Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Character and identity

Set along Mokapu Beach in Wailea, this 300-room beachfront resort opened in 2013 after a $90 million Rockwell Group transformation of the former Renaissance, introducing a modern Hawaiian beach house aesthetic with neutral palettes and wood that cede the foreground to the Pacific. Four tiered infinity pools cascade toward the ocean, anchoring a property that also includes the Awili Spa and Salon, an adults-only pool with submerged loungers, and dining that runs from Kaana Kitchen's open-kitchen chef's table to Morimoto Maui, where the ishiyaki buri bop is finished tableside. Service is laid-back rather than formal.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pull here is the pool-and-villa combination: four oceanfront infinity tiers above Mokapu Beach paired with villa accommodation flexible enough for honeymooners or three generations under one roof. Families and groups should book a multi-bedroom villa for the kitchens, hot tubs and indoor-outdoor space; couples can size down to a lanai room and lean on the adults-only pool, Kaana Kitchen and a Morimoto splurge.