By the Where to Stay in Hawaii editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay in West Maui or South Maui; both are on the dry, sunny side of the island. Our top pick is the Hyatt Regency Maui at the south end of Kāʻanapali Beach, where a beach walk links the resorts, shops and restaurants.
- Wailea and Kīhei are 20–40 minutes from Kahului Airport. Wailea has the luxury resorts; Kīhei next door has condos and better-value hotels across from beach parks.
- Nāpili and Kapalua, north of Kāʻanapali, are quieter, with small bays and condo resorts, about an hour from the airport.
- Hāna, on the wet east coast, is a one-night stop on the Road to Hāna, not a base.
- Lānaʻi, a ferry ride from Māʻalaea, makes a quiet side trip with a Four Seasons resort.
Lahaina town is still rebuilding after the August 2023 wildfire, but the West Maui resort areas were not burned and the hotels there are open.
Maui's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | From OGG | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kāʻanapali | Beach walk, resorts, families | 45 min–1 hr | Resort fees; busy |
| Nāpili & Kapalua | Quiet bays, condos, golf | About 1 hr | Fewer restaurants; farthest from the airport |
| Wailea | Luxury resorts, couples, families | 30–40 min | The priciest area |
| Kīhei | Value, condos, beach parks | 20–30 min | Busy South Kīhei Road; few resorts |
| Hāna | A night on the Road to Hāna | A long, slow drive | Remote and rainy |
Map of Maui Hotels
West Maui's resorts line the coast north of Lahaina, South Maui runs from Kīhei to Wailea, and Hāna is on the far east coast.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Maui stays →West Maui
A big resort on Kāʻanapali Beach, a condo hotel next to Whalers Village and a no-resort-fee option on Nāpili Bay.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Kāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui
Our top pick: a big, easygoing Kāʻanapali resort with a lava-tube slide, a keiki lagoon and the beach walk out front.
Best for: Families and first-timers
- 150-foot lava-tube waterslide
- Sand-bottom keiki lagoon
- Drums of the Pacific lūʻau
More about this hotel
A big resort on 40 acres at the south end of Kāʻanapali Beach, with a half-acre pool, waterfalls, a 150-foot lava-tube slide and a sand-bottom lagoon for small kids. The Drums of the Pacific lūʻau and eight places to eat mean you rarely need the car.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach
Kāʻanapali Beach, next to Whalers Village, West Maui
Condos with full kitchens next to Whalers Village, with free parking.
Best for: Families who want a kitchen on the beach
- Next door to Whalers Village
- Full kitchen and lanai in every unit
- Oceanfront pool; free parking
More about this hotel
Studio, one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and lanai, right next door to Whalers Village on Kāʻanapali Beach. Parking is free, and there is an oceanfront pool, a tennis court and a fitness center.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Napili Kai Beach Resort
Nāpili Bay, West Maui
Kitchenettes on sandy Nāpili Bay, with no resort fee.
Best for: Families and returning visitors
- On Nāpili Bay
- Studios and suites with kitchenettes
- No resort fee and free parking
More about this hotel
A low-rise resort on curved Nāpili Bay, with studios and suites that have kitchenettes. It charges no resort fee and no parking fee, which is rare on Maui.
South Maui
Luxury resorts in Wailea, and better-value hotels and condos in Kīhei.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Wailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei
Wailea's family mega-resort, with nine pools and a lazy river.
Best for: Families who want a big pool
- Nine pools with slides, lazy river and rope swing
- Adults-only Serenity pool
- Steps from Wailea Beach
More about this hotel
A huge resort on Wailea Beach whose canyon of nine pools has seven waterslides, a lazy river and a rope swing. Couples can retreat to the adults-only Hibiscus Serenity Pool, but expect a daily resort fee and paid valet parking.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Fairmont Kea Lani
Polo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei
All suites and villas at the quiet south end of Wailea, by Polo Beach.
Best for: Families who want space
- All suites and villas
- Villas with private plunge pools
- Adults-only pool plus family pools with a slide
More about this hotel
An all-suite resort steps from Polo Beach at the quiet south end of Wailea, with two- and three-bedroom villas that have their own plunge pools. The family pools are joined by a 140-foot slide, and there is a separate adults-only pool.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: harley photo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux
Wailea hillside, Wailea & Kīhei
An adults-only hillside hotel with a free house car to the beaches.
Best for: Honeymoons
- Adults only (18+)
- One-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and soaking tubs
- Free house car to the beaches
More about this hotel
Hawaiʻi's only adults-only Relais & Châteaux hotel: 72 one-bedroom suites with soaking tubs on a quiet hillside above Wailea. It is not on the beach, but a free house car runs guests to Wailea and Mākena beaches from 6 am to 10 pm.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US
Maui Coast Hotel
South Kīhei Rd, Kamaʻole I, Wailea & Kīhei
A friendly mid-range hotel across from Kamaʻole Beach Park I in Kīhei.
Best for: Value in South Maui
- Across from Kamaʻole Beach Park I
- Pool with free cabanas
- Free shuttle within 3 miles
More about this hotel
A friendly mid-range hotel across the road from Kamaʻole Beach Park I in Kīhei, with free poolside cabanas and a new tower that opened in 2024. A free shuttle covers places within 3 miles.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0
Aston Maui Hill
South Kīhei Road, Wailea end of Kīhei, Wailea & Kīhei
Condos with full kitchens and no resort fee at the Wailea end of Kīhei.
Best for: Families and groups
- No resort fee; free parking
- Full kitchen and washer-dryer in every suite
- Heated pool, jet spa and tennis
More about this hotel
A condo resort at the Wailea end of Kīhei where every suite has a full kitchen and a washer-dryer. It charges no resort fee, parking is free, and Kamaʻole Beach Park is about 0.7 miles away.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Days Inn by Wyndham Maui Oceanfront
Keawakapu Beach, Wailea & Kīhei
A simple budget hotel on Keawakapu Beach, with free parking.
Best for: Budget beachfront
- On Keawakapu Beach
- Fridge and microwave in rooms
- Free parking
More about this hotel
A simple, small hotel on Keawakapu Beach, with oceanfront rooms about 100 feet from the water. Rooms have a fridge and microwave and parking is free, but there is no pool.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Viriditas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hāna and Lānaʻi
Two special-occasion stays, for a night or two away from the resort coasts.
Hāna-Maui Resort, A Destination by Hyatt Hotel
Hāna town
The only resort in Hāna, for a night on the Road to Hāna.
Best for: Slowing down in Hāna
- Oceanfront bungalows
- Spa with lomi lomi treatments
- Hana Ranch restaurant
More about this hotel
The only resort in Hāna, with oceanfront bungalows and garden suites at the end of the Road to Hāna. Staying here turns the drive into an overnight trip and lets you see the area early and late.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
Mānele Bay, above Hulopoʻe Beach, Lānaʻi
A secluded resort on Lānaʻi, a ferry ride from Māʻalaea Harbor.
Best for: A secluded splurge
- Overlooks Hulopoʻe Bay marine preserve
- Adults-only lagoon-style pool
- Nobu Lanai and Osteria Mozza
More about this hotel
A secluded resort above Hulopoʻe Bay, a protected marine preserve with good snorkeling, reached by a 25-minute flight from Honolulu or the ferry from Maui. It has an adults-only lagoon-style pool, Nobu and Osteria Mozza, and a cliff-top Jack Nicklaus golf course.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0
Maui Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & SpaKāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui · SplurgeFamilies and first-timersCheck prices -
Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali BeachKāʻanapali Beach, next to Whalers Village, West Maui · Mid-rangeFamilies who want a kitchen on the beachCheck prices -
Napili Kai Beach ResortNāpili Bay, West Maui · Mid-rangeFamilies and returning visitorsCheck prices -
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria ResortWailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei · SplurgeFamilies who want a big poolCheck prices -
Fairmont Kea LaniPolo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei · SplurgeFamilies who want spaceCheck prices -
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Maui Coast HotelSouth Kīhei Rd, Kamaʻole I, Wailea & Kīhei · Mid-rangeValue in South MauiCheck prices -
Aston Maui HillSouth Kīhei Road, Wailea end of Kīhei, Wailea & Kīhei · Mid-rangeFamilies and groupsCheck prices -
Days Inn by Wyndham Maui OceanfrontKeawakapu Beach, Wailea & Kīhei · BudgetBudget beachfrontCheck prices -
Hāna-Maui Resort, A Destination by Hyatt HotelHāna town · SplurgeSlowing down in HānaCheck prices -
Four Seasons Resort LanaiMānele Bay, above Hulopoʻe Beach, Lānaʻi · SplurgeA secluded splurgeCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Beachfront resort
|
Kāʻanapali Beach, south end, West Maui | Splurge | Families and first-timers | Check prices |
|
|
Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach
Beachfront condo hotel
|
Kāʻanapali Beach, next to Whalers Village, West Maui | Mid-range | Families who want a kitchen on the beach | Check prices |
|
|
Napili Kai Beach Resort
Beachfront condo resort
|
Nāpili Bay, West Maui | Mid-range | Families and returning visitors | Check prices |
|
|
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Beachfront resort
|
Wailea Beach, Wailea & Kīhei | Splurge | Families who want a big pool | Check prices |
|
|
Fairmont Kea Lani
All-suite resort
|
Polo Beach, south Wailea, Wailea & Kīhei | Splurge | Families who want space | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux
Adults-only boutique hotel
|
Wailea hillside, Wailea & Kīhei | Splurge | Honeymoons | Check prices |
|
|
Maui Coast Hotel
Hotel
|
South Kīhei Rd, Kamaʻole I, Wailea & Kīhei | Mid-range | Value in South Maui | Check prices |
|
|
Aston Maui Hill
Condo resort
|
South Kīhei Road, Wailea end of Kīhei, Wailea & Kīhei | Mid-range | Families and groups | Check prices |
|
|
Days Inn by Wyndham Maui Oceanfront
Beachfront motel
|
Keawakapu Beach, Wailea & Kīhei | Budget | Budget beachfront | Check prices |
|
|
Hāna-Maui Resort, A Destination by Hyatt Hotel
Oceanfront resort
|
Hāna town | Splurge | Slowing down in Hāna | Check prices |
|
|
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
Beach resort
|
Mānele Bay, above Hulopoʻe Beach, Lānaʻi | Splurge | A secluded splurge | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Lahaina and West Maui Today
The August 2023 wildfire destroyed most of historic Lahaina town. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority says major cleanup has been completed and many Lahaina businesses have reopened, while rebuilding goes on. Visitors are asked to follow signs, stay out of restricted areas and not photograph the fire sites.
The resort areas north of town were not burned. The Kāʻanapali Beach Resort Association says Kāʻanapali was structurally unaffected by the fires, and every West Maui hotel in this guide is open. Lahaina Harbor is open for daytime use (6 am to 6 pm) by boat operators with state permits.
Reservations on Maui
- Haleakalā sunrise: you need a reservation to drive into the summit area between 3 am and 7 am. Book on Recreation.gov up to 60 days ahead, from 7 am Hawaiʻi time; a small number are released two days ahead. The reservation is about $1 per vehicle, on top of the park entrance fee of about $30 per vehicle, which is valid for three days.
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park: on the Road to Hāna, visitors who are not Hawaiʻi residents need an entry and parking reservation (about $5 per person and $10 per vehicle). The park is open 7 am to 6 pm.
- ʻĪao Valley: out-of-state visitors need an advance reservation. Check the state parks site for its current status before you go.
Getting Around Maui
- From Kahului Airport (OGG): 20–30 minutes to Kīhei, 30–40 minutes to Wailea, 45 minutes to an hour to Kāʻanapali and about an hour to Kapalua.
- You need a car. The resort areas, beaches, Haleakalā and the Road to Hāna are spread out, and buses are slow.
- To Lānaʻi: the passenger ferry leaves from Māʻalaea Harbor. Lānaʻi also has flights from Honolulu.
- Rain: the windward side, including the Road to Hāna, is the wettest part of Maui. In late September 2026, Hurricane Nolo brought 3–8 inches of rain to windward Maui.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.