On our latest trip to Maui we were fortunate enough to check out 3 Beautiful high end resort accommodations in Kaanapali.. 

Westin Maui Resort and Spa

The Westin Maui Resort and Spa is located on the oceanfront of warm Ka’anapali beach. This Westin resort is huge. It has spectacular views of Lanai and Molokai. It is just minutes from all of the attractions Maui has to offer, yet is a world unto itself.  Even if you remained on the Westin grounds for a week you would have plenty to do.  The Westin features a beautiful spa, workout room, fine dining, entertainment, golf, shopping, conference rooms, a kids’ club and the irresistible Kaanapali beach.

Dining & Entertainment

The Westin’s restaurants offer a variety of distinctive menus featuring the freshest local ingredients. From traditional island favorites to gourmet meals, the many restaurants at the Westin serve a wide range of distinctive flavors.  The ambience is always dramatic – including oceanfront views where you can catch Maui’s brilliant sunsets.

We enjoyed the abundant breakfast at the Colonnade Café.  Here we enjoyed our breakfast beside a waterfall, watching ducks, swans, and flamingos playing in the wildlife pond.  What a great way to start your morning! The OnO Bar & Grill Island Breakfast Buffet is served from 6:30 am – 10:30 am.  We had custom ordered omelets, the most amazing waffles, eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit smoothies, breads and bagels.  The even serve fish and other Japanese breakfast favorites.  There was no shortage of food here!

For evening entertainment check out The Wailele Polynesian Luau or the “Flavors of Island Music” featuring entertainment by some of the island’s most talented artists.  There is a calendar of entertainment available every night with no shortage of things to do.

Westin Workout

We absolutely loved the Westin Fitness room. So many hotels have enclosed spaces with no view… this gives you no incentive to continue your workout while on vacation.  The Westin’s workout room has got it right! It is enclosed by floor to ceiling windows overlooking views of waterfalls, wildlife and the tropical surroundings the Resort. It is truly a beautiful place in which to enjoy your workout. The room features state-of-the-art cardio equipment from Life Fitness and Precor. There are free weights and individual viewing screens on every cardio machine. Westin Workout also offers the Reebok Core Training Zone, a center that improves strength, flexibility, balance and aerobic conditioning. The gym is Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. This is a great way to stay in shape while in paradise and still enjoy paradise!

Heavenly Spa

We were fortunate enough to enjoy a massage while at the Heavenly Spa. What a nice treat. With a variety of massages and treatments, enjoy a deep tissue , Swedish or hot rock massage. More information about all the spa services on the Westin website below.The relaxation room over looks the ocean where we actually spotted humpback whales! Imagine sitting in a waiting area wearing the plushest, warming robe while you munch on Hawaiian fruits, nuts and teas, sitting in a cushy lounge chair overlooking the ocean below. If only every day could be like this! The spa features:

• 16 treatment rooms: 11 massage rooms (including two couple massage rooms)
• 3 facial rooms
• 3 hydrotherapy rooms
• 1 hydrotherapy bath
• 1 Vichy showers
• Expansive men and women’s locker rooms, each with their own whirlpools, steam room and saunas
• Ka’anapali’s only ocean view relaxation lounge
• Full service salon offering hair services, manicures, pedicures, hair braiding, make-up and bridal party preparation.
• Specialized treatments incorporating island fragrances, including Maui grown Lavender.

Shopping

Right next door to The Westin is the Whaler’s Village.

Whaler’s Village is the only oceanfront-shopping destination in Hawaii. It is a bustling shopping mall with a diverse collection of world-class designer boutiques, gift shops, art galleries and excellent open-air dining. There is a free whale museum open daily.  We popped in briefly to learn a bit of history about the whaling industry.

Weddings

If you are getting married in Maui contact the Westin’s Director of Romance who will plan every facet of your wedding including photographer, officiant, musicians, videographers, flowers and cakes.  Westin Maui Resort and Spa has celebrates over 300 weddings a year! They allow only 1 bride per day so your day is special.

Golf

While we were at The Westin Maui we ran into so many golfers! The resort looks towards the mountains across Kaanapali Golf course home to the Resort South Golf course, and the Tournament North Course. If you golf this is a great spot.

Pools

There is an 87,000 square-foot pool area featuring five swimming pools, two water slides, a swim-through grotto with twin waterfalls and a hidden Whirlpool. The pool area features exotic wildlife and a $2.5 million art collection.  This is like no other expanse of pool space you have ever seen! It goes on for days with many levels and private areas.

Westin Kids Club ages 5-12

The Westin offers a children’s program that introduces the Hawaiian culture and traditions through dance, arts and crafts, language and games. Full or half day programs are available with lunch included. They even have an evening program too!

For those of you who are kids at heart contact the Director of fun for exciting activities to enjoy during your stay at the Westin.

Rooms

The rooms at the Westin feature the trademark Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Baths – with extra fluffy towels and brand-name amenities. They have mountain-view rooms to luxurious oceanfront suites, each with contemporary decor and supremely comfortable furnishings.

For more info:

www.westinmaui.com

 

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa features a breathtakingly beautiful lobby, stunning views of the mountains and the ocean, a water playground with Pools, a Slide, Waterfalls and a Rope Bridge. There are birds and penguins in or near the lobby area. A nightclub, several restaurants, golf and tennis access and a full service spa and fitness center along with rooms with incredible views make this Hotel a great spot for vacationers.  The Hyatt has the only oceanfront spa in Maui and the first ever on Maui as well.

Every night at 5:30pm on the Sunset Terrace on Ka’anapali Beach, the Hyatt offers a spectacular Lu’au and performance called Drums of the Pacific Lu’au. The evening starts with a shell lei greeting and fresh mai tais or fruit punch for each guest. An open bar and An all-you-can-eat generous buffet including Kalua Pork, Huli Huli Chicken, Mahi Mahi, Ulupalakua Beef, Polynesian Rice, Vegetables Makamaka, Tropical Fruits Anuenue, Soba Noodles, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Pacific Ahi Poke, Tossed Green Salad, and Poi (taro).  The Lavish dessert bar features Macadamia Nut Lu’au Cream Pie, Haupia with Toasted Coconut, Pineapple Cake and the best Bread Pudding we have ever tasted!

Next, the sound of the conch, the beating of the drums, and the echoes of a Hawaiian chant signal the start of the Lu’au. “Drums of the Pacific” Polynesian Spectacular (a Tihati Production) takes you on a journey through the islands of Polynesia, complete with a traditional imu ceremony and the exotic flavors of native Hawaiian cuisine. It features authentic dances and music of the old Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga, and Rarotonga. The performance includes an audience participated hula dance which is great fun for adults and children alike. The highlight of the evening (besides the incredible bread pudding) was the fire show at the end. A very fit young Hawaiian twirled fire batons like we have never seen, transferring the flames from one end to the other using his hands and mouth! This spectacular show is open to the public. 

For information and tickets for the Luau check out: http://maui.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/activities/onsite/details.jsp;jsessionid=V2NTIY2XUEOYXTQSNWIVAGGOCJWYOUP4?onsiteActId=413&offsiteActId=413  

For more info on the Hyatt contact (808) www.maui.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp or

www.hyattregencymaui.org

Sheraton Maui Resort

The Sheraton Maui Resort is located on a lovely stretch of Kaanapali beach anchored by the Black Rock. This spectacular hotel is a great spot for romantic couples and fun-loving families alike. We experienced amazing snorkeling all along Black Rock where people dare to dive off of the cliff. We saw many different fish and a big sea turtle!  This is the best place around Kaanapali for snorkeling in a wonderful atmosphere. Every night at sunset there is a cliff diving ceremony as a diver lights all the torches before taking his plunge into the ocean.

Pools

Sheraton Maui Resort features a 142-yard fresh-water swimming lagoon that meanders through tropical gardens, and under wooden-carved bridges. We enjoyed their outdoor spa set amidst lava rock formations and waterfalls cascading from lush tropical flowerbeds.  

Dinning

With sweeping coastal views and a delightful menu of island-influenced creations, the Keka’a Terrace is the perfect choice for casual dining and Black Rock Steak & Seafood for contemporary dining. East and West culinary delights combine at Teppan-yaki Dan, where guests will enjoy a fusion of delicious culinary traditions.

Black Rock Steak and Seafood

At Sunset every evening there is a cliff diving ceremony where a torch runner makes his way to Black Rock, lights a torch and takes a ceremonial dive into the ocean as was done in the past by Hawaiian natives. This picturesque moment kicked off our evening. After the sun went down we made our way over to the Black Rock Steak and Seafood Restaurant.  The swaying palm trees and tiki torches created a beautiful atmosphere. We enjoyed live music and hula dancers while we dinned on our delicious meal. We sat outside and the  atmosphere and night was perfect.  Choose from a sitdown dinner with a great selection of dishes and fresh fish including Mahi Mahi, Ahi and the catch of the day.  You cannot go wrong as our seafood entrees were cooked to perfection. You can also go for the buffet with an assortment and variety of choices. 

Some of the food we enjoyed was:

Grilled Black Rock Pizza * flat bread pizza topped with plum tomato, calamata olives,

macadamia nut pesto, goat cheese and mozzarella. Very interesting and unique

Grilled Black and Blue Ahi * japanese spiced on a chiso slaw or served the traditional way

Maui Onion Soup * topped with asiago and mozzarella cheese under a flaky pastry crust

wasabi-garlic mash. Very tasty and had to have the local Maui Onion Soup.

ISLAND FISH- 

broiled * splash of thyme lemongrass sauce

sautéed * in a white wine caper butter reduction

grilled * on a flat iron with soy sauce and mirin jus

gratinee * pan fried and glazed with hollandaise

tempura style * with a daikon dipping sauce

We had some great desserts, too! We loved the Black Rock Lava Cake, Macadamia Nut Pineapple Banana Split and the Banana Cream Pie.

Delicious!

Rooms

Almost all of the Sheraton’s 510 rooms and suites face the ocean, with a private lanai for contemplating the view.

For more information and reservations contact:

www.sheraton-maui.com