MY WEEKEND ON MAUI

.I still have till tomorrow, but I can already provide a reasonable assessment of my weekend on Maui.  Of course, how much can you sense from only one day at each hotel?

First was the Kaanapali Sheraton, and you can read about my bizarre stay there by clicking on it.  But first, an editorialization.  The airport here is called Kapalua.  However, the airport is adjacent to all these Starwood Hotels in Kaanapali.  Kapalua, where the Ritz Carleton and the Plantation Golf Course can be found, is five miles north.  The major island airport is in Kahului, a 28 mile drive.  Lahaina is five miles south of Kaanapali.

You can read the details by clicking on this map and zooming in.

To summarize, of the three Starwood properties in Kaanapali:

  1.  All of the them are at the beach.  I previously wrote about the Sheraton, so that was that.

  2.  They shouldn't have two Westins on the same beach.  I found it confusing, anyway, and so do taxi drivers.  Incidentally, about no taxis being allowed to wait for customers at Kapalua Airport, my latest driver said this happened because there were fights about who was had priority to pick up people, so the State evoked this decision to keep the peace.  Now, incoming passengers are inconvenienced. 

  3.  The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (most north--left--of the three) is not a hotel but a time share resort.  For Starwood Platinum and Gold members:  be prepared to be normalized.  No morning newspaper, no free bottle of water...nothing.  The place reminds me of a Disney cruise line (just imagining--I would never board one) with all those families and children.  I understand this was a 5-star hotel until recently, but recently was upgraded to a 7-star.  I have not thus far seen anything justifying such a lofty ranking.  The rooms are suites, with a fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer and  these are pluses, but the whole atmosphere is of a less than first class resort, with sometimes second rate staffing... and lot's of children running around.  The place seemed full, as I could not get a late departure, with a new wing being built, so the concept is working.  Pulehu, an Italian restaurant, was excellent, but the name means cooked on an open flame, so maybe, both the name of this hotel and this restaurant can use enhancements.  There is a second part of Kaanapali Beach, so will walk it today, then take a spa bath in my room, another extravagance of this hotel.  Oh, I might finally add that Suzy came through, and I was provided an "extraordinary" concession by allowing mr to check out at 1:30PM.

4.  Westin Maui Resort and Spa (most south, or right, Starwood at Kaanapali) has the best of location the three, being adjacent to Whaler's Village, a rather large beach fronted shopping center.  The staff was commendable and the layout, from my perspective, better than the other Westin.

5.  There are several shuttles that take you around Kaanapali and Lahaina.  They are largely free.  However, a taxi from Kaanapali to Kapalua costs $35.  

6.  There are two golf courses each at Kaanapali and Kapalua.  No golf courses in Lahaina.

I chose to golf at the Royal Kaanapali GC (right) and Kapalua Plantation GC.  They are both excellent, with favorable kamaaina (local) rates.  RKGC costs $175, but was only $60 for me.  KPGC charges $250, but I paid $80.  The Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the Professional Golfers' Association's opening weekend, begins at the Kapalua Plantation course the first weekend in January.  The only real hotel in Kapalua is the Ritz Carlton, except rooms are already sold out for that weekend.

I enjoyed my game at the Plantation Course with Renee and Pat Sullivan of Scottsdale, Arizona.  Renee plays like me, somewhat mediocrely, but Pat is a 6 handicapper and actually drove the ball 420 yards on one hole.  There are two with the wind and downslope holes, and even I drove the ball in the 300-350 yard range on those two.  It was very windy.

The Plantation greens are patently ridiculous.  I'll now truly appreciate watching the pros play them in January.  All in all, though, I found both the Royal Kaanapali and Kapalua Plantation to be worthy golf experiences, especially considering my price.  Renee and Pat paid $500, almost as much as some of my lunches.

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