Wailea, meaning “the waters of Lea”, is born of a legend. The Hawaiian Goddess of Canoe Builders, named Lea, would transform into a beautiful bird of the forest, and fly over this extraordinary shoreline. This one and a half miles of remarkable beaches and outcroppings of volcanic rocks fronts the exquisite fifteen hundred acre Wailea Resort. This luxury resort community gives you a sense of privacy, despite being three times the size of Waikiki. This well planned community greets you with many exciting sights and delights.

The Shops at Wailea

Possibly the only high end shopping mall in Maui, you will not want to pass up this opportunity to find the premier and designer souvenirs you have been looking for. Besides designer labels, the Shops at Wailea will also tantalize your taste buds. Pick up a coffee from the Honolulu Coffee Company to keep up your shopping speed. Whether you are in the mood for a cheeseburger and brew or a cozy steak dinner for two, you will find what you crave here.

Water Sports

If you can squeeze in the time you will not regret a kayak or snorkeling tour. Glide over the sea life in a kayak or dive down and swim with the turtles and manta rays. Head on down to La Perouse bay early to catch the Spinner Dolphins playing off the lava rock ridden coast. There is also a hike that departs from the parking lot here, you can make it a two for one trip! 

Beaches

Of course you will want to spend some time on the beach, choosing which one or ones to enjoy may be your biggest challenge!  One of the most popular beaches is Makena beach, perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, body boarding, and surfing. For a less crowded and child friendly option, visit Keawakapu Beach, which means “forbidden harbor”. The waters here are generally calmer and more shallow. Stay long enough at Keawakapu to experience the paralleled sunsets on this beach. Ulua beach is perfect if you would like to snorkel or arrange for a scuba dive experience. Here you can also find showers and restrooms ready for you.

Wailea Coastal Walkway

A trip to Wailea isn’t complete without taking a walk along the Coastal Walkway. This coastal path walks you from the popular Keawakapu Beach in the north, past eight resorts and condos, to Polo Beach in the south. You will find public beach access to no less than five beaches along this walk. Pick your favorite and spend the day, or try them all on for size. If you come November through May, the Coastal Walk will take you up Wailea Point, perfect for some whale watching.

Golf

Wailea’s weather is perfect for your golfing adventures. Golf enthusiasts, you will take great pleasure in tackling all three of Wailea’s courses. Wailea Gold has been named one of the top 100 courses in America.

Take just a five minute drive from your luxury vacation rental to the Wailea Blue Golf Course. Sure to delight any golfer, this lush course offers breathtaking views of Maui’s dormant volcano, Mount Haleakala.

Golfers will be in heaven with Maui’s unparalleled Wailea Blue, Emerald, and Gold golf courses nearby!

Dining

There are so many options for you to choose your meals out from. It is difficult to even recommend just a few! First, you can find a good selection of eateries in The Shops at Wailea. This would be a good way to see a good variety in one area. Second, if you are after excellent seafood, you will want to visit Nick’s Fishmarket. Worth mentioning here is the Moroccan spiced salmon, mahimahi, and unique sides like wasabi mashed potatoes. To get the best breakfast buffet, you will want to head to the Four Seasons Duo. For the top rated Polynesian restaurant in Wailea, head over to Monkeypod Kitchen and grab some poke tacos. You will find every kind of food you could crave here in Wailea. 

Weather and Transportation

Wailea gives you near perfect weather year round. Average lows don’t drop below sixty degrees. Average highs peak at ninety in August and September. You will enjoy the warm, dry climate at Wailea any time of year. 

Renting a vehicle will afford you the most freedom of movement throughout the area and the island. Unfortunately, there is not a public bus system in Wailea to get you around. The end of the line is just north in Kihei. You do have access to taxi services, Uber, Lyft, and taxi as transport from the airport, as of February 1, 2019.