Trip Report-Renaissance Wailea
 

...Oh, how we wish we were still basking in that 82 degrees and not here freezing in -2 degree temps!
One of out best trips yet... I am willing to answer any specifics, but here are some highlights...
Renaissance first, we loved this hotel. I have been fortunate enough to stay in some really lovely hotels, so I feel that I have some good comps, and we really loved it here. I would describe it as understated elegance, beautiful views, but not so upper crust that I couldn't walk through the lobby to the gift shop in my bikini and coverup. I felt very comfortable from the swimsuit to dressy on our way out to dinner. We stayed in the Mokapu Beach rooms, and we both felt it was indeed worth the extra money. I don't think we would have been as happy in main part of the hotel and that was due only to the pros of Mokapu, which include more privacy, spectacular views, and the cabanas. Our room was 281, end unit, 2nd floor (this area has only two floors), vaulted ceilings, normal sized room, nice bathroom with double sinks and deep tub. The view from the lanai was so incredible. The reason I said more privacy was because the Mokapu rooms have their own private grassy area with cabanas and it is really nicely spread out and completely overlooking the ocean, this area is right in front of the block of rooms, so if you want convenience to run back into your room, get a first floor room. If you want more privacy, and don't mind walking around the hedges to the staircase to get to your room, request the second floor. As I stated, we chose the second floor and were very happy. Between the whales, the views, the warmth, it was just heavenly. Listening to the waves all day and night, exactly what we needed. One other thing I should mention is that you also get your own private conceirge with those rooms (but really he does everything) serves cocktails, and food, ice water with lemon, fresh towels to all cabanas every morning, etc. And their breakfast buffet was complimentary to you every morning. It was delicious and the views once again are lovely, and I normally don't even eat breakfast.
The only caveat I can even come up with, and we were prepared because we read it here, the pool area is nothing to brag about. We found it fine, but it won't "wow" you. Their is also a little pool in the grassy area of the Mokapu, but again, it is very small. It was totally enough to "dip" in though to cool yourself off. But in Maui, we really like to be more by the ocean so going in we knew this would not be an issue for us, and it wasn't.
Also, although it wasn't a disappointment to us, I should state that half way through our trip they had record high waves, and the beach that we had walked on every day, completely disappeared. They said it will take a couple months for the Mother Nature to bring the sand back. This was through Wailea and Kihei. We spoke with some people that stayed in Kanapali and they said the beach there was fine. You may want to check if you have a trip soon...
All in all, if you want a lovely hotel, but on a smaller scale you will like it here. It was still a full service resort, it was just smaller than any other I had been to but that was part of the appeal for us.
Oh, one other thing, they had better than average resort lunch-time food. Ask for what the special of the day is, it was always a fresh fish (like Ono or Red Snapper) and you could have it as a sandwich or on a salad. Yummy, very fresh, tuna salad on croissants. Fresh fruit, a couple other nice salads. It was, in my opinion, way better than some of the pool food I have suffered through. Usually you get a little sick of the food, but we didn't after eight days.
Again, I am more than willing to answer any specifics... Thanks again to everyone that helped with my planning!
Aloha! Tiff

I don't mean to be rude asking the money question right off the bat, but how much for the rooms. I was doing searches on many of the Maui resorts yesterday and was a little astounded as to what people are paying for a little hotel room these days.

You are not rude, I don't mind at all. Althought I do not know the rack rate, I can tell you we paid about $300 a night for the Mokapu room but that was through a travel agent, so she had a group rate. (The reason that I don't have an exact figure is because we had car, air, and hotel in the package and I can't remember what the exact total was, because we paid for the trip six months ago, but I do remember the breakdown was around $300 a night for the hotel portion.)
I will say that there are a couple other ways you could save money. At the hotel I thought to look into the Marriott Rewards Club (no expense to join) because we are also staying at a Marriott when we are in Curacao in March. I found out that next time, by being in the Rewards Club, we can get a Mokapu room for more like $199. a night.
Also I am sure that the other rooms in the main part of the hotel would be less.

Sunset dinner at the Beach House Restaurant and Keoki's Paradise near Poipu. :S-

Tiff, thanks for the great info. about RW, please disregard errant response above, Mahalo!

The Renaissance Wailea is one of the best values on Maui. It's not as flashy as some places in Wailea, doesn't have the elaborate pools, etc, but location is great, rooms are good, service is very friendly. It's not top notch luxury, but for what they usually charge, it's a compelling value.