Last Updated on September 18, 2026 by A Teaspoon of Travel

Maui with Kids: Best Family Hotels and Where to Stay

Traveled in May 2023 and May 2025

Dreaming of a Hawaiian escape to Maui with your kids? Finding the perfect place to stay is key to making it a vacation and not a trip. We are in the season of life with our kiddo where getting out the door in the morning can take an eternity. Sadly, this does not change during vacation in paradise. That is why location is so important for us when deciding where to stay in Maui with kids. Our solution? Staying right next to a baby beach. This is clutch for those toddler “no” days, so we don’t have to stress about carseat battles and finding a parking spot at the beach. These areas in Maui are all next to amazing baby beaches, so they are our top choices for where to stay in Maui with kids.

We have traveled to Maui with our kid twice. We have stayed in both West Maui and South Maui. Each area had its pros and cons when traveling with kids. However, in both areas, we picked accommodations with a kitchen, easy access to a kid-friendly beach, and with family friendly pools to make travel with a kiddo more relaxing.

Where to Stay in Maui with Kids – Hotel or Condo?

We opted to stay in a condo when deciding where to stay in Maui with kids just because it’s so much more convenient to have a kitchenette. Maui is also expensive. So having a kitchenette where we can prepare some meals helps to cut down on costs. I’ve included both hotel and condo options below, because we considered both when we were researching where to stay. We ultimately decided to go with condos, but some of the hotel options were tempting because of their beachfront locations and amenities. Just imagine yourself relaxing on a beachfront lanai while waiting for your kiddo to finish napping! Whether you decide to go with a hotel or condo, you’ll have amazing views and amenities with these picks.

Where to Stay in Maui with Kids At a Glance

Area	Best For	Why We’d Choose It	Down Side
Wailea	Calm beaches, upscale resorts	Kid-friendly beaches, beautiful condos/resorts	Expensive
Kihei	Families looking for good value	Central area for exploring the island, near restaurants, many condo choices	Less resorts
Napili	Quiet beach vacation	Easy walk to beautiful calm beaches	Farther from the rest of Maui
Ka’anapali	Resort vacation	Pools, beach, amenities all in one place without leaving the resort	Bigger/more crowded resorts

Where to Stay in Maui with Kids for Beachfront Resorts with Calm Beaches: Wailea

• Airport: 25-30 minute drive
• Beach access: walkable. Most resorts/condos are beachfront.
• Restaurants: drive
• Groceries: Island Gourmet Market at the Shops at Wailea for convenience, or a short drive away from Safeway or Foodland in Kihei
• Best for: baby, toddler, preschooler, older kids
• Accommodation style: both condos and resorts
• Vibe: upscale resort
• Downside: more expensive

There’s a reason why all the high-end resorts are in Wailea – the beaches are beautiful and calm here. And you’ll be able to enjoy the beaches because the weather is mostly sunny. If you’re looking for luxury beachfront resorts with amazing pools and direct access to stunning beaches then you’ll find them in Wailea. We’re still not used to hotel resort life because it feels a little too crowded for us. As a compromise, we found a smaller condo resort in north Wailea that we loved. We had the space and privacy of a home, but the pools and direct beach access of a resort.

Wailea is best if:

• You want calm beaches
• You want a condo or luxury resort
• You’re okay spending more

Maybe skip Wailea if:

• You’re looking for a budget stay
• You want a more casual/local atmosphere

Wailea Ekahi Village – where we stayed

• Why we loved it: beautiful calm beach right in front of the condo resort, uncrowded pool, private condos, excellent location for exploring the island
• What to know: each condo is privately owned so conditions and furnishings may vary, the resort is very large and located on a hill so double check the location of the condo you’re booking to avoid a long uphill walk back from the pool and beach

We loved our condo in the Wailea Ekahi Village resort. The beachfront pool and direct beach access to our favorite calm beach in the south side, Keawakapu II Beach Park, were perfect for a stress-free day out with our toddler. It’s definitely worth it to stay in the lower village closer to the beachfront pool. The resort is situated on a hill, so there are amazing views of the ocean but a somewhat steep climb back to some of the buildings. We did not mind it, but it can get heavy if carrying kids and gear. The pools are definitely not fancy, but for a toddler who just wants to splash around it was perfect and never too busy. Staying here feels like we found our hidden gem for where to stay in Maui with kids.

We also loved the location. This resort was just a quick drive to the beaches and restaurants of Kihei, the Shops in Wailea, and Wailea Village. Getting groceries and food, or getting to other activities and the airport, were all just a short drive away (which makes a difference when you have a wriggly toddler in the car).

We stayed in this family-friendly ground floor condo in building 17. We loved watching the ocean views from the private lanai every morning and evening. Unlike the lanais in other buildings that face the street or grassy area, the lanais in this condo were surrounded by a hedge of hibiscus so it was truly private. The condo was a bit older, but really well equipped with kids items like sand toys, floaties, boogie boards, pack and play, and kids utensils. When visiting again, we will try to book this family-friendly condo in building 1 or this condo in building 31. These condos are at a similar price point with comparable ocean views but slightly closer walk to the beach.

Being on the ground floor of the building was a must for us because we didn’t want to worry about our toddler causing too much noise running and jumping. But if you don’t mind being on the top floor, then this condo in building 14 has unobstructed views of the ocean and a shorter walk to the kids pool. These condos in building 22 and building 8 are right next to the kid-friendly beachfront pool, but you’ll pay a higher price for that prime location.

Wailea also has many upscale resorts with more amenities. We considered these options, but ultimately decided to go with the condo because we wanted a more private and less crowded experience. We also felt that resorts are better with older kids who can actually enjoy the pools with all the features, and that it wasn’t quite worth it yet to pay extra for all those amenities with a toddler who wouldn’t be able to use them.

If you’d prefer staying in a resort with more amenities, then we considered these resorts in Wailea with kids:

Grand Wailea

• Why we considered it: many pools with different features like waterfalls and swings
• What to know: more expensive, no rooms with kitchenettes

The Grand Wailea is right on Wailea beach. If your kids are into pools, then this resort will be a paradise for them. It has amazing pools with waterfalls, swings, and all the bells and whistles. The rooms are hotel rooms without kitchenettes, but as a trade off you will have all the resort amenities.

Wailea Beach

• Why we considered it: kid-friendly cultural activities like music, arts, and crafts
• What to know: longer walk to Wailea beach

The Wailea Beach Resort is a slightly longer walk to Wailea beach. At the time we researched, the resort claimed the longest waterslide on the island and included a lot of cultural activities. We considered this resort because of those cultural activities, because for us they would help to justify the cost of the room fee. Most of the rooms are hotel rooms without kitchenettes, although they do have more expensive villas with kitchenettes.

Where to Stay in Maui with Kids for a More Private Calm Beach: Napili Bay

• Airport: 1 hour drive
• Beach access: walkable. Most resorts/condos are beachfront or across the street from the beach.
• Restaurants: a few restaurants in the area, but need to drive for more options.
• Groceries: Napili Market
• Best for: baby, toddler, preschooler
• Accommodation style: mostly condos
• Vibe: quiet and relaxed
• Downside: further away from the rest of Maui

The biggest benefit of staying in Napili Bay is not having to look for parking to visit Napili Bay beach and Kapalua Bay beach. These two crescent shaped beaches are beautiful calm beaches with gentle waves, but the parking situation is seriously limited. We really enjoyed staying right across the street from Napili Bay beach and having the beach just a walk away.

One tricky part of staying in Napili Bay is that it is pretty far north on the west side of the island. So getting there from the airport or getting to other parts of the island takes much longer. When we stayed here, we did not venture too far past Lahaina most days. If you’re planning on just staying in the beaches in the area every day then it’s not a big deal. But if you are planning on exploring the rest of the island, then I would stay in a more central location

Napili is best if:

• You want a quieter, more relaxed beach vacation
• You want beautiful beaches close to your accommodations
• You prefer a smaller condo or resort over a large resort complex
• You plan to spend most of your time enjoying West Maui

Maybe skip Napili if:

• You want to be centrally located for exploring Maui
• You plan to spend a lot of time in South Maui or Upcountry
• You want lots of restaurants and activities within walking distance
• You want extensive resort amenities

Napili Bay 3 Bedroom Condo – where we stayed

• Why we loved it: large condo with plenty of space for our extended family, great location across the street from Napili Bay beach, lots of baby gear included, owner was amazing to work with
• What to know: further drive from the rest of Maui

We loved this condo in Napili Bay. It is a rare 3 bedroom, so if you’re traveling with a larger family then it is perfect. We appreciated that there was a large living space on the first floor for spending time together, but separate rooms upstairs when we wanted alone time. And it had all the kids gear. From a high chair to a pack and play, and even a stroller and wagon! It was so nice that we didn’t need to rent or bring any toddler gear. We also loved the location, just across the street from Napili Bay beach. The owner is a local and she is so sweet and helpful!

We also considered these beachfront resorts in Napili for easier access to the beach. But because we were traveling with extended family, we opted for a larger condo so everyone could have their own space.

If you would rather stay right on the beach, then these are the beachfront resorts that we considered:

Napili Sunset Beachfront Resort

• Why we considered it: right on Napili Beach
• What to know: can feel less private

The Napili Sunset Beachfront Resort is literally on Napili Beach, just steps away from the water. Imagine waking up to those beachfront views every morning and watching the sunset from the lanai every evening! There is a small pool in the resort, but it’s nothing fancy and there isn’t much else in terms of resort amenities. Being right on the beach is the big draw here. They have one or two bedroom apartments.

Napili Kai Beach Resort

• Why we considered it: right on Napili Beach, more pools, kids club
• What to know: more expensive because of the resort amenities

The Napili Kai Beach Resort is also right on Napili Beach. This is a bigger resort with more actual resort amenities. There are 4 pools, outdoor grill areas, cultural activities, and a putting green. When we researched it, they also had a kids eat free program, where a kids meal is free with purchase of an adult meal at the on site restaurant. In our research we also noted that they have a keiki (kid’s) club during high season, with 2 hours of supervised kids activities (free babysitting?!). These family-friendly amenities were a big draw for us.

Another plus is that they have a variety of room types, from studios to 3 room suites, so families of all sizes can find a room that fits. We walked through this resort to get to the beach and really liked the feel of it. The pools never seemed too crowded or loud, and the beach access was amazing.

Montage Kapalua

• Why we considered it: beautiful resort right on Kapalua Bay
• What to know: very expensive

The Montage Kapalua Bay is the beachfront resort in neighboring Kapalua Bay. But it’s close enough to Napili Bay that you could walk over to check out this neighboring beach if you wanted to leave Kapalua Bay. This is definitely a luxury resort with luxury prices, but you get an amazing beach and amenities for that price. We would probably save this for a special occasion, when we just want to stay and relax at the resort because it is pretty far north to explore the rest of the island.

Where to Stay in Maui for Affordable Beachfront Accommodations: Kihei

• Airport: 20-25 minute drive
• Beach access: walkable. Most condos are beachfront or across the street from the beach.
• Restaurants: many restaurants within walking distance
• Groceries: Foodland, Safeway, Times Supermarket
• Best for: baby, toddler, preschooler, older kids
• Accommodation style: mostly condos
• Vibe: laid back and more local
• Downside: less resort amenities

If you’re looking for a condo or hotel that is right on the beach but won’t blow the budget, then Kihei is where to stay in Maui with kids for some relatively reasonably priced options. I say “relatively” because we’re still talking Hawaii prices here. But for a beachfront property, the options in Kihei can be more reasonably priced than other areas of the island. Kihei is also very centrally located, so it’s a shorter drive to the airport and all areas of the island for sightseeing. There are miles of beautiful beach in Kihei and so many delicious local restaurants. Many of the restaurants we loved from other parts of the islands now have a location in Kihei. This area feels more low-key. So if you’re looking for beachfront without the posh resort vibes, then Kihei is ideal.

Kihei is best if:

• You want a more casual, laid-back atmosphere
• You want lots of condo and vacation rental options
• You want easy access to beaches, restaurants, and groceries
• You want a convenient location for exploring different parts of Maui

Maybe skip Kihei if:

• You want a full-service resort experience
• You want to walk out of your hotel into an upscale resort area
• You prefer a quieter, more secluded beach vacation

We never stayed in Kihei, but we always consider it first because of the central location and because there are usually more affordable options. We initially considered staying in Kihei both times we visited, but were lucky to find a good deal in Wailea and Napili Bay instead. These were the places we considered in Kihei.

Maui Coast Hotel

• Why we considered it: across the street from a good beach, walkable to many restaurants
• What to know: no kitchenettes

The Maui Coast Hotel is located just across the street from Kam I beach so there are some rooms with amazing ocean views. The hotel has a couple pools, including a kids’ pool. It’s right in Kihei, which makes eating out very convenient. These are traditional hotel rooms, so won’t have kitchenettes like the other recommended condos below.

The Hale Pau Hana

• Why we considered it: direct beachfront access to a kid-friendly beach, walkable to many restaurants
• What to know: each unit is individually owned so need to look at furnishing and condition of each condo

The Hale Pau Hana condos are where I would stay to be right on the beach in Kihei. The condos are right on Kam II beach, so the beachfront views from the lanais are amazing. The condos have direct beachfront access, which is so helpful when traveling with little ones. They have one, two, and three bedroom units so enough variety for families of all sizes. There is a small beachfront pool, but not very many other resort-type amenities.

Kihei Sands Beachfront Condos

• Why we considered it: closer to other areas of Maui, less busy beach
• What to know: less walkable, need to drive to restaurants

The Kihei Sands Beachfront Condos are located in the northern end of Kihei, near Sugar Beach. This is a smaller condo community, so it does not have a lot of amenities, though it does have a kid-friendly pool. Since it’s in north Kihei, the area is a little less busy than the other resorts right in Kihei. However, this is a very central location for exploring the rest of the island.

Where to Stay in Maui for Family-Friendly Beachfront Resorts: Ka’anapali

• Airport: 45 minute to 1 hour drive
• Beach access: walkable. Resorts have direct beachfront access.
• Restaurants: many restaurants nearby
• Groceries: ABC Stores, Safeway, Times Supermarket
• Best for: baby, toddler, preschooler, older kids
• Accommodation style: resorts
• Vibe: lively resorts
• Downside: crowded

Sometimes the easiest trip with kids is one where everyone just stays in a resort so you don’t have to leave the hotel at all. If that’s what you’re looking for, then Ka’anapali is where to stay in Maui with kids with family-friendly resorts that have all the perks. Our kiddo isn’t big enough to safely enjoy the pools and slides by himself yet. But for older kids, the waterslides and kids’ pools in these resorts would be ideal for keeping everyone entertained (and giving parents a break). Honestly, we are not completely sold yet on the idea of resorts since our kiddo isn’t big enough to enjoy the amenities on his own. But friends who have older kids love that their kids can be a bit more independent in resorts. Especially when the resorts have kids clubs!

We considered these resorts at the recommendations of our friends. Our friends have visited with kids of all ages, but they tend to like just staying at the resort and enjoying the pool. Since we prefer going to the beach or exploring the rest of the island, we still haven’t tried staying at a resort because we don’t know if we would use the resort amenities enough to justify the extra resort fees.

Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort

• Why we considered it: more affordable
• What to know: less resort amenities, no kitchenettes

The Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort is a beachfront resort right on Ka’anapali beach. It is relatively more affordable for this area, but mostly because it does not have many of the extra resort amenities like kids clubs or waterslides. These are standard hotel rooms, so don’t have kitchenettes.

Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali

• Why we considered it: direct beach access, kids club, pools, walking distance to Whalers Village
• What to know: more crowded, more expensive

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali sits on the widest part of Ka’anapali beach, right next to Whalers Village. This gives you direct beach access and walkable access to shops and restaurants. Not having to drive everywhere has its perks when traveling with kids! It has all the amenities you would expect from a big resort, including beach access, kids clubs, and pools with waterslides so older kids will have plenty to keep them entertained. The resort fee also includes many cultural activities, so you can get more bang for your buck. This resort definitely feels like a resort, so be mentally prepared for more crowds and excitement.

Honua Kai

• Why we considered it: had a variety of condo sizes, recommended by many families
• What to know: each unit is individually owned, so need to research conditions and furnishings

The Honua Kai is a vacation rental complex with one, two, and three bedroom suites, so it’s popular with families. The resort also has waterslides and pools, so there are plenty of amenities for older kids. Each unit is privately owned, so the furnishings and quality are different. I would definitely read the reviews for the specific unit before booking.

What We Looked For When Choosing Where to Stay

1. Walkable beach access

Because it’s our vacation too and we did not want to spend it fighting with our kid about getting strapped into a carseat. Or wasting time driving to the beach just to not be able to find parking.

2. Beach with calm water

Not every beautiful beach in Maui works for kids. To have a truly relaxing beach vacation, we looked for accommodations near a beach with calm water so that our kid could play more safely.

3. Kitchen or kitchenette

Eating out in Maui can get expensive. And besides that, eating out in restaurants with babies and toddlers can be more stressful than relaxing. Having a kitchen gave us the flexibility to cook or prepare simple breakfasts and lunches, which helped us save money and our sanity.

4. Space

Our kid was still napping when we visited Maui. So it was helpful to have accommodations with a separate bedroom and living area so we didn’t have to sit quietly in the dark during naps or early bedtimes to avoid waking our kid.

5. Pool

On our second visit to Maui, our kid was just starting to discover the joys of splashing around in a pool. Having a small pool on site was an easy way to let him splash around for a bit without the sandy clean up from the beach.

6. Location

On our first trip to Maui with our toddler, he was too young for a lot of activities so we were mainly going to the beach every day. Staying in Napili was ideal for this because the beach was beautiful, calm, and easily accessible from our accommodations. And since we were not doing any other activities, it didn’t matter that Napili was a little further from the rest of the island. However, on our second trip, we wanted to stay somewhere a bit more central to avoid longer drives when exploring the rest of the island. Wailea was the perfect combination of beautiful calm beaches at our doorstep, and short drives to the rest of the island.

So, Where to Stay in Maui with Kids?

The answer is…it depends! Every family is different, and every family is looking for something different on their Maui vacation.

• Choose Wailea if you want beautiful calm beaches, in a central location with an upscale resort vibe.
• Choose Kihei if you’re looking for more affordable beachfront condos close to restaurants with a more local feel.
• Choose Napili if you’re planning on spending most of your time on the beach.
• Choose Ka’anapali if you want large resorts with all the amenities and plan on staying within the resort.

For our family, staying near a kid-friendly beach in a central location is the sweet spot for how we like to spend time on Maui.

Now that your rooms are booked, don’t forget to bookmark our favorite toddler-friendly things to do in Maui for a stress-free trip!