The Whaler Maui is located on a first-rate stretch of Kaanapali Beach with smashing views of Molokai and Lanai. Its 12-story towers rise above the verdant lawn and golden sands.
The relaxing atmosphere strikes you as soon as you enter the grounds filled with tropical plants and dazzling koi in the lily ponds. The grounds have many walking paths bordered by lava-rock walls and tropical plant beds.
All the hotels on Kaanapali Beach are located close to each other, and you can easily walk anyhere. However, if you prefer a ride, small shuttle called “jitney” runs about every 20 minutes in front of the hotels. There is also a shuttle into Lahaina. The concierge can give you a schedule for both. Those shuttles only cover local area, so you will still need a rental car to get around the island.
You will also be close to Black Rock, an ancient cliff in front of Sheraton Maui, where every evening, just as the sun hits the ocean, a Hawaiian cliff diver performs a ceremonial dive into the waters below. Later, he runs along the rock, lighting the torches along the way. The cliff diving ceremony is very exciting to watch for both adults and children, and the sunset is a wonderful backdrop for photographs.
Maui’s main town, Lahaina, is about 5-10 min by car. It is a classic small beachfront town where people walk around the streets all evening and night. There are many interesting shops and restaurants, and wonderful art galleries featuring works from local artists to Picasso.
Lahaina Harbor offers and array of ocean activities, sugh as sailing, snorkeling and whale watching.
The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach is only 32 miles away from Maui’s main airport, Kahului Airport (OGG).
2. Rooms
The rooms at The Whaler Maui are airy and opulently furnished with lots of wicker and Polynesian décor. Each condo boasts spectacular views of Kaanapali’s gentle waves or the peaks of West Maui Mountains.
- Air-conditioning
- Ceiling fans
- Blue-tiled private lanai
- 10-foot beamed ceilings
- Full kitchen
- Marble bathroom
- Color cable TV and VCR
- Daily maid service
3. Restaurants
The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach does not have an on-site restaurant, but there are quite a few restaurants and cafes located within 1-2 miles from the condo. Here are our 5 favorite places:
1) Swan Court – 0.6 miles away, at Hyatt Regency Maui
The Swan Court boasts one of the most beautiful settings on Maui. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" once pegged it "the most romantic restaurant in the world." This multi-level restaurant opens up to a pond with waterfalls and swans swimming around a few feet from your table.
They serve a fantastic breakfast buffet each morning, with every kind of breakfast food you can imagine - made-to-order omelettes, meats, salmon, oatmeal, fresh island fruit, large cheese selection, pastries and desserts.
. During dinner, Hawaiian musicians and a hula dancer walk from table to table singing island melodies. The menu is one of the best on Maui. Appetizers include the tangerine prawn martini with Absolut mandarin vodka, pineapple salsa and guava cocktail sauce. For the main course, try the pepper-seared bison with basil-scented prawns in Bordelaise sauce and the spiny lobster coconut bisque with red curry and lemon grass. One of the best desserts is the apple banana crème brûléé - heavenly, and plenty big to share. After dinner, head to the lounge and enjoy a fine cigar, such as the Sinatra Belicoso.
2) tropica – 0.2 miles away, at Westin Maui
tropica (yes, it starts with a lower-case "t") is the first themed restaurant in Ka'anapali. The "fire and ice" theme is carried through the incredible decor, featuring plunging waterfalls and flickering tiki torches, open to dazzling sunsets and fresh ocean breezes.
The innovative dinner menu is a flavorful fusion of fire-inspired cuisine prepared on wood ovens and grills, perfectly complemented by a chilling selection of fresh seafood. Both indoor and outdoor dining are available; you will enjoy a wonderful meal and live music with a romantic view of the tropical palms as they sway in the breeze and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
Sunday Brunch at tropica is also quite extraordinary. Beautifully presented food and the views of the blue Pacific on a sun-filled morning will make it one to remember.
3) Ono Surf Bar & Grill – 0.2 miles away, at Westin Maui
Enjoy casual poolside dining set against the backdrop of intricate streams and footbridges. All-day dining menu features island specialties, family favorites and health-conscious selections. Try the Vegetable Flat Bread (grilled portabella mushroom, roasted peppers, squash, arugula and jack cheese), or Penne Pasta with Grilled Upcountry Vegetables (spicy chipotle peppers, roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts).
'OnO Surf Bar is also a great place for pupus (appetizers) accompanied by cool tropical drinks, cocktails, beer and wine. There's live entertainment every night.
4) Spats Trattoria – 0.1 miles away, at Hyatt Regency Maui
This Italian restaurant is famous for its cozy, intimate atmosphere and delicious homestyle Italian cuisine. A mere glance at the dinner menu is enough to make your mouth water. One example: bruschetta de la casa, an antipasto, made from grilled Italian bread, roasted pepper pesto, big island tomatoes and melted, aged provolone cheese. Or you can try the Gemelli Puttanesca pasta that consists of langoustine prawns, olives, capers, shaved garlic and artichokes in a spicy tomato sauce.
5) Keka'a Terrace – 0.1 miles away, at Sheraton Maui
Stroll across a wooden bridge and over a fresh water Koi pond to discover the casual comfort of Keka’a Terrace. Gentle trades whisper through the open-air dining room all day long where you can enjoy breakfast and dinner daily. Want to try something special? How about Chef’s Catch of the Day prepared Ala Oscar: Sautéed and topped with Alakan King Crab legs, fresh Ma’alaea Asparagus and finished with a Bearnaise Sauce? They also offer regular themed dinnger buffets. You can sit indoors or outside, and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Black Rock in the distance.
4. Things to do
During winter months, The Whaler Maui has the perfect view of the Pacific humpback whales and other marine mammals frolicking offshore. These whales migrate from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm Hawaiian waters for the winter. You can see them off the Kaanapali Coast from November to March, with February being the peak whale-watching season.
Whaler’s Village is next door, so if you need anything like food, books, or ATM, it is only a few steps away. This bustling oceanfront mall has world-class designer boutiques (Chanel, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton), gift shops (Tommy Bahama, Hilo Hattie) and art galleries, as well as excellent open-air dining right off Kaanapali Beach (Hula Grill is everybody’s favorite). You can visit the free Whale Museum, which is dedicated to Lahaina’s whaling era (1825-1860) and displays a collection of 19th century scrimshaw.
Kaanapali’s North and South courses offer some of the most unique challenges in Kaanapali: distracting beauty with sweeping views of the ocean, gentle trade winds to tease your drives, even a turn-of-the-century sugarcane train chugging by. North Course (6,994 yards, 18 holes) was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and has long been considered one of Maui’s best. South Course (6,555 yards, 18 holes) was named one of North America’s top “Women Friendly” courses by Golf for Women magazine.
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