Royal Lahaina Resort

Royal Lahaina Resort Review

Built in 1962 as the first hotel in the Kaanapali Resort, this grand property toward the northern end of Kaanapali has hosted millionaires and Hollywood stars; major room upgrades in the 12-story Lahaina Kai Tower include dark teak furnishings set against light-color walls, plush beds with Egyptian cotton linens, sound systems with an iPod and MP3 docking station, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. The resort's quaint plantation-style cottages are scheduled to be replaced with luxury villas, but construction plans are on hold. So for now you can still stay in one of the 27 cottages that have been updated with new bedding, furnishings, and amenities. Another option at the resort is the Kaanapali Ocean Inn, where you can stay for less money and a little less comfort (it's a three-story building with no elevator), but enjoy the services and amenities of the resort. To experience the spirit of the hotel's early days, head to the poolside Don the Beachcomber bar, billed as "the Home of the Original Mai Tai," where the retro-Tiki style of Hawaii's early days as a vacation paradise lives on.