Staycation in Ka’anapali, Maui

Maui is a fun island to visit. There are many activities to do, places to eat, beaches to visit, and views to see. I’ve traveled to Maui every year for the past three years and have played tourist on those staycations, however, for this particular trip we just relaxed since it was only me and my mom. We decided to skip the Thanksgiving festivities to give mom a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday, the first time ever that she didn’t cook a turkey.

How Did We Fly?

Our preferred airline for island hopping is Hawaiian Airlines. I booked my flight in cash to earn miles (I was a few miles short from earning Pualani Gold elite status) and booked my mom’s flight by redeeming miles. Saver level is 7,500-10,000 miles one-way and I was able to book her roundtrip itinerary at 17,500 miles from Honolulu to Kahului. Not bad since Thanksgiving travel can get expensive, unless you book during Hawaiian’s promotional periods.

Where Did We Stay?

Ka’anapali Beach Club is a timeshare property owned by Diamond Resorts International. I had never heard of this company before, but there was an online promotion so we decided to book it during Thanksgiving weekend. The property is located right on the beach with a large outdoor pool and tiny jacuzzi, but I was told they were renovating it in a few months to build a larger hot tub. While the building is older and very pink (the color of Hawaiian royalty), I liked the sizes of the rooms, which is great for families, and loved the large soaking tub (I made a bubble bath daily since the hot tub was tiny). The only downside is the lack of stove in the kitchen, which resorts generally have.

Diamond didn’t require us to attend a timeshare presentation, but I decided to do it for the first time to see what it’s all about. I won’t go into details, as I think people should do their research and decide for themselves, but I will say that I found many aspects of the program valuable while also having a couple of concerns. Being told how a program works is very different from experiencing how it works. Talking to actual owners is valuable as well. I also accepted the free food vouchers, which we used at all the restaurants listed below.

The Attractions

Ka’anapali is famed for its crystal-clear beach, an ideal place for swimming and ocean activities like parasailing, snorkeling, boogie boarding or riding a catamaran. At the strip of beach at Whaler’s Village, there’s a rock at the far end called “Black Rock,” a large lava rock where people enjoy jumping off and into the ocean.

Whaler’s Village is an outdoor mall with shops and restaurants. It’s more high-end shopping, so not something I’m interested in. The beachside restaurants, on the other hand, are a little pricey but well worth it for the view, ambiance and tasty food.

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Nakalele Blowhole, located on the north western side of Maui just past Kapalua, is a rocky area where waves crash onto the shore to create a geyser-like eruption up to 100 feet in the air. The short hike down the mountain requires a good pair of shoes as it’s very rocky and slippery. I’ve heard one or two people have gotten sucked into the blowhole, so admire the view from a safe distance.

There are a few zipline tour companies in Ka’anapali. My family did one a couple years ago and I had fun. There’s a short drive up the mountain and a mile or so hike to the ziplines. Soaring through the air above lush green landscapes and overlooking Ka’anapali shore is an awesome experience.

The previous two years we went to Haleakala, a dormant volcano, to view the sunrise (it’s an amazing sight) and did the scenic drive to Hana (great views, trails, and waterfalls, but crazy driving). Doing both of these are a must for first time visitors to Maui, but expect to drive to Haleakala before 4am and spend a full day driving in and out of Hana.

The Food

The first place I like to stop at in Kahului is Da Kitchen, located near the airport. Their fried spam musubi is delicious. In Ka’anapali, Leilani’s On The Beach and Hula Grill are located at Whaler’s Village, right next to the beach. The food is great (try the Hula Pie) and view is amazing at sunset. The Plantation House is at the Kapalua Golf-Plantation Course, where the PGA’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions takes place, and overlooks Kapalua with amazing views of the beach below. Sansei Seafood and Sushi is a great restaurant that offers a 50% off early bird special for kama’aina (locals) on Sundays and Mondays (so cool, but we had to show up half an hour early to get in line).

Transportation

I rented a car using the Hertz-United deal below. The cost of the car was cheaper than renting directly from Hertz or other rental companies. Had the cost been higher, I would have forgone the miles. It’s usually better to pay less.

The Final Word…

I love visiting Maui. I always have fun, whether I’m in Ka’anapali, Waliea, Kahului or Kihei. While this particular trip was spent mostly eating out and relaxing at the hotel and beach, there are many other things to do in Maui, which I touched upon briefly but I’ll discuss in more detail in a future post.