Once enjoyed by Hawaiian kings and queens, Ka’anapali Beach Resort is Hawaii’s first planned resort. With three miles of beach and just shy of a dozen places to stay, travelers have great options to choose from when planning a stay on Maui’s West Shore. Among them is Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort. Welcoming guests for more than 60 years, the hotel offers a quiet, laid-back experience interwoven with Hawaiian culture.
A Hotel with History
Formerly known as Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, the property opened in 1964. In 2023, the hotel was purchased by Outrigger; the brand operates a plethora of resorts, hotels, and vacation condos across the Hawaiian Islands and beyond. For decades, the Maui property billed itself as “Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel.” Since the sale, there have been notable changes, especially to repeat guests, but the resort still offers some of the more robust cultural programming along Ka’anapali Beach.
Daily cultural activities range from the expected lei making, hula dancing, and ‘ukulele classes to ‘o-lelo or Hawaiian language lessons, and Hawaiian storytelling referred to as mo‘olelo. First-time visitors receive a lei made with dark kukui nuts. (Kukui are also known as candlenuts because they can be lit and used as a light source, similar to a candle. They were brought to Hawaii by Polynesian voyagers.) With each return visit, a white kukui nut is added to a guest’s lei.
Accommodations
Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort features 432 rooms and suites. When booking, you’ll choose between Signature rooms and Premium rooms.
Premium room at Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort on Maui.
Premium rooms were renovated in 2021 before the sale of the resort, while Signature rooms were remodeled after. Signature rooms are whiter and perhaps, as a result, feel a bit more modern, whereas Premium rooms feel fresh and Hawaiian. It’s a choice that simply comes down to preference. Amenities are consistent across all accommodations, so you can expect a balcony or lanai, coffee machine, and small refrigerator.
The bathroom in a Signature room at Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort on Maui.
Public Spaces and Facilities
When compared with neighboring properties, there isn’t a long list of toys here. But the Outrigger has a luxury many of its competitors do not — space. Vibrant stretches of green grass are studded with loungers and hammocks. Plumeria trees, along with other lush landscaping, provide shady spots that encourage afternoon naps.
The resort’s whale-shaped pool is iconic. There are reportedly plans to replace it with a more modern pool experience, but I’m holding on to hope it will somehow be preserved. It just feels right.
The Outrigger also offers coin-operated laundry machines. I’m a big fan of this amenity; it makes it so much easier for even over-packers to travel light.
A beachside cottage or hale stocked with sunscreen, water toys, assorted beach rental gear, and more is operated by Aqualani, an independent hospitality brand with numerous locations along Ka’anapali Beach. If you are planning on venturing out on the water during your stay in Maui for a whale watching trip (humpbacks command the seas typically mid-December through mid-April) or snorkeling cruise, all Teralani Sailing Adventures conveniently meet here for check-in.
Dining Options
Maui Brewing Company has an outpost on-site, just steps off the beach. If you’ve never been, you can expect a lineup of good beer options and an impressive Mai Tai on the cocktail list.
I dined with a group and tasted a variety of dinner menu items. Highlights for me included the Crispy Spicy Ahi Roll and Roasted Pork Belly Buns. I didn’t get to eat breakfast here, but the menu offers a fun variety, including Biscuits & IPA Gravy, Guava BBQ Pork Benedict, a Papaya Fruit Bowl, and Warm Waffle Churros.
Good to Know
Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort features 13 ADA-compliant accommodations, spread across assorted room categories. They are designed for guests with mobility disabilities, but assistive listening and sight-impaired devices can also be arranged.
Rates for a Premium room, the Outrigger’s standard or entry-level room equivalent, start at $299. Be sure to budget for the $45 daily resort fee.
Check rates for Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
I’m lucky enough to travel to Maui frequently. Some of my other favorite hotels include: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, and the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by the Ka’anapali Beach Resort association and Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
One of the best places we ever visited ! Went back 20 times, But unfortunately due to health and family circumstances we havent been able to return for the last five years ! We and I really miss the place and the personal ! Its a shame the Covid virus has created all this worldwide problem. We do hope to return when circumstances permit. I do hope SAM SAOTOs will still be there. Unfortunately from our first visit, Maui has grown so much. All our favorite hidden places have been found and exploited. Example, the other side of Halliaka was a lagoon, was my favorite skinny dipping spot. I had to laugh–last time we pulled up there were 6 porta potties! And a hundred or more people in a large parking lot! I guess when something is good it doesn’t last to long. Hopefully we can make it back before father time catches us! MAHALO ALAN MIHLSTIN