An Inside Look at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, by Hyatt

Is it the right time to advise your clients to visit Maui? TMR recently spent a week exploring the majestic Hawaiian island as it recovers and rebuilds from the devastating August 2023 Lahaina fire. We found a community that is still healing as it rekindles its hospitable spirit. The resilient spirit can be felt by nearly everyone you encounter on the island, from friendly concierges eager to share local recommendations to bartenders who impress with island-inspired cocktail creations.

Our first stop was a stay at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, by Hyatt, a resort located about 40 minutes south of the fire. The resort remained open, had no damage during the fire, and housed its displaced employees.

Recognizing mixed messaging about visiting the island at first, Chanelle Alexis Urmeneta, the marketing coordinator for the Andaz Maui property, insisted, “We are open.”

She added, “The best way to support the island is to visit us; we encourage you and your clients to travel here. We want to continue spreading the message that we are open and want people to come.”

Property Overview

The Hyatt property opened in 2013 as one of the first of its Andaz hotels following a $90 million renovation of the former Renaissance Hotel. The Andaz brand is aimed at affluent, experience-driven travelers and families. It features 320 guest rooms, including 35 suites and 30 luxury villas. 

Upon arriving, female guests are greeted with fresh flower leis, and men are gifted quality kukui nut leis along with refreshing lavender lemonade. The striking open lobby overlooks the scenic Kealaikahiki Channel with views that stretch to Lanai Island. From November through April, Pacific humpback whales can be seen surfacing in the channel from the resort. We witnessed a few whales spout from our lunch table at the resort’s Lehua Lounge within minutes of our arrival. 

The resort is easier to navigate than some of the area’s more sprawling properties. Three cascading infinity pools offer incredible ocean vistas, plus there’s a lagoon pool and an adults-only pool near the spa.

The resort also offers direct access to Mokapu Beach, which is great for swimming, boogie boarding, and snorkeling around the rocky shoreline to the south. 

The daily resort fee includes unlimited access to snorkeling gear and bodyboards at the Bumbye Kiosk. Ensure your client knows that Hawaii strictly bans sunscreens that harm coral reefs, and only reef-safe sunscreens are permitted. The resort offers mineral-based sunscreen poolside and sells it on the property. 

The pools were never too crowded, with plenty of loungers, towels, and mineral sunscreen. 

Friendly and attentive servers often made rounds throughout the resort grounds, offering food and cocktail options poolside. The well-balanced tiki drinks were excellent, especially the resort’s take on a mai tai with a pleasant toasted-almond orgeat finish. Add that with the resort’s famed lobster grilled cheese, and your client will be thrilled with a perfect poolside lunch.

The rooms are modern and sleek, and most feature incredible ocean-facing terraces. Maui-inspired vintage prints add a classic island touch, while contemporary amenities like a Nespresso machine, electric kettle, and Dry Bar hairdryer help make the stay even more comfortable. The unique peek-a-boo showers offer the chance to lather up with a calming ocean view. 

Fine Dining at the Resort

The sunsets are the best time of day at the resort, perfectly positioned on Maui’s coast to watch the sun set into the ocean horizon. The best sunset we experienced was when we dined at the Feast at Mōkapu Lūʻau, the resort’s exclusive luau experience. A few locals corroborated that this is the island’s most unique, authentic, and idyllic luau.

We were in awe of the picture-perfect setting, the talented performers and musicians, and the delicious food served in generous portions. (We loved that this was not a buffet but a large plate with every menu item included. This allowed us to stay seated and enjoy the show.) The grassy knoll stage dotted by tiki torches looked like something out of a postcard, with an engaging show that shared the island’s storied history. This experience is a must for your clients. 

Other dining highlights at the resort include Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Morimoto Maui, which features some of the finest and freshest seafood on the island, and the locally sourced plates at Ka’ana Kitchen. The breakfast buffet at Ka’ana Kitchen is a highlight, with an impressive selection of fresh juices (we loved the green juice and the pineapple turmeric) and an incredible, freshly baked chocolate macadamia nut bread pudding.

Resort Activities

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort offers so much more than just poolside lounging. Daily schedules are filled with fitness classes, and water and resort activities, many of which are included in the resort fee.

Encourage your client to sign up in advance for the Outrigger Canoe Excursion, which happens 4x daily in the morning but does fill up fast. Stand-up paddle board lessons and guided kayak tours are also included in the resort fee.

Ukulele lessons, coconut weaving, and hula lessons are just a few of the resort’s many additional activities.

Getting to the Resort

The resort is located on the north end of Wailea, about a 30-minute drive from the Kahului Airport. Uber and Lyft are readily available throughout the island, and car rentals are also popular. Valet parking is available at the resort for $55 per night. Alternatively, look for a private transfer company for your clients to make the trip even easier.