Hotel Review: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Editor’s note: The writer visited this property pre-pandemic. Please check in with Andaz Maui for specific pandemic-related changes.

In Hindi, the word “andaz” means “personal style.” That’s a fitting description for the approach to hospitality taken by Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.

The 301-room southwest Maui property customizes each client’s stay with one-on-one attention, then enhances it with experiences that spotlight the hotel’s surroundings.

As it emphasizes personal connections and Hawaii’s singular culture, Andaz Maui presents a compelling option for clients craving time with loved ones in a soothing destination.

Celebrating Each Guest
From the get-go, Andaz Maui acknowledges that every traveler is unique. Newcomers check in while seated in comfy chairs and sipping lemonade, rather than at a formal front desk.

“We want the arrival experience to feel like we’re inviting guests into our home,” said Andrew Sutrisno, Andaz Wailea’s marketing manager.

Underscoring that sentiment is the design of the open-air lobby, with couches where people can relax throughout their visit. One of the lobby’s focal points is a large, whimsical sandbox, setting the tone for a beach vacation.

Equally personalized is the range of accommodations, from standard rooms featuring modern wood furnishings to suites — some of which have private pools right off their lanais. Rooms make life easy with amenities including pushbutton controls for lights and blackout shades, plus complimentary minibars with local snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

Then there are the hotel’s top-of-the-line digs: two-, three- and four-bedroom villas with full kitchens, making them perfect for multigenerational travelers. Each villa feels like a high-end beach house — perks include a lanai with a plunge pool or a hot tub — while providing all the expected resort services.

In response to demand, Andaz Maui is building 19 new villas, according to Sutrisno. They were scheduled for a March 2021 debut, but travel advisors should ask the hotel for an update.

Personal Beach, Luau and Spa
Around the resort, clients find plenty of opportunities to be themselves. Across the sprawling oceanfront lawn, guests unwind beneath swaying palms, play frisbee and frolic with their kids. Four cascading infinity pools, designed in tiers, ensure that the sunbathing and swimming experience feels anything but crowded.

Just steps from the hotel awaits the beach, offering an aura of privacy thanks to its physical separation from the rest of Wailea’s beaches. Congenial staffers stand ready with ocean toys such as snorkel gear and boogie boards. Bordering the property is a seaside walkway that extends the three-mile length of Wailea resort.

At sunset on certain evenings, the lawn transforms into an intimate setting for Andaz Maui’s luau, distinctive in part because it is limited to 150 people.

“Our luau feels like a party of friends and family,” Sutrisno said.

Attendees sit at tables of 10 people, inviting conversation. Unlike traditional luau buffets, meals are plated and drinks are made to order.

Similarly, client preferences are honored at the resort’s Awili Spa. In a process reminiscent of an apothecary, employees help guests blend their choice of oils and scents to be used during their body treatments. Afterward, clients get a sample of their personal potion to take home.

Sustainability and a Sense of Place
Andaz Maui opened in 2013 on the site of a former Renaissance hotel. During construction, 80% of the original structure was renovated, said Sutrisno.

“We like to say we ‘upcycled’ the property,” Sutrisno said. “The villas were built new, but everything else was refurbished.”

Among its many eco-friendly touches are solar panels around the property, reusable water bottles in the guestrooms and paper straws in the restaurants and bars.

We try to appeal to the expectations of self-aware travelers. We’re all about options here.

“We don't want to take anything away from the environment. Instead, we want to contribute to it,” said Sutrisno. “We’re being luxurious without being wasteful.”

Likewise, the hotel’s restaurants put Maui front and center by focusing on area ingredients. At Kaana Kitchen, for instance, one employee’s sole job is to press juices from island fruits and vegetables. Its other food-and-beverage spots — Morimoto Maui, Bumbye Beach Bar and Lehua Lounge — also champion local products.

As Andaz Maui diligently supports the community, it links guests to island culture. The hotel’s retail shops showcase creations by local vendors. Mokapu Market, its 24-hour cafe and carry-out, specializes in food and souvenirs from regional producers; and its Welzie Gallery is filled with playful paintings and sculptures by a Hawaii-born artist.

"For the most part, our guests aren't first-timers to Hawaii, so they want a more immersive experience, a deeper connection to the destination,” Sutrisno said. “We try to appeal to the expectations of self-aware travelers. We’re all about options here.”

The Details
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
www.hyatt.com