Sheraton Maui in Ka’anapali: lazy river, beachfront, luau, and our experience

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In a nutshell: We underestimated this resort for years, hence we were slow to write a Sheraton Maui review. It is hard to beat the beachfront location, their luau, and the pool here. The rooms are dated, but the reasonable daily rate (reasonable for Ka’anapali Resorts) makes this a good deal.

Overview of the Sheraton Maui Resort

The Sheraton Maui is located in front of Black Rock Beach, part of Ka’anapali Beach. This resort is a Maui icon for its 1960s design and its integration into Keka’a Point.

We put off staying here for way too long! We had toured the property multiple times, but did not book a room because the rooms were dated. Plus, we enjoy the other Marriott property further down Ka’anapali Beach, the Maui Westin Resort and Spa.

After staying here for three nights, we plan to book the Sheraton Maui again. See below for our reasons why. Here is a bit about the resort.

• Beautiful lawns, gardens, and koi ponds on 23 acres
• Opened in 1963
• Located on Ka’anapali Beach at Black Rock (Pu’u Keka’a)
• Rooms renovated in 2018. The standard room we stayed in may have been renovated in 2018, but still felt dated—more of a “paint job” than a renovation.
• What has been remodeled? Their website says, “Our historic Maui hotel features recently renovated Kaanapali Beach rooms alongside a brand-new arrival experience.”
• The Moana Oceanfront Wing is where the rooms are built on top of Black Rock with ocean views.

Sheraton Maui Review: Why We Love It

• Price: We find the price reasonable for the overall quality of the resort. The grounds and the location are spectacular. The standard rooms are clean and comfortable, but not luxurious. They are a bit dated.
• Location in Ka’anapali: You can’t beat the area in front of Black Rock Beach. Swim with sea turtles at the cliff or jump off the cliff with the kids. The Kaanapali beach boardwalk will take you to restaurants and shops in Whalers Village. We would walk to dinner every night!
• Pool: The pool is why we booked the Sheraton Maui! A river connects multiple pools. The river doesn’t have a flow, like a lazy river, but the rocks and waterfalls make for a pleasant experience. There is a small waterslide that we all enjoyed.

The Sheraton Maui has a webcam! See our Best Maui Webcams for their view atop Black Rock of Ka’anapali Beach. Get a view of the weather, ocean conditions, and vibe.

Video! Sheraton Maui Review and Tour

We enjoy a hotel review video so you can get your own opinion on staying here. Watch our video below and make your own Sheraton Maui review.

The Sheraton Maui Resort Highlights

Here are frequently asked questions on staying at the Sheraton Maui Resort. We provide some tidbits based on our experience staying here.

How much is the Sheraton Maui Resort?

Prices are subject to change! But here is what you can expect to pay.

• $49 Resort Fee (included in the prices below)
• Valet Parking: $49
• Self Parking: $39

Daily rates at the Sheraton Maui are reasonable compared to other Ka’anapali Resorts, especially compared to the Westin. As a Sheraton, it offers good value for the amenities provided.

You can expect to pay $350 to $450 a night (including resort fees) during off-peak times. During spring break in Hawaii and the summer busy season, rates may climb to $500 to $600 a night. During the Christmas holiday, rates are $1,000 a night.

Should you book the Sheraton Maui with points?

In our Marriott vs. Hyatt: Where to Stay in Hawaii debate, we prefer Marriotts for quality, but Hyatt offers better point value!

Marriott Bonvoy offers dynamic pricing for its reward travel. We recommend booking early to score low-point rooms or visiting during the shoulder seasons.

Here is an idea of the points value for the Sheraton Maui:

• Off-peak: 60,000 to 65,000 points
• Peak: 75,000 to 90,000 points

The last time we checked points, they had a lot of standard room availability with 60,000 points. The low point rooms dominated their monthly calendars. Good luck with finding a good deal with points!

See our Where to Stay in Hawaii with Points for more hotel options. Or, jump to our Guide to Hawaii with Points to get free nights in Hawaii.

Where is the Sheraton hotel on Maui?

The Sheraton Maui Resort is located in West Maui, in the Ka’anapali Beach Resorts area.

Click here for Google Map directions to the Sheraton Maui.

We used to consider the Sheraton Maui as being “far down” Ka’anapali Beach as it was at the end of the main beach. We were wrong.

It is an easy walk on the boardwalk to Whalers Village Shopping Center and beach loading tours. It is closer to restaurants and shopping than the Grand Hyatt Maui at the south end of Ka’anapali.

You can take the Ka’anapali Trolley for easy access to Ka’anapali golf, restaurants, and shopping.

Does the Sheraton Maui have a pool?

Yes, the Sheraton Maui has a pool.

The more common question is: Does the Sheraton Maui have a lazy river?

The Sheraton Maui does not have a lazy river. A river connects its pools, but it has no flow. A small tiled waterslide connects two levels of the pool. The pool is 142 yards long and is better described as a lagoon pool.

Although there isn’t a lazy river at the Sheraton Maui, we all loved the pool for its numerous waterfalls, rock grottos, and areas to play and relax. You will find multiple bridges linking the lounge chair areas and a central poolside restaurant.

You will need to visit the Grand Wailea on Maui for a true lazy river experience.

The pool is in front of the beach, making it convenient to move back and forth between the pool and the beach throughout a day at the resort.

What is there to do at the Sheraton Maui?

No Sheraton Maui review is complete without a list of resort activities. We enjoy participating in the resort activities, as they are included in your resort fee (you’ve already paid for them), and they offer a unique cultural experience.

Here are the resort activities at the Sheraton Maui. They provide an events calendar so you can put them on your itinerary.

• Sunrise yoga
• Koi fish feeding
• Ukulele lessons
• Daily live music and hula performance
• Cliff dive ritual at Black Rock at sunset
• S’mores at night (additional fee)

Sheraton Maui Luau!

Book the Sheraton Maui Nui Luau! We could walk out of our room and onto the lawn for the luau during our last stay.

You do not have to stay here to book their Maui Nui Luau. In fact, they provide $3 parking for non-guests.

This luau is excellent for its beachfront location, food, and performance. See our Full Sheraton Maui Luau Review for details!

Things to Do Near the Sheraton Maui

We enjoyed staying at the Sheraton Maui because of its excellent location in West Maui. From walking onto a beach, boarding a sunset cruise, to driving up to Napili Bay, this is a fantastic location for exploring Maui.

See our articles for activities near the Sheraton Maui.

• 19+ Things to Do in Ka’anapali
• All Kaanapali Snorkeling Tours
• All Kaanapali Sunset Cruises Reviewed
• Ka’anapali Whale Watching Tour
• Stargazing on Maui

Things to Know Before Booking the Sheraton Maui

Here are some tips for booking the Sheraton Maui.

• Book early for the best price, especially if you’re using points. Booking three to four months in advance is ideal.
• Recheck rates before you leave! You may find that the price for your room has decreased.
• The Sheraton Maui is popular with conventions. This may affect the daily rate or the resort’s occupancy.
• The coffee shop in the lobby gets busy in the morning. Arrive early or expect a short wait.
• The pool was not busy during our visit, but readers have mentioned it can get crowded. Meaning, it can be hard to find a lounge chair.