Honua Kai Resort & Spa Review: resort-style vacation rentals

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In a nutshell: A vacation rental complex that feels like an incredible resort. The best of both worlds! 

Overview of Honua Kai Resort & Spa

Should you go with a resort or a vacation rental? When you stay at Honua Kai Resort & Spa, you don’t have to choose. Stay in north Ka’anapali at the sprawling resort and choose a rental that ranges in size from a studio to a three bedroom villa. You’ll get some great resort amenities with the convenience (and kitchen) of a vacation rental. 

Honua Kai Resort & Spa Location

The Honua Kai Resort & Spa is located in North Ka’anapali, right on the beach. This is a great spot as you’ll have access to one of the most beautiful beaches, but it’s a bit less crowded than the main Ka’anapali beach in front of the strip of resorts near Whaler’s Village. There’s a beach boardwalk that you can cruise along to find the best spot for you. And if you want to head out to dinner away from the resort or jump on a boat adventure, historic Lahaina is just a short drive away. 

Highlights of the Honua Kai Resort & Spa

Pools

This amenity is probably what makes us love Honua Kai so much. With vacation rentals, one of the big things you give up is the luxury of a resort pool. The Honua Kai pool changes that. There are three pools, five hot tubs, a waterslide, a waterfall, and cabanas available for rent. 

Rooms

Another place where this resort really shines is the wide options for rooms. Whether you just need a studio or you need more space with a 3 bedroom condo, you can find it here. But these are vacation rentals so remember that the quality of the units will vary. That’s why I find it very helpful to read the VRBO reviews before booking. You can also book units directly through the Outrigger, who manages the property. But the units are still individually owned and you’ll still get variability in the quality. So, reviews are important!

Restaurants

While each unit comes with its own kitchen, there are still options for you to dine on site. Their full on-site restaurant is Duke’s Beach House, a well-known restaurant with locations in Waikiki, Kauai, and in California. There’s also a market and a general store on-site. And at Honua Kai, you’re a short drive from the restaurants at Whalers Village, the Ka’anapali Food Truck Park, and some of our favorite restaurants in Lahaina. 

Activities

Unlike some of the larger resorts on the island that have a full schedule of free activities to offer (like the Wailea Beach Resort), Honua Kai doesn’t offer many on-site activities. While it lacks on site activities, the resort is really centrally located. So if you want to head to Lahaina for whale watching, a surf lesson, or a semi-submarine ride, it’s easy to do so. And you have great snorkeling near the resort at Kahekili Beach. 

If you’re looking to relax and pamper yourself, Honua Kai does offer an on-site spa. 

Honua Kai Resort Review: why we love it

We’ve experienced our fair share of vacation rentals. Some have been terrible and some have been spectacular. Here are the things that really stand out to us when comparing Honua Kai to other vacation rentals on Maui: 

• Quieter, North Ka’anapali location: while this isn’t a quiet resort by any means (there are over 600 units in the resort), Honua Kai is located away from the main Ka’anapali resort. This might be a drawback to some as you can’t walk to Whalers Village. But as a plus, the beach and the beach boardwalk are a bit quieter. While it is busy, comparably it is a bit more relaxing. 
• The pool: As I’ve mentioned, staying in a vacation rental often means making the sacrifice and skipping a great pool. But Honua Kai has a large resort style pool that you can take advantage of. Spread over three acres, you can have a pool day the whole family will enjoy. 
• Variety of unit sizes: The flexibility of getting to pick a unit size is so helpful. Smaller groups can fit into a studio while larger groups can have room the stretch out in the three bedroom villas. 

Things to Know Before Booking Honua Kai Resort & Spa

• This is still a vacation rental: if you’re looking for amenities like daily housekeeping, you’re going to be disappointed. While it looks like a resort and has management like it’s a resort, it’s not. So you won’t have freshly made beds or turn down service. While they do have very pleasant staff on-site, you won’t get the type of service you’d get if you were staying at an upscale resort. 
• This is a very family-focused resort: This is a positive for some, but if you’re on an adults-only vacation, this might not be the vibe you’re looking for. The pool caters to families and it might not be a zen experience for solo adult travelers. 
• Some rooms are outdated: While some units are stunning and modern, others look like they haven’t been updated in 20 years. Renovations are done by the owner of the individual unit, so there isn’t consistency with what you’ll experience. 
• No consistency between rooms: Again, these units are individually owned, so you won’t have the same experience from unit to unit. Some might be incredibly well stocked while others are lacking some basic items. Reading the most recent reviews is the best way to get a sense of what to expect with the exact unit you’re booking. 

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