Wailea vs. Ka'anapali: Which Resort Area is Better?

Wailea vs. Kaanapali

Maui covers more than 727 square miles and is home to more than 164,000 people. The landscape is diverse with stunning beaches, tropical forests, volcanic formations, and numerous towns and small communities. As you plan your upcoming trip or plan for a purchase on Maui, you understandably want to be close to top-rated activities and hot spots.

West and South Maui are both popular destinations for visitors, and Wailea and Kaanapali in these regions are both brimming with things to do when you visit the island. Before choosing a specific Maui resort to stay at, a closer look at the differences between Wailea and Kaanapali can be very helpful.

Wailea: A Premier Maui Resort Community

Wailea Maui

Located on the southern side of the island, Wailea is home to top-rated resorts like Fairmont Kea Lani, Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons Maui, Wailea Beach Resort Marriott, and others. There are also numerous condos in Wailea and homes available for sale or rent.

Widely considered to be the most luxurious part of Maui, Wailea is home to several world-class beaches and offers amazing views of Molokini Crater from many vantage points. 

Outdoor Activities

South of Wailea, you can relax under the sun and take advantage of South Maui’s great weather at Makena Beach and Maluaka Beach. Just north of this resort community, you will find Keawakapu Beach. At Wailea beaches, you can enjoy whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking and sunbathing.

In some locations, surfing lessons for beginners and more advanced surfers are available.

Wailea offers you numerous other opportunities for relaxation and fun when you visit Maui. It is home to some of the island’s top golf courses. These include Wailea Golf Club, the Kea Lani Golf Course, and the Makena Golf and Beach Club.

You can admire amazing coastal views on the Wailea Coastal Walkway. This 1.5-mile walking path takes you by hibiscus trees and wildflowers between Polo Beach and Ulua Beach. The King's Highway Trail, which is also called the Hoapili Trail, takes you by impressive lava rock formations and historical sites. 

Is Wailea sunnier than Kaanapali?

Many visitors prefer Wailea over Kaanapali because of its weather. Wailea, located in the south,  experiences less rain than Kaanapali. However, Kaanapali's rainy season is typically from November to April, so during the rest of the year you shouldn't have much of a problem with rain. 

Cultural Experiences

Several luaus are available for an unforgettable cultural experience with dancing and local food, including the famed Grand Luau at Honua’ula.

Other opportunities for enjoying your time in Wailea include indulging in a spa treatment at a local resort, exploring the high-end Shops at Wailea, playing at the Wailea Tennis Club, touring Turtle Town, dining at the area's best restaurants and more.

There are numerous tours departing from Wailea and nearby Kihei. These include snorkeling trips to Molokini, the Road to Hana tour, sunset dinner cruises and whale-watching cruises. While visiting nearby Kihei, you can stroll along the Kealia Coastal Boardwalk at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge and learn about aquatic life at the Humpback Whale Sanctuary.

The state’s largest and most well-known craft brewery, the Maui Brewing Company, offers tours and a tasting room. There are also several popular beaches in Kihei to enjoy, including the Kamaole Beaches, Keawakapu Beach, and Waipuilani Park.

Whether you choose to stay at a resort, in a Wailea condo or a vacation home, you will appreciate the variety of activities and attractions nearby.

Wailea Real Estate For Sale

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Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 1 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 2 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 3 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 4 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 5 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 6 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 7 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 8 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 9 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 10 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 11 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 12 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 13 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 14 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 15 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 16 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 17 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 18 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 19 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 20 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 21 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 22 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 23 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 24 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 25 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 26 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 27 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 28 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 29 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 30 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 31 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 32 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 33 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 34 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 35 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 36 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 37 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 38 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 39 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 40 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 41 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 42 of 43 Listing Image for 4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101 43 of 43

$3,300,000

Wailea Point 2101

4000 Wailea Alanui Dr 2101, Wailea/Makena

2 Beds 3 Baths 1,584 SqFt Residential MLS® # 409393

Days on Market: 142

Wailea Point Realty, Inc. realty@waileapoint.com

Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 1 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 2 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 3 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 4 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 5 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 6 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 7 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 8 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 9 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 10 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 11 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 12 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 13 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 14 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 15 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 16 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 17 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 18 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 19 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 20 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 21 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 22 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 23 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 24 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 25 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 26 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 27 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 28 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 29 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 30 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 31 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 32 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 33 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 34 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 35 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 36 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 37 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 38 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 39 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 40 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 41 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 42 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 43 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 44 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 45 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 46 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 47 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 48 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 49 of 50 Listing Image for 137 Holomoana Way 4a 50 of 50

$2,900,000

Makalii at Wailea 4A

137 Holomoana Way 4a, Wailea/Makena

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,574 SqFt Residential MLS® # 409389

Days on Market: 142

Island Sotheby's International Realty(W) Cell: 808-283-7965

Short Term Rental
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$1,100,000

Wailea Ekahi 25C

3300 Wailea Alanui Dr 25c, Wailea/Makena

1 Bed 1 Bath 792 SqFt Residential MLS® # 409361

Days on Market: 145

Coldwell Banker Island Prop-Ku Cell: 808-250-6754

Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 1 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 2 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 3 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 4 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 5 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 6 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 7 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 8 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 9 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 10 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 11 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 12 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 13 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 14 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 15 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 16 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 17 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 18 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 19 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 20 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 21 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 22 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 23 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 24 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 25 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 26 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 27 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 28 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 29 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 30 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 31 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 32 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 33 of 34 Listing Image for 4520 Makena Alanui Dr 34 of 34

$9,500,000

Wailea/Makena

4520 Makena Alanui Dr, Wailea/Makena

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 409319

Days on Market: 150

Island Sotheby's Int'l Rlty(W) Cell: 808-283-7965

Maui Real Estate Market
Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 1 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 2 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 3 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 4 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 5 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 6 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 7 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 8 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 9 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 10 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 11 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 12 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 13 of 14 Listing Image for 3381 E Lani Ikena Way 14 of 14

$1,099,000

↓ $50,000

Wailea/Makena

3381 E Lani Ikena Way, Wailea/Makena

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Land MLS® # 409305

Days on Market: 151

Pacific Shores Realty

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$1,995,000

↓ $230,000

Wailea Pualani Estates

3386 E Lani Ikena Way, Wailea/Makena

3 Beds 2.5 Baths 2,360 SqFt Residential MLS® # 409250

Days on Market: 157

Compass-W

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Kaanapali: World-Famous Beaches and Hawaiian Culture

Ka'anapali Maui

Kaanapali is located on Maui’s west coast, only a short drive north of Lahaina. Kaanapali is a planned resort community with a laid-back ambiance. 

Resort Experiences in Ka'anapali

In addition to the numerous rental condos and homes available in Kaanapali, several resorts are available.

If you choose to stay in Kaanapali, the Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows, the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa and the Honua Kai are great options to consider.

Outdoor Activities

Kaanapali Beach is regarded as one of the top beaches on the island due to its soft sands that extend into the water. The beach spans three miles and boasts crystal-clear water and lifeguard coverage. Several resorts and the Whalers Village retail complex have frontage on the beach.

Whalers Village features a whaling museum, top-rated restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Each day, cliff divers perform at Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach.

This performance pays tribute to a famed Hawaiian king. Other activities near the beach are ziplining, sailing adventures, dinner cruises, and whale watching.

Final Thoughts

With incredible experiences and attractions to enjoy throughout the island, where you stay in Maui is an important consideration when planning your trip. Both Kaanapali and Wailea offer many resorts, condos, and homes to stay at for your upcoming trip.

Get In Touch With Evan!

Evan Harlow Maui

Evan Harlow ranks among the best real estate agents on Maui annually and is in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide in production. Evan has the expertise, experience, and work ethic to help you achieve your real estate buying and selling goals. We promise exceptional service and support from the beginning of the process through closing and beyond. See what Evan's clients are saying on Google.

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