Maui Revealed - Hyatt Regency

806 rooms, 2 pools, spa, 3 restaurants, 4 tennis courts, 24-hour room service, coin-op laundry, 10 conference rooms, business center, hi-speed Internet access and Wi-Fi in rooms and resort-wide, 37-inch HD flat screen tvs, 24-hour fitness center and day spa, numerous shops, lu‘au, valet parking, empty refrigerator, child care program. Wow, where do we start? This is one of the biggest resorts on Maui, consisting of three 8- and 9-story buildings among 40 acres of spacious and exotic grounds. The two outstanding pools are large with waterfalls, and one has a fast 150-foot waterslide (you must be at least 4-feet tall), swinging bridge and a swim-up bar inside a cave. Little ones can enjoy a shorter waterslide, a sand-lined lagoon and synchronized fountains. Between the two is a poolside bar filled with the roar of the artificial waterfalls. The lobby is next to the huge atrium, which, in the mornings, is filled with the sound of wild birds there to steal some food.

They have tours of the wildlife strewn about the grounds (such as the warm weather penguins, swans, flamingos and parrots), and there’s a nice oceanside state-of-the-art fitness center. Their Spa Moana has all the bone-melting fixin’s. (They’ll even treat your child at the spa and offer services such as the m & m manicure—a different color for every nail.) They charge $35 ($16 for kids) for the guided rooftop astronomy demonstrations with their 16-inch scope, and you get a Milky Way or Starburst afterwards. There are three restaurants, including the Cascades Grille & Sushi Bar and the Son’z at the Swan Court. Both have dreamy atmospheres, though they’re not cheap. Downstairs near the pool is the cheaper food court-style area called the Umalu. Feel free to wear your bathing suit there. Watch for the thieving birds who’ll rob you blind if you turn your back.

The Hyatt has a lu‘au (the oceanfront rooms in the Lahaina Tower are exposed to the sound until 8–8:30 p.m.). We only have two dings with this resort. One is the mandatory $15 resort fee that covers things such as local calls, room safe, fitness center, daily coffee, etc. Valet is an additional $12. The other ding is that their part of Ka‘anapali Beach occasionally gets seaweed blooms, especially in front of the Napili Wing. And there’s more reef in the nearshore waters, so you can’t frolic in the shallow waters without water shoes, or you may tear up your feet. They have ocean activity booths where you can rent water toys such as boogie boards and snorkel gear at normal resort prices (meaning expensive). Cabana chairs are $50 per day.

Hyatt’s keiki program (called Camp Hyatt) is $45 or $70 per day. They haven’t left out adults with pampering treats such as massages by the ocean and dinners under the stars for $478 per couple (includes tip). You can even rent your own thatched hut by the ocean for $150 per day, and they’ll bring you just about anything for a price, of course.

In all, the Hyatt does a very good job, and the staff is very warm and professional. The place radiates the dreamy warmth that you want from a fantasy resort. It’s especially pretty at night. Rooms are nicely furnished and are a respectable 451 sq. ft. costing $275–$755. Regency Club rooms (marginally nicer but more amenities—namely free continental breakfast in a private lounge—not worth the upgrade) are $755–$840. Suites (554–2,500 sq. ft.) are $850–$7,000.