ACTIVITIES

Must See in Maui

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Maui, also known as the Valley Isle, is one of the most beautiful islands in Hawaii. With its stunning beaches, lush tropical landscapes, and breathtaking views, it’s no surprise that Maui is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world and why we’ve made it home to many of the properties in our portfolio. If you’re lucky enough to stay at one of them such as Sands of Kahana, here are some things you absolutely must do while you’re there.

1. Road to Hana:
The Road to Hana is a scenic drive along Maui’s northeastern coastline. The road is famous for its hairpin turns, one-lane bridges, and beautiful waterfalls. The road can be a bit challenging to navigate, but it’s definitely worth it for the stunning views and unique experiences along the way.

2. Snorkeling and Diving:
Maui is home to some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world. With crystal clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of sea life, snorkeling and diving in Maui is an experience you won’t forget. Some popular spots include Molokini Crater, Honolua Bay, and the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve.


3. Haleakalā National Park:
Haleakalā National Park is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Maui. The park is home to the Haleakalā Volcano, which stands at over 10,000 feet tall. Visitors can hike to the summit for breathtaking views of the sunrise or sunset, or explore the park’s many hiking trails and unique landscapes.

4. Road to Upcountry Maui:
If you’re looking for a break from the beach, the Road to Upcountry Maui is a great way to explore the island’s lush landscapes and scenic vistas. The drive takes you through small towns, past rolling hills, and up to the cooler elevations of the island.


There is so much beauty and adventure to experience in Maui, Island Activity Company highlights the top 12 to guide you on your next excursion! Looking for something else? Island Activity Company concierge team offers over 400 activities on Maui and over 2,300 across the state of Hawaii. Visit the Island Activity Company Concierge at the Sands of Kahana lobby or call 808.669.3830.

Have a great time at the weekly Mix `n Mingle

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The weekly Mix `n Mingle social event at nearby Sands of Kahana is shown in full swing.

Tempting food, liquid refreshment and lively entertainment are yours at the weekly Mix `n Mingle social event at nearby Sands of Kahana Resort in scenic West Maui.  Every Monday Kahana Villa Vacation Club owners, exchangers and retail guests meet with timeshare owners, exchangers and retail guests from our sister Somerpointe Resorts Hawaii properties to mix and mingle.

You’ll enjoy burgers and veggie burgers along with a vegetable platter consisting of a carrot, cucumber, olive and pickle.  The burger comes with a side of crunchy Maui Chips.  Water and pineapple juice are also served, and for those who want an extra kick, we add a splash of champagne.  Weather permitting, the Mix `n Mingle starts at 3:30pm and lasts till 4:00pm or till everyone has been served.

Captain Billy Bones

As for entertainment, popular resort activity coordinator Bill Sayles plays songs on his ukulele. Known to many of our guests as Captain Billy Bones, Bill has worked for the company since 2003.

Resort activities Hono Koa Maui
Bill Sayles, AKA Captain Billy Bones, leads resort activities and plays ukulele at the popular Mix `n Mingle social event.

“I love hanging out with these folks,” he says, referring to the owners, their families and guests who participate in the resort activities he leads.  “I think of my job as an opportunity to make happy people happier. Everybody’s in a good mood. I hang out with happy people every day. I don’t see any grumpy people.”

Bill roves among our various Maui properties three days a week, captivating audiences with his congenial personality and ever-present ukulele.

Bill does it all

On any given day you can find Bill leading a group on a nature walk, presiding over an orchid lei making class, heading up a hula class, enlivening a barbecue, overseeing an ice cream social or teaching the ukulele, which he also incorporates into his hula class and plays at the barbecue while people are lining up for cheeseburgers.

“Sometimes, when no one shows up for a class, I’ll pull out the ukulele and play.”

Bill says he can usually count on the happy strains of the traditional Hawaiian stringed instrument to incite an influx, reeling in the curious and getting them to drop their inhibitions.

“There’s something about seeing a person sitting on a wall and playing a ukulele that gets people to relax and participate. I incorporate it all week long.”

How an Iowa boy became Captain Bill

Captain Bill’s nautical nickname derives from his years running a chartered sailing company in Washington, where he lived (and also drove a school bus) for 30 years before moving to the islands – about 50 years after he wanted do, he figures.

“It is truly paradise,” says Bill, who was born and raised in Iowa. “I dreamed of living in Hawaii since the second grade. I used to ask my parents, `Did our wagons break down on the way to California’? I like to be warm.”

A multi-instrumentalist (button accordion, fiddle, guitar and Irish 10-penny flute in addition to ukulele), Bill specializes in original seafaring songs and hotel hula songs from the 1930s like “The Hukilau Song.” He performs at various locations on Maui and currently has five CDs available on iTunes, selling more than $5,000 in downloads in two years.

It’s just another little treasure in the life of a man who loves his work, his coworkers (“they are all malama pono: caring and righteous”) and his adopted homeland.

“Each day I wake up I’m so glad I live in Hawaii and have something to do. That’s the trick. Having something to do and being part of society.”

Book a visit today!

Mahalo for your visit to Maui!

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According to statistics released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent nearly $18 billion in 2019.  Here at oceanfront Kahana Villa Resort in beautiful West Maui, we sincerely thank you for your visit last year and your portion of the $17.75 billion contribution to the Hawaii economy, an increase of 1.4 percent compared to 2018. That spending includes lodging, inter-island airfare, shopping, food, car rental and other expenses while in Hawaii.

Spending by visitors generated $2.07 billion in vital state tax revenue in 2019, an increase of $28.5 million (+1.4%) from 2018. Additionally, 216,000 jobs statewide were supported by Hawaii’s tourism industry in 2019.

Visitors to Hawaii in 2019 spent nearly $18 billion.

 

Tourism dollars from the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), which visitors pay when they stay in legal accommodations, helped to fund more than a hundred nonprofits, festivals and events statewide in 2019. They include the Merrie Monarch Festival, Aloha Festivals, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, the Okinawan Festival, the Kauai Chocolate and Coffee Festival, the Nature Conservancy, and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

In 2019, visitor spending increased from the U.S. West (+5.9% to $6.98 billion), U.S. East (+3.6% to $4.69 billion) and Japan (+2.0% to $2.19 billion), but declined from Canada (-3.2% to $1.07 billion) and All Other International Markets (-10.4% to $2.77 billion) compared to 2018.

On a statewide level, average daily spending by visitors in 2019 decreased to $195 per person
(-1.5%). Visitors from U.S. East (+1.7% to $214) and Canada (+0.6% to $165) spent more per day, while visitors from Japan (-0.6% to $240), U.S. West (-0.5% to $175) and All Other International Markets (-8.5% to $217) spent less compared to 2018.

A total of 10,424,995 visitors came to Hawaii in 2019, an increase of 5.4 percent from the 9,888,845 visitors in 2018. Total visitor days rose 3.0 percent in 2019. On average, there were 249,021 visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in 2019, up 3.0 percent from 2018.

Arrivals by air service increased to 10,282,160 visitors (+5.3%) in 2019, with growth from U.S. West (+9.8%), U.S. East (+4.2%) and Japan (+3.8%) offsetting decreases from Canada (-2.4%) and All Other International Markets (-1.8%). Arrivals by cruise ships rose 12.1 percent to 142,836 visitors compared to 2018.

In 2019, Oahu recorded increases in visitor spending (+2.8% to $8.19 billion) and visitor arrivals (+5.6% to 6,193,027), but daily spending declined (-1.6%) compared to 2018. Here on Maui, spending on also increased (+2.4% to $5.12 billion) as growth in visitor arrivals (+5.4% to 3,071,596) offset lower daily spending (-0.6%). Once again, we at Kahana Villa Resort in scenic West Maui offer you our sincere thanks and hope to see you in 2020.

Book your visit to Kahana Villa Resort!

Article comes courtesy of the Hawaii Tourism Authority

New Year’s Eve on Maui

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What could possibly be better than staying on Maui? Celebrating New Year’s while you’re staying on Maui! There is always plenty to do in Paradise on New Year’s Eve, and this year is no exception. You’ll enjoy a grand fireworks display on the barge between the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea Hotel, festive dining opportunities, cocktail cruises, and New Year’s Eve luaus.

It’s difficult to image any one day being better than the next on Maui, already the world’s top tourist destination, but a case can be made for December 31, when our island paradise becomes a hub of activity and entertainment in anticipation of the New Year. If you’re staying with us at Kahana Villa Resort in West Maui as we bid farewell to 2019, you’ll have an abundance of ways to welcome in 2020, including New Year’s Eve luaus, dinner cruises and of course the midnight fireworks show from the barge near Front Street between the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea Hotels. The grand display lights up the night sky with wondrous and colorful bursts over the water near Wailea Beach in south Maui. You are advised to arrive early to secure a prime spot on the sand.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks on Maui

For many years running the island’s biggest fireworks show is held in Wailea on the beach fronting the Grand Wailea. This spectacular midnight display will be visible from the Grand Wailea and Wailea Beach.

Take a New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise

The following companies are advertising special New Year’s Eve cruises to include fireworks views. If you are interested in one of theses cruises, you should book as soon as possible as many of them sell out every year.

Pacific Whale Foundation is offering a number of New Year’s Eve cocktail cruises that depart from either Ma’alaea or Lahaina. Lahaina Harbor is closer to the West Maui resorts, but parking in Lahaina can be challenging to find at times. Ma’alaea Harbor is closer to Wailea than Lahaina, but parking is much easier, in the large parking lot by the Maui Ocean Center. When checking availability, make sure that you are choosing the date of 12/31/2019 as their booking engine sometimes automatically advances the cruise into the next year of availability when a particular cruise is sold out. The fireworks cruises on Pacific Whale Foundation are open to both adults and children. Pricing starts at $95 per child and $135 per adult plus tax. You can save 10% by booking online with them.

Trilogy has an adults-only New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise with food and drink for $249. They limit to 40 guests.  We’ve been on several Trilogy snorkel cruises and they do a nice job. This cruise will sell out.

Alii Nui’s has an adults-only New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise with food and drink. It’s pricy at $299 per person, but it does include transportation from most hotels to and from the cruise harbor, which is very convenient for this holiday. We have taken one of their snorkel cruises and they do a nice job. This cruise will sell out.

Pride of Maui offers a New Year’s Eve cruise for $149 per person. We have been on a sunset dinner sail with Pride of Maui and they do a nice job.

Dine in Wailea

Enjoy a great meal then stick around for the New Year’s Eve Fireworks. If you need to kill a few hours before midnight we suggest walking the Wailea path, pop into some of the resorts for a refreshment and browse the Shops at Wailea. We highly recommend you book a table as soon as possible. Here’s a list of Wailea area restaurants to fit any budget:

Nick’s Fishmarket Maui at the Fairmont Kea Lani is one of our favorite Wailea restaurants. If you have dinner here, you should be able to walk along the Wailea path where the fireworks can be seen. This restaurant has elevated, slightly distant, ocean views.

Monkeypod Kitchen is another one of our favorite Wailea restaurants and it’s relatively easy on the wallet, too. It does not have very direct ocean views, though. From the restaurant, you could walk down the hill to Wailea beaches.

Manoli’s Pizza Company offers inexpensive Italian fare with golf course views. From the restaurant, you could walk down the hill to Wailea Beach.

Special New Year’s Eve Luau

The following luau companies are offering a special luau for New Year’s Eve:

Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort in Kaanapali hosts a late luau starting at 9pm. For more information, see this link and click on their “Holiday Bookings” button.

The Feast at Mokapu which is held at the Andaz Maui in Wailea hosts a special New Year’s Eve luau starting at 9pm.

Other luaus are open on New Year’s Eve at their standard opening times – generally between 4:30pm and 6:30pm.

We wish you all a healthy and happy new year and hope to see you in 2020 at Kahana Villa Resort, a beautiful vacation ownership property near the ocean in West Maui!

Information source: Go Visit Hawaii

Resolve to travel to Maui in 2020

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As we now know, thanks to startling statistical data from the American Resort Development Association, work-happy Americans are notoriously squeamish about using their hard-earned vacation days. Whether the reluctance owes to a skewed sense of duty, a fear of being fired or just plain guilt thanks to office-instigated vacation shaming (yes, there is such a phenomenon), many Americans would rather work than travel.

That deserves its very own sad face emoji, if you ask us.

This peculiar behavior, as well as the impending arrival of another new year, got us at Kahana Villa Resort in beautiful Maui to thinking about travel resolutions. And why not? People are always resolving to do things that are a lot less fun than going vacation; why not resolve to do something almost everyone agrees is one of life’s great pleasures?

If you’ve been sacrificing your rightful time off to spend more time doing whatever it is you do to pay the bills, we urge you to book a stay with us at Kahana Villa Resort and plan a rejuvenating visit to gorgeous Maui. Going on vacation has been medically proven to brighten your mood, improve your health and restore your vitality – for more work when you return from your trip.

Make 2020 the year you rearrange your work-to-life ratio and make good on your resolution to use your valuable vacation time. Kahana Villa, a beautiful vacation ownership resort near the water in West Maui,is calling your name.

Conveniently located between Kaanapali and Kapalua on Maui’s world famous west coast, Kahana Villa offers easy access to an array of nearby beaches, enticing restaurants and exciting activities. Everything you need for a satisfying visit is here, including wonderful ocean views in select guest rooms. Here at Kahana Villa, comfort, convenience and Aloha spirit converge in perfect harmony to ensure you’ll enjoy a memorable island experience.

Kahana Villa offers spacious accommodations and numerous desirable amenities, including a tennis court, swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue and air conditioning.  We’re within close proximity to everything Maui has to offer, but with private lanais overlooking the breathtaking Pacific in our oceanfront units, it’s understandable that you may want to stay in and enjoy the view.

Our spacious one- and two-bedroom guest rooms are tastefully decorated and have numerous convenient amenities. At 788 square feet, our one-bedroom Palm units comfortably accommodate four with a queen size bed and queen sofa sleeper. Our two-bedroom Hala units, at 1337 square feet, come with one king size bed, two twin beds and a queen sofa sleeper for six guests. Each unit is thoughtfully air conditioned and comes with a full kitchen, cookware, dishwasher, washer-dryer and private lanai to make your visit that much nicer.

Kahana Villa Resort in West Maui has everything you need to experience the vacation of a lifetime. Book a visit today!

Let’s talk turkey!

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As we prepare for Thanksgiving at Kahana Villa Resort, a lovely vacation ownership property near the ocean in West Maui, we take this opportunity to tell you, ahead of the biggest eating day of the year in America, that select guest suites come with full kitchens and large ovens. So if you’re visiting us over the Thanksgiving holiday and would rather cook your own turkey than eat out, you’re in luck!

In the meantime, here are some interesting and surprising facts about America’s favorite sacrificial lamb, the turkey.

DID YOU KNOW?

Turkeys can exhibit more than 20 distinct vocalizations, including the distinctive male gobble that can be heard a mile away.

Turkeys recognize other turkeys by their distinctive voices. No two sound alike.

Turkeys have their own internal GPS. They have the ability to learn precise details of even the largest habitat.

Wild turkeys (the bird, not the beverage) can reach the old driving speed limit of 55 miles per hour in flight.  Due to selective breeding (for obvious fattening reasons), domestic turkeys are ill-suited for lift-off and unable to fly.

Turkeys can run up to 25 miles per hour. Fast, but not fast enough to evade their dinner table fate.

Founding father Benjamin Franklin is said to have proposed to make wild turkeys the symbolic American bird instead of the bald eagle. Who knows? If he had gotten his way we may have all been eating bald eagles for Thanksgiving.

Male turkeys will attack their reflection in mirrors or windows.

The red dangly appendage under a turkey’s chin is called a wattle. The red flappy thing atop the beak is called the snood, which can change color with the bird’s mood.

Turkey meat in and of itself does not make you sleepy. More likely your post-dinner lethargy is caused by the over-consumption of carbs and alcohol.

Turkeys have two stomachs and no teeth. How did they evolve to have an extra tummy? Lacking the chompers to break down food, turkeys developed an extra stomach to aid in digestion.

There is an organization called the National Turkey Foundation. No one knows what it does precisely, but apparently one of its missions is extracting pertinent turkey data that can be shared with journalists looking for pertinent turkey data. Like this: According to official National Turkey Foundation research, the vast majority of people (88 percent) eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

If you’re staying at Kahana Villa on Maui over Thanksgiving and planning to cook your own bird, we are pleased to share the following tips for a juicy and flavorful turkey from renowned celebrity chef Jason Diaz.

CHEF JASON’S TURKEY TIPS

Chef Jason Diaz 17 South Booze & Bites Tahiti Village MauiBrine the turkey at least 24 hours in a mixture of salt and sugar (equal parts), lemons, oranges and herb sachet (I like to use sage, thyme and whole peppercorns).

Rub compound butter made with unsalted butter, garlic and herbs under the skin of the bird and on the skin prior to roasting to infuse flavor and also help to keep the bird moist.

Baste the turkey during the roasting process to help ensure that the bird stays juicy.

One thing most people tend to do is overcook turkey, leaving it dry. Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. I personally like to pull it out of the oven at around 160 degrees and allow it to rest. The carryover cooking process should take it to 165 degrees.

Thank you, Jason!

And happy Thanksgiving to all!

VISIT KAHANA VILLA ON MAUI’S GORGEOUS WEST COAST

Vacation volunteering on Maui

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A visit to Maui and Kahana Villa Resort is typically about fitting the most relaxation into your allotted vacation time. As millions of visitors from around the world can attest, our island paradise is the ultimate de-stress destination.  But there are also ample opportunities for Vacation Volunteers to engage in an array of activities that may just be more soul satisfying than lounging idly on a beach.

WALK A HOMELESS DOG ON THE BEACH

Take a shelter dog to the beach for a day of fun and frolic in the surf through the Maui Humane Society’s Beach Buddies program. Do a dog a favor and give a captive canine the opportunity to feel the sand beneath his paws and splash in the waves.

COUNT BIRDS

If you think vacations are for the birds, you’ll love volunteering for the Hawaii National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas bird count. It is important to know how many birds reside on Maui, and the program relies on citizen scientists to help provide an accurate count.

COUNT WHALES

The annual humpback whale migration to Hawaii begins with a trickle in October and follows in waves starting in December, which is when the Great Whale Count begins. Citizen scientists working on behalf of the Pacific Whale Foundation count whales from 12 vantage points along the Maui coast, helping to provide a snapshot of migration trends among Hawaii’s favorite mammal.

You’ll have a whale of a time.

MONITOR TURTLES

Break out of your vacation shell and assist biologists in their quest to survey sea turtles on the beach and beneath the waves. You’ll learn about Hawaii’s coral reef health, help monitor sea turtle habitat, and assess potential impact to Maui’s reefs.

PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Pacific Whale Foundation offers a number of opportunities for Volunteers on Vacation, including removing invasive weeds from the slopes of Mount Haleakala, revegetating eroding landscapes and stream banks with native plants, and help with chores on an organic farm in Maui’s scenic upcountry.

Book a visit to Kahana Villa Resort on Maui’s gorgeous west coast. Our spacious condo-style accommodations offer a relaxing retreat after all that strenuous volunteering.

97th annual Maui Fair returns in October!

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The Maui Fair, the island’s largest and longest running event, is returning to nearby Wailuku for a 97th big year providing fun, food, friends and family Oct. 3-6. The Fair kicks off with its traditional parade on Friday, Oct. 3, at 4:30 p.m. Featuring food, rides, exhibits, entertainment and contests (including Baby of the Year!), the Maui Fair is fun for the entire family. Be sure to attend if your visit to Kahana Villa, a spacious condo-style resort on Maui’s gorgeous West Coast, coincides with this popular event. Click here for all the details on this year’s Maui Fair, including hours, location and admission prices. It is a great community event for both visitors and locals to enjoy.

The Maui Fair kicks off a great month of fun events on Maui, including:

Maui Marathon

The Annual Maui Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier event, follows a 26.2-mile course across the island from Kahului to Kaanapali and is considered one of the 10 most scenic marathons in the U.S. If you are on Maui that day and aren’t running in the marathon, you can still join in the fun by cheering on the participants along the route.

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival

This statewide event takes place over three weeks on multiple islands, showcasing Hawaii’s locally grown foods and featuring a roster of internationally known master chefs and culinary personalities. Don’t miss the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events taking place on Maui each year in the Kaanapali Beach Resort area!

XTERRA World Championships

The world’s premier off-road triathlon combines a 1.5 kilometer (1 mile) rough water swim, a 32-kilometer (20 mile) mountain bike race climbing 3,500 feet up the West Maui Mountains and a 10.5-kilometer (6.5 mile) trail run. Whew! This event draws around 800 athletes from 28 countries including professionals and amateurs.

Halloween in Lahaina

Dubbed the Mardi Gras of the Pacific, the annual Halloween celebration in Lahaina draws around 25,000 people each year! The celebration starts in late afternoon with a kid-friendly activity—the Keiki (“children”) Halloween Costume Parade—which is completely adorable. The festivities continue until midnight with live music, an adult costume contest (with incredibly elaborate costumes!) and lots more fun. (The later the hour, the more adult-oriented the crowd and the costumes become, so be forewarned if you are traveling with children.)

KAHANA VILLA RESORT

Conveniently located between Kaanapali and Kapalua on Maui’s world famous west coast, Kahana Villa offers easy access to an array of nearby beaches, enticing restaurants and exciting activities. Everything you need for a satisfying visit is here, including wonderful ocean views in select guest rooms. Here at Kahana Villa, comfort, convenience and Aloha spirit converge in perfect harmony to ensure you’ll enjoy a memorable island experience.

RESORT

Kahana Villa offers spacious accommodations and numerous desirable amenities, including a tennis court, swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue and air conditioning.  We’re within close proximity to everything Maui has to offer, but with private lanais overlooking the breathtaking Pacific in our oceanfront units, it’s understandable that you may want to stay in and enjoy the view.

GUEST ROOMS

Our spacious one- and two-bedroom guest rooms are tastefully decorated and have numerous convenient amenities. At 788 square feet, our one-bedroom Palm units comfortably accommodate four with a queen size bed and queen sofa sleeper. Our two-bedroom Hala units, at 1337 square feet, come with one king size bed, two twin beds and a queen sofa sleeper for six guests. Each unit is thoughtfully air conditioned and comes with a full kitchen, cookware, dishwasher, washer-dryer and private lanai to make your visit that much nicer.

Book your visit today!

Maui’s best beach awaits your arrival!

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A visit to Kahana Villa Resort in scenic West Maui gives you the opportunity to experience the finest beaches in the world, many of which are conveniently located just minutes from your room.  One of the most popular is Ka’anapali Beach in nearby Lahaina. Once named America’s Best Beach, Ka’anapali this year earned another well-deserved accolade: it was ranked the 14th Best Beach in the world by TripAdvisor reviewers in the online travel agency’s 2019 Travelers Choice Awards.

WHITE SAND BEACH

With three miles of white sand and crystal clear water, it’s no wonder why Kaanapali Beach is such a popular destination. Fronting Kaanapali’s hotels and resorts, this former retreat for the royalty of Maui is now a popular getaway for the world.

Ka’anapali was Hawaii’s first planned resort and has become a model for resorts around the globe. Five hotels and six condominium villages face this renowned beach. Also fronting Ka’anapali is the open air Whalers Village, a world-class shopping complex that features a variety of exceptional shops and restaurants, a renowned whaling museum and free Hawaiian entertainment. Ka’anapali also has two championship golf courses, the Royal Ka’anapali and the Ka’anapali Kai, where you may even see a breaching whale as you try to line up a shot.

CLIFF DIVING CEREMONY

One of Ka’anapali Beach’s most famous attractions is the daily cliff diving ceremony off the beach’s northernmost cliffs known as Puu Kekaa, or Black Rock. Held every evening at sunset, a cliff diver lights the torches along the cliff, diving off Black Rock in a reenactment of a feat by Maui’s revered King Kahekili. To soar above Ka’anapali‘s breathtaking coastline yourself, try a zipline tour by Ka’anapali Skyline Eco Adventures and enjoy a royally good view of one of Maui’s signature beaches.

Be sure to experience Ka’anapali Beach on your next visit to Kahana Villa Resort, a premier West Maui vacation ownership resort. Book your stay today!

 

 

Where: West Shore, Maui, about 50 minutes from Kahului Airport
Activities: Swimming, cliff diving
Amenities: Parking $2/30 minutes, restrooms, lifeguard, shopping nearby

TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS CHOICE AWARDS

TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice Award winners are determined using an algorithm based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and experiences in destinations worldwide over a 12-month period. The methodology takes into account quality and volume of reviews to surface destinations that consistently deliver the best overall experience for travelers.

“With more than 156,000 destinations listed on TripAdvisor, travelers can find inspiration and advice on where to stay, what to do and where to eat during every type of trip. The Travelers’ Choice awards for Destinations recognize major cities and islands that continue to deliver an outstanding experience and are beloved by our global community of travelers,” said Desiree Fish, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “For those who want to cross these popular destinations off their travel bucket list, we recommend visiting during off-peak seasons when you can find great savings and fewer crowds.”

Maui fall activities and events

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Fall is a truly lovely time on Maui. The hotter weather of summer is behind us as is the busy summer vacation travel period, so the island is less crowded in fall. It’s a great time to visit! Here are some popular things to do on Maui in fall — annual events that you can incorporate into your visit to Kahana Villa Resort.

Book your fall visit today!

MAUI EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

Maui Festivals of Aloha

The month-long Festivals of Aloha take place every fall across the state of Hawaii with multiple events that are designed to honor and share Native Hawaiian culture and traditions. Starting in September (and often spilling over into October), you will find a variety of wonderful cultural events taking place in various regions of Maui, as well as on the islands of Lanai and Molokai (which are part of Maui County). Concerts! Festivals! Parades! All lots of fun!

Maui Ukulele Festival

This annual event occurs in the lovely open-air courtyard of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. Bring a lawn chair, beach mat, or blanket, and relax on the lawn for an afternoon of happy ukulele jamming!

MAUI EVENTS IN OCTOBER

 

Each year in the fall (September or October) the annual Maui County Fair kicks off on a Thursday afternoon with a parade and continues through Sunday with carnival rides, food, exhibits, entertainment, and fun competitions like the annual Maui Fire Department chili cook off. Taking place at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku, the County Fair is a great community event for both visitors and locals to enjoy!

Maui Marathon

The Annual Maui Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier event, follows a 26.2-mile course across the island from Kahului to Kaanapali and is considered one of the 10 most scenic marathons in the U.S. If you are on Maui that day and aren’t running in the marathon, you can still join in the fun by cheering on the participants along the route.

 

This statewide event takes place over three weeks on multiple islands, showcasing Hawaii’s locally grown foods and featuring a roster of internationally known master chefs and culinary personalities. Don’t miss the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events taking place on Maui each year in the Kaanapali Beach Resort area!

XTERRA World Championships

The world’s premier off-road triathlon combines a 1.5 kilometer (1 mile) rough water swim, a 32-kilometer (20 mile) mountain bike race climbing 3,500 feet up the West Maui Mountains and a 10.5-kilometer (6.5 mile) trail run. Whew! This event draws around 800 athletes from 28 countries including professionals and amateurs.

Halloween in Lahaina

Dubbed the Mardi Gras of the Pacific, the annual Halloween celebration in Lahaina draws around 25,000 people each year! The celebration starts in late afternoon with a kid-friendly activity—the Keiki (“children”) Halloween Costume Parade—which is completely adorable. The festivities continue until midnight with live music, an adult costume contest (with incredibly elaborate costumes!) and lots more fun. (The later the hour, the more adult-oriented the crowd and the costumes become, so be forewarned if you are traveling with children.)

MAUI EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

 

If you are looking for unique locally made products, this is the event for you! This new annual festival has quickly become Maui’s largest venue for local vendors and craftsmen to show their products: food, produce and plants, arts and crafts, jewelry, fashion, gifts, collectibles. This is a great place to find unusual, one-of-a-kind local products for yourself or for gifts to take home to friends and family. And just in time for Christmas!

Restaurant Week Wailea 

Foodie alert! November means it’s time once again for Restaurant Week Wailea. Twice a year, in spring and fall, Wailea’s fabulous, world-renowned restaurants celebrate Restaurant Week Wailea with three course, pre-fixe menus for just $29, $39, $49 or $59 per person. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience these acclaimed restaurants at a great value and support a worthwhile cause while you’re munching — a portion of the proceeds is donated to the Maui Food Bank.