Maui is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful and popular islands. It has tropical forests, volcanic peaks, hiking trails and above all, beautiful sandy beaches leading to the crystal clear, warm ocean.
Most of Maui’s luxury resorts and tourist infrastructure is located on the western side of the island. On the southwest side are beautiful beaches and tourist destinations like Wailea and Makena. On the northwest side, you will encounter several wild surfing beaches before you get to Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua
Tragically, Lahaina the historic whaling town known for tourism was devastated by wildfire on August 8 and 9, 2023. A total of 101 people lost their lives, and most of the structures in town were destroyed. Many residents have relocated.
However, the highway has been re-routed around Lahaina and the area is welcoming travelers at beautiful hotels and beaches north of Lahaina. One such destination is Kaanapali, home of excellent hotels like The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali.
One of the biggest attractions at the Westin is its access to a long, broad, white sandy beach with plenty of space for a meandering walk. Or you can lie on the warm sand and soak up the Hawaiian sun. If you feel more ambitious, commercial tours from sunset catamarans to fishing expeditions to parasailing, surfing and snorkel tours are all available on the beach.
The Westing has indoor and outdoor pools and beautiful modern water features. Between its pools and beach access, the Westin boasts an 87,000 square-foot aquatic playground overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It features five swimming pools for children and for adults only, two water slides,(the largest one I tested to a loud splash-down) a swim-through grotto with twin waterfalls and a hidden whirlpool.
In addition to family fun at the pools, the Westin offers a children’s program, including the Westin Kids Club Discovery Room. This ‘keiki’ program for kids 5 to 12 introduces unique Hawaiian culture and traditions through dance, arts and crafts, language and games. The Kids Club facility is also equipped with video game systems, air hockey, foosball and of course access to the pools. The day begins with keiki getting to know one another and includes lunch provided by the hotel’s own ‘Ono Bar & Grill.
The Westin has many options for hungry guests. Ulu Kitchen by Merriman, right on the oceanfront, features the freshest island ingredients.
During the day, Hale ʻĀ offers a poolside watering hole. Located near the new adults-only pool deck, the sophisticated Hale A (House of Sparkle), serves artisanal cocktails and bites.
Then there’s offers Hale Moʻolelo, spacious outdoor bar inspired by the art of storytelling. The bar features seven handcrafted cocktails, each tied to a moolelo, or story, about Maui, along with delicious local cuisine.
Inevitably, the Westin has a Starbucks, as well as something you won’t find everywhere: Wailele Luau. Open from 5:30 to 8PM Tuesday through Fridays and Sunday, the luau features a spectacular fire knife performance and hula along with a traditional island-style dinner, on the beautiful Ka’anapali Coast.
The Valley Alley, open from 10AM to 11PM, gives the lie to the myth that 9 PM is “Maui Midnight.’ Built for locals and visitors alike, this pub and social space features an arcade, bowling, Topgolf Swing Suites, as well as food and beverage experience.
Another advantage of staying at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, particularly if you’re traveling as a family, is that it’s literally a harpoon’s throw from the Whaler’s Village mall. Stores include Tommy Bahama, Lily Pulitzer, and Sephora to name a few, as well as restaurants and food courts that are reasonably priced by Hawaiian standards.
The mall also boasts one of Hawaii’s famous ABC stores. ABC has everything the visitor needs, from macadamia nuts to sunscreen to reasonably priced Hawaiian shirts.
We ate in the Via By Sale Pepe pizza place in the food court, where a big double slice of pizza, container of pasta with pesto and a Caesar salad for two set us back around forty dollars. It was as mouthwatering as a good slice of New York pizza and homemade pasta at a fine restaurant. The pizzeria is an off shoot of the Sale Pepe restaurant in Lahaina, which was among the first fine dining restaurants in town to reopen after the fires.
The Westin has 759 rooms, including the Hokupa’a Luxury Suite, essentially a luxury hotel-within-a hotel. Guests of Hokupa’a can check in at The Lanai at Hokupa’a and enjoy exclusive access to panoramic views, a private bar, infinity edge cocktail pools, and daily cultural experiences.
The Lanai pools were inviting. You could relax in large double chairs overlooking the Pacific without getting your feet wet or opt to sit with your feet in the water. One side of the Lanai area is for families and open to guests of all ages, while the other, separated by the bar area, is for adults only.
At the Lanai Bar, one can choose from specialty cocktails and traditional adult beverages. For Lanai guests, buffet breakfast and dinner is served and there are snacks and drinks available throughout the day.
The Lanai proved a congenial place to watch the longest World Series game ever, on October 27, 2025. After arriving around 2:30PM I repaired to the Lanai and made myself comfortable watching the Series, which had started at around 2PM Hawaii time. My wife eventually headed to the beach and pool, while I watched the Dodgers and Blue Jays struggle. Fortunately, the Lanai serves snacks and even an early dinner from 5 to 7.
By 7:30PM we finally left the emptying bar and headed to our room, where we watched the game go into the 18th inning on one of the two big screens in our suite. Mercifully, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off homerun to end the seven-hour game.
Our suite was lovely and large. The living area had table and banquet seating that could easily seat 6, while the sofas were large enough to spread out on and could double as two single beds. The living area had a balcony lanai complete with lounge chair and view of the ocean and pools. And of course it was a fun place to sleep and snuggle, thanks to Westin’s well-known Heavenly Bed.
A long hallway connected the living room to the bathroom and primary suite. Along the hall, there was another balcony lanai with a high-top and four chairs, while the bathroom was appointed with top line fixtures set in stone and wood finishes. There were lots of extra towels.
The primary suite was tranquilly decorated in an understated Hawaiian décor complete with large full-length windows facing the ocean which afforded both beautiful views and the sound of waves crashing. The bed was a super comfortable Westin-style king with crisp cotton sheets, one of the signature aspects of the hotel.
And true to the Westin brand, the Kaanapali resort includes a spacious, well-equipped gym, as well as another space for yoga, Pilates, various classes and equipment to satisfy all types of core workouts.
The Heavenly Spa by Westin is a 15,000-square-foot oasis with 16 treatment rooms (including couples’ suites) offering massages, body treatments and facials. There’s also a steam room and whirlpools, an ocean view relaxation lounge with refreshments, and a beauty salon with hairstyling, manicures, pedicures, make-up and bridal preparation.
The Westin Kaanapali is primarily a hotel for families and leisure travelers, but it also has significant space for meetings and events, from business to weddings. The hotel has 20 event rooms with 56,340 sq ft of total event space. The largest event space has a capacity of 900 people.
The hotel becomes especially festive around the holidays, with sparkling lights that make coconut trees twinkle, to festive culinary delights and cultural performances, a six-foot Christmas tree, and seasonal décor. In bringing Santa’s spirit , the idea is to help mainlanders get away from cold and snow to celebrating in Maui’s warmth.
But any time is a good time to enjoy the Westin Maui Resort & Spa.