Maalaea Surf MSR-F2 by KBM

The only reason I’m giving four stars is the higher price. There are plenty of cheaper options along this beach or elsewhere on Maui. The location is beautiful and almost right on the beach, and the condos are very nice. The little beach has fairly calm water that works well for swimming and kids. It’s sandy underfoot on shore and in the ocean, with virtually no coral or lava rock, so it’s good for children but not great for snorkeling. The water also isn’t very clear. The pool is small, clean, and well maintained.

We came with our two young kids and parents for a family vacation, and loved being just steps from the beach. The pool is centrally placed, everything was clean and in top shape, and our condo was well stocked, with comfortable beds and hot showers. It felt like we had the place to ourselves, though maybe we came at a quieter time; most of the other guests seemed older and retired. If you want nightlife or a party scene, look elsewhere. For a quiet, relaxing, private getaway, this is a great fit.

The warm pool was cleaned daily, and the grounds were well kept. This is a great spot for families who want an upscale, beach-focused stay near where locals live. It doesn’t feel touristy, and you can walk straight from the patio to the ocean. The beach wasn’t crowded, and there were lots of food options, including nearby food trucks closer to Acela Mauka. They don’t offer packages like snorkeling tours, meals, or all-inclusive stays. If that’s what you’re after, Kaanapalli farther north may suit you better.

A note for future guests: the place flooded about a month before our visit, and some damage and leaking were still there. Even so, we had an amazing stay and I’d definitely recommend it. Our condo was right by the water, so we saw whales every day. The ocean was lovely for swimming, shallow for quite a way out, and the bay offered some protection from the waves. We spotted lizards, whales, birds, butterflies, jellyfish, and even a turtle in the daytime. At night there was a scorpion, a snake, geckos, and a praying mantis. We walked up the beach early every morning for the views, and the sunsets were really nice too. The main pool was closed while we were there, but the small one was lovely.