Hotel at a Glance: Napili Kai Beach Resort

Set on the white sand of western Maui, the Napili Kai Beach Resort provides a classic Hawaiian getaway with award-winning dining, no resort fees, and a “kids eat free” policy. Rotating daily activities include hula shows and mai tai parties.

• Where you’ll stay: Condo-style accommodations feature fully equipped kitchenettes and private lanais.
• The press says: Fodor’s writes, “Spread across 10 beautiful acres along one of the best beaches on Maui, the Napili Kai draws a loyal following.”
• Dine at the water’s edge at the award-winning Sea House Restaurant, which serves farm- and sea-to-table Hawaiian fare. Stop by for happy hour and stay through sunset.
• Every morning at 10 a.m., coffee, tea, lemonade, and fresh pineapple is served in a beach cabana with a daily Hawaiian cultural presentation.
• Take a dip: You’ll have your choice of four pools and two whirlpools, or you can snorkel in the protected waters of beautiful Napili Bay.
• Play: There’s an 18-hole putting green, as well as spots for bocce ball, croquet, and shuffleboard.
• Boutique day spa: A full range of treatments is available, from facials to massages.

Maui, Hawaii: Gorgeous Beaches, Haleakala Volcano, and Seasonal Whale Watching

Voted the best island in the United States by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Maui is considered one of the Pacific’s most beautiful spots and a favorite among Hollywood’s elite. The town of Lahaina, along Maui’s western coast, served as Hawaii’s royal capital before 1845. Throughout the mid-19th century, it was known as a whaling town—Herman Melville sailed from Lahaina during this time and gathered inspiration for Moby-Dick. The humpback whales that were once hunted are now protected by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and their population has flourished. The seas around Lahaina boast some of the world’s best whale watching from December to May, when female humpbacks give birth in the warm Pacific waters.

Arguably, Maui’s biggest attraction is Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, which technically encompasses 75% of the island. A paved road leads up to Haleakala’s summit, where you can stretch your legs and walk around the rim of the lunar-like volcanic crater. The towering peak is a playground for bicyclists, who coast down the slopes all the way to the beach town of Paia.

Elsewhere on the island, it’s a rite of passage to drive the Road to Hana, a 68-mile route that zigzags along the scenic northeastern coast with more than 600 hairpin curves. There are several points of interest along the way, including botanical gardens, tiny villages, and waterfall pools you can swim in.

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