KAMAOLE NALU, #204 condo

Hotel Description

You know what surprised me about Kamaole Nalu #204? It’s one of those places that doesn’t try to be fancy, but somehow gets all the important stuff right. I mean, it’s a 3-star condo situation, so don’t expect marble countertops or anything, but honestly – when you’re steps from Kamaole Beach II, who’s spending time inside anyway?

The unit itself has that lived-in Hawaii condo vibe that I’ve come to appreciate more than those sterile resort rooms. The lanai faces toward the ocean (well, sort of – you get glimpses between the palm trees), and in the mornings you can actually hear the waves mixed with the sound of people setting up their beach gear. The kitchen’s got everything you need if you want to hit up Foodland for groceries instead of dropping $30 on resort breakfast every day. Speaking of which, the parking situation is way better than most places in this area – I never had to circle around looking for a spot, which is honestly a minor miracle in South Kihei.

What really sold me on this place was the location. You’re right across from that little stretch of Kamaole II where the locals bring their kids – it’s got actual sand (not just lava rock) and the water’s calm enough that you don’t feel like you’re fighting the ocean every time you want to swim. The snorkeling’s decent too, especially in the mornings before the trade winds pick up. Plus, you’re walking distance to some solid food trucks – there’s this garlic shrimp one that parks near the Kalama Park area that I probably visited too many times. The building itself shows its age a bit (the hallway carpet’s seen better days), but the trade-off is you’re not paying resort prices and you don’t have to deal with crowds fighting over pool chairs. Actually, the complex pool is pretty quiet most of the time – I think a lot of people just head straight to the beach, which makes sense. If you’re the type who needs turndown service and a concierge, this isn’t your spot. But if you want a clean, comfortable base camp for actually experiencing Maui without the tourist markup, it works really well. The 8.0 rating feels about right – nothing’s going to blow your mind, but nothing’s going to disappoint you either.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed, 2 × 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for 6 adults

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities