Maui Kai

We’re staying here with friends who have been here before.
Good: Our room is nicely renovated and clean. The complex is right on the water. All rooms face the ocean. The people at the front desk have been polite and kind.
Bad: Because the complex is so close to the water, there is zero beach, and there is no reasonable access to nearby sections of the beach. Small but clean pool and spa. We had a complaint and the desk staff referred us to the general manager. He made it clear that he was completely uninterested in listening to us or doing anything about our complaint. Not just inattentive customer service: this was overtly hostile service.
To me, the bad outweighs the good. They got my money this time, but never again. Not that the Maui Kai management cares about that.

Part of me doesn’t want to share how fabulous Maui Kai is, for fear that this hidden gem will get more popular. First off, ALL rooms are ocean FRONT, not ocean view. We stayed in a corner unit, #808 and couldn’t have asked for a better room. All staff is friendly and helpful. I loved that I was just steps from the beach and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean at night. Also within walking distance to stores and a farmers market on Fridays. I would reccomend this hotel to anyone looking to have a relaxing, low key vacation. If you want to stay at a resort and have all the ammenities, Maui Kai is not the place for you. The resort next door would better suit resort goers.

We were here for 10 days and enjoyed our stay.
Pros:
Nightly price = affordable
No parking fee
No resort fee
Full Kitchen
Daily maid service
Beautiful view for whale watching
No resort group noise to contend with
lots of walking distance restaurants, shops etc
Staff was friendly.
Con’s
The room was a little dated and we found creepy crawly things but mostly clean. Bathroom needed attention but maid got on it when asked. Pool area needs updating.

Great place quite and clean staff is great located in a great area. Whale watching right from your balcony. Our room 106 was recently updated and beautiful.

My husband and I stayed here for our Honeymoon in a 1bed/​1bath on the third floor corner unit. We had amazing views as every unit does here and absolutely loved the location. We were a short drive to Downtown Lahaina and steps from the beach. Although we stayed in a condo that we booked on VRBO and didn’t book directly through the resort the front desk staff still treated us like gold. They were super friendly and accommodating. They answered all of our questions and gave us great tips on where to eat and what sites we had to visit. This is much more of a mom and pop feeling hotel and not some big resort. The staff were in a modest little office decked out in 80’s décor. The access to the beach is fantastic. We absolutely loved our stay here and will be returning. I would highly recommend.

All I want for Christmas is a romantic getaway to Maui to watch the whales!
I had three requirements
Oceanfront, oceanfront, oceanfront.
I wanted as unobstructed a view of the cetacean playground as is possible to get. After making reservations (kamaaina rates) for oceanfront rooms at the Westin (430/​night+++) and the Andaz (450+++), we researched a bit more and found a charming alternative! $ 397/​night no extra fees and 15% off corner 1-​bedroom unit.
The full resort experience… it is NOT.
BUT, if you want the most spectacular view without the upgraded price and without all the non-​negotiable add-​ons then this is the place.
We spent every sunset parked at the view and watched the whales frolic. We rarely encountered another person even tho they were sold out (parking lot was full every evening). Our room came with snorkels for two, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, beach towels, etc.
What it’s got:
Full unobstructed ocean front view
Full kitchen
Separate bedroom (slightly higher cost)
Free DVDs rentals
Free parking
Daily maid service (it’s not much but better than nothing-​I love it when someone else makes my bed!)
Super quiet (cinder block construction)
A pool (not beachfront-it’s in parking lot)
The tv system accesses Netflix and Amazon video on demand (yay!!!)
What is doesn’t have:
Room service
Food service
(Has Coffee every morning but it’s weak)
Attentive staff
Bar
NO resort fee
NO parking fees
NO cleaning fees
We were soooooo super happy with our choice not to stay at a luxury resort. With all the money we saved we splurged on a $ 300 lunch a Mamas Fish House (OMG-​so totally worth it!), whale watching with Ultimate Whale Watching, and just now– an amazing breakfast at slappy cakes (don’t judge a book by its cover, don’t let the name dissuade you-​the food is WOWZA, and the inside is surprisingly cool!)
Oh, and here’s a great tip: walk 200yards to Dukes: happy hour from 3 – 5. $ 6 Mai tai and E’ola (coconut rum drink… my fav!)
A most memorable trip to Maui
A most memorable place to stay.
We will be back!!!

This isn’t a 5 star resort by any means, however it is an amazing value. By the end of your stay the staff will know you by name, and will stop you to ask how your day is going. The location of the condos is about 13 minutes from the main attractions, and nicer beaches. There’s a times grocery store in front of the condos, that helps save money and having a full size kitchen in the condo. You will always have privacy at the pool, and it will never be over crowded. The girls by the pool are always available, and the kitchen is as well.

Currently in Maui for my brithday. The Maui Kai has been a great place to stay so far. The staff is wonderful, everyone is so nice and informative.
This isn’t a place to go if you are looking for top notch amenities. They don’t have a massive pool, golf course, etc. If you are looking to relax for a decent price — this is it. That ocean breaks up against the building so I sleep like a baby. We have a full kitchen to keep snacks and drinks. (Or cook if we want.) The condo is clean, doesn’t smell like mold. And the sunsets are superb. I would recommend a stay here for sure!

This was one of the cheaper options we found on
and we were very pleased. The unit we had was upgraded and right on the water. We had a slight problem with no hot water coming from the shower but the maintenance guy had it fixed within 24 hours and when I needed to take a shower while it wasn’t working they let me use an unused unit. They also gave us the option of switching units but we loved the one we had. The pool is small but perfect. No complaints at all and the staff was nice.

We paid about $ 200/​night plus tax for our studio condo #403. This was a bargain as far as I’m concerned, for a comfortable room with a stocked kitchenette but more importantly, a breathtaking view of the ocean; MK is only a few feet to the ocean, in fact it may be the closest property to the ocean in this area.
I echo the other reviews, this is NOT a full service luxury resort. If you’re expecting a Four Seasons stay, this won’t be for you. The property is a little older and the décor of each room depends on which owner you rented from. We were lucky, our room had fairly updated and comfortable furniture, and had everything: 4 comfortable wicker chairs and a matching table out on the open lanai (ours was open, but we noticed other rooms had enclosed lanais so I considered ourselves lucky), 2 rattan and wicker side chairs inside the unit, one with an ottoman, a matching chest of drawers for clothes, a good sized rattan and glass dining table that can comfortably serve ⁴⁄₅ people, 2 dining chairs, two counter stools, comfy queen bed (but lame flat pillows), fully stocked kitchen with microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher, appliances like a toaster and blender, pots, pans, plates, bowls, flatware, a great big selection of cooking utensils, dishwashing liquid, new sponge, paper towels, potholders, dish towels, granite countertops, safe… ok I think you get the picture by now. Absolutely everything you need if you want a home away from home.
The bathroom wasn’t anything special but was clean enough to feel comfortable to use. They supplied us with bath soap, shampoo, body lotion. Their daily maid service consists only of changing of used towels and making of the bed, which suited us fine. They had daily complimentary coffee downstairs from 7−9am. I thought their staff was friendly and eager to help you with scheduling any activities you wanted to do on the island. Ample parking and our room had included wifi which was fairly fast as we were able to watch streaming videos.
I think this property works for those looking for a comfortable, clean, reasonably priced room right on Kaanapali beach. Added value is the spectacular view, fully stocked kitchen, free parking, free wifi, everything needed to live away from home. If you don’t mind saving money by cooking your own meals and not having all the perks of a luxury resort, this is for you. Supermarket (Times market) is walking distance or a 2-​minute drive from MK.
We came to Maui to relax and just be. Maui Kai gave us this amazing opportunity to relax on the beach without leaving our room, enjoy our own prepared/​home cooked healthy meals that we ate out on our open lanai with a spectacular view of the ocean, the horizon, and amazing sunsets, and not spend a fortune staying on the beach. Yes, we’d stay here again in a heartbeat.

Like others have said Maui Kai is not a resort, it is however a wonderfully relaxing place to stay. We were on Maui for a family vacation and had 3 rooms (adjoining rooms 507 & 508, and separate room 505). All three rooms were spotlessly clean with fully equipped and updated kitchens. The ocean views from all three were amazing (508 has a spectacular corner view from the lanai) sunsets are great to watch right from your own room and sea turtles are frequent visitors to the beach below. The «jr suite» configuration (like 507) has the bed near the lanai so that you can hear the soothing sounds of the ocean as you sleep. The one bedroom units have the bedroom facing the mountains. Each room had beach towels, at least one beach chair and a boogie board. The staff were super friendly and helpful and the grounds and building are very well maintained. DVDs (1 per room at a time) can be borrowed from the front desk. Located within walking distance of a grocery store and several restaurants. Parking is plentiful and the location is great for getting to west maui attractions. The beach around the property can be rocky so bring water shoes.

If your looking for a place to relax this is the perfect place, it might not have a bar, beach party or any type of entertainment but the room is amazing we got a queen bed with a full kitchen which means all kitchen utensils a small beach from patio and a smart TV with free WIFI… The condominium is a tranquil place to relax and enjoy the view what else can you ask for… everyone is so nice and helpful to guide you to the best places of interest let me not forget of their garden its beautiful has also a pool and most important close stores to walk and buy groceries…

Obviously not a resort, but there is an incredible view of the ocean and good location overall. It is very quiet and peaceful. The room was very clean with basic toiletries provided. There was even a boogie board! Free movies that can be borrowed from the office. If you are okay with staying at a condo, this is a great option.

Loved, loved, loved this place and would stay here again! Would even consider buying one of the condos. There is NO other place this close to the water. When sitting on our lanai watching the whale breach, we couldn’t even tell there was land under us, you’re that close. It’s breathtaking.
The condo we rented was well appointed, clean, quiet and just lovely. I would go back again tomorrow if I could!

OK so this resort has two towers. The night we got there we checked into our «resort view» room. The description is a complete joke. I would think that would mean you look out onto the well manicured resort. Well here it means the back side of the resort and parking lot. We ended up upgrading to a partial ocean view in room 919. We had to switch towers witch was not a big deal and ended up really liking the new room. The grounds are very well kept and had a nice set of pools. The beach here is quite poor and not suitable for young ones but it is a short walk away from nicer beaches. I don’t think I would stay here again based on the price and value but it was still nice.

We absolutely LOVED staying in the condo! Our first time to Hawaii and we could not have had a better experience. We stayed for 8 days and rented privately from the owner. The condo management was nice and kept things very clean. The condo was beautiful, fully equipped and was very clean and comfortable to stay in. Had a fantastic ocean view and walking distance to lots of stores and restaurants. Very affordable and we really liked being able to prepare our meals at home and enjoy dinner on the lanai with our own private sunset view. We will definitely stay here again if we come back! Thank you for a great stay!

Maui Kai — Room #703 — We had an enjoyable trip and stayed at the Maui Kai, Room #703 for 9 nights over Christmas and New Years. Our observations were as follows:
Pros:
* THE OCEAN FRONT VIEW! Fantastic!
* The small size of the property (80 units) and being super close to the water.
* Very well appointed and updated kitchen, with tons of gadgets and utensils you may need.
* Rooms that are very quiet with not a lot of outside noise or sounds from neighboring units.
* Nice fans over the bed and dining table.
* We had plenty of bath towels.
* The recreation room by the pool, with a with ping pong table and computer for printing boarding passes — very nice
* The barbeque grills and secured pool area were very comfortable and private.
* Laundry and garbage disposal just outside the unit across the hall as maid service is not standard with owner’s units.
* Free parking and internet services saving at a minimum of $ 15 — $ 25 /​night.
* Booking through Chasen Rainbows, we have used them before and they are very good.
Cons:
* The hostile staff at the front office, especially when they find out that you are staying in an owner’s unit off the grid and not managed by them at the property. When asking about the property and conveniences, most staff were very accommodating until they ask you which unit you are staying in. Look out then, it was almost like turning a switch and the attitude began. Really sad… shameful actually!
* There were no hotel amenities (restaurant, bar valet parking etc,), Maui Kai is an older property and is not a full service hotel.
* There were no laundry units (stackable units are standard these days) inside our studio room.
* The laundry machines that were provided were tired and in need of replacement. The dryer did not dry clothes completely and required a second run.
* The headboard on the bed was made of cloth and was not clean at all. We covered it with a beach towel and lived with it.
* The bathroom is in need of an update as well as the other furniture in the unit.
* The plunger next to the toilet is not an amenity.
We liked this place, it’s just that we felt like step children here by the hotel front desk staff.

This is a true oceanfront condo. There is absolutely nothing to block your view of the ocean and sunset. From the edge of the condo balcony to the water it might be 30 feet. You can sit on the balcony and watch the ocean all day. We saw saliboats, canoes, kayaks, turtles, dolphins, etc. At night you can see turtles 12 feet from where the waves break on the beach.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. Parking is plentiful, safe, close, and free. It is not a fancy place but it is quiet and relaxing.
With the cross ventilation there is no need to run the air conditioning. We slept with the wide open sliding door to the screened in balcony and slept to sound of the ocean.
We will go back.
AFTER I MADE THE ABOVE POST WE WENT BACK AGAIN AND THE REVIEW REMAINS THE SAME.

So the BFF told me I was writing a review and checking in at the wrong place… to heck with it!
We stayed at Maui Kai for a week and I loved it! The unit we rented was on the bottom floor and beachfront… what more can you truly ask for in Maui? I suppose we could’ve gotten über fancy but we spent less time in the condo and more time on the beautiful beach literally ten steps away or if your a midge like me like twenty. It is centrally located and is just a short ten minute walk to a few restaurants and a grocery store. I love to cook so I adored having a kitchen even though we didn’t cook too often seeing that we were both feeling pretty lazy the entire trip but it was great to have the option! The front desk folks were super sweet, I always stopped by to say hello each morning and they were always willing to help. The condo was quiet and had great views. It was exactly all I could’ve asked for! I would definitely come back and stay here.

We stayed at condo #904 for a week. This place has a lot going for it!

* The room is truly ocean front! No partial views here and you are also not staring at your neighbors!
* We paid about $ 215 per night + tax. Compare this to the place next door that charges $ 650 per night.
* Maui Kai is right on Kaanapali beach, which is a really gorgeous beach that has both snorkeling and swimming spots! It’s also one of the longest beaches in Maui, so it’s perfect for a nice stroll. This part of Kaanapali beach is not as crowded as the one by Whaler’s Village, but that’s exactly what we liked about it. Several times we rented an umbrella and lounge chairs from Honua Kai Resort, which is a two minute walk down the beach (make a left when you come out to the beach, it’s the second hotel down). All beaches are public in Hawaii, so you can take your towels and sit your booty down anywhere you like.
* Our room had a full kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and a stove. The large lanai had a mosquito screen, so you can sit out and enjoy the sunset without any worries. Overall the unit was in a good shape and could even be considered very nice if they would furnish it with new furniture, but it didn’t have that luxurious feel. The kitchen was perfectly functional and fully stocked, but could use an uplift. One thing to keep in mind is that each unit is privately owned and therefore has different furnishings and updates.
* Great location! Lahaina is about ten minutes away by car. There is a grocery store nearby as well as the snorkeling gear rental shop.
* We came to Hawaii to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, so we never looked at the small pool that is part of Maui Kai.
* There was a lot of free parking next to the building.
* We booked our room directly with Maui Kai, however they do not tell you the exact unit you will be renting. They originally put us in corner unit on the right side, which unfortunately was also facing the pool from the neighboring hotel. Even from the eighth floor we found it too crazy with screaming kids for our liking. We were looking for a quiet getaway and asked to be moved to another side of the building. It turned out they only had one other condo available, but it was on the other (left) side of the building, so we took it and it worked out great for us. Next time we may book directly with the owners through vrbo.