The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Rating: 5.0 Pearls

Maui, Hawaii, United States

Laid-back luxury at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua

When I viewed the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua for the first time, I found myself wondering, "Are those the hotel grounds or a golf course?" Although there are two large golf courses next door, the grounds of the resort itself also seem cared for down to the last blade of grass, making a stunning 54-acre platform. The rooms, buildings, and amenities are fairly concentrated on top of a slightly sloping hill, set somewhat far back from the beach compared to other Maui resorts. Outside of the totally remote Hotel Hana, this is the most secluded resort in Maui -- even luxury resorts in Wailea, on the island's dry, sunny south coast (like the Four Seasons Maui or Fairmont Kea Lani) don't approach this same feeling of exclusivity.

Built in 1992, the hotel shut down for $180 million of renovations in July 2007 and reopened in January 2008. The result is an up-to-date property with a modern Hawaiian design and new amenities like the 17,500-square-foot spa and state-of-the-art gym that all center around a three-tiered pool overlooking the Kapalua coast.

Though the property is vast, the facilities themselves take a more modest approach than resorts like the Grand Wailea or Fairmont Kea Lani, which can overwhelm guests with waterpark-like facilities and endless amenities. Instead, the Ritz seems to favor quality over quantity, and encourages families to learn about the surrounding culture and ecology with programs led by Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment. Its expansive, gorgeous vistas attract daily handfuls of nonguests, who walk the resort trails, have drinks at the lobby's Alaloa Lounge, or splurge on a fabulous meal at the signature Banyan Tree restaurant.

For the price and level of exclusivity, the Four Seasons is really the Ritz's only competitor on Maui, but there are trade-offs. The Four Seasons is in Wailea, which enjoys consistently dry, sunny weather; the Ritz's Kapalua setting, though beautiful, gets the most wind and rain of Maui's resort areas. But the Ritz is more remote than just about any Maui resort, and the surroundings are far more exclusive and peaceful than the setting (a cluster of resorts) around the Four Seasons.

Staffer smiles for a photo

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua does what it takes to please guests, yet steers clear of a too-formal approach. The friendly front desk staff addresses patrons by name and fulfills all requests competently. Though the Four Seasons Maui goes slightly further to wait on guests hand and foot (spritzing faces poolside and offering many free services), the impressive, friendly staff here shows excellent preparedness. Even in the face of a passing hurricane, general power outage, and swaths of frustrated guests, the staff maintained a calm veneer and was prepared with printouts of indoor activities and glow sticks for guests venturing into pitch-black lobby bathrooms.

• Guests receive a full aloha greeting on arrival, welcome drink and lei included.
• 24-hour concierge is extremely accommodating and well-prepared, plus there's a separate lobby desk for scheduling spa treatments.
• Twice-daily housekeeping, plus turndown service (includes light-dimming, curtain closure, and television set-up, but no little gifts)
• Poolside drink service and staffed towel stand -- rain or shine
• No hospitality room, but staff will try to accommodate guests who need late checkout
• Free daytime valet and self-parking; $18 for overnight valet
• Free on-call shuttle service to any Kapalua resort location between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

View on a Larger Map

The Ritz-Carlton lies on 54 acres in the northwestern corner of Maui within the Kapalua Resort's greater 23,000 acres. More remote than just about any resort on Maui outside of Hotel Hana, the surroundings are far more exclusive and peaceful than the lineup of resorts in Kaanapali (or even in Wailea). On the other hand, the weather here is considerably less reliable (it has more wind, rain, and storm exposure than other resort areas) and there's little within walking distance. You'll have to drive to nearby Kaanapali and Lahaina for things to do, especially when the weather gets bad.

• Remote, scenic Kapalua surroundings feel exclusive and safe.
• Least consistent, windiest, and rainiest weather of Maui's resort areas
• Minimal off-site entertainment and restaurants within walking distance; Kaanapali's shops and restaurants are about a 15-minute drive away
• Approximately a one-hour drive from Kahului Airport (Kapalua Airport is minutes away for interisland flights)

Rough waves at D.T. Fleming Beach

The resort provides direct access to the D.T. Fleming Beach Park -- a mile-long crescent of sandy beach that's public (like all of Hawaii's beaches). It's also a bit farther away from the rooms and pools than the beach is from most other Maui beach resorts: It's about a five-minute walk from the main property to the shore. The resort provides beach chairs on its own property's lawn, at a beach lookout, but there are no umbrellas or chairs provided on the sand.

• Named top U.S. beach by Dr. Beach in 2006
• Strong currents and rough waves sometimes make the beach dangerous for small children, especially in winter.
• Public lifeguards on duty
• Beach chairs provided on the grass overlooking the beach, not on the sand

Standard room's marble bath with dual sinks

After $180 million of renovations completed in 2008, the 463 rooms and suites still feel freshly unwrapped. They're among Maui's most luxurious, even if they're a little smaller than those at other luxury resorts. In addition to their modern, Hawaiian-inspired décor, and plush beds, they also have up-to-date electronics like large flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and iPod alarm/radios in each room.

• All rooms are 440 square feet and have small balconies with a table and two chairs; views vary with some offering pretty ocean views.
• Suites range from 900 to 2,560 square feet, and have larger balconies and separate living rooms, but no kitchens (even the 2,560-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite only has a butler's pantry -- not a full kitchen).
• A choice of king or two double beds in standard rooms (suites have king beds); Sealy for Ritz mattresses with 400-thread-count sheets are luxurious and comfortable.
• 37-inch, LG flat-screen TV, DVD player, and iPod dock in each room
• Free, fast Wi-Fi connections in all rooms and suites; wired connection also available
• As is typical in Hawaii, there are no prestocked minibars, but guests can order specific items to be stocked in their empty mini-fridges; coffeemaker and bottled water provided
• Bathrooms have marble floors and counters, separate shower and bathtub, and hotel-brand toiletries
• All rooms are nonsmoking.

The pool

Everything seems to look inward to the Ritz-Carlton's stunning three-level, 10,000-square-foot pool, with an even larger poolside deck that has a gorgeous view of the Kapalua coast and D.T. Fleming Beach. The resort's spa and gym, along with unique environmental programs at the on-site Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors Center, add to its luxury appeal. Though the property's volume of amenities is more modest compared to Maui's other luxury resorts like Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, or even Fairmont Kea Lani, they're all fresh, new, up-to-date, and top quality. The hotel's features are concentrated on what's actually a stunningly massive property -- the larger Kapalua Resort has 100 miles of walking trails and two golf courses.

• 10,000-square-foot, three-tiered pool in the center of the resort, plus a kids' pool and whirlpools
• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Center with educational programs, snorkeling tours, and its own environmental programs
• 100 miles of walking trails, including a coastal trail directly in front of the resort and several village trails
• 17,500-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa with full menu of services (see Spa section)
• One of Maui's best fitness centers, accessible 24 hours a day with room key; overlooks hotel grounds with up-to-date equipment and men's and women's locker rooms; better than what the Four Seasons offers
• Separate fitness studios for classes like tai chi, spinning and yoga, priced from $10 to $18 per class
• Four tennis courts with free daily lessons and private instruction
• Free on-call shuttle service to any Kapalua resort location between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• On-site events and entertainment, like live music in the lobby during the evening
• High-fashion and convenience shops on premises, plus occasional craft tables
• Full-service, staffed business center run by outside contractor

Kapalua Resort is home to two 18-hole courses: the Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane-designed Bay Course and the Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. Both are oceanfront and located on opposite sides of the Ritz-Carlton resort, facing different sides of the Kapalua Coast.

• Named 15th best Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest
• Par 73, 7,411-yard Plantation Course hosts the PGA Tour SBS Championship each January.
• Par 72, 6,600-yard Bay Course faces Molokai.
• Kapalua Golf Academy is a state-of-the-art teaching facility with a 23-acre practice area, individual lessons, clinics, and extensive golf school programs.
• Riskier weather than in Wailea
• Guests get discounted rounds; the resort also offers five-day, unlimited golf packages ($399 for guests).

Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors Center

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua provides a unique environmental and cultural education program through its Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors Center for kids and adults.

• Half- and full-day programs for kids include naturalist-guided hikes, snorkeling tours, and other excursions.
• Eco-conscious materials used throughout the resort including LED lights, recycled paper products, compostable cups, utensils, and plates
• Local sustainable and reclaimed materials are used in the Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors Center (bamboo floors, reclaimed Koa wood, sunflower hulls).

Children by the pool

The remote, safe location, excellent child-welcoming service, and kid-friendly pools make the Ritz Kapalua a great place for families, but for the price, the Fairmont Kea Lani and Four Seasons Maui offer larger rooms and more kid-centric amenities and activities. The Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors Center's educational activities and programs for kids, however, are a unique and refreshing alternative to Xbox games centers and plastic-toy focused kids' camps. The property itself is ideal for low-key, self-sufficient families who would enjoy hiking, hanging out at the beach, or simply playing by the pool.

• Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors Center acts as the resort's kids' club, offering an assortment of mostly half-day programs (most cost around $89 a person and are open to kids five to 18); in contrast, the Four Seasons offers a free, full-day program for kids, though it's more traditional
• Child care/babysitting available with 24 hours' notice
• Kids' pool and kids' play area adjacent to the resort's massive, multilevel pool
• Free cribs, as is usually the case, but unlike at other resorts, no rollaway beds are available.
• Free kid-friendly activities like koi fish feeding and snorkel lessons; some activities cost extra.
• Beach isn't swimmable; strong currents and rough waves can be dangerous.

Waihua Spa

The 17,500-square-foot Waihua Spa opened in 2008 and is one of Maui's best and largest spas. It includes 15 treatment rooms, separate men's and women's facilities, and a coed relaxation area and outdoor whirlpool. While it doesn't have quite the impressive facilities that Grand Wailea's Spa Grande offers, the treatment and day access prices are lower. Hotel Hana's spa offers similar facilities with free day access to all guests, but it's smaller.

• Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; access to facilities is free with a treatment or service; $50 without treatment
• Separate men's and women's sections each have cedar saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms, lounge areas, and whirlpools.
• Coed facilities include a relaxation area, outdoor showers, and an outdoor whirlpool.
• A wide range of treatments, from organic facials and traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, to clinical treatments like microdermabrasion and oxygen-infusion facials; prices range from $100 mini-treatments to $375 daylong programs.

Absolutely spotless after a $180-million renovation completed in January 2008. Near-obsessive cleaning of the property includes twice-daily housekeeping.

A salad at the The Pool Bar & Cafe

The hotel's six restaurants and bars offer a nice variety -- from the signature, upscale Banyan Tree to a great sushi spot to the more casual Beach House Restaurant and Pool Bar & Café -- and they all enjoy beautiful settings, often with views of the beach and sunset. Eating on the cheap isn't really an option, however, but a $15 lunch is doable at the poolside or beachfront restaurants.

• Fine-dining, dinner-only Banyan Tree Restaurant serves Hawaiian-influenced eclectic fare focused on locally grown and organic ingredients, plus an impressive biodynamic and organic wine list.
• Terrace Restaurant serves three meals a day, including a generous breakfast buffet with attentive service.
• The lobby's Alaloa Lounge offers stunning views of the property and occasional live music in the evenings.
• The Beach House Restaurant and Pool Bar & Café serve light fare and drinks at lunchtime and in the afternoon (the Beach House closes for inclement weather, though).
• The dinner-only Kai Sushi offers Japanese cuisine and sushi from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
• 24-hour room service

The Beach House Lawn, one of several ceremony and reception sites

• Wedding Size: Up to 500 people; up to two weddings daily (though two is rare)

• Extra Fees: Extra fees for a standard ceremony include a mandatory $750 to $2,500 setup fee, $5 for each printed place card, $8 for each printed menu, $150 for each table centerpiece, and another $150 for each chef, bartender, and "cashier" used during the reception.

• Wedding Packages: The most basic, Kamoae (trade wind) package costs $5,800 and includes a decorated ceremony and reception space, flowers for the wedding party, a license and minister, a guitarist for the ceremony, a two-tier wedding cake (20 people), two hours of photography (24 prints), a limo transfer to and from the wedding site, and the help of a wedding coordinator. Alternative packages range from $6,900 to $13,000.

• Ceremony Locations: Lava Point (for a small ceremony of two to four people), the Honolua Chapel (up to 60), the gazebo (up to 100), the Napili Lawn (up to 200), or the Beach House Lawn (up to 500)

• Reception Locations: The Plantation Ballroom, the Anuenue Room, or the Beach House Lawn

• Food: The dinner menus range from $93 to $150 per person, and you can also opt for an imu (cooking pit) pig preparation for $1,000. A desert buffet costs between $20 to $36 per person.

• Drinks: An open bar ranges from $30 to $34 per person for the first hour and $15 to $17 per person for each additional hour. Other options include an iced punch fountain bar ($2,000 to $4,200), a nonalcoholic or alcoholic punch for $75 or $165 per gallon, a "tropical bar" ($6,500), an iced martini bar ($4,200).

• Cocktail Hour: You can get pretty elaborate -- hors d'oeuvres alone range between from $64 and $74 per person, but once you add on the ice carving seafood displays ($76 each), a smoked fish presentation ($21 per person), and add on the carver fee ($150) and the open bar ($30 to $34 per person), you've about doubled the cost of your entire wedding.

• Photographers and Videographers: Basic photo packages (two hours and 24 prints) from $650; basic video packages (two hours of footage and an edited DVD) from $1,000; no outside vendors permitted

• Music: For the ceremony, options range from a solo Hawaiian guitarist or vocalist ($325), a harpist ($375 to $450), a cassical musician ($675 to $950), or a hula dancer ($150), and a sound system costs $750. For the reception, you can choose between a DJ ($1,500), a live band ($3,200), or full-scale luau entertainment ($4,200); no outside vendors permitted.

• Cakes: A two-tier cake (20 people) costs about $300, and a three-tier cake (up to 40) runs for $600, plus there's another $50 for flowers on the cake. For more elaborate designs, you'll have to call for a quote. The white cake comes with either Grand Marnier and strawberries, white chocolate mousse and raspberries, or chocolate mango mousse. The chocolate cake comes with dark chocolate mousse and rum. Tiramisu, carrot, or lemon cakes also available.

• Flowers and Decorations: If you don't opt for the packages, the bouquets cost from $135 to $200, the boutonniere and corsages cost between $20 and $75, the flower-girl basket (with petals) runs for $35 (though more petals for the aisle cost $350), and if you want to put a lei on all your guests, it'll run you another $20 to $60 each. Also, be aware that you might have to add on an additional $2,000 or so to decorate the ceremony site.

• Extras: Dove release ($300), a two-hour horse-and-carriage ride ($1,000), a traditional Hawaiian blessing with a conch shell blower ($300)

• Spa Treatments: A variety of manis/pedis, facials, and massages available; makeup starts at $85 and hair styling starts at $125.

• Honeymoon Suite: There's no special "honeymoon suite" but the enormous, 1,200-square-foot oceanfront suite comes highly recommended.

• Airport Transportation: There's no free hotel transportation from the main airport (Kahului), but there is a free shuttle to and from the local Kapalua airport (just a few minutes away).