful. The barbecues on site were the best we’ve experienced in Maui. Would highly recommend Aston Whaler.
Just ok...
DaniR433
(El Macero, California)
I wouldn't call these luxury condos, but they were nice. It was kind of gross to see stained carpet in the unit. Tile is a far better choice for a beach condo. Also, had to ask three separate times for towels from front desk. They don't change them out every day because of COVID. Then when they leave my old ones behind, they had the nerve to ask me to bag them before they would pick them up. Excuse me, but when you clean the room at the end of the stay, are guests bagging up their towels for you? No, they are not. So stop taking advantage of COVID to be lazy.
Junky looking worn out beach towels and a motel looking pool. C'mon guys, can you afford some nicer looking towels?
Only great thing about this property is proximity to beach and Whaler's Village. Otherwise, dated and average grounds.
our 40th anniversary
msmmurphy
this was our second visit. we got an oceanfront room this time it was absolutely gorgeous, great location and a beautiful beach. nice pool and beautiful grounds. the water, the views, the sunsets can't be beat.
Wonderful vacation at the Whaler in Maui
Exploration715405
Spent 7 fantastic nights at the Aston Whaler Kaanapali Beach, Maui. It is a super location on a beautiful beach with the best weather in Maui. You wouldn’t think that 5 miles north or south would make a difference but it does! Cheri, the concierge was super helpful setting up tee times at several golf courses as well as arranging golf club rentals. The front desk staff was warm and welcoming. The grounds are beautiful, the pool and beach service couldn’t have been nicer. The entire property is managed superbly. It was a great vacation!
The Whaler Experience
mojack2021
(Cedar Hill, Texas)
Our vacation at The Whaler was truly a dream come true. Beautiful mornings on the lanai watching the sailboats come and go. Nearly perfect sunsets every evening. The pool was always clean and and organized. Every employee we encountered was always friendly and so helpful with any request.
We will definitely vacation here again.
It was a very nice apartment. My family and I look forward to visiting again! The Room was nicely equipped and comfortable. There were a few spots on the chrome fixtures in the bathroom that needed to be cleaned but other then that it was very nice! The beach is nice but if you aren't a strong swimmer beware. There are lots of warning signs everywhere. The Trolley is a blast! You can get picked up from free and dropped off at shopping centers and other hotels that have interesting tourist attractions as well. I highly recommend! The Villas are independently owned so they will vary from the pictures.
Not worth the cost
sherrybskinner
(Boston, Massachusetts)
We recently spent 4 nights in a "ocean side" studio and it was definitely not worth the $450+ tax and resort fees per night we spent. The pictures look great online but in reality is totally different. We didn't see the pool, beach or ocean in this category. It is more a courtyard view.
In addition the unit we stayed in had a filthy & stained sofa, sofa pillows, stained and moldy drapes with a rod that didn't easily open or close. The main slider to the patio needs to be replaced and the patio furniture was old and rusty.
Positives were the updated and fully applianced kitchen. The pool, cafe and beach were fantastic. We also loved the low key, laid back vibe and would go back but...... only after booking through airbnb or vrbo so I know EXACTLY what unit I am getting.
We were told the units are individually owned so that explains the inconsistency in the quality of the units. We walked by and saw ground level units that were modern and updated where the unit we were in had an early 80's look in terms of furniture and the bathroom.
Delightful stay
AshleyS4713
We stayed in an oceanfront condo, and it was delightful. In addition, there is a kiosk on site with very friendly staff, and they rent snorkel equipment, paddle boards, and kayaks, which was wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of having those things so easily available.
Mediocre accommodations
RussellJK1
(New York City, New York)
Staff was less than pleasant and not very helpful, rooms did not look close to the photos online - old, outdated, etc. There are surely better options for accommodations nearby, I’d look elsewhere first before booking here if you can.
Incredible stay
aldulaim
We had such an amazing stay here! The view from our villa was absolutely stunning and we loved that the beach was right there! The water is clear and there were turtles right outside the resort! It was clean and comfortable and we couldn’t have loved it more. We also love the fact that there is a beach walk that takes you to many restaurants and shops. We enjoyed walking to dinner each night.
Excellent view! Full kitchen to save on eating out. Excellent view!!! No room service, but we knew that at booking. Did I mention the view?!?!?! Definitely will recommend this to anyone traveling to Maui!
Construction zone in your room!
X6767KIjills
Monday through Friday all day one entire building is being renovated while guests are there. We sat on our balcony to look at sea turtles with orange caution fencing and the sound of drills. Don't waste your money. Go somewhere else.
Wedding
mikefI1840GX
(Jesup, Georgia)
Thebest condo I've ever stayed in for vacation.it had everything we needed to enjoy. We will definitely consider going back one day.it was an awesome experience. The view was breathtaking. The sound of the waves coming in. We will do it again.
Meh.
Ashleyheather00
(Denver, Colorado)
Decent stay, however we paid for a “Premium 2 bed/2 bath” and it was…less than spectacular. Mismatched furniture and dingy outdoor rugs inside. Floors were dirty and caused our feet to turn black after walking around the main bedroom a few times. Construction noise was daily, and the pool often closed due to the same reason. We realize the circumstances with Covid and construction- but I wanted to write this review so others had an idea of adjusting their expectations when arriving. Or at least calling the hotel to ask about specifics before paying for amenities and “premium” levels that aren’t there.
Best Oceanfront Rooms on Maui! Waves Crashing All Night!
LiveAGr8Story
(Seattle, Washington)
Yes, the constructions on our Molokai tower was loud but since we left daily to experience Maui it won't change my opinion of the experience.
Room 804: I've stayed at the Mahana four times, always in the Molokai tower and each time in a different room. While other rooms were better decorated, they all are basically the same one bedroom, one bath with a walk in shower with lots of water pressure. Kitchen was great and well stocked. AC will not run when either of the two sliding doors to the lanai are open, but the units are so close to the water's edge you still hear the waves crashing all night, even with the sliders closed. We used the washer/dryer to pack less and returned home with clean clothes in our luggage. All rooms have had beach chairs, coolers and things left from previous tenants to make your visit more enjoyable.
View: Waking up every day to floor-to-ceiling windows and that view is priceless! We watched the sunset every night on the lanai and every morning we saw the snorkeling boats sail by, locals surfing below, or looked out across the water to neighboring islands. During whale season (Jan/Feb for the most whales) they are also seen from your room/lanai.
Pool: The pool isn't large, but it has been perfect for our family. Often empty, with several covered tables and lounge chairs there is something for everyone. The pool was a great temp and there is a hot tub. There also are outside bathrooms and an outside shower. Towels are provided while at the pool.
BBQ: The BBQs are clean and grill up a great steak or burger. There is an outside water bottle fountain to get fresh cold filtered water and save plastic from the landfills.
Covid Clean: We visited May 18-26 and found the Mahana clean and everyone wearing masks and only allowing two in the elevators, unless from the same family. Felt very comfortable.
Parking: Free parking in their large lot with many open spaces. It is also right next to your elevator and room. No large hotel to meander around to get to your room.
Gate Access Code to Honua Kai: You can walk from the Mahana parking lot to the Honua Kai Resort next door through a locked gate that you have the code to. You don't have to walk all of the way out to the main road and then all of the way through the Honua Kai Resort to get to the beach walkway and Duke's Restaurant. Quick little 5 minute walk with the cheater gate. Love the cheater gate!
Cost: I believe for the cost you get more at the Mahana than at other resorts and it will continue to be my go-to place to stay whenever I go to Maui.
We stayed here for 10 days in an ocean front room. The room and the view was amazing, I love that it had air conditioning as well. This will always be our first choice when booking a trip to Maui. It was perfect!
Papakea is nice
rarelysatisfied
(Vancouver, Washington)
There are many units so I am sure there is a wide spectrum of experiences one may have. The resort grounds are well taken care of. It was a quiet and peaceful location with no obnoxious music or road noise. The games of shuffleboard and putting green were great. What knocked this down? A really poor (painful) mattress in our unit was a big reason. There was also obstructed access to the ocean and no places that were shaded for hours long lounging.. Again depending on the unit you get the mattress may be fine.
Nice resort for the price
Maxdog0099
(La Conner, Washington)
We’ve been staying at the Papakea since 2006 and have always thoroughly enjoyed our stays. The resort condos are a bit dated and could use some renovation. But for the price you can’t beat the oceanfront views. The only major downside is their is no beach.
Very nice quiet resort
MannyCampos
(Fontana, California)
What we loved the most was that we could walk outside and we were literally on the water. We loved having a kitchen and washer/dryer. We we fell in love with the sound of the waves all through the night
Toddlers pool “accident” spoils it for many
Freedom59132053913
We booked our unit through VRBO, unit #A201. This corner unit was beautifully upgraded, including faux wood tile floors, new kitchen, along with super nice decor. Large living room and patio for taking In the gorgeous view. No maid service, but we kept it picked up; that wasn’t a problem. My only complaint is that there was no safe! I don’t get how someone cared enough to make this condo so pretty, and didn’t include a safe. It was a hassle finding places to hide jewelry, cash and credit cards when we went to the beach or pool. BTW, there is NO BEACH ACCESS. You have to walk about 8 minutes, and they don’t make it easy. You have to walk along the highway, since fences and gates of other properties prevent you. North, there is a small public beach, but not great. Lots of rocks. To the south, just past the Mahana, a nice sandy beach starts, and you can walk all the way to Kaanapali if you want.
I did not realize that getting to a beach was going to be such a hassle when I made the booking at Papakea. As for the resort itself, it was “not that great”. There are two pool attendants at both of their small pools, whose only job is apparently to put on a daily wristband so they know you’re a guest. This appears to be SO important that other issues weren’t dealt with. I can give two examples. A group of girls playing loud music on the lawn outside the pool were allowed to continue. We had to close our patio door, it was so annoying. Yet, I guess this is okay (?) Nobody asked them to stop. The WORST thing that happened was a toddler defecated at the pool, not only on the pool deck, but IN the pool itself. Everyone had to leave the area, and the pool was shut down for 24 hours! If you wanted to use the pool, you could go to the other—even smaller —pool, and cram in. This is inexcusable. The posted pool rules call for all babies and very young children are required to wear swim diapers. It would be easy for one of the attendants to check for that. All you would have to do is ask the parent to confirm the child was wearing a diaper. A shame that one lazy person had to ruin it for so many. When I asked one of the attendants about it, they appeared unconcerned; it happens “3-4 times a year.” Why does it have to happen at all? This hotel needs to reinforce their own rules.
I would not recommend this “resort”.
This resort is very nice and the staff member here are exceptional. We will definitely stay here again. Upon arrival after a late flight and delay at the airport the staff was super accommodating allow us to check in the next morning after we got some much needed rest.
2021 May - Our 1st ever visit to Maui
Roam42049931918
My son loved the condo so much, he wants to get one! Unfortunately our stay was shorter than expected to the delay in covid results flying from Kauai to Maui, but it was a beautiful condo. I would stay there again if we went to Maui.
Vacation in Paradise.
Michele S
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
We had a wonderful vacation in Maui paradise. Maui Hill was a great location for the beaches and restaurants. The resort is so tropical and beautiful. Great hospitality too.. Pool is very large and great to meet other guests too.
Maui Hill is top notch!
carolbates2021
(Memphis, Tennessee)
We had a great experience at Maui Hill, they never disappoint! I have been to this property many times in the last 20 or so years and it is always the best experience. Units are very clean and roomy and the staff always very friendly. Grounds are beautiful! Can't wait to plan our next trip!
Large, remodeled unit
cakor2021
(Abilene, Texas)
Great location, large rooms, beautiful views, would definitely stay there again. Children loved the pool. They loved the lanai. Grounds were well kept. Great staff. Washer and dryer in room made things easy.
If you want easy beach access and lots of great places to eat. This is the place to go. Literally cross the street and you have the beach. Lots of places to eat and small shops too. No resort feeling, just local aloha
Beware Hidden fees ! Booked online 3 nights for $203/ night then got hot with $229 in fees at check in.
149RobM
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
No daily cleaning service but a $125 cleaning fee will be charged, $39 damage waiver, reservation fee 29 plus taxes on all these fees totaled $229! No lobby, no restaurant, no bar, no ice machines, no room service, no beach chairs, charge for beach towels, window A/C will not break 75 degrees if run 24/7, tiny pool, room looks like a cheap Daytona Beach Motel from the 80’s.. wore out wicker furniture with pastel colors. Very musty smelling, wore out carpet. This property is barely a 2-star Motel...not a Hotel. Was a little worried when there were 2 exterminator trucks parked in the loading zone.
Not very clean
Katrina C
The room and bathroom were not clean. You could tell that frequently touched surfaces, like the sliding glass door, hadn't been cleaned. This was surprising considering they were promoting their "next level clean" during the pandemic. I wished we had stayed at one of the resorts where we probably would have gotten more value for our money.
My Maui Trip
AOAJ007
(Howell, New Jersey)
Maui was amazing, my room was ok, I didn’t like the set up personally. However the grounds were beautiful and I spent most of my time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. The parking lot was hard to maneuver and very close together. I wished I had rented a smaller car. I would have liked a sitting area in the room besides the one chair at the desk. That being said I was encouraged to spend all or most of my time outside the room which was amazing. I would visit again with all that being said.
Ugh!
samM5815ZU
(Koloa, Hawaii)
Couldn't find my reservation. Mainland answering service was awful. Finally got help from local security and into my room after an hour wait, only to spend the next three days arguing about room charges. Was a mess. Local staff finally got it worked out. Will never stay again.
Let’s be clear: The water off Maui’s South Shore is so clear that you can see up to 150 feet depths. Add in the world’s friendliest sea turtles, spinner dolphins, plus hundreds of species of fish, and you’ve got the finest snorkeling in all of Hawaii.
Water-Sports
The North Shore of Maui is where it’s at for all kinds of surfing and SUP-ing (stand up paddleboarding). Wild waves and skilled instructors are easy to find, so get in the water and take up your favorite water sport.
Zip Lining
You can hang ten in the water, but you can hang 3600 on a zipline. There are many places to zipline across the island, including Maui’s longest zipline at 3,600 feet.
Floyd M.
“Maui is just like another world. There's no worries… it's like you just let all the baloney in your life go…”
