Honua Kai Resort & Spa Review: The Maui Condo That Feels Like a Full Luxury Resort

With over 10 years of annual visits to Maui, Hawaii, and staying at a variety of places, Honua Kai Resort & Spa is our favorite place to stay! We’ve stayed there more than 5 times now, the first time was a month long stay before baby, the second stay was with baby and family (8 people in a 3 bedroom), in-laws and us with our 2 kiddos, and last few stays were just the 4 of us in a one bedroom. Looking for the best Airbnb or VRBO rental in Maui? Honua Kai is great for families, couples, or a friend-cation, it even accommodates large groups.

Honua Kai is a condominium resort complex on Ka'anapali Beach. The decision you need to make is whether to book a condo through the on-site property manager, Outrigger, or through an independent property management company or owner.

We typically like to book through Maui Resort Rentals: https://www.mauiresortrentals.com/rental/honua-kai-hokulani-538#gallery-1

We can find great prices, amazing units, and we love the amenities and service they provide!

Here are 10 excellent reasons why we would go back again and again…

Honua Kai 3 bedroom condo - kitchen and living room with ocean view

The resort feeling is real!
The giant pool area, location next to the ocean, general store/smoothie/coffee shop, and spa on premises, makes a perfect vacation. Honestly, it felt like staying at a hotel except the room was a suite with a full kitchen, washer/dryer, but no housekeeping service. We don’t typically have our room made up anyway so it was perfect. If you want housekeeping daily you can book through Outrigger, you just won’t be able to pick which unit you want.
Honua Kai Resort & Spa is my favorite option when traveling with babies, toddlers, and or kids! Having a full kitchen and a washer and dryer is so handy as you never know what mess they’ll make!
Speaking of kids and toddlers, check out my top 10 things that I bring for every vacation with the kiddos! You won’t want to miss these toys or snacks: https://www.thesweetestescapes.com/blog/10-things-toddler-travel

2. Lots of room combos for any family size.

There are studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms. The 1 bedroom was perfect for us so I could work in one room and there was still somewhere for Josh to go watch TV or sit on the patio. We stayed in a 3 bedroom when Josh’s family met us in Maui, Room 351 is gorgeous with ocean views and has a cute coastal theme!

Book through Maui Resort Rentals for great service and a great price. Be sure to consider what pool you may be visiting the most or if you want to be near stairs or elevators for convenience. You can also check out the views of each room on the website so you know exactly what you’ll be looking at (mountain or ocean view).

Maui Resort Rentals: https://www.mauiresortrentals.com/rental/honua-kai-hokulani-538#gallery-1

Room views from our Honua Kai 3 bedroom balcony

3. The patios at Honua Kai are amazing!

The patios are large and where we spent most of our time in our room when we weren’t sleeping! We had all meals out there and I even worked (WFH = Work From Hawaii) out there for most days. Depending on which side of the building you’re on, you might get a sunrise or sunset, or both! I enjoyed having coffee in the morning and watching the whales breach the surface. Whales are only seen late October-March.

October is also a relatively good month to book for less crowds and cheaper prices (compared to spring/summer)! See more great reasons to book in October: https://www.thesweetestescapes.com/blog/maui-october

Water slide and pool at Honua Kai in maui

4. The Pool!

The pool area at Honua Kai is like a resort, complete with water slide, lazy river type pool (it doesn’t really flow but you can walk/swim it), splash pad and 1/2 foot kiddie pools! Lots of chairs and areas to lounge poolside.

There are even servers that come by to bring drinks and food from Duke’s so you can have a Mai Tai and Hula Pie at the pool!

We rented a cabana that was big enough for our family party of 8 to hang out in. If you pick the right cabana, you can even have a private pool entrance!

5. Beach Access

The beach is also right in front of the hotel and because we booked our room with Maui Resort Rentals, we had Tommy Bahama chairs and an umbrella provided in the room and ready to use.

Note: not all rooms have umbrellas.

There is a paved walking path that is just before the sand so that you can walk along to the neighboring properties or even all the way to Black Rock and Kaanapali! It’s about a mile and a half to Whaler’s Village.

Maui Resort Rentals: https://www.mauiresortrentals.com/rental/honua-kai-hokulani-538#gallery-1

6. The Spa!

It wouldn’t be called Honua Kai Resort & spa without the spa!

The Ho’ōla spa on premises was the perfect for my 90 minute massage! There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to this place like Burke Williams, but you have a private room with an excellent massage therapist! They do have showers and lockers for your post relaxation needs.

7. Whaler’s General Store

Not only is there a convenience store but there are also baristas and smoothie-ologists. Ok, I made the smoothie-ologist word up, but they make good, fresh smoothies!

Their mac nut latte is the perfect start to any day (or afternoon)!

There was another coffee shop on the property but it closed about a year ago.

8. Gym

There’s also a really nice gym, though I prefer to go for a run out on the paved path along the beach!

9. Hotel Treatment

There is valet service, as well as bellhops, like a true resort. They are super helpful for guests or checking-in.

If you’re looking for adventure, there’s even a concierge to help you book excursions!

Hula pie on plate at Dukes in front of beach in maui at sunset — Hula Pie at Duke’s is a MUST have!

10. Duke’s Beach House Maui

Between the pool and the ocean you will find a famous restaurant called Duke’s!

Why is Duke’s so special? Well, of course it has to do with ice cream! The Hula Pie is a must - Macadamia nut ice cream with a cookie crust topped with fudge, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts!

They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

May I recommend the breakfast burrito and pork Benedict for breakfast!

See all of our favorite restaurants here: https://www.thesweetestescapes.com/blog/10-best-restaurants-maui-hawaii

Aloha and Until Next Time

After all these years and all those different stays—from a romantic month-long trip to fun family reunions—it’s clear why Honua Kai Resort & Spa holds the top spot on our list of Maui accommodations. It truly offers the best of both worlds: the spacious convenience of a fully-equipped vacation rental paired with the luxurious amenities of a high-end resort. Whether you’re sipping coffee on the expansive patio while watching whales breach, floating near the epic pool complex, or enjoying a slice of Hula Pie at Duke's, Honua Kai Resort & Spa creates the kind of effortless, relaxing vacation that keeps you coming back for more. So, if you’re looking for a perfect home base for your next West Maui adventure, stop scrolling through listings and book your suite. We'll probably see you there!

This is not a sponsored post, I genuinely like Honua Kai and Maui Resort Rentals. For the record, I like ice cream more.