Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [311]
PO′OLENALENA BEACH
Beyond all the development of the Wailea resort strip lies this long crescent favored by local families on weekends. During the week it’s rarely crowded. The shallow, sandy bottom and calm waters make for excellent swimming, and there’s good snorkeling off both the southern and northern lava points. Haloa Point, a bit further north, is a popular scuba-diving spot. The beach parking lot is on Makena Alanui Rd, a half-mile south of its intersection with Makena Rd. There are no facilities except a portable toilet.
WAILEA BEACH WALK
For an unbeatable sunset stroll, take the 1.3-mile shoreline path that connects Wailea’s beaches and the resort hotels that front them. The undulating path winds above jagged lava points and back down to sandy beaches.
Not only are the views superb, but in winter this is one of the best walks on Maui for spotting humpback whales – on a good day you might see more than a dozen of them frolicking in the waters offshore. Forgotten your binoculars? Just drop a coin in the telescope in front of the Wailea Marriott Resort.
Some of the luxury hotels you’ll pass along the walk are worth strolling through as well – most notably the Grand Wailea Resort, which showcases $30 million worth of artwork. In front of the Wailea Point condos are the foundations of three Hawaiian house sites dating to AD 1300 and a bench perched perfectly for a sunset view.
Activities
AT SEA
Maui Ocean Activities ( 667-2001; Grand Wailea Resort, 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr; snorkel/kayak/paddleboard rental per hr $8/15/40; 8am-5pm) has water-sports rentals and gives windsurfing lessons ($90).
Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Adventures ( 281-9301; www.mauisailingcanoe.com; departs from Polo Beach; adult/child 5-12 $100/80; tours 8am &10am) offers two-hour sails aboard a Hawaiian-style outrigger canoe. There’s a maximum of six passengers, so they’re able to accommodate requests – including stopping to snorkel with turtles.
ON LAND
Wailea Golf Club ( 875-7450, 800-332-1614; www.waileagolf.com; 100 Golf Club Dr; green fees $135-200; 1st tee 6:45am) consists of three championship courses. The Emerald course is a tropical garden that consistently ranks top; the rugged Gold course takes advantage of volcanic landscapes; and the Blue course is marked by an open fairway and challenging greens.
Wailea Tennis Club ( 879-1958; www.waileatennis.com; 131 Wailea Ike Pl; court fees from $30; 8am-7pm Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm Sat & Sun) is an award-winning complex with 11 Plexipave courts, lessons, clinics and equipment rentals.
Festivals & Events
Hollywood celebs galore show up for the Maui Film Festival (www.mauifilmfestival.com), a five-day extravaganza in mid-June. Sit with the stars under the stars at various locations around Wailea, including at the open-air ‘SandDance Theater’ right on Wailea Beach.
Every Wednesday evening the Shops at Wailea ( 891-6770; 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr) sponsors WOW at Wailea, with live Hawaiian music and hula dancing in the ground-level concourse, and wine receptions in the art galleries.
Sleeping
Pineapple Inn Maui (Map; 298-4403, 877-212-6284; www.pineappleinnmaui.com; 3170 Akala Dr; r/cottage $149/215; ) This inviting boutique inn is a class act, with rooms that are as nice as those at the exclusive resorts. Flowering gardens, a saline pool, a hot tub and ocean views – there’s nothing lacking here other than the high price. All the rooms have well-equipped kitchenettes and the two-bedroom cottage has a full kitchen. The beach is a five-minute drive away but with the conveniences here, you just might want to stay close to home.
Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa ( 879-1922, 800-367-2960; www.waileamarriott.com; 3700 Wailea Alanui Dr; r from $380; ) The smallest and most Hawaiian of Wailea’s resorts sports an open-air lobby overlooking banyan trees and koi ponds. It’s the oldest of the