Checking In: A Review of Maui’s Honua Kai Resort & Spa

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We had the pleasure of staying at the Honua Kai Resort & Spa in Ka’anapali during one of our trips back to Maui, and it far exceeded my expectations. I only wish we could have stayed here more nights! Our trip was pretty jam-packed with things to do (hotel property tours, stuffing our faces with as much good food as we could get our hands on, and making time to see my family).

Even though our visit was short, I’m grateful for the opportunity we had to stay with the Honua Kai and cannot wait to return again in the future!

Disclaimer: I won two complimentary nights at the Honua Kai in a prize drawing at a travel agent training event. All reviews, photos & opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Booking

You can book units at the Honua Kai through various options:

• Through your travel agent.
• Through the Honua Kai website directly.
• Through any large online travel agency such as Hotels.com, Booking.com, etc.
• Through properly rental sites such as VRBO.com

Resort Fees

If booking directly with Honua Kai and their onsite property management (i.e through their website, travel agent, or online travel agency), there is a resort fee of $40.00 per night payable to the hotel that includes WiFi, valet parking (self-parking is also available), every-other-day housekeeping, and in-suite starter kit (laundry soap/dish soap).

If you’re booking through a third party, your rate may or may not be subject to an additional fee to cover some amenities offered by the resort. I browsed a few independent listings and found some do not charge at all (or perhaps include the fees in their room rates); some charged a $15.00 parking fee and some listed the resort fee.

Note: I have seen some property management companies offer shuttle service to the Whaler’s Village area, but that is wholly dependent upon which unit you’ve booked and your method of booking (i.e. through a specific manager).

I do like that the property is closer to the quieter Napili area, and not too far of a drive from Kapalua, where you can find some excellent dining options (more on that below).

In hindsight, I may have suggested we visit the bar at Duke’s Beach House while we waited (because day drinking is always acceptable when on vacation).

There is also a computer and printer to use to browse the internet and/or check in for flights and print boarding passes. This is always a nice feature to have so you don’t have to worry about waiting in long lines at the airport to get your boarding passes printed. Just drop your bags and go!

Other amenities in the lounge include: outdoor seating area, kids play area, and complimentary snacks, towels, and chairs to use if you want to hit the beach while you wait for check in, or if you have a late flight and need to kill some time before heading to the airport.

Important Note: The Aloha Lounge is only offered exclusively to guests who book directly with the resort.

We also got a nice welcome box of chocolate macadamia nuts at check in. Love the small touches of making guests feel extra special!

Room Keys

We were given our very unique room keys upon check in (which also allowed us access to the lounge area). This is definitely the first time we’ve ever come across wristband-style room keys instead of card keys. Have you seen them anywhere else?

As you might guess, the wristband keys are waterproof, so you can wear them on your wrist when out in the pool or at the beach (although I would not recommend this if you don’t have a snug fit as it will fall right off). I have tiny wrists so it wasn’t smart for me to wear my key, but Micah’s fit pretty snug.

If you’ve booked your room directly through the resort, these keys are necessary to get pool towels (which must be returned to the pool-side shack before returning to your room).

If you’ve booked your room through an offsite management company or condo owner directly, they should supply guests with pool and beach towels in the room.

Our Room – 608

There are two buildings on the property – Hokulani and Konea. We stayed in Room 608 in the Hokulani building in a one-bedroom ocean-view suite. Since these units are all independently owned, furnishings in each unit will vary. Overall, they seem to have a modern/contemporary look, with a fitting Hawaiian flare.

Our room was amazing! It was so nice to have such a large amount of space with the living area and separate bedroom. Our bed was very comfy, which is perfect for long vacation stays.

The Kitchen

The kitchen was modern and updated, with a fridge, oven and stovetop, as well as granite countertops and a dishwasher. If we were there for a longer stay, we would have definitely utilized the kitchen a bit more (eating out on Maui gets a little spency after a while!). We did, however, stock the fridge with poke and beer – our Hawaii travel essentials.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was huge, and included a tub and separate stand-up shower (which happens to be perfectly suitable for tall people!). There are two doors to the bathroom, so you’ll have to be extra mindful if you’re trying to protect your privacy. There’s an entrance to the bathroom in the bedroom, as well as one off the main entryway by the kitchen.

The Views

We were in a partial ocean-view suite which basically means you can see at least a small part of the ocean from your room. In the photo below, you can see a little of what we saw from our balcony which isn’t much but we weren’t complaining given that this was a complimentary room.

It turns out that this little bit of ocean view was perfectly fine, especially to watch the sunset.

Our balcony was pretty spacious, and even though most of the view was of the neighboring Westin Nanea property, you could see a bit of the West Maui Mountains behind it. And because of the location of Room 608, you are pretty sheltered from the winds so it’s nice place to have a meal or a drink and relax.

The Pools

The pools are definitely a winner at the Honua Kai! Because the property is pretty large (38 acres), there is a big network of pools spread throughout three acres! There are water slides for the kids, five hot tubs to choose from, and the pools in front of the Konea building are lazy river-style. Fun!

Hotel pools are always my biggest gripe in Hawaii. Because it’s such a family-friendly destination, the resort pools are often crowded, and filled with misbehaved kids. It’s hard to relax by the pool over the incessant shouting of Marco! Polo! Sometimes, you can find a nice quiet condo tucked away somewhere, but for the most part, prepare for kid madness and big crowds at the pools.

We stayed at the beginning of December, which is kind of a low season for travel to Maui (just before the Christmas rush kicks in), so we were able to get chairs in a nice quiet spot without any problem each time we went down to the pool.

There are pool attendants that come around and take food/drink orders from Duke’s, which is especially nice during happy hour – discounted beers poolside is definitely bliss! Orders can be charged to your room so you don’t have to worry about bringing your wallet to the pool.

Also, be sure to have your wristband handy in case the attendants need to verify you are, in fact, a hotel guest.

Dining Options

Whether you want a sit down meal, or grab n go sandwich, the Honua Kai offers a few different options for all your foodie needs.

Duke’s Beach House

I always love to have a restaurant on site at a hotel. When you’re tired after a day exploring, or a day at the beach, it’s nice to have something within walking distance that serves up good eats and drinks!

Duke’s is part of a bigger family of restaurants (its sister restaurant being Duke’s in Honolulu), and also related to the likes of Hula Grill and Leilani’s at Whaler’s Village, just to name a few.

They do have a daily happy hour but just be forewarned – it will fill up rather quickly so I recommend getting there right at 3:00 p.m.! I did not care much for their Mai Tai (even though it comes in a novelty tiki glass), but it is a cool spot to grab a happy hour beer, eat a big plate of nachos and people watch.

Aina Gourmet Market

Located in the Hokulani lobby, you’ll find a little market called the Aina Gourmet Market that serves up deli-style grab ‘n go items (for breakfast, lunch & dinner) and has a coffee bar for your morning fuel. We didn’t stop here on our visit, but it’s nice to have some easy options to grab for a day at the beach or if you simply just don’t feel like venturing off the resort.

Whaler’s General Store

Whaler’s General is a good go-to for souvenirs, snacks, and essentials you may have left behind at home, and you can find this shop in the lobby of the Konea building.

Nearby Eats

Some easily accessible eats near the Honua Kai that are my personal favs are:

• The Fish Market Maui (in Napili) – Two words: Fish burritos!
• Merriman’s (in Kapalua) – Go for the ever-popular lilikoi foam Mai Tai on the Happy Hour menu for $9.00
• Big Wave Shave Ice – a tiny little stand at the Westin Nanea serving the best shave ice I’ve ever had!
• Sansei (in Kapalua) – late night sushi specials after 10:00 p.m.

Read more about Maui’s food scene here: A Guide to Maui’s Best Eats

Misc. Property Features

BBQ Area

If you’re into grilling and your unit does not come with a BBQ, there’s a grilling area down by the pools for guest use.

Ho’ola Spa

I didn’t forget about the “Spa” part of the hotel name! This is another feature that we didn’t take advantage of, but it’s nice to know it’s there. The Ho’ola Spa offers massages, facials, and a variety of body treatments. You really don’t need to leave this resort for much!

For booking and/or more info on the specific spa services, visit their website: https://hoolaspamaui.com/

Final Thoughts

I can’t wait to come back! With lovely, spacious rooms and plenty of amenities to take advantage of, this hotel is at the top of my favorites list.

Want a little more? Check out my video tour:

Thanks again to the Honua Kai for a lovely stay!