AEI at The Mahana Kaanapali Resort

The beach was a lot of fun, and it was lovely to slip down for a few minutes between other plans or watch the sunset with my partner. It felt like a very romantic place. I also appreciated that staff roped off a section when an endangered Hawaiian monk seal was resting on the sand, giving it space and keeping tourists back. I’ve already told my family about the resort. I booked a courtyard room and was surprised to have an ocean view from the balcony, where I saw the best sunset of my life. My junior suite had a full kitchen, a big comfortable bed, TV, shaded balcony with a table and two chairs, and a bathroom. I wish I’d stayed longer; having the kitchen would have made that easier and cheaper. There was plenty close by: a Hawaiian BBQ restaurant, grocery store and snorkel Bob’s across the street, plus a food truck court with local craft sellers next door. The resort had a convenience store, a cute souvenir shop, and a fishing and snorkeling gear shop. The first one came in handy during a brutal hangover, and the gear store was useful too. There was also a full restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a coffee and pastry stand, and a concierge who could book excursions. After an excursion I’d booked from home turned out poorly, the helpful people at snorkel Bob’s helped me arrange another. The bellhop could call a taxi. I visited in the off-season, and the same driver happened to be available whenever I needed him, so it felt like having a personal driver all week. He was a lovely man and added up my rides so I could pay once at the end.

We spent our honeymoon here. The rooms were really clean, and the staff were fantastic. See y’all this August.