We enjoyed our stay at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. It definitely isn't a luxury hotel. But that isn't what we were looking for. The rooms were spacious and clean. We enjoyed our balcony over looking the pool area. However, one thing we learned is there is a difference between Oceanview rooms and Oceanfront rooms. We were upgraded to an Oceanview and you could hardly see the ocean. As you can see in our pictures.

There was nightly entertainment outside at the pool and bar area. We were able to sit on our room's balcony and listen. Since we were there at Christmas time, the music was obviously Christmas themed, but with a Hawaiian style. It was nice to listen to, and helped us get in the Christmas and Hawaiian spirit.

The hotel also offers many different classes like Hula, Lei making etc. We didn't take part in any of those, however if we had kids with us I think we would have.

The hotel was going through some renovations to their dinning area while we were there. It was a little confusing as to where to go for the breakfast buffet and the staff wasn't overly helpful either. There were a few times that we, and other guest, were standing in the doorway to the restaurant trying to figure out where to go and the hotel staff just walked by and didn't help.

The beach that is along the hotel is great!!! We spent a lot of time there. It is very close to a great snorkeling spot along Black Rock. However, that area does get busy very quickly. FYI: it was cheaper to rent snorkel gear from somewhere other than the hotel. We rented from a snorkel shop in Lahaina.

The hotel is a very convenient area along the Ka'anapali beach. There is a nice boardwalk that goes up and down the beach and it is a great walk at night to watch the sunset.

We are hoping to go back to Maui again in the next few years. We have talked about staying here again. Like I said, it isn't a luxury hotel, but since we aren't there to sit in a hotel all day, it is exactly what we need.

Before leaving (and after making the reservations) I read all of the reviews possible. I was not sure what to expect, since some were a bit discouraging. We visited many of the hotels along the beach while going for walks, and I would not have traded my experience for all of the glitz and glamour at the other hotels. The Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a special experience. If the goal of your trip is to have the perfect hotel room in the perfect building, then this is not the place for you. If your goal is to experience the beauty of the island, to experience local arts and crafts, and to feel like a part of a family, then this is the place.

Sure, the rooms could be updated, but why? The view of the ocean from the patio doors is incredible, and the view of the mountain from the walkway cannot be topped by any interior decorating. The hotel staff encouraged us to attend a welcome breakfast for free on our first day there, and we expected it to be a high-pressure sales event of some type. Instead, it was a helpful overview of Maui and the opportunities, events, and an introduction to staff at the hotel who were able to help us get connected with whatever our goals were.

The hotel has a church service Sunday mornings, we had no intention of attending this, since we were encouraged to find a local church and benefit from the local Hawaiian cultural influence in a worship service. It was too easy to stay at the hotel and worship in the beautiful gardens, hearing the waves crash onshore a few feet away. And it was such a great experience, too.

I did not meet anyone on staff who was not helpful. They even had a good understanding of the emotional and physical demand it is to travel to Maui from the mainland and worked hard to make our check-in very smooth and simple. They pointed out that the time change can cause people to feel anxious and tense, and they do not use that time to make any kind of suggestion or demands but encouraged us to attend the breakfast the next morning. This is a small detail that shows the depth of their understanding of what tourists need!

This modest hotel (3.5 stars) preserves the Hawaiian culture through activities, song, and ohana spirit. It is not part of a hotel chain. You don't stay at this hotel for the pool or room amenities. Accommodations are simple and clean, although the Molokai wing does not have elevators. The hotel welcomes back many repeat guests who return to experience the Hawaiian culture. The location is prime, in Kaanapali, just a few steps to the Black Rock snorkeling area. It may seem out of place among all the other big boys (Westin, Sheraton, Hyatt), but the simplicity of the hotel can be quite attractive. The courtyard is simple, almost park-like, with strings of hanging lights for a very intimate feel at night. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and there is a poolside grill with affordable dining options. There is no room service and no gym. None of the rooms face a parking lot. There are no minibars in the rooms, but who needs one when each floor has vending machines with normal prices (a candy bar is $0.75).

This hotel is located directly on the world-famous Kannapali Beach in Maui. It is considered the most Hawaiian hotel in Maui. It is not a big, fancy resort like many others, but a really nice place at the same time. It is a smaller hotel, but lots with lots of Hawaiian looks. The staff was really nice, friendly, and helpful. Check-in was smooth and quick, and our room was also nice.

We had a room with two double beds and a nice-sized bathroom. The room overlooked an area that was full of trees and beautiful plants. The room had a television, dresser, nightstand, and table and chairs. The view was good, but I was woken up early every morning by the sound of birds chirping in the trees in front of our room. That is the only complaint with the room, though. The hotel offered daily activities. They had Hawaiian actives, like lai-making and hula lessons.

The hotel has a bar and grill area and also an outdoor pool. The pool was nice but nothing spectacular, just a regular pool. It was also a little shady. The hotel is located directly on the beach, and there is a nice boardwalk between the buildings and beach, so that is neat to walk on and see the wonderful views without getting sandy.

Across the street from the hotel is also a gorgeous golf course. They have paved golf cart paths and even an overpass over the highway. It was the nicest course I had ever seen. There is also a lot to see and do around this area. This area is known for whale-watching, but we were there during the off-season for this.

The employees are so helpful and very friendly. The concierge service was outstanding, so we could plan our whole vacation right there in the lobby. It was great that each employee knew cultural history, and the evening hula shows were spectacular!