Maui, HI ~ Our 3 favorite places to stay

There are many VRBO condos and luxury resorts to choose from on the Island of Maui. We opt for the hotels that offer a more local experience reflective of the tranquil lifestyle of the Islands. 

Our first choice is the Best Western Pioneer Inn in Lahaina. This hotel harkens back to the days when Lahaina was one of the whaling capitals of the world. Built in 1901 and restored and remodeled, the rooms have private lanais. In addition, it sits across the street from the world-famous Banyan tree. The central location of this property offers a great jumping off spot for touring the north, east and west parts of the Island. In addition, just steps away from the hotel you have access to numerous recreation activities. You can take a whale watching tour or a day boat to Lanai. Scuba and snorkeling trips and world class fishing charters are easily accessible. They also have an entertaining bar that features live music on a regular basis (If you’re there say hi to our friend Donna who bartends here!)

The Banyan Tree

The banyan tree was planted in 1873. Since then it has grown to 60 feet tall, has 16 major trunks apart from the main one and the circumference of the tree covers almost two acres of land, making it one of the largest banyan trees in the world. At dusk, there are thousands of Myna birds that return to sleep for the night. The boisterous caterwauling is a spectacle to behold. Famed Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia spent many days painting the tree. There are multiple annual events that happen in the park surrounding the famous tree. Our favorite is Halloween night when Lahaina shuts down its main street and there is an epic costume contest under the tree. It’s one of the most fun Halloween events we’ve ever experienced. 

Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel

Our second favorite is the Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel. This oceanfront hotel sits directly on the world-famous Kāʻanapali beach and features 11 acres of stunning tropical gardens and world-class ocean views. It is considered “Hawaii’s most Hawaiian hotel.” All of the oceanfront rooms have private, spacious lanai’s. You’ll be afforded long walks on the beach and the swimming here is fabulous. Just to the west of the resort is Black Rock, also known as Puʻu Kekaʻa, was once revered as a place where the spirits would leap from this world to the next. This area is a dynamic snorkeling and swimming area. The clear waters offer a fishbowl experience and it is a great spot for paddle boarding, swimming, snorkeling and if you’re adventurous, some cliff diving.  From December to May, humpback whales travel to the protected waters of Kā’anapali, making it one of the top whale-watching destinations in the world.

The Bamboo Inn, Hāna, Maui

Thirdly, we can’t recommend the Bamboo Inn in Hāna enough. The Bamboo Inn offers three oceanfront accommodations, each with a breath-taking view looking across Hāna Bay toward the Waikoloa peninsula, the easternmost point on Maui. A trip out the Hana highway can be done in a day if you have time constraints but we recommend you take a whole day to get there and stay the night and spend a whole day returning. 

There are so many detours, side roads, hidden beaches and waterfalls along this road to Hāna. You really need 48 hours to experience it all. In this case, the destination is the lesser part of the trip and the journey is the real experience. 

Check out our other blogs featuring the best beaches, best hikes, best food and best sites Maui has to offer.