Fairmont Kea Lani

Character and identity

Set above Polo Beach on Maui's Wailea coast, this 450-key resort is the only property in Hawaii built exclusively from one-bedroom suites and multi-story villas. The look is bright and coastal, with whitewashed architecture stepping down toward the Pacific. A lagoon-style pool complex anchors the family side of the resort (waterfalls, a slide, hidden hot tubs, a kids' wading area), while a separate adults-only pool keeps things calm. Dining runs across four outlets: AMA Bar & Grill poolside, Nick's Fishmarket for seafood, the Hawaiian-focused Ko, and Pilina, a lobby lounge and sushi bar. Hale Kukuna, the on-site cultural center, runs lei making and ukulele classes.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the all-suite, all-villa room product, a rarity in Hawaii that genuinely changes how a family or a couple uses the resort. Book a villa if you want the plunge pool and kitchen; a standard one-bedroom suite is plenty for two. Worth pairing with shoulder-season rates when Wailea quiets down.