Maui Just Got Better

Maui Just Got Better, Wailea Resort, Marin Magazine

As more resorts with playground pools started popping up around the island, Grand Wailea, which held the distinction of BEST POOL EVER (on Maui) for years, has just upped their game with a major multimillion-dollar pool renovation. The refresh consists of the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool enhancements including pools, upper pools, Baby Beach, rapids and Tarzan Swing, and the installation of the Lava Tube slide—a three-story, 14-second thrill ride. In my experience the uncontrollable screaming starts about ten seconds in and lasts until you splash into the pool at the bottom. I didn’t expect to move sooo fast! What a rush!

After triple testing all of the slides, my 16-year old daughter Natalie and her friend, Ali gave the entire resort a big thumbs ups. Despite being there at high season with the resort sold out, we found our chairs in the shade every day, rarely came upon a line for the slides, or towels, and made a game out of dodging floating families as we ran the lazy river (backwards to burn more calories).

Besides the pools, the expansive Wailea Beach is shared by the Four Seasons Maui and the Wailea Beach Resort. Signing on for an outrigger tour will offer great views from the water and almost guaranteed turtle and depending on the season, whale viewing. Guests can also enjoy scuba diving lessons, stand-up paddle boards, boogie boards and snorkel gear.

We stayed on property for meals, highlights include a magical dinner at the award-winning, Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a and the breakfast, smoked salmon flatbread, with avocado at Café Kula, lasted us through lunch.

Heading over soon? Check out the Ready Set Spring special and receive $400 in resort credit when you stay four nights or more April 13–June 30.

Photos provided by Grand Wailea


Mimi Towle

Mimi Towle has been the editor of Marin Magazine for over a decade. She lived with her family in Sycamore Park and Strawberry and thoroughly enjoyed raising two daughters in the mayhem of Marin’s youth sports; soccer, swim, volleyball, ballet, hip hop, gymnastics and many many hours spent at Miwok Stables. Her community involvements include volunteering at her daughter’s schools, coaching soccer and volleyball (glorified snack mom), being on the board of both Richardson Bay Audubon Center. Currently residing on a floating home in Sausalito, she enjoys all water activity, including learning how to steer a 6-person canoe for the Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club. Born and raised in Hawaii, her fondness for the islands has on occasion made its way into the pages of the magazine.