Dates of Stay: Saturday, 7/25/26 - Friday, 7/31/26
Length of Stay: 6 Nights
In a nutshell, the Hyatt Regency Maui is truly the best place to stay in the Kaanapali Region of Maui! It boasts a spectacular Ocean Front Location, with beautiful views and truly wonderful amenities. It offers extremely spacious rooms for the Kaanapali Region that are modern and well-kept, along with stellar staff and service! Should you chose to vacation in the Kaanapali Region of Maui, there is no better place for you to stay!!!
Now, for my detailed review:
First and foremost, when deciding where to travel in Hawaii, location is one of the most important considerations. The Hyatt Regency Maui is located on the West Side of Maui, just past Lahaina. As such, it is a bit of a trek to from the Kahului Airport just shy of 30-miles. And, when I say 30-miles, keep in mind that these are "Hawaii Miles" meaning that it is a long and winding journey along the coast, so plan on a good 45-50ish minute drive to or from the airport. However, during the day, this is one of the most beautiful drives that you will ever experience, with incredible ocean views and some great scenic look-out spots during your drive. Do not allow the distance to deter you, as the Kaanapali Region is a truly wonderful one for a perfect trip to Maui!
As for getting from the Kahului Airport to the Hyatt Regency Maui and the Kaanapali Region, I would strongly suggest renting a car. While yes, you can use services such as Maui SpeediShuttle, you will find that ride share options on the Hawaiian Islands remains a bit unreliable, and having a rental car will allow you to get out and truly experience all that Maui has to offer. And getting your rental car at the Kahului Airport could not be easier, as it offers a very wonderful on-site facility, connected to the airport by a small trolley-train system.
If you do opt to rent a car, just keep in mind that -- like most tropical destinations -- parking is at a premium at the beachfront resorts. At the Hyatt Regency Maui, you have two options for parking; Self Parking at $50/day or Valet Parking at $55/day. For such a small difference, make sure to opt for Valet Parking -- you will find the Valet Staff to be excellent and highly attentive. And, although someone posted a concern for vehicle safety due to flying golf balls, this is certainly something that we did not witness or hear about during our stay. The Valet Staff was always highly professional and all vehicles were treated with great care and I would strongly encourage utilizing Valet Parking at the Hyatt Regency Maui!
One important note, the Kaanapali Region is a bit different from the Wailea Region if you have perhaps vacationed on the other side of Maui in the past. While Wailea has a more luxury vibe, Kaanapali has more of a laid-back family vibe. It is entirely up to you which end of the Island to visit, and I would strongly encourage you to visit both (perhaps splitting a stay between the Hyatt Regency Maui in Kaanapali and the Andaz Maui in Wailea) to get both experiences. We typically vacation in the Wailea Region, but this was a very last-minute booking and we wanted to try something new -- and we certainly were not disappointed with the amazing experience we had at the Hyatt Regency Maui!
The property itself is nestled at the far end of the Kaanapali Resort Area -- so yes, it is a bit of a walk to the Whaler's Village Shopping Complex, but it is a relaxing and beautiful walk along the beach. Additionally, should you not want to walk, the Kaanapali Region offers a completely Trolley Service that can get you from the Resort to the Whaler's Village throughout the day. Such a free service is a great perk to staying in the Kaanapali Region!
However, one thing to know about the Kaanapali Region -- if your prime reason for visiting Hawaii is to relax on the beach, Kaanapali may not be the best area for you as the beaches here have over several years experienced a great deal of erosion. Thankfully, led by the Hyatt Regency Maui and its great sustainability efforts, the Resorts in the Kaanapali Region are going to great lengths to rehabilitate the beach and preserve it for future visitors.
But, even with the beach erosion issues, you will still find some easily accessible stretches of beautiful beach near the Hyatt Regency Maui. And, you may not even need to venture out to the beach, as the Hyatt Regency Maui boasts one of the best and most beautiful pool complexes in the Kaanapali Region! This pool complex has undergone a complete renovation in recent years, gone is the smaller and old grotto-style main pool. Instead, the Hyatt Regency Maui now boasts a large and beautiful pool in front of the Atrium Tower. And, if you miss the old grotto-stye pool, some of it still remains with the Napili Pool and its beautiful water-slide nestled within the lava rocks. There is also a wonderful children's splash pad and some very beautiful and relaxing whirlpool spas hidden within the lush landscaping and lava rocks. All-in-all, truly the best pool complex in the Kaanapali Region!
And, while many properties in the Kaanapali Region have issues with pool seating (i.e., chair hogs that claim chairs with pool towels bright and early in the morning as seen daily at the Marriott Vacation Club next door to the Hyatt), the Hyatt Regency Maui appears to suffer no such issues as its pools are flanked by ample seating options that offer both sun and shade depending on your preference. Additionally, the property has lined its pools and beach area with an abundance of truly wonderful Cabanas and Day Beds at very reasonable rates compared to that of other Hawaiian Resorts. If you want to lock in amazing seating, I would encourage you to check out these options in advance of your trip on the property's experience bookings page. We pre-booked a poolside cabana for our entire week and had a truly relaxing poolside experience!
In addition to its excellent pool and recreation facilities, the Hyatt Regency Maui offers many unique and amazing experiences that will provide for a vacation like no other! Make sure to make full use of the Digital Property Guide, accessible via a QR Code provided at check-in to not miss a moment of what this amazing property has to offer! One of the most unique of these experiences is the property's African Penguins. Just off of the property's beautiful lobby, the Hyatt Regency Maui features a penguin habitat where you can enjoy a daily "Penguin Presentation" or simply relax and watch the penguins swim and play -- something that no other property offers! Additionally, the property offers complimentary daily Wildlife Tours showcasing all of the unique animals of the property -- including its beautiful Swans -- or the Hawaiian Plant Tour featuring information on the property's exquisite landscaping! Those are just a few of the complimentary options, and the property also offers numerous other paid experiences, such as a wonderful nightly "Tour of the Stars" and a weekly mixology class where you can learn how to make the perfect Hawaiian Tropical Beverage. All-in-all, you will never run out of fun experiences at the Hyatt Regency Maui and I can promise you a truly wonderful vacation at this beautiful property!
With all of that being said, what about the Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui? Well, I wanted to highlight all of the amenities and activities above as there is so much to do that you will likely not be in the room much -- but, when you are, the Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui are some of the most spacious that you will find in all of the Kaanapali Region. With base-rooms starting at a very generous 451-square feet, these rooms are much larger than that at surrounding properties (for example, rooms at the nearby Westin Kaanapali start at a mere 340-square feet) and will provide you with more than ample space throughout your stay!
With such a generous size, all rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui feature the classic and standard things that you would expect from a Hyatt Regency property. Each room features a large 65-inch smart television, with all of the typical Hyatt features -- such as easy access to property information and ChromeCast Connectivity -- as well as ample storage. We were quite impressed with the storage in our Ocean View Room as so often at Hawaiian Properties there is limited drawer space; not at the Hyatt Regency Maui, as the rooms offer an open-concept closet off of the bathroom with ample storage space, as well as multiple drawers under the television. The rooms also offer the ultra-comfortable Hyatt-brand beds and plush linens. Bathrooms include oversized dual-vanities and premium Coconut Mango Bath Products, with a large glass shower and toilet. Just outside of the bathroom and open-concept closet, you will find a decent size mini-fridge (perfect for storing beverages stocked up on from the property's on-site shop, "Accents") along with a Keurig coffee maker and an electric tea kettle. Rooms also feature a small table alongside a large couch that converts to a sofa sleeper and an oversized work-desk complete with ample electrical outlets. All-in-all, a truly excellent room with the best feature yet to be mentioned, the view from each room's floor-to-ceiling windows and private balcony!
That view is the key distinction between rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui, much like that at any Hawaiian Resort. At this property, you will have your choice between Resort View, Mountain View, Partial-Ocean View or Ocean View Rooms. Honestly, with Maui's true beauty, all Room View Types are AMAZING at the Hyatt Regency Maui -- but, for some of the best views of your life, I would encourage you to splurge on an Ocean View Room. Many of these rooms are located at the heart of the property, starting on the 14th Floor of the Atrium Tower, allowing for easy access to all that the Hyatt Regency Maui has to offer.
Attached to this Review are numerous photos of our Ocean View Room, which was located dead-center on the 14th Floor of the Atrium Tower -- which is actually the lowest guest room floor of that tower and still offered truly spectacular views!
Finally, a quick note on dining. You certainly will never go hungry while staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui, as it boasts numerous wonderful dining venues!
For Breakfast, do not miss the heavenly buffet -- and excellent views -- offered at "Swan Court." And, a tip for the morning breakfast rush -- your room has a QR Code from which you can add yourself to the Walk-up Breakfast Wait List; this option will make your morning so much more relaxing. Additionally, do not miss out on some of the amazing coffee and quick serve options offered each day at "Honolulu Coffee" should you not want a full-serve breakfast experience. During the day, excellent lunch and beverage options can be found at "Umalu" which is located poolside. Then, for dinner, do not miss out on some truly amazing Japanese Cuisine at "Japengo" or some of the finest steaks on Maui at "Son'z Steakhouse." Or, should you wish to simply relax and enjoy the views from your spacious room, the property also offers excellent in-room dining options. All-in-all, some truly wonderful dining options if you opt to stay on-property, but should you venture out, Whaler's Village also offers some other wonderful nearby off-property options to ensure you never go hungry throughout your stay!
Finally, if you have never experienced a Luau before, do not miss out on the Hyatt Regency's on-site offering, "Drums of the Pacific." Offering a traditional Hawaiian Luau Buffet and Bar Experience, along with excellent entertainment, this is a great way to see a Luau without having to leave property. A tip -- make sure to book the "VIP" Ticket, as you will have a table much closer to the stage and have first crack at the buffet and bar!
To conclude this lengthy review -- I honestly cannot say enough about the Hyatt Regency Maui, as it is something that you really need to experience for yourself! This property truly is the best place to stay in the Kaanapali Region. It offers some of the most spacious rooms in the Region, along with stellar staff and service and a truly heavenly pool complex; make sure not to miss your chance to stay at this beautiful Resort!
