Review: The Fairmont Kea Lani's Transformative Room Renovation

We turned around in our outrigger canoe and faced our resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani, in all its oceanfront glory.

"It’s such an interesting building,” said one of my canoe mates, an older gentleman who had visited Wailea, Maui, many times in his life. “The other properties just cannot compare.”

With its high pedigree of neighbors — from the Four Seasons to Andaz — those were fighting words, but it was easy to see his point as our group bobbed along the coastline, our Hawaiian guides teaching us the art of plying the waters like their ancestors, and even letting us out for a refreshing swim, where I got to hold a red slate pencil urchin and poke at a small octopus.

Cultural integrity is a hallmark at the Fairmont Kea Lani, and that extends from its morning canoe experiences (offered complimentary from Monday to Friday) to its brand-new room renovation, which officially wrapped on Jan. 6 for an undisclosed amount.

The property opened in December 1991, but its architect, Jose Luis Ezquerra, started conceptualizing the resort’s look and feel in 1986. Drawing inspiration from his expertise in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern art, as well as the influence of the grand Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the neoclassical Iolani Palace, the resulting resort building — with its swooping exterior arches, pop-out lanais and palatial scale — feels timeless in its originality and Hawaiian roots. 

The design is quite literally baked into the hotel’s DNA: “Kea lani” means “heavenly whiteness,” an ode to the property’s all-white facade.

What to Know About Fairmont’s Distinct Guestrooms

While its architecture helps differentiate the resort from its luxury brethren in this posh pocket of southern Maui, it is the guestrooms that have served as the biggest selling point (literally). 

This project is invaluable to our resort in that it is much more than a physical renovation — rather a full transformation, down to the roots and deep into the soul of this place.

The island’s only all-suite and villa property, Fairmont Kea Lani is the place for space. The resort’s 413 suites start at a minimum of 860 square feet and can easily sleep four, which is all I needed to hear before booking my family’s winter trip to Maui. (There are also 37 two- and three-bedroom villas — reaching up to 2,200 square feet — which offer the conveniences of a resort with the amenities of a private home, from a full kitchen to an outdoor terrace complete with a plunge pool and grill.)  

Because the Fairmont knows how important its rooms are to its guests, it embarked on phase one of its Ho’omaka Hou (A New Beginning) Transformation in March 2022. Guests will be very pleased with the new look of the rooms, which feel modern, breezy, spacious and distinctly Hawaiian. 

The latter was not by accident.

According to Michael Pye, general manager of Fairmont Kea Lani and regional vice president of Fairmont Hawaii, the resort consulted with numerous kupuna (honored elders), kumu (teachers) and Hawaiian cultural consultants, as well as resort colleagues and the local community when ideating the room design.

"This project is invaluable to our resort in that it is much more than a physical renovation — rather a full transformation, down to the roots and deep into the soul of this place,” Pye said. 

Everything You Need to Know About the Renovated Rooms

One of the first things that struck me about our one-bedroom Deluxe Ocean View Suite was how the room layout helps enhance the already impressive square footage. First, there’s the entrance alcove that houses the bar area (with a microwave and mini refrigerator) and sets the tone with black-and-white wallpaper featuring an inky leaf-like motif, a funky polka-dotted black lamp and an arch that beautifully frames the living room area and helps distinguish the spaces. This is also a great nook to place a crib if a family member is sleeping in the living room.

The living room features dark wood paneling on one wall — which houses the flat-screen television — and a greige sofa, which pulls out into a bed. Above the oversize sofa is a large black-and-white artwork inspired by the storytelling symbols made with traditional bamboo stamps (called ohe kapala), which decorate pieces of kapa (Hawaiian paper mulberry) and are still used for clothing and wrappings throughout Hawaii. 

For touches of tropical levity, there are bright pink-and-blue floral accent pillows and a light blue rug that — along with several accent pieces — conjures the ocean. A small, marble-topped table is flanked by two camel-colored leather chairs and contrasts a beachy coffee table. 

We continue to draw inspiration from ancient Hawaiian crafts, traditions, history and ceremony, letting those inherent cultural roots provide the foundation upon which we build.

A woven light fixture resembles the Hawaiian hinai, a basket fish trap that helped ancient Hawaiians catch fish and that pays homage to the ahupuaa (subdivision of land) of Palauea, the area upon which Fairmont Kea Lani resides, known for its bountiful fishing grounds.

“Through the transformation, we hope to evoke stories of the resort’s location,” Pye said. “We continue to draw inspiration from ancient Hawaiian crafts, traditions, history and ceremony, letting those inherent cultural roots provide the foundation upon which we build.”  

RELATED: New Hawaii Cultural Activities to Recommend at Fairmont Orchid and Fairmont Kea Lani

This homage to Hawaii is perfectly completed by the curation of design elements and the attention to comfort, which extends into the bedroom. Connected to the living room, the bedroom can be closed off with pocket doors, offering yet another distinct space for relaxation.

While the king bed is so comfortable that you’ll wake up in the same position you fell asleep in, I did have to sit up and study the carefully constructed headboard, which extends the length of the entire back wall and serves as the backdrop for both the bed and the nightstands.

The first layer is made of cream-colored leather — embedded with a bronze reading light and a charging station — while the next layer up is a dark wood panel featuring a tropical pattern of carved leaves. This pop of texture is topped by a woven tapestry of black, white and gold that synthesizes the room’s color palette and adds even more materials to the mix.

Nightstands flank the bed and feature bronze handles, while the black wooden drawers are softened by cane webbing. Oversize blue-and-white ceramic lamps provide a cooling effect and remind guests of the water visible from their lanai. 

The furnished lanai hugs the entire length of the room and can be accessed from either the living room or the bedroom — a huge perk for families who do not want to interrupt a sleeping child. 

From the lanai, our family had an excellent view of the kids’ and lagoon pools (and waterslide) that we got to know intimately during our stay, as well as Polo Beach, the resort’s seemingly private beach, flanked by walls of lava rock on both sides.

The large bathroom can be accessed from either the bedroom or the entrance alcove, and features a walk-in shower, a tub with an accent wall of light blue tile and an oversize vanity made of dark wood.

Phase Two of the Renovation

Phase two of the renovation will begin in the summer of 2023 and will renovate Fairmont Kea Lani’s lobby. Expect a new and improved arrival experience, the creation of an interactive Hawaiian Cultural Center and the addition of a food and beverage outlet by executive chef Michael Lofaro. According to the resort, the new eatery promises to “execute an innovative culinary concept that blends ancient and modern Hawaii, all paired with expansive ocean views.” 

Other Reasons Fairmont Kea Lani Excels for Families

While rooms are important to traveling families, they are not the only consideration. Here are other standout features for families: 

- Families will be happy to hear that keiki (kids) under 5 dine free with a paying adult at all eateries, including poolside. This includes kid staples, as well as freshly caught fish. (Don’t miss the breakfast buffet at Kea Lani Restaurant or Ko Restaurant’s pan-Asian dinner entrees.)

- Makana Market + Cafe is great for busy mornings with its grab-and-go eats and espresso bar. My daughter also approved of its stuffed animal and kids’ book collections.

- Kid-friendly activities include the daily torch-lighting ceremony and koi fish feeding, the Magic Mystery Show (offered from Thursday to Tuesday), hula and ukulele lessons and the Keiki Ninja Zone obstacle course. Check the activities schedule for the latest offerings.

- There are two lagoon-style pools with enough loungers for everyone (no need to come early). There is a waterslide, a swim-up bar and a shallow kids’ pool.

- For complete ease during pool time, rent a cabana, which includes snacks, drinks and towel service. It’s worth noting that unlike other family-oriented resorts, the vibe here feels peaceful.

- The concierge is easily accessible via text, making setting up reservations and inquiring about daily activities easy. The concierge can also arrange babysitting services.

- The property offers in-room cribs and kids’ bathroom amenities and makes check-in special with Hawaii-themed coloring books. 

- Parents can easily rejuvenate at the adults-only pool, fitness classes and the wonderful Willow Stream Spa, where thoughtful therapists target problem areas with care.