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 Makena
Beach and Golf Resort - (exclusive to Maui.US
by Lottie Tagupa) Located about 35 minutes from the
Kahului International Airport the Makena Beach & Golf
Resort is a serene and out-of-the-way enclave along
the sunny and warm south shore of Maui.
To reach
the resort one must drive past the strip malls and budget
vacation condominiums of Kihei and past the supercilious
mega resorts of Wailea and onward past resort golf courses
and panoramic views of the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe.
The resort's
beachfront location is pristine and private with a wide
sandy shoreline, warm sparkling water and gentle surf.
The resort itself is not grandiose, extravagant nor
opulent, but it is warm, inviting, tasteful and understated
although not smaller then most full-service oceanfront
Maui resorts.
The hotel
is built in a way that makes it's presence secondary
to the nature that surrounds it. The main building graciously
embraces the landscape and doesn't overwhelm it. Natural
elements harmonize with the resort in a uniquely classical
Hawaiian way.
The resort
is on the smaller side with just 310 guest rooms and
suites. The all rooms offer at least a glimpse of the
ocean, beach, gardens and the natural vistas of south
Maui. Guest rooms are comfortable and well-appointed
with air-conditioning large lanais, generous-sized bathrooms
with separate vanity area, in-room safes, plush bathrobes,
iron and ironing boards.
Other amenities
include mini-refrigerator, coffee-maker, cable TV, make-up
mirror and hairdryer.
There are
three categories each of guest rooms and suites. All
come with either one king or two queen beds.
The rooms
in the Nalu category offer partial ocean views. The
Makai category rooms offer ocean views and the Honu
categories are the most enjoyable with unobstructed
ocean views. Suites are larger than the standard guest
rooms but not considerably so.
Offering either one king or
two queen beds, suites offer an additional seating area.
Suites in the Naupaka category offer partial ocean views.
The Makena suites offer full
oceanfront views.
The resort has several dining
options that range from a poolside snack bar that features
cold beer, umbrella drinks, sandwiches and a menu just
for kids to an upscale Pacific Rim dining experience
at the resort's signature restaurant Zen Zen Restaurant
Pacifica.
Also notable is the Sunday
Brunch at Makena. Voted by islanders as the best Sunday
Buffet on the island, this buffet required advance reservations
especially for Mother's Day and Easter.
Islanders who remember when
this hotel first opened can recall it to be primarily
a golf resort. Today, this is still true. Set amidst
two Robert Trent Jones designed courses (one currently
closed for extensive redesign and renovation) Makena
has always been the perfect destination for challenging
round under sunny skies and amazing ocean views.
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