Kā'anapali is More than a Resort
It‘s an Intro to Hawaiian Culture
Ikaika Kinkaid was born with a canoe paddle in his hand. When he was seven years old his father Mike and uncle Jimmy founded the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association (HSCA), an integral part of the Hawaiian renaissance, the significant revival of indigenous culture. Voyaging, traveling by canoe from beach to beach, on interisland travel, and throughout Polynesia, is an integral part of local culture.
Protecting the natural world
Today, Ikaika is the Executive Director of the HSCA. “Our mission statement is to practice, revive and perpetuate the art of Hawaiian canoe sailing. We do this by organizing a sailing race from the north end of Hawai'i to the south end. We are excited to renew the race this summer.”
The Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center
Located on the second level of Kā'anapali’s Whalers Village, the Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center offers hands-on exhibits that celebrate this astounding natural world and inform visitors about steps they can take to be positive stewards of Māui and beyond.
“We have created a comfortable place where we can reach people from different angles, emotional, scientific and their senses,” she says.
What it means to be Hawaiian
Ikaika says the Hawaiian Canoe Sailing Association also has a special relationship with Kā'anapali, especially during the race section known as Wa'a Kiakahi, which typically is scheduled for early June.
On Friday race participants paddle from the other side of Māui to Kā'anapali Beach. On Saturday, visitors and members of the community are taken out in the canoes for 20-minute sails. On their voyage, they learn how to paddle and also about the cultural history and significance of the Wa'a and naturally about ahupua'a. Sunday morning the canoers push off and voyage to another island.
Events
Kā'anapali has something for everyone
We’ve all had time to contemplate what being a better visitor looks like. Attending cultural activities also benefit the local community financially. As incredible as they are, the HSCA Canoe Sailing Races are not held every year because of the expense of maintaining the canoes and transporting them to different islands. Events like the Canoe Sailing Festival in Kā'anapali aid the local canoe sailing community. Attending these events is a great way to add to your holiday.
Kā'anapali hosts many events throughout the year, including the Māui Invitational Basketball Tournament and the Māu Marathon. The fall Hawai'i Food and Wine Festival showcases chefs who share a connection with the archipelago. The chefs display the spirit of collaboration that continues to grow throughout Māui. These culinary stars are eager to share their techniques and to work together to create memorable meals for visitors.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Kā'anapali Beach Resort
Tap to explore.
Hawai'i’s natural world is also the focus of Hannah Bernard, Director of the Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center. A marine biologist, Hannah is committed to educating visitors about the fragility of the natural world they’ve traveled here to see.
“People don’t realize as beautiful and healthy as Hawai'i is, we are the endangered species capital of the world,” she says.
“We try to share with as many people as possible what this race means to us, what it means to be Hawaiian, and what we can all do to perpetuate our way of life and sustain our environment.”
The same feelings abound when we embrace the Hawaiian indigenous culture. Step into the Pacific before sunrise to participate in the Hi'u Wai Ceremony at Kā'anapali Beach Hotel, a renewal ritual that includes ocean submersion and sun salutation, and your day gains a unique aura. You learn the mythical role the ocean plays in the lives of Hawaiians and you change what you can as you visit, from wearing non-harmful sunblock to mediations on our relationship with water on the planet.
The beauty of visiting Kā'anapali is that you can integrate activities like visiting the Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center with favorite activities like snorkeling directly off the beach or strolling the boardwalk for a sunset dinner at Whalers Village. The Kā'anapali Golf Courses offer 36 holes of gorgeous views, perfectly manicured greens, and a few hours well spent.
“I see people who are actually in tears because they have been touched by their emotions in here then I know we have succeeded.”
As visitors, when we learn about Hawai‘i’s bountiful nature we greatly enhance our experience. Watching the whales in “Humpback Alley” between Māui and Lana'i, whether on a whale watching tour or from the Kā'anapali beach, with the knowledge we’ve gained from the Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center, we look at these incredible mammals differently. We know about their incredible sojourn to Alaska, that they fast when in Hawai'i, and about the pressures they face in today’s ocean.
Wherever you travel, when you immerse yourself in the local culture you elevate your entire experience. We’ve always equated Kā'anapali with the best Māui has to offer, from the beach to boardwalk to the amenities. We now have the opportunity to introduce our visit with a trip to the Hawai'i Wildlife Discovery Center, to immerse ourselves and our families in the meaning behind the surrounding environs. When you learn about that canoe on the beach or visit a Hawaiian institution, you move a little closer to ahupua'a. And that’s a very good place to be.
Kā'anapali has long been known as presenting something for everyone, whether you’re taking the family to the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa for a full-service experience, curling up with your partner at the intimate Kā'anapali Beach Hotel or planning a multigenerational reunion at the Hyatt Regency. Whether you prefer a home rental or a cottage, Kā'anapali has the perfect property.
“I co-founded the Hawai'i’s Wildlife Fund 26-years ago. The Discovery Center is a continuation of this mission.”
Ikaika estimates he’s raced the entire archipelago at least 25 times, gaining, he says, a unique perspective on ahupua'a, the Hawaiian practice of self-reliance and spiritual integration with the natural world.
Kā’anapali Alii
Kā’anapali Beach Hotel
Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
Royal Lahaina Resort
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Maui Eldorado Kā’anapali
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Situated on the oceanfront of the famed Kā'anapali Beach, this elegant resort and spa offers a spectacular range of recreation and relaxation facilities. An authentic Hawai'ian experience in a setting of tropical luxury awaits.
sheraton maui resort & spa
aston maui kaanapali villas
royal lahaina resort
maui eldorado Kā‘anapali by outrigger
aston at the whaler on Kaanapali beach
Kā‘anapali Beach hotel
the westin maui resort & spa
Kā‘anapali alii
hyatt Kā‘anapali beach
hyatt regency maui resort & spa
Whaler's Village
marriott's maui ocean club
Kā'anapali Beach Hotel
Ready for ‘Hawai'i’s Most Hawaiian Hotel’? This idyllic beach hotel infuses Hawaiian culture and tradition in everything they do. Located in the heart of Kā'anapali it’s the perfect choice for families, honeymooners, adventurers and sun seekers.
Royal Lahaina Resort
Set amidst 27 acres of tropical lawns and gardens on the most exclusive stretch of Kā'anapali Beach, this truly unique resort is dedicated to five-star service and evokes a timeless, simple and subtle elegance.
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Found at the legendary Puu Kekaa on Kā'anapali Beach the Sheraton is completewith breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and invites travelers to make lasting memories while experiencing all adventures Maui has to offer.
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
The newly transformed beachfront resort, complete with the 217-room luxury Hōkūpa'a Tower centrepiece, offers guests an incomparable experience rooted in nurturing wellness, the sharing of Native Hawaiian wisdom and a real-world immersion into nature.
Hyatt Kā'anapali Beach
Time to get lost in your piece of paradise! With unparalleled panoramic views, the resort puts you close enough to hear the waves from your villa while enjoying the gentle breezes rolling off the surf.
Aston Maui Kā'anapali Villas
Fresh from a multi-million dollar upgrade to the lobby, pool areas and meeting space, these villas may be Kā'anapali’s finest beachfront setting – resting amid 11 acres of exotic tropical gardens.
Maui Eldorado Kā'anapali
Featuring the only private beach club in the Kā'anapali Resort area, this is a luxury experience Maui-style. The individually designed condos are oozing with comfort, filled with space and offer spectacular views.
Kā'anapali Alii
These luxury beachfront condo rentals are just right for couples and active families. The lavish space, privacy, and comforting sense of home has universal appeal and is simply unmatched by upscale hotel rooms.
Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
Food enthusiasts will love this sparkling gem! Guests can indulge in a wide variety of contemporary island flavors and experience what Maui dining was meant to be, open-air seating with the ocean shimmering before you.
Aston at The Whaler on Kā'anapali Beach
If you’re looking for a tranquil oasis close to Whalers Village but still in the heart of Kā'anapali Beach, this resort that exudes leisure and relaxation could be just the one for you.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Kā’anapali Alii
Kā’anapali Beach Hotel
Royal Lahaina Resort
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
Maui Eldorado Kā’anapali
Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
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The Kā‘anapali Golf Courses are culinary central for this annual event that has featured more than 150 internationally renowned master chefs, as well as winemakers and mixologists.
October 21-23
Learn more
Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival
30
31
The Kā'anapali Golf Courses are culinary central for this annual event that has featured more than 150 internationally renowned master chefs, as well as winemakers and mixologists.
October 21-23
Learn more
Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational provides an early look at some of the best NCAA basketball teams in the nation, all in one place.
November 21 - 23
Learn more
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational
The Hula O Nā Keiki celebrates 30 years of Keiki Hula as children learn hula and, as importantly, learn about the culture of their ancestors. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel hosts the weekend-long festivities.
November 10 -12
Learn more
Hula O Nā Keiki
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational provides an early look at some of the best NCAA basketball teams in the nation, all in one place.
November 21 - 23
Learn more
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational
The Hula O Nā Keiki celebrates 30 years of Keiki Hula as children learn hula and, as importantly, learn about the culture of their ancestors. Kā'anapali Beach Hotel hosts the weekend-long festivities.
November 10 -12
Learn more
Hula O Nā Keiki
Hyatt Kā’anapali Beach
Hyatt Kā’anapali Beach
aston maui kaanapali villas
aston maui kaanapali villas
aston at the whaler on Kaanapali beach
aston at the whaler on Kaanapali beach
Kā'anapali Beach hotel
royal lahaina resort
sheraton maui resort & spa
the westin maui resort & spa
hyatt Kā'anapali beach
aston maui kā'anapali villas
maui eldorado Kā'anapali by outrigger
Kā'anapali alii
marriott's maui ocean club
aston at the whaler on Kā'anapali beach
hyatt regency maui resort & spa
Whaler's Village
Located beachside in the heart of Kā'anapali this retail center offers a truly unique shopping experience. Upon entering visitors are met with a vibrant mix of clothing outlets alongside dining, cultural and entertainment destinations.
Whaler's Village
