First Impression
Can I please live here? The spectacular ocean views will grab you from the moment you walk toward the open-air lobby at the Wailea Beach Resort. And with every turn, there’s another panoramic view of the Pacific to take your breath away.
Unique Features
Besides the one eight-story tower, the other seven buildings are low-rise, sitting amidst 22 acres of lawns, gardens, coconut palms, koi ponds and banyan trees — all on a rock overlooking the ocean. The resort feels expansive and luxurious, but also relaxed and welcoming. It’s family-friendly and also great for a couple’s getaway.
Maluhia Pool is the resort’s signature adult-only infinity pool, and it comes with floating cabanas and unobstructed ocean views. Arrive early for a morning swim before breakfast as my husband and I did, and you’ll feel like a celebrity waking up in your own private island villa.
For families, the NALU Adventure Pool will be a favorite hangout spot. It comes with splash zones and four water slides, including Maui’s longest at 325 feet. Even though we were travelling without our kids, my husband couldn’t resist the thrill of this water drop.
The resort also offers complimentary cultural experiences every day for all ages and interests. There is sunrise yoga, Malama Hawaiian quilting, ohe kapala (Hawaiian stamping), hula and ukulele lessons, live music and movie nights.
We joined the Hawaiian Outrigger Experience at 7 a.m. to take on the calm waters in a traditional outrigger canoe for an hour of paddling, learning about the significance of these ancient vessels and spotting sea turtles.
Every time we have travelled to Maui, I wanted to give canoeing a try but didn’t want to be out in the open water for the typical three- to four-hour excursion. The resort’s mini voyage early in the morning to take advantage of the calm waters was a perfect way to start the day and get a taste of this integral part of the Pacific Rim culture.
The Beach
Because the resort is perched on a rock above the ocean, you’ll have access to two beaches on each side. There is a beautiful coastal pathway that leads you from the resort to the sand. It’s about a five-minute walk with stunning views of the ocean. A friendly gentleman greeted us every morning at Wailea Beach to set up our loungers and umbrellas. We brought our breakfast and coffee with us and spent the morning enjoying the warm waters and gentle rolling of the waves. By around 2 p.m., the wind typically starts to pick up and the waves become stronger, which was when we usually packed up and headed for a long walk along the coastal path or a dip in one of the pools.
What’s Nearby
The Shops at Wailea is just a few minutes’ walk from the resort. You’ll find the ABC Store and the Island Gourmet Markets here, plus several restaurants and shops, including Lappert’s Hawaiian Ice Cream for a mid-day or after-dinner sweet treat. We picked up dinner from Waikiki Brewing Company and brought it back to the resort one night, sat on lounge chairs overlooking the ocean and had the most spectacular sunset dinner. We also picked up fresh papayas, yogurt, snacks and sandwiches from the Island Gourmet Markets to take to the beach for breakfast and lunch.
The open-air shopping area also offers complimentary cultural activities throughout the week, including coconut husking, ukulele lessons, island wood-carving demonstrations and live music featuring local entertainers.
The Showstopper
The unforgettable sunsets. You’ll fall in love with the ocean views from this resort perfectly perched above the Pacific. And when the sun starts to set, the magic happens. The tropical air, the golden colors of the sky, the shimmer of the water below, the sway of the palm trees. It’s simply spectacular. Every night, we found ourselves in awe.
