Honeymoon on Maui

The hotel is on the west side of the island, just north of Kaanaapali, another popular area to stay. Kapalaua is actually farther north than all resorts on the west side of the island, except for the Ritz-Carlton, which is adjacent. We were told that rain was more common in this area, but the weather was gorgeous. We experienced occasional high winds, but they seemed equally probable everywhere that we went. The resort is in close proximity to Lehaina, which is a jumping-off point to most excursions and filled with great dining and entertainment options.

The hotel is/was beautiful, with large open-air areas and beautiful landscaping. The resort boasts beautiful world-class golf courses that I’m sure remain open even as the conversion takes place. The breakfast buffet was delicious and the fresh-juice machine was a highlight! We experimented each morning, throwing giant watermelon slices, whole carrots, whole cucumbers, papayas, ginger, and other fresh fruits and veggies into the machine, in all kinds of combinations. Aside from breakfast, we usually dined out in nearby towns. Although the resort was a wonderful place to stay, we’re not ones to stick around resorts and lie on the beach all day. We like to get out and explore!

There are plenty of nice hotel choices in Maui, including some massive luxury hotels in Wailea, such as the Fairmont Kea Lani, Grand Wailea, and Four Seasons. However, we preferred to be north of Wailea, closer to all of the action. There are plenty of nice hotels, such as the Sheraton and the Ritz, that are in Kaanaapali and other towns.

The luau was awesome! It was one of our favorite experiences. The setting was very romantic and beautiful, especially at sunset. We were seated with a few other couples who were all good dining companions. No honeymooners at our table, which was shocking! They had a special dance for honeymooners and those celebrating an anniversary. I think about 70% of the audience got up and danced!

The food was great, as were the (unlimited!) drinks. However, I spent too much time eating, drinking and chatting and should have paid more attention to the show. It was very good, but it was over earlier than I’d expected.

This is definitely a "must do". Don’t hold back. Be a tourist. Wear a Hawaiian dress or shirt, happily accept the leis, drink the fruity concoctions with flowers in them and have a blast!

The magician, Warren, was hilarious and the magic was outstanding. It was impossible to figure out or even to fathom that these things could happen without the involvement of real "magic"!

Warren offers newlyweds seats up front and makes them part of the show, which looked really fun, if you don’t mind being teased a bit. My husband was reluctant to run up and volunteer, so we missed the opportunity.

The before-show appetizers and cocktails were delicious. I’d recommend ordering a la carte rather than purchasing the full meal package. The appetizers we purchased were large enough to satisfy us.