Heading to Maui soon? Check out this review on Honua Kai Resort and find out if it’s the best fit for you and your family’s Hawaiian dream vacation!
This Honua Kai Resort Maui Review was written by family travel expertĀ Marcie CheungĀ andĀ may contain affiliate links.
On our latest trip to Maui, we stayed at the Honua Kai Resort, part of the Outrigger Honua Kai Resort network, in Ka`anapali Beach, Maui. We went with family, so we rented three units between all 14 of us.
This was my first time staying at a resort, rather than a hotel or condominium, and the expansive Kai Resort property truly made it a unique experience. Nestled in the gorgeous region of West Maui, the resort offers breathtaking views and exceptional amenities.
After spending a week there, here are my pros and cons for staying at the Honua Kai Resort.
Luxurious Accommodations at Honua Kai Resort & Spa
The Honua Kai Resort & Spa offers spacious suites ranging from one to three-bedroom units, ideal for families or groups. Each suite includes a full kitchen and glass-railed lanais offering varying views, including partial ocean views or picturesque looks at the majestic West Maui Mountains.
The interior living space provides a comfortable, home-like environment complete with high-end appliances and luxury furnishings.
Exceptional Dining and Leisure
Food enthusiasts will enjoy dining at Duke’s Beach House or finding essentials at the nearby Whaler’s Village. The poolside food and drink service allows you to indulge without leaving your spot in the aquatic playground.
World-Class Amenities and Spa
Relaxation reaches its peak at the Ho’ola Spa. With soothing treatments from traditional Hawaiian practices, it’s a serene escape within the resort. The beautifully landscaped grounds and multiple pools make the resort feel like a lush paradise. The aquatic playground has water slides and quiet zones, offering excitement and tranquility.
Engage in Local Culture and Activities
Immerse yourself in local culture through the resort’s various activities, like hula lessons and lei-making (check for schedules and potential fees). The resort’s location on Ka`anapali Beach makes it easy to explore neighboring attractions. Convenient access to Whaler’s Village and Lahaina provides ample opportunities to learn about Hawaiian history and customs.
Pros:
- The resort location is amazing! It’s just steps away from Ka`anapali Beach.
- Food options: Duke’s is located on the premises, and there’s also a market with coffee, chai tea lattes, and breakfast items.
- The `Aina Gourmet Market also has a whole section of organic baby/toddler food and Green Toys!
- There are five pools, some of which are just for adults and others for kids of all ages. Did I mention there’s also a water slide in the aquatic playground?
- The views! Our room overlooked the majestic West Maui Mountains (my favorite part of Maui), while other rooms overlooked the Pacific Ocean and the rest of the resort. From our glass rail lanais windows, we saw too many rainbows to count! Not too shabby!
- The bathrooms are gigantic! I think the bedroom and bathroom were the same size. It’s nice to have enough room to really spread out, and they have a separate tub, which is great for toddlers.
- Large tables and chairs on the lanai are perfect for breakfasts or dinners at the condo.
- Times Supermarket grocery store is across the street (walking distance) to grab snacks and meal supplies.
- Free WiFi. This is a must for me when we travel, and it’s surprisingly hard to find some places.
Cons:
- The customer service was hit/miss. We arrived after midnight due to an unexpected highway closure, and we were wiped when we got to the resort. We unloaded our car, and while we tried to get a staff member to help us locate a cart, we were brushed off while they helped others who arrived after us. Not a great first impression. However, their security staff is fabulous, and the management company sent us cookies the next day as a welcome gift because of the crazy highway closure.
- Our bed was super bouncy. It was so bouncy that I felt seasick at night anytime my husband moved.
- The water pressure was really hard. Normally, I like good water pressure, but this was very painful, even for the lightest of sunburns. Thankfully, there was a separate bathtub.
- There were a ton of tiny bugs all over our room. It was mostly noticeable on my laptop screen, and then I noticed them crawling all over. They are super tiny but enough to be annoying. They may be all over the island, but I noticed them primarily in our room.
Overall impression:
I really liked the Honua Kai Resort. It was nice to be on a vacation where we really could just stay at the resort if we wanted. The pools were pretty incredible, and I loved that there were food/coffee options on-site! It’s a great place to relax and unwind!
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That sounds like such a nice place to stay. Happy to hear that you and your family had a great visit there.
It’s so nice that we decided to return this summer!
Wow that is a large group to travel with. Sounds like a nice resort minus the cons you experienced.
Yes, it’s a large group but we have a blast!
Wow, it sounds like such a nice place! Especially being so close to such an incredible beach. I love resorts but I’ve only ever gone in a group of two, so I can only imagine how much fun it is to go with your entire family!
There are a lot of laughs when we all get together!
Seems like you had a nice time. I am sold on the 5 pools itself. My son would love the pools too
Exactly! The kids just wanted to swim every moment they could!
I think I would be happy staying at any resort, especially in Hawaii. This place sounds like fun. I’d love to see more photos!
This was my first resort experience and it was fabulous!
I love that you give an honest review. That is so important to build credibility. I love the very first picture. How adorable!
Thanks! My son was getting a kick out of those chairs and “needed” to sit every single time we went through the lobby!
I love reading reviews from real families! My kids have decided they want to visit Hawaii over Disney!
Both destinations are fun, but Hawaii has a lot of amazing adventures to discover!
It sounds like a nice hotel despite the cons that you posted. I’m sure overall you still had a lot of fun with the family! Thanks for sharing your experience!
We had a great time and are heading back this summer!
Sounds like you had a lovely time! What a shame about the little bugs and lack of customer service, that would really annoy me! The bed made me chuckle though – I have slept on a blow up bed before and I totally get the feeling of sea sickness from it when it moves around x
The bed was an adventure in itself! We’re headed back next summer, but staying in another tower in hopes that the beds are more stable š
Glad you had a nice time and I love that you listed both the pros and cons and the insight provided.
Overall it’s a really nice place!
I appreciate your honest feedback on the hotel, that is rare to see. I have heard Maui was beautiful!
Thanks! Yes, Maui is much prettier than I expected. I was really blown away the first time I saw how lush and green it was!
This sounds like the perfect place for a family vacation! I SO want to visit Hawaii one day. It’s high up on my travel bucket list!
Off-season is a great time to visit Hawaii! There are some good airfare deals!
That sounds like a great place to stay. I will definitely look into this once I start planning our Hawaii trip, hopefully in the near future.
Belle | One Awesome Momma
I hope you are able to go!
I’m glad you had a great time – it sound a lot of fun. xx
It was so fun we’re heading back with the whole group this summer!
I love to travel with a big group of family. We always have so much fun when we are all traveling together. Glad you had a great time
I love that my kids get to spend a week with their cousins!
We visited Kauai last year and had a wonderful family vacation. We definitely want to venture out to other islands with our daughters!
My Mom lives on Kauai so that’s where we usually go! I was surprised how pretty Maui was, even after visiting Kauai (which is so gorgeous!)
Oh my goodness! This place sounds amazing. Chai tea is my absolute favorite!!! Sounds like you had a great trip!
I would drink Chai Tea 24/7 if I could š
Thank you so much for that honest feedback about that place. Aside from the bugs and the hit/miss Customer Service that you encounter, It sounds that this is a lovely place to visit. We will definitely check them out!
It’s such a relaxing resort!
I love a good honest review! Thank you for sharing your experience. Mahalo!
My pleasure!
Despite a few things that you encounter, it sounds like you had a fabulous time staying in Honua Kai Resort. The resort seems as an ideal resort for a family.
It’s a great set-up for families!
That resort looks very nice and clean. I love seeing that it is family friendly. looks like a cool place to visit.
Yes, it can be hard to find a good place for families!
Wow it was a lot of you guys on this trip! Thanks for the 100% honest review the good and the bad.
Thanks! My husband family loves to travel together!
My family and I love staying here, as it really is so kid friendly. The washer dryer in the unit helps with the packing, as do the kid amenities and beach toys.
We also love going to grab food at Ono Kau Kau right down the street. Best local food, awesome bang for your buck!
(And Ululani Shave Ice every day!)
I seriously could eat Ululani every day! I haven’t tried Ono Kau Kau yet! I’ll have to stop next time we’re in Maui!