So many of us dream of a Maui vacation but what are the best Maui Resorts for families? Trekaroo has scoured the island, from Kapalua to Wailea, and everywhere in between to find the best of the best.
We asked family travel experts to share some of their favorite Maui family resorts and combined them with Trekaroo favorites to put together this list of tested and approved Maui resorts for families.
Before you head to Maui be sure to read our guide to the Best Things to do in Maui with Kids.
Best Maui Resorts for Families in the Kaanapali Area
1. Kaanapali Alii
Kaanapali is the most popular resort area in all of Maui. It is a hub of tourist activity with a great stretch of sand and lots of restaurants and activities to choose from.
There are many fantastic resorts for families in this area, but staying in standard hotel rooms with a family can become crowded and expensive. The Kaanapali Alii is a beachfront condo resort with the space and full kitchen that families are looking for.
One and two-bedroom condos range in size from 1,500- 1,900 feet. They have full kitchens and plenty of living space. Staying here feels less like staying at a hotel and more like staying at your friend’s awesome condo in Maui.
Kaanapali Alii’s poolside barbecues are very popular with guests. There is nothing better than grilling fresh fish at sunset with ocean views and the trade winds blowing. There is also a beach shack where you can rent boogie boards, snorkels, and other beach gear.
The beach in front of Kaanapali Alii is good for swimming and boogie boarding. Snorkeling can be found near Black Rock, a short walk away. There are also a variety of restaurants, shops, and activity booking stands within walking distance.
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2. Kaanapali Beach Hotel
The Kaanapali Beach Hotel is in a prime location with the spirit of “ohana”, Hawaiian for family, blossoming alongside the plumerias in its gardens.
Kids are splashing in the whale-shaped pool, paddle boarders are gliding across the horizon, families are running in the waves together.
At first glance, the property has a mid-century old Hawaiian vibe, but rooms have been updated recently. There are a handful of family suites with ocean views on the property, as well as adjoining room options. Each room comes equipped with a mini-refrigerator so you can pop over to the nearby Safeway and pick up drinks and snacks.
One of the best things about staying at Kaanapali Beach Hotel is the variety of cultural activities offered each week. Many hotels offer the typical lei making class, but at Kaanapali Beach Hotel, they go above and beyond to provide a breadth of cultural activities that give you a much deeper sense of place.
Families can sign up for an introduction to Hawaiian language, lei making and lauhala weaving classes, as well as hula and ukulele lessons. Classes are lead by native Hawaiians and feel more like cultural immersion than touristy classes.
There are cultural garden tours where guests can learn the various native plants growing in around the hotel and how these plants are used for food, medicine, cosmetics, and jewelry.
The resort’s Legends of Kaanapali Luau feels more like an intimate family gathering rather than a commercial production, and the food is excellent.
Here are the best luaus in Maui for families.
The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel has a simple pool but kids still manage to have a great time swimming in it. Don’t forget that you’re staying right on a beautiful beach where there is sand, waves, snorkeling, boogie boarding, paddle boarding, and kayaking waiting for you.
Not sure Kaanapali is the right area for your family? Use this guide to the best areas to stay on Maui to help you narrow down which part of the island fits you best,
3. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Travelers often look at a hotel as simply a place to sleep between days of adventuring. But a trip to Hawaii is very different.
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa offers so many different activities, and is within walking distance of many others, that you could spend your entire vacation here a leave with no regrets.
During my stay, I spent time by the half-acre pool with its waterfalls and slides, walked along the beach, snorkeled at Black Rock Beach (a short walk north from the resort), and enjoyed some of the resort’s five restaurants. I was even able to try snuba, think snorkeling and scuba combined, for the first time.
The gardens and flowers at the resort offer some peaceful escapes. The Drums of the Pacific Lu’au brings the island to life with traditional music, dances and culinary delights. An astronomy program is held on the hotel’s rooftop, allowing you to explore the stars above.
Don’t miss out on the Mindful Mermaid Academy, which welcomes all mermaids and mermen.
The possibilities are endless at the Hyatt Regency Maui Spa & Resort. It’s a great getaway for couples and families looking to enjoy the quiet beauty of the Hawaiian island. If you want to explore more of Maui, you can take a jeep adventure tour along the Road to Hana.
-Jason Carlton, Carltonaut’s Travel Tips
4. The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas
For families looking for a little luxury combined with the comforts of home, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas are a great choice.
Situated right on the beach in Kaanapali with three restaurants on site, lush green spaces, multiple pools, and easy beach access, families will find everything they need right on the property.
In addition to the great stretch of beach, there are two large pool areas, complete with waterfalls and a waterslide. And for families with little ones, there is an adorable keiki pool and playground.
After long days spent playing in the water and sun, the large accommodations are ideal for families. The one- and two-bedroom villas all feature washer/dryers and fully-equipped kitchens. Our kids were thrilled with having a large tub as well. The location, amenities, and full kitchen make this a great choice for families on Maui.
-Sara Wellensiek, MomEndeavors
Read about Sarah’s top picks for hotels for families on Kauai.
Best Maui Resorts for Families in Wailea
5. Grand Wailea
The Grand Wailea is extremely popular with families for one big reason- its absolutely incredible pool complex. As a matter of fact, the pool made our list of the best hotel pools in the United States!
Your kids will have a blast sliding down water slides, riding up water elevators, swinging from Tarzan swings, cruising on the lazy rivers, and swimming under waterfalls into rock grottos.
The resort sits on Wailea Beach which is truly gorgeous. It is a nice place to take a break from the excitement and energy at the pool.
Rooms at the Grand Wailea vary from standard hotel rooms to multi-room suites with private lanais overlooking koi ponds with ocean views.
Since property is a luxury resort in the upscale Wailea resort area, food prices tend to be quite high. You may get free breakfast if you have a high enough Hilton status, otherwise I suggest walking over to the market at the Shops at Wailea next door to buy snacks and sandwiches enjoy between time at the pool to keep costs down.
6. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Families looking for luxury accommodations on Maui often choose the beachfront Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea where service, outstanding dining, and recently-renovated suites and guest rooms usually exceed the expectations of even the savviest travelers.
It’s the only resort on the island to not charge a resort fee while still including services such as complimentary car service to Wailea, pool cabanas (first-come, first-served), and daily activities like the nightly hula and torch lighting performances.
Kid-friendly amenities include a fun, big family game room with big-screen TVs, ping pong tables, video and board games. There is also the all-day supervised Kids for All Seasons kids’ club for ages 5-12 that sometimes runs at night ( during peak season) so parents can grab a quiet bite to eat or sip cocktails at the adults-only infinity pool.
And let’s not forget the beach where you can grab boogie boards and snorkels to take out in the warm ocean. Families also like that there is a kids’ pool and that kids under five eat free at Ferraro’s and DUO, the resort’s two popular family restaurants.
If traveling with a baby, tell them in advance, because they’ll arrange to put everything from high chairs to a stroller in your room — in addition to age-appropriate kids’ welcome amenities and childproofing if you need it.
We also all know that flights to and from the mainland can’t always be perfectly timed to resort check-in and check-out times. This can be a little tough with kids in tow. At Four Seasons Maui, resort guests have access to the onsite Aloha Suite to change, shower, and decompress before or after flights so that they can use the resort fully on arrival and departure days.
Have no fear traveling in today’s climate, because the resort provides access to medical staff 24/7. This is a resort that excels at anticipating guest needs before they do.
-Katie Dillon, LaJollaMom.com
Read Katie’s comprehensive review of the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.
7. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
The Fairmont Kea Lani is located on 22 oceanfront acres in Maui’s most picturesque Wailea area. Their beach is perfect for families with kids of all ages, with calm waters and perfect snorkel-able areas right off the shore.
All of the rooms are huge, perfect for families traveling to Maui. Their standard one-bedroom suites are larger than the neighboring Grand Wailea or Four Seasons standard rooms.
While the Kea Lani is not an all-inclusive resort, it does offer daily activities like lei making, ukulele lessons, and traditional Hawaiian games that make you never want to leave the property.
KO, the resort’s on-site restaurant, shouldn’t be missed as it’s frequently rated as one of the top restaurants in all of Hawaii.
-Jade Broadus, Vagabond3
Read Jade’s review of the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea.
Best Maui Family Resorts in the Napili/Kapalua Area
8. Napili Kai Beach Resort
Families return to the Napili Kai Beach Resort year after year for so many reasons. The resort, set on one of the most beautiful and family-friendly beaches in all of Maui, has a low key, old Hawaii feel.
Napili Kai is a place where guests meet new friends and enjoy 50-cent drinks at weekly putting parties on the resort’s 18-hole putting green. Guest activities include everything from lei making and palm frond weaving to Hawaiian slack key guitar concerts and hula shows.
The resort does a great job being family focused without the chaos, noise, and flash that so many family resorts seem to experience. Oh, and did I mention the views?
Views from oceanfront rooms are jaw-dropping. Since Napili Kai was built before Maui changed the rules about how far back a property must sit from the ocean, the resort sits right against the shore and the ocean practically feels like it is in your hotel room!
Speaking of hotel rooms, don’t be surprised if you spot whales breaching from your oceanfront room or a green sea turtle swimming in the shallows below. A significant portion of the rooms are ocean facing. Most rooms have kitchens or kitchenettes, making them ideal for families.
Even if you don’t stay at Napaili Kai you should make an effort to enjoy a meal at the Sea House, the resort restaurant right on the sand. My family especially loves the breakfasts at Sea House.
Our favorites include the Haleakala Pancakes, Kitchen Sink Fried Rice, and Honolua- Sea Houses’s island version of huevos rancheros. Dinner is equally tasty and comes with a spectacular sunset.
9. Montage Kapalua Bay
Living in harmony with the surrounding habitat seems to be a calling at Montage Kapalua Bay.
Set on 24 beautifully landscaped acres and facing serene Kapalua Bay, ranked “America’s Best Beach” in 2018, an appreciation of nature is the true draw here.
Inspired by a respect for the environment, daily activities for families range from coastal hikes and tidepool exploration to Hawaiian cultural classes. That’s in addition to Paintbox, a fun and educational children’s program, and Montage Academy, a supervised study hall for distance learning.
And like at other Montage properties, Kapalua Bay offers the Montage Merits program. A bit like the National Park’s Junior Ranger program, guests earn merit points by completing family-friendly activities. The twist here is that it’s centered around a love of Hawaii and the state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a.
Even resort architecture pays homage to Hawaiian culture, while window, lanais, and terraces invite the tropical paradise setting in.
Montage Kapalua Bay prides itself in offering outstanding accommodations for multigenerational families. All luxurious residences feature full gourmet kitchens and laundry rooms, while some include spacious fully furnished terraces in addition to comfy living rooms. And with configurations ranging from one to three bedrooms, there are options that provide room for everyone.
– Sandra Foyt
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