Makena Beach & Golf Resort is located on a secluded stretch of South Maui. The hotel beach is fabulous and one of the best we've seen on Maui. You can spend your days snorkeling just off the beach, dining by the pool and watching spectacular sunsets from the Molokini Lounge.
Makena Beach & Golf Resort is designed around a beautiful courtyard with a waterfall, Koi pond and lush tropical plants. When you wake up in the morning, walk through the courtyard garden to Cafe Kiowai and have breakfast outdoors overlooking the Koi pond on your family vacation getaway.
The white-sand Malu'aka Beach is quite empty and easy to get to from the guest rooms following a paved path surrounded by blooming flowers past the swimming pool. You should definitely try snorkeling just off the beach; we saw a sea turtle and a variety of tropical fish. The beach activities cottage rents masks, snorkels and fins, but at $18 per day you are better off bringing your own snorkeling gear.
Hotel Rooms
The rooms at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort are arranged around the courtyard garden with the best rooms facing the ocean. Try to book an ocean front or an ocean view room and you will be able to see the water right from your bed. The rooms feature large private terraces which are perfect if you decide to order room service and dine accompanied by the sounds of the ocean.
Guest rooms are furnished with coastal-style wooden, including a desk, media cabinet with drawers and a side table which can hold a large suitcase. The hallways are spacious and the bathroom has a vanity area.
Ocean view rooms have two comfortable sitting areas, one indoor and one outdoor. The indoor chairs, padded with pillows, are ideal for reading and relaxing. A sliding door leads out to a spacious private terrace with another table and two chairs.
Molokini Bar & Grille
If you're about to take your first vacation to Hawaii there is something you definitely must watch out for - sweet delicious tropical drinks. You'll can get addicted to Mai Tais in no time.
For honeymooners and those romantic at heart, sunset cocktails on Maui are just one of those things you will not want to miss. Molokini Bar & Grille is one of the best places to enjoy them. It is named after the small Molokini island just off the coast of South Maui. Get to the bar at sunset and you can watch Molokini assume different shades of orange and pink as the sun plunges into the ocean.
Things to Do and the Hotel
In addition to a spectacular golf course and a tennis center, the hotel offers a selection of watersports and beach activities. Table tennis, badminton and other sports are offered to hotel guests free of charge. There is a daily scuba demonstration - if you like it, sign up for a beginner lesson at the Beach Activity Center. On certain days, yoga and pilates are offered early in the morning. Find more Maui golf ideas.
Sunrise Cruise to Molokini Island
When we first arrived on Maui, we were up early in the morning because of the time difference between the islands and the mainland. A sunrise cruise to Molokini is a perfect answer for those who want to get an early start.
A catamaran will pick you up from the hotel beach before sunrise and take you on a cruise to the small island of Molokini just off the coast of South Maui. The ride takes about 45 minutes each way, so you will be back before Cafe Kiowah closes for breakfast at 11am. Inquire about the sunrise cruise cost and reservations at the hotel's activity desk, or call before you go.
The Tennis Center
Tennis offers a great way to stay active on vacation and can be a fun activity for the whole family. And due to the drop in popularity of the sport, it's not difficult to get court times almost anytime you like. Makena Beach & Golf Resort has six Plexipave tennis courts, two lit for night play. The courts are located a few minutes from the main hotel building, right next to the golf courses. Leave your car parked and take the resort shuttle to the club.
After a game of tennis, have lunch at the Makena Clubhouse which serves delicious food from the grill and sinful deserts. You'll have a view of the ocean and golfers teeing off the South Course.
Nearby Activities
The famous crescent-shaped Molokini crater is only a 45-minute boat ride from the hotel. The hotel's activities desk offers morning snorkeling tours which last a couple of hours and will have you back on the beach by 10am for a day of sunbathing.
The activities desk in the hotel or near the beach can arrange scuba diving, hiking, biking down Haleakala and an array of other activities.
Location
As you drive from the Kahului airport past Kihei and Wailea, it is easy to notice that the surroundings becomes more and more secluded. You will spot the Maui Prince Hotel on the right side of the road. The main building is almost hidden by palm trees, blooming hedges and fragrant trees. The Maui Prince Hotel is one of the most secluded hotels on the southern coast of Maui.
VacationIdea.com Tip
The hotel offers a variety of golf, spa, car and other Maui vacation packages, so check online before making your reservation. Book tee times before you go, especially during the high season.
The Facts
Partial Oceanview room rates start at $199 per night plus tax. There is no resort fee and valet parking is included. Unlimited golf packages start at $465 for two golfers per night, including breakfast.
