We stay at Makani Sands every time we go to Maui. Our first stay was in 104, and we love that unit for sentimental reasons. We've also stayed in 101, which was very nice because it has a half-bath near the living area, and we have also enjoyed staying in 110, which has two bedrooms and 2 baths and mini-splits in the bedrooms and living area, which accommodated our group of 4 nicely. We stayed in 206, which was nice, but we prefer to stay on the first floor. Kitchens are well-appointed; we cook in the condo a lot, so having a fully stocked kitchen is wonderful. We barbecue a lot, so we enjoy using them, but last time, the BBQs on the north side of the resort weren't there, so we used the ones on the other end. Furniture and hide-a-beds are generally comfortable, and the beds are decent. I'd recommend that unit 110 put blankets in the closets for cooler nights, as I got chilled and had to use beach towels as blankets to keep me warm (I lived on Oahu and am a warm-weather girl). The scenery is amazing, especially when the clouds lift off of Molokai. When the beach is there (sand washes away during winter months but starts to return in spring), we enjoy walking straight out to swim and snorkel. If the beach is washed away, we carefully climb down, but I wouldn't recommend that if you have any mobility issues at all or for children. Snorkeling is great along the reef. Whale watching from your lanai is amazing during whale season (November through March, maybe April). However, you may want to stay in a 2nd or 3rd story unit to get an amazing view of the whales' breaching. One unit (210) even supplies a telescope.
I love the quiet at Makani Sands. It's a mellow place to stay; we've only encountered one group who partied loudly in all the years we've been staying (thankfully, they were gone quickly), and the majority of people who stay there are mature and go to bed before 10:00pm, and we rarely see small children when we stay. There are a few year-round residents, so being mindful of their home and being quiet and respectful is important. Each unit has a washer and dryer, so I could travel with fewer things and am able to wash clothes as needed. Each unit we've stayed in has a dishwasher and televisions in the living room and master bedroom. Some condos have beach chairs and boogie boards for guests to use, and occasionally, there is snorkel gear, but we take our own. I love it when owners provide a conch shell, which we always sound at sunset.
The location is great; ABC is within walking distance, so is Jackass Coffee, several shops, and a small farmer's market are also a short walk. There is a Times grocery store nearby, and it's fairly well-stocked. Snappy Cakes is great for breakfast, and Snorkel Bob's are in the same shopping center. If you want a larger grocery store, Safeway in Lahaina is a short drive at the Cannery Mall, along with Long's, HIC, and there is a brand new Denny's, too. Front Street is close, and so is Whaler's Village. The food trucks in Ka'anapali at Lower Honoapi'ilani and Honoapi'ilani Roads are fantastic!
The sea wall out front, where the beach and lounge chairs are, is scheduled to be repaired from August 2022 to October 2022, and they will be closed during that time, which is the time of year we generally visit, but we'll have to look forward to going after repairs are completed. We love you, Makani Sands! Can't wait to see you again soon! read more