Photo: Honua Kai Resort & Spa
It’s not always easy finding the best place to stay in Maui with your family. There are so many great options. But all families are different. You might like being at a big resort with lots of action – waterslides, spas, restaurants. Or, maybe you’re into something with a more mellow vibe, a low-key place to hangout on the beach.
This list is meant to help your family pick the resort that best fits your needs. Vacatia works with 38 hand-picked resorts in Maui, so feel free to see everything we have to offer by visiting our website: https://vacatia.com
1) Napili Shores Resort (from $140/night)
Secluded cove with snorkeling, boogie boarding, best brunch on Maui
Napili Shores really is one of those hidden gems. It’s located right above Napili Bay, a secluded beach cove with great snorkeling and boogie boarding. It might be a little farther away from everything in Lahaina and Ka’anapali, but the crowds are certainly less. And then there’s the famous Gazebo Restaurant. Tucked beside the pool, this family-friendly restaurant is known for the best brunch on the island. You can also grab dinner at the Hawaiian-style BBQ restaurant, Iron Imu. You’re right across the street from two PGA courses at Kapalua Golf Club, and up the road from fine dining and designer shopping in Kapalua.
What you need to know
Where is it: Napili Bay
Stay here if: You want a smaller resort on a secluded beach and don’t mind being a little farther.
Directions from the airport (32.7 miles)
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2) Aina Nalu Lahaina (from $139/night)
Walk to the art galleries of downtown Lahaina
Aina Nalu offers something that a lot of other Maui resorts don’t – a prime location in the heart of town. The resort is a few blocks from dozens of local restaurants, art galleries, monthly block parties, and two great luaus. You can even rent bikes to explore a bit further. Besides all the great things to do nearby, the resort has a beautiful pool, surrounded by a grassy lawn. It’s a smaller resort with a close, community vibe and good for both families and couples. Though you’re not on the beach, nearby Baby Beach offers calm waters for swimming and snorkeling.
What you need to know
Where is it: Downtown Lahaina
Stay here if: You like culture, art, and entertainment, over being on the beach
Directions from the airport (23.7 miles)
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3) Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club (from $259/night)
Huge pool, gorgeous beach, Whalers Village next door
It’s a big resort with tons of action, right on the main strip of Ka’anapali Beach. There are several pools, one with a pirate ship playground and another with a waterslide. The Kidz Club is handy if you need a couple’s day. And hey, maybe treat yourself to an oceanfront massage in a beach cabana. As far as dining goes, there’s a fiery grill, two pool bars, and a market/deli. Whalers Village mall is a five minutes walk down the beach path. You’re also next door to Ka’anapali Golf Club if you find yourself wanting a golf day.
What you need to know
Where is it: Ka’anapali Beach
Stay here if: You like being in the center of the action and right on the beach
Directions from the airport (27.3 miles)
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4) Hololani Resort (from $189/night)
Peaceful gardens, oceanfront pool, nearby beach park
This is where you come to get away from it all. Picture lush gardens of hibiscus and palms, shaded by palm trees swaying in the gentle tradewinds. No shouting, no chaos in the pool, just the sound of the waves. You can relax in the oceanfront pool, or venture into the reef offshore. Nearby you’ll find a local farmers market and a beach park, great for picnics, all in walking distance. You won’t find many younger kids here, as Hololani is best for families with adult kids, groups, and couples.
What you need to know
Where is it: Kahana
Stay here if: You value peace, quiet, and a place with a neighborhood feel.
Directions from the airport (31 miles)
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5) Honua Kai Resort (from $274/night)
Family luxury, water park, dining on Ka’anapali Beach
This resort combines two great things – family and luxury – and does it quite well. For adults, there’s a deluxe spa that beyond massages offers hot stone treatments and a cleansing Himalayan Salt Room. Kids will love the huge pool area with a waterslide in the middle, not to mention the beach, a few steps away. Honua Kai is home to Duke’s Beach House where you can dine directly on Ka’anapali Beach. There’s also a gourmet market with groceries, essentials, and a decent wine selection. You’re across street from a local shopping area with a few stand out restaurants (try the quirky Java Jazz), and a snorkel store.
What you need to know
Where is it: Ka’anapali Beach
Stay here if: You want a luxury resort that caters specifically to families.
Directions from the airport (28.7 miles)
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6) Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort (from $269/night)
Fun pools with water park, steps from Ka’anapali Beach
Directly on Ka’anapali Beach, this action-packed resort has lots to do for kids and adults. The adult pool overlooks the ocean with a shaded place to relax, and the kids pool includes a huge pirate ship playground. You have three restaurants to choose from, along with a marketplace where you can pick up groceries. Westin Kaanapali is home to Spa Helani offering a variety of treatments and special massage cabanas. You can walk five minutes along the beach to snorkeling at Black Rock or drive 10 minutes to shopping and dining in downtown Lahaina.
What you need to know
Where is it: Ka’anapali Beach
Stay here if: You want a big resort with tons to do on a popular beach.
Directions from the airport (28.3 miles)
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7) Maui Sunset Resort (from $180/night)
Huge oceanfront lawn with family games
Play a family game of bocce ball as the sun sets over the ocean. The seaside lawn is seriously huge, with lots of space for the kids to run around. At the end of the grass, you reach a calm beach that feels almost private. Here you can snorkel and swim. You’re a five-minute drive from downtown Kihei, a local surf town filled with plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars. And true to the resort’s name, the sunset really is spectacular. The lawn gives you an excellent, obstructed view of nature’s lightshow.
What you need to know
Where is it: Kihei
Stay here if: You want lots of space for the kids to run around.
Directions from the airport (11.2 miles)
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8) Aston Kaanapali Shores (from $175/night)
Quieter side of Ka’anapali, oceanfront pool, walk to local restaurants
It’s the final resort on the very tip of Ka’anapali Beach. So it’s not quite as crowded as the main strip. Kids can play in the oceanfront pool, while you enjoy a drink and lounge. They also offer a year-round kids camp so you can take a day off. The ocean is steps away and there are five restaurants in walking distance along the beach. Across the street is a mini mall with shops and a few restaurants. Many of the residences here were recently renovated with granite counter tops and tile floors.
What you need to know
Where is it: North end of Ka’anapali Beach
Stay here if: You want Ka’anapali Beach without the crowds.
Directions from the airport (29.1 miles)
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9) Mana Kai Resort (from $272/night)
Gorgeous sunsets, beach on all sides, oceanfront dining
Mana Kai is all about the beach. So much so, that it’s surrounded by a peninsula of sand. Keawakapu Beach stretches for a mile, with only a few smaller resorts along its shore. You have room to spread out, without worrying about bumping into the crowds. From the seaside lawn you can grab a lounge chair and admire the ocean panorama and spot the island of Lana'i in the distance. Kids can play in the water and you can all rent snorkels at the resort and explore the reef that clings to the lava rocks off-shore. There’s also 5 Palms restaurant, serving brunch, lunch, and dinner with an ocean view. Come at sunset for their happy hour!
What you need to know
Where is it: Kihei
Stay here if: Your family is happiest on the beach.
Directions from the airport (15.8 miles)
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