On Maui's south shore near the Little Beach, Iao Valley and the Haleakala volcano, the beach community of Kihei once served as a vacation spot for Hawaiian royalty. With immediate access to snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching and birding, this sunny and dry end of the island offers oceanfront hotels and lodgings on Kihei Road.
Primarily catering to gay and lesbian travelers (though all are welcome), the Sunseeker Hotel offers 17 rooms and suites. Accommodations vary from standard rooms, which feature a king bed, kitchenette, and lanai or veranda, to the Penthouse Suite, a lodging with a bedroom, living area, dining area, bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, full-size kitchen, and a lanai with a hot tub. The Sunseeker offers guests discounts on several local activities, including helicopter tours to the island's famous and dramatic landscapes that are inaccessible by car.
Sunseeker Hotel
551 South Kihei Rd.
Kihei, HI 96753-9046
808-879-1261
mauisunseeker.com
The Aston Maui Lu Resort is a beachfront hotel seated in a 28-acre coconut grove. The resort boasts a pool shaped like Maui and two private beach coves. Rooms range from Standard Garden View Rooms, which offer one king-size or two full-size beds, to Lofts, with one queen-size bed and ocean views, and are located adjacent to the private beach coves. Camp Kaanapali is an activity program for children, and the hotel offers a Polynesian Arts and Crafts Activity group in the lobby, which includes hula lessons and ti leaf lei making.
Aston Maui Lu Resort
575 South Kihei Rd.
Kihei, Hawaii 96753-9098
808-879-5881
astonhotels.com
A collection of condos on the beach, Luana Kai means "to be at leisure by the sea." The resort offers a large lawn for picnicking and kite flying, a pool, putting green, hot tub and sauna, shuffleboard deck, and tennis courts. The condos are one, two or three rooms, with full kitchens and stocked with linens, paper products, laundry and dishwashing detergent, and coffee. Local activities include whale watching, and breaching whales can often be seen from the lanais.
Luana Kai Resort
940 South Kihei Rd.
Kihei, HI 96753-9151
808-879-1268
luanakai.com
With eight beachfront cottages on two acres of land, Nona Lanai sits next to Maui's Ma'alaea Bay. Grounds include hammocks, barbecue grills, picnic tables and gardens. Rooms consist of a bedroom, kitchen and living area, and four of rooms offer ocean views. The property offers several specials, from early booking discounts to extended stay discounts. Local restaurants include Monsoon India, just two blocks away, and Blue Moon Café, a BBQ joint that's 6 blocks away.
Nona Lani Cottages
455 South Kihei Rd.
Kihei, HI 96753
808-879-2497
nonalanicottages.com
