The Royal Lahaina Hotel Review

August 27th, 2010

Yesterday we had a team meeting and were visited by Hawaii Hotels, who run the Royal Lahaina on Maui and the Royal Kona on the Big Island. Today the focus is the Royal Lahaina because we actually did a site inspection there last week so the property is very fresh in my mind. 

The hotel is located in the, Kaanapali area  on the west side of the island on  a beautiful stretch of beach. The property is really made up of three different properties, the main hotel, the cottages and a little inn called the Kaanapali Ocean Inn.

 There is no question that you’re in Hawaii when you enter this property. The public spaces are very Hawaiiana, reminiscent of the old days in Hawaii with lots of bamboo,  rich wood tones, Tapa and Tiki Torches . There’s  thatched roof shacks  that double as cabanas around  the pool area and the atmosphere is very circa 60s & 70s.

The main hotel is my best recommendation for this property.  Three  years ago the property was renovated and it was tastefully done.  Custom designed furnishings made of teak and koa give the rooms a bold Hawaiian feel . The beds are  custom-made so that you can put your luggage underneath them easily.  The rooms are very spacious and the ocean views are spectacular. The rooms we saw were very clean the bathrooms included a vanity that had the bamboo faucet,  a minibar (empty), free coffee and coffee maker. Between the bedroom and the bathroom area of their louver panels which open up the room space.

Tip: The best way to remember to get there if you’re driving from Kahului Airport is to take a left at the next exit after that, Kaanapali Parkway,  the name of the street you make a left on is Kekaa Street.

The cottages are not really cottages. Basically they are wood frame units that are on the ocean side of the property. You get one hotel room in fourplex.   The rooms are small, very old but adequate. There are some larger units there which you might want to consider, which has a separate bedroom and a small kitchen. It would make sense to stay in the cottages if you are on a budget or part of the larger wedding party cost was a concern.

Finally there’s the Kaanapali Ocean Inn. This is about as basic as you can get for a hotel room on Maui. You get what you pay for at this property; it’s  is very rustic and in need of renovations.  However they do their best with this property and if you’re on a tight budget and you are really good location you might consider staying here. One of the advantages is that you get to use all of the amenities of the hotel. If you have to stay here stay  in one of the oceanfront rooms because it’s as close to the beach you can get!  Keep in mind a lot of the rooms are adjacent to the luau so there might be some noise considerations.
 

Published by Bruce Fisher

Since 2006 Bruce has been writing and producing the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast and the Hawaii Vacation Blog which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. His postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible. The tone is anecdotal, breezy, and devoid of any commercialism.

Entry Filed under: Maui