These two renovated Maui properties are dreamy escapes

Maui, Hawaii, has long been the ultimate vacation fantasy for many travelers, especially those with a longing for the perfect beach — palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, a fruity drink in hand, and fit bronzed bodies wandering by. The island’s iconic Lahaina area is still recovering from the devastating wildfires in August 2023, but visitors are being welcomed back now. In fact, the economy is so tourism-heavy that there are campaigns afoot to encourage travelers to come and spend their money.

Queer travelers have long felt welcome in the islands, and the many luxury options here are another draw for discerning vacationers.

Here’s a look at two of the island’s loveliest resorts, both of which have seen significant room refreshes and public space renovations in the past couple of years. And we’ll also look at some ways to achieve that Maui luxury while saving a little.

Fairmont Kea Lani

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The Fairmont Kea Lani, situated in the lovely Wailea area, sits on a glorious piece of beachfront, with 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two-story villas, all ocean facing. The resort underwent a renovation from 2022 through 2024, updating its guest rooms, as well as the soaring lobby area. Pilina, the new lobby bar and lounge, offers locally sourced cocktails and sushi, along with inspiring ocean views, where you can watch the sunset each evening. Try the Volcano House cocktail, a modern version of an old fashioned that felt like hugging an old friend. And the sushi here is top notch, some of the best you’ll find on Maui. Signature restaurant Kō is being extensively updated, with re-opening expected this month.

While the suites are lovely, with a contemporary design and plenty of room to spread out, we wanted to get out and experience the pools. We enjoyed a wonderful cabana experience at the resort’s serenity pool one day. The cabana was ours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and included several amenities, including endless juices, colas, and water, as well as a lunchtime bento box with fresh pineapple and crudités and a midafternoon ice cream snack. 

The cabana itself was spacious, with two very comfortable lounge chairs with neck bolsters, a table and chairs, a small fridge, a power block for charging devices, and even a ceiling fan. There’s also a large adults-only hot tub next to the pool. For an extra charge, you can order from a large poolside menu that includes every tropical drink you can imagine and some yummy options like a coconut shrimp bento, ahi poke bowl, island fish tacos, lobster roll, and Mediterranean chicken naan. 

Make sure to stop by the new Hale Kukuna cultural center, right off the main lobby. This thoughtfully designed space hosts a range of immersive cultural activities and has a variety of cultural artifacts, tools, clothing, and instruments to learn more about.

Here, guide Ho’ohu taught me about a queer angle to Hawaiian culture that I hadn’t expected. In past times, men who were “in touch with their femininity” were very important to the monarchy, because it was felt that they could see both sides of issues. They would usually sit next to the king or queen and help in decision-making. They would hold the Kāhili, a feathered staff that symbolized royalty.

Andaz Maui

Located just down the street from the Fairmont is the Andaz Maui, a breathtaking property that sits amidst a prime piece of beach that feels private and intimate. Snorkeling just off the beach here is first rate, and the resort also has plenty of pool water to soak in too, with three interconnected infinity pools that step down toward the beach; they’re truly stunning sights when lit up in the evenings.

Andaz, too, has upped its game over the last couple of years, with a major room refresh to its 320 guest rooms (which include 35 suites) and 30 dreamy villas. Our suite featured floor-to-ceiling windows with two lanais, a sexy peekaboo rain shower, lava stone floors, and an extensive vanity space in the bathroom. Everything here feels so luxe, and I’m currently obsessed with the resort’s amenities from Hawaiian company mālie.

Plus, there’s so much to do here, such as ukulele lessons, outrigger canoe experiences, guided kayak tours, lei making classes, hula lessons, and more. You can rent body boards and snorkeling equipment right on the beach, and the underwater views are impressive. There are two reefs on either side of the resort, teeming with fish and sea turtles. And because of the reef’s sheltering effect, the wide swath of ocean in between is calm and very swimmable.

The resort features several restaurants, including Ka’ana Kitchen, Morimoto Maui, Lehua Lounge, and Bumbye Beach Bar. There is also an onsite lū’au, Feast at Mōkapu Lū’au, which includes a three-course dinner and entertainment. It is held on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.

We particularly loved the modern fitness facility, as well as the Ohana Room, an early arrival/late departure lounge for guests. Our flight wasn’t until 8 p.m., so we were able to experience the resort well past checkout time and still get changed for our flight home.

Discounted luxury

The Fairmont’s General Manager Michael Pye suggests taking complimentary experiences into account when choosing a resort in Maui. For example, his property has several that are designed to enhance the guests’ experience and connect them to the local culture.

“These include paddling a traditional outrigger canoe with our expert navigators, daily fitness classes like oceanfront sunset yoga and full-body fitness fusion, and immersive cultural offerings at Hale Kukuna, our Hawaiian Cultural Center — from ukulele and lei-making to Hawaiian language lessons. These enriching experiences are exclusive to our guests and included at no additional cost,” Pye said.

Similarly, Brittain Komoda, Marketing Manager for the Andaz Maui, noted that they have so many things on their property to explore where a guest doesn’t have to leave the property.

“Some people might think that they have to go on a sunset sail or a snorkeling tour. But we have great snorkeling right outside of our property. We’re surrounded by two really great reefs, and that’s what makes our property seem very private, and our beach seems like it’s our own beach even though all beaches on Maui are public,” she said. “We have all of the cultural activities, all the water activities to engage in, we have bikes. You really don’t even have to rent a car, as our courtesy car can take you anywhere in Wailea.”

There are some special offers currently available, and Leanne Pletcher, Director of Public Relations & Marketing at the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau, explained that timing can help in finding luxury at lower prices. Her suggestions include staying away from the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s holidays and finding in-between periods.

“The last part of May, when all the high schools are graduating and colleges are graduating, that tends to be a little quieter,” she said. “And also look at that first week of December, before everyone’s getting ready for their holiday vacations — those are like an off season for us.”

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