KBM Resorts: Honua Kai Konea HKK-234 XL Lanai Corner Villa Ocean Views Includes Rental Car

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of places on Maui, and honestly? This Honua Kai spot kind of surprised me. The name’s a mouthful – KBM Resorts handles the booking, but you’re actually staying at the Honua Kai resort in the Konea tower, which sits right on Kaanapali Beach. The XL lanai part isn’t just marketing fluff either – I mean, when you step out onto that corner balcony, you get this wraparound view that stretches from the resort’s pools all the way out to Molokai on clear days. And including a rental car? That’s actually genius because you’ll want to explore beyond the resort bubble.

The villa itself feels more like someone’s well-appointed beach house than a typical hotel room. The kitchen’s fully stocked (and I mean actually stocked – good knives, decent cookware, not the usual hotel junk), which comes in handy since groceries at the Times Supermarket in Kaanapali are way cheaper than eating out for every meal. The corner location means you’re not hearing your neighbors through thin walls, and the ocean-facing side stays surprisingly quiet even when the beach gets busy around 10 AM. What really got me was the late afternoon light – around 5 PM, the way the sun hits that lanai turns everything golden, and you can watch the snorkeling boats heading back to Lahaina harbor while sipping whatever you picked up at the ABC Store downstairs.

You know what’s funny? The resort sits right between the craziness of Whalers Village (where the tourist crowds congregate) and the more local vibe as you head north toward Napili. So you can walk south for shopping and chain restaurants, or grab that rental car and drive ten minutes north for places like The Gazebo – assuming you don’t mind waiting an hour for their macadamia nut pancakes. The beach here is actually swimmable year-round, unlike some of the more dramatic spots on the island where you’re mostly just taking photos. Parking can get tight during peak season (basically December through April), but having a guaranteed spot with your villa reservation eliminates that stress. The only minor gripe? The elevators get slowish when everyone’s heading down for sunset, but honestly, that’s peak first-world problem territory. This place delivers on that “wake up to ocean views” fantasy without feeling like you’re trapped in a sterile resort compound.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 4 × 1 extra-large double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 6 adults, 4 children

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities