The last time we went to Maui, we stayed in Kaanapali. This trip, we're considering Wailea.

Is there a little town there, like the Kaanapali/Laihaina area?

What kind of restaurants and activities are a short drive away from the Kea Lani?

You will be pretty far from the town of Lahaina - the drive is about 20-30 min.
However there is a very upscale outdoor
mall in Wailea. Very good shops - but not very Hawaiian. In the mall are several good restaurants. I highly recommend the Tommy Bahama restaurant for a good and fun dinner with a nice
view. You can also visit the 2-3 other
big hotels right there in a row. They
all have nice shops and places for dinner.

There is no town in Wailea like in Kaanapala / Lahaina. There s very little to do right in Wailea.

In Wailea-
Stay at a beautiful, expensive resort.
Lounge by the pool at said resort.
Go to the beach in front of said resort.
Eat expensive food at said resort and surrounding resorts.
The end.

by the way, I love Wailea! It's great for a relaxing luxurious vacation! But, it's true that other than the above, there isn't much to do.

All of the best beaches are in Wailea! Sure you are away from the "city" but there are plenty of restaurants etc. I can't say it enough, the best beaches are in Wailea.
I'd stay there!

We spent 2 weeks in Wailea this past June and loved it. However, we are "middle-aged" and don't do nightlife. There isn't any in that area. The closest town is Kihei, about a 5 min. drive and they have supermarkets, etc. there plus lots of restaurants. Many excellent restaurants in Wailea too and the beaches are gorgeous. Lahaina is about a 45 min.+ drive. We went a couple of times. Wherever you wound up, go see Warren and Annabelle. Except for the ghost playing the piano in the parlor prior to the show, we loved it. It's hysterically funny and great magic tricks. Wailea is definitely quieter and, IMHO, more luxurious than Kaanapali but not the place to be if you want bars and nightlife.

Thaks for all of the helpful responses.

We're staying at the Kea Lani. We definitely don't need a big, party town, but we would like SOMETHING to do at night.

Just like a restaurant with a bar that has a view of the ocean. (??) Or the hotel bar with some wonderful hawaiian music.

Anything like that?

There are lots of oceanview restaurants in Wailea/Kihei, some of which are right on the ocean. Many of the hotel lounges have a piano bar or some kind of entertainment. We stayed next door to the KL in a condo at the Polo Beach Club (loved it!) and heard some outside entertainment from the hotel. You should be fine. Just make sure you don't get a room in the far end (south end?) of the hotel. There is a subdivision going in across the side street. It will not bother you from other areas of the hotel.

GOLF! Wonderful courses with great ocean views in this area. Also, we love the food and views from the restaurant at the club house at the Wailea golf course. It's a great place to go even if you're not golfing.

Samantha,

I must concur with Jackie -- Do the Warren and Annabel Dinner theater in LaHaina (just off main road on north end of city.

The question was "What is there to do in Wailea"?

Warren and Annabelle is in Lahaina, a 45 minute drive form Wailea.