Hana-Maui Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel [In-depth Review]

As the old adage goes, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey along the way.” That’s what most people expect from the famed Road to Hana highway on Maui, anyhow. This 65-mile stretch twists and turns along the eastern coast of the island as travelers stop for waterfalls, hikes, and of course, banana bread.

Nicknamed the “Road to Divorce,” the drive isn’t for the faint of heart … or those prone to carsickness. Speed limits mostly tap out at 15 miles per hour as you hang cliffside, and you’d better rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle to endure the bumps along the shoulder-less roads.

Most people don’t drive the entire highway, as you’ll have to turn back at a certain point, effectively doubling your total journey. But if you do make it all the way to the end, you’ll reach the very small town of Hana. With a population of around 750 people, you’ll find a post office and a single gas station (that doubles as a supermarket). In that same small town, you’ll also find the gorgeous, Hyatt-owned Hana-Maui Resort.

After a long, weary day of driving, you can break up your travels nicely with a few nights at the resort and explore some gems you may have missed on your drive. And suddenly, it becomes about the destination and the journey.

Here’s what it’s like to stay at this intimate property, and why you’ll want to add the Hana-Maui Resort to your travel shortlist.

Hotel Location

The Hana-Maui Resort is located roughly 17 miles, or about an hour’s drive, before the official end of the Road to Hana. While there aren’t any commercial air services to Hana Airport (HNM), you can fly regional Mokulele Airlines from Maui’s larger Kahului Airport (OGG). It’s only a 10-minute drive from there, and the hotel even offers a free airport shuttle to and from Hana Airport.

Of course, most people will visit the Hana-Maui Resort with the intention of driving the Road to Hana. If you were to drive from Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) to Hana-Maui Resort with no rest stops (which would be a nearly impossible feat), it would take you just over 2 hours.

As the only resort in the town of Hana, the property exudes a vibe of remoteness off the bat. It’s important to know that this is not a beachfront property, so this isn’t the kind of vacation where you’ll get refills of mai tais as you bake away in the sun. Instead, Hana-Maui Resort offers its own sense of peace and calamity that you’ll feel once you step on its well-kept grounds.

The property, sprawled over 100 acres of land, is integrated into the main town of Hana. You’ll find the hotel’s main restaurant, Hana Ranch Restaurant, in the same center as the town’s post office and other small businesses.

Furthermore, there are 2 food truck spots within walking distance. You can find everything from açaí bowls to poke bowls to Thai cuisine as the food trucks draw in locals and tourists along their Road to Hana journey and hotel guests at all hours of the day.

Finally, there are many incredible spots to explore as a hotel guest. For example, there’s a hidden red sand beach a short hike from the hotel, but you might want to bring close-toed shoes.

The black sand Honokalani Beach requires advance reservations, but it’s only 10 minutes from the hotel.

Booking

Many of Hyatt’s properties in Hawaii, such as the Hyatt Regency Maui or the Grand Hyatt Kauai, get lots of love (and rightfully so). In fact, they’re so popular that it can be hard to find award availability for either property unless you book many months in advance. With the Hana-Maui Resort, however, you may have better luck on points like I did.

As to be expected, cash rates are exceedingly high at this property. Rather than spending $900 per night, I found award space at the rate of 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night for my late March stay. I topped up my balance by transferring a mix of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to my World of Hyatt account.

Taking things a step further, I asked my close friend who happens to be a top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist with the World of Hyatt program to make a Guest of Honor booking for me. This allowed me to reap the Globalist benefits during my stay, including a room upgrade, 4 p.m. late checkout (both depending on availability), and free breakfast for 2. If you’ve got a friend or family who’s generous enough to use this perk, be sure to thank them with heaps of butter mochi.

In all seriousness, Globalist benefits can help elevate a great hotel stay to an amazing one. In the case of the Hana-Maui Resort, I got upgraded from a garden view room to a beach bungalow, which not only afforded us more space, but killer oceanfront views.

Hot Tip:

If I had paid for my stay rather than using points, I would’ve used my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Bilt Mastercard to earn 2x points per $1 spent on travel, including Hyatt bookings.

Checking In

Our flight from Honolulu landed in Maui early in the morning, so that meant my friend and I hit the ground running to start our day. We rented a yellow hybrid Jeep from Alamo, which helped us save immensely on gas, and drove with the top down on our way to Hana.

It took us about 5 hours to get to the Hana-Maui Resort with all of the stops along the way. Finally, we pulled into the main roundabout to get checked in.

The indoor-outdoor lobby was right in front of the hotel, and we were immediately greeted with traditional kukui nut leis and a refreshing sip of Hawaiian POG juice, which is a blend of passion fruit, orange, and guava.

The front desk agent warmly thanked me for my loyalty to Hyatt. Then, she let us know that we had been upgraded to a suite, which was an oceanfront bungalow on the far side of the property.

We would soon find out that this would be a huge upgrade compared to the standard garden view room we had booked, which I would have been more than happy to stay in.

However, the garden rooms are on the same side of the resort as the lobby and gym, while with our upgraded room, we had to cross the road (and scan our key at the gate) to cross into the beach bungalow side and main pool. The bungalows offer a private cabin-like feel and cost nearly $300 more per night than the garden rooms.

We not only received a major room upgrade, but the front desk agent handed me a welcome letter, along with a $15 credit for the on-site market and a list of resort activities available during my stay.

Our room was ready 1 hour early, so we conveniently moved our car to the parking lot across the street to be close to our room. Another employee followed us in a golf cart and helped us unload our belongings before personally showing us around the property and to our bungalow.

Amenities

Don’t let the number of rooms fool you. Despite having just 74 rooms and suites, the resort is fairly big. There are plenty of amenities for guests to enjoy, including yoga in the morning, lei-making classes, and complimentary cruiser bikes for exploring Hana Town.

Needless to say, you’ll also want to carve out time to explore Maui’s natural beauty on your own, so you may not even have time to take full use of the hotel’s amenities.

Resort Fee

There’s a resort fee of $45 per room, per night. You’ll get access to resort facilities such as the fitness center and the tennis/pickleball courts (which should be included anyway). Some of the more value-added perks to note are the resort bikes, an airport shuttle should you fly into Hana Airport, as well as a shuttle to the nearby Hamoa Beach.

Yet another incentive to burn those World of Hyatt points? When you redeem points for a stay, resort fees are eliminated.

Parking

Self-parking is free — well, included in the resort fee. Do note, however, that the parking lot is across the street from the main entrance and lobby, but you’re welcome to park temporarily out front while you’re checking in.

Wi-Fi

The Hana-Maui Resort’s Wi-Fi worked surprisingly well throughout my stay. Even in the far corners of the resort property, such as when I ventured off toward the ocean or biked over to nearby food trucks, my devices remained seamlessly connected.

Pet-friendly

Dogs under 50 pounds are welcome at the resort, or you can bring 2 dogs with a combined weight of 75 pounds. There’s a flat-rate $100 charge to bring your pet that applies for up to 6 nights.

Pool

There are 2 pools at the Hana-Maui Resort, which guests can access 24/7.

Main Pool

The main resort pool is gorgeous, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s also located on the beach bungalow side, which is yet another reason to book one of these suites instead of a garden view room. The water is refreshing (but not too chilly) and warms up once the sun sets to ensure that it remains at the perfect temperature at all hours of the day.

You’ll also find a separate section of the pool, which I (and several other guests) mistook as a hot tub or Jacuzzi. It’s actually an infinity pool and simply exists for aesthetic reasons.

There are just 10 sets of pool chairs scattered around the pool area, which you may not think is enough for the entire property, but there were never more than a few groups of people at the pool at a time. It was definitely a kid-favorite pool, as toddlers can hang out in the shallow, infinity pool section, while older children splashed about throughout the entire length of the pool.

There’s a dedicated pool attendant who will check on guests for food and drink orders. If you need a break from the sun, there are plenty of umbrellas and a separate patio with tables and chairs. You can also walk up to the pool bar at any point to order any food and drink.

Finally, the towel bar is conveniently located next to the pool and features iced cold water.

The other pool is much smaller and is located on the same side as the garden view rooms. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, this is the pool to visit, as I never saw any guests while I was working out at the fitness center right beside this pool.

Just like the main pool, the water isn’t too cold, and you can access it at any hour of the day.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is tucked away just past the tennis courts. It has skylights letting in all the natural light possible, and the French doors open up to the smaller pool. Simply put, if I had a home gym, I would design it just like this.

The gym boasts new Peloton bikes and TechnoGym treadmills. The gym has plenty of dumbbells but seemed to lack in other strength-training equipment, which would be my only critique of the space. But with so many trails around the property, you may choose to use the great outdoors as your gym anyway.

Spa

The Spa at Hana-Maui Resort offers a variety of enticing facials, body scrubs, and massage treatments, but they’ll come at a high price tag. Rates for the classic treatments start at $180 for 1 hour or $255 for 90 minutes.

While I skipped the spa this time around, it looked like pure zen from what I could gather from outside the gate. Guests can access a hydrotherapy pool, a hot tub, and a cold plunge pool in addition to any of the services booked.

Hot Tip:

If you don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for a treatment, consider booking a spa day on ResortPass for just $75 instead. You’ll get access to the pools and hot tub and chill out by the relaxation lounge for a fraction of the cost.

Tennis Courts

Whether you want to play tennis, pickleball, or basketball, there are several courts for guests to use. You can rent all the equipment from the concierge to work up a sweat on the court.

Yoga Studio

Right next to the pool, you’ll find a gorgeous yoga studio that’s open to guests. You can join in on the daily class that starts promptly at 8 a.m., or stretch and do yoga, barre, or other exercises at your own leisure.

Housed in the same building, you’ll find washers and dryers available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There’s no extra charge to use the laundry facilities, and you can ask the concierge to provide detergent. This may be a game changer if you’re staying at the resort for a prolonged period or just want to return from your trip with fresh, clean clothes.

Free Cruiser Bikes

The property is thoughtfully laid out and even gives off an adult summer camp vibe. Do note, however, it can take quite some time to walk from your room to the restaurants, pools, or to various amenities.

My friend and I rented out the cruiser bikes during our stay, located at the entrance of the property, and it definitely helped us get from place to place much faster. You can also call the concierge to request a golf cart pickup at any time.

We could even take the bikes off-property, so we rode them to the food truck site further uphill.

My Tita’s Cafe gets a special shout-out, as this coffee stand opens at 7:30 a.m. every morning and offers delectable iced lattes.

Fire Pit

At the very front of the main pool, you’ll find a fire pit. The resort is located on the easternmost point of the island, so this makes for a great place to watch the sunrise in the morning.

The sunsets aren’t too shabby, either.

The Room

As mentioned earlier, the beach bungalows (suites) are separated from the garden rooms. On this side of the resort, the green-blue cabins are scattered about, housing 2 suites on either side.

Hyatt is in the process of renovating each bungalow, though I find the current interiors already charming on their own.

Bedroom

Welcome to Cabin 506. With a tap of your key card, you can get settled into your 600-plus square-foot suite.

Each bungalow truly offers a homey, cabin-like feel. The decor is lovely yet functional, using varied textures of natural woods and rattan lamps. In short, you immediately get a sense that you’re on vacation when you walk into the room.

If you notice anything from these pictures, there are no clocks, televisions, or alarm clocks to be found anywhere. And Hyatt intends to keep it that way as the chain continues renovating its rooms. There also aren’t many outlets to be found, either. Ultimately, this resort is a place to unplug, disconnect from screens, and enjoy the stunning resort and island of Maui.

The bed was just the right amount of firm but not too hard, and I also appreciated the sheer number of seating areas throughout the room. You can relax on the couch if it starts to rain and still marvel at the great views outside. Furthermore, you’ll find a wet bar with an illy coffee maker and coffee pods, as well as a lovely dining table for 2.

The closet was conveniently located in front of the bed and near the bathroom, providing ample room to put away your belongings and settle in.

But my favorite part of the room? Past the sliding glass doors on your private lanai, you’ll find a comfortable chaise built for 2.

Waking up to this view was even more spectacular, despite having a partial ocean view. The bungalows closer to the water are more expensive and more in the way of amenities — some suites even have private hot tubs!

Bathroom

French doors open up to the bathroom, which feels just as large as the room itself. The bungalow’s charm carried throughout the bathroom, and although I liked the brown tile, it was notably very slick when it got wet.

The soaking tub is a nice touch for those who enjoy baths. The resort uses full-size products (that are glued to the wall) from Malie, a Hawaiian skincare brand that uses lightly fragrant floral scents.

Housekeeping did a wonderful job of replenishing towels and folding them origami-like.

For those staying extended periods of time and needing even more storage, you’ll find a large dresser in the bathroom to organize your belongings. Additionally, a door separates the toilet from the rest of the bathroom.

The 2 robes are also hanging in the bathroom, and for those who love to snuggle up in a hotel robe after a long day, they’re a wonderful treat. They were light but not scratchy, cozy but not too heavy, which was perfect for the Hawaiian climate.

Food and Beverage

The dining options are limited to 2 main restaurants at the Hana-Maui Resort. However, with the many creative food trucks to try, there seems to never be enough meals when you’re in Hawaii.

The Restaurant at Hana-Maui Resort

Located close to the entrance of the resort, you’ll find the main dining room and bar that’s open for breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. It features an expansive patio that’s partially covered, and if the weather is doing you any favors during your stay, this is the best place to eat breakfast in the morning.

Globalists can enjoy up to $42 per person for breakfast. Even after going slightly above this threshold, the resort took off all the breakfast charges from our room.

Our first breakfast was my favorite, as I ordered Saimin ($20), a contemporary Hawaiian breakfast noodle soup featuring scrambled eggs, spam, ramen noodles, and fish cakes. My friend ordered the mochiko pancakes ($24) — the texture was soft and perfectly chewy, and they came loaded with fresh fruit. We split the avocado toast ($16) that came with a bed of microgreens.

There were no espresso drinks at breakfast, so I’d recommend skipping the coffee ($7) here unless you prefer a simple brew. But of course, we still ordered POG juice ($5) every morning.

The next morning, we ordered the traditional Hawaiian loco moco ($25) for breakfast, which was a bed of rice topped with a beef patty, fried eggs, and gravy. We also chose the ham and cheese croissant ($16) and French toast ($24), but my friend ended up wishing she had ordered the mochiko pancakes instead as you won’t find those anywhere on the mainland.

The portions were sizable enough that we had plenty of leftovers, making for the perfect snack when our stomachs started to rumble later that afternoon.

Overall, I thought breakfast was fantastic at the Hana-Maui Resort, as it offered a mix of classic American dishes and a sampling of local Hawaiian flavors. Given that the property is so removed from the rest of the island, the restaurant managed to exceed our expectations with fresh ingredients at an incredibly reasonable price, even if we hadn’t had Globalist status to cover our breakfast charges.

Coincidentally, some mutual friends were staying at the resort on the same dates we were there. We met up for dinner one night at the bar, which offered live music that particular evening. We split a delicious charcuterie board, and the flavors were balanced nicely between the candied gingers, salty meats, and several selections of cheeses.

I ordered the tuna steak, which was delicious, but the coating was surprisingly spicy. Entrées ran around $30 or so, and the local catch and kalbi (Korean marinated beef) were enticing, too.

Hana Ranch Restaurant

You’ll need to cross the main street to go to the Hana Ranch Restaurant, which is in the same center as the town’s post office. Again, you can request a golf cart for pick up and drop off.

Open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, we didn’t get a chance to dine here as we wanted to try the food trucks. But the menu boasts a long list of locally-caught seafood, as well as burgers, steaks, and more.

Pool Bar

The pool bar menu is limited, but again, the prices aren’t entirely unreasonable. While there aren’t any published hours for the pool bar, I can safely assume that it’s open from lunch to sundown.

I ordered a poke bowl ($20) and a POG juice ($5). While it wasn’t the best poke I’ve ever had as it lacked variety in toppings, the tuna was of high quality and fresh. I also ordered an ice cream sandwich ($5), which was pre-packaged, but was the perfect afternoon treat.

Service

Days leading up to my stay, I received a personalized email from the general manager stating the hotel was excited to welcome me soon. The email also contained several direct links to popular reservations, such as the black sand beach mentioned earlier, which was helpful in executing any last-minute travel planning.

I received this same caliber of service when I got to the resort. Every single employee we encountered was friendly and accommodating, and I could tell they wanted to make every guest’s visit to Hana worthwhile.

For example, my friend and I are early risers, so we called in around 6 a.m. to see if we could rent the cruiser bikes early as they are normally only available beginning at 9 a.m. each day. When we arrived in the hotel lobby, the bikes were ready for us, and we could borrow them for the rest of our stay if we wanted.

Final Thoughts

Our time at the Hana-Maui Resort was short and sweet, but by the end of the trip, we weren’t ready to leave. The restaurants were all delicious and reasonably priced, and I loved how the resort was integrated with the food trucks and the rest of town of Hana.

Whether you want to splurge on the spa or simply enjoy the amenities on-site, the resort helped me rediscover that sense of childlike wonder of spending late afternoons exploring the great outdoors.

I can confidently say that this was one of the best redemptions I’ve had from Hyatt yet.

At 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night, you’re getting a terrific deal as there are no other points hotels remotely nearby. After all that driving on the Road to Hana, planning a few nights at the Hana-Maui Resort is the perfect way to end your Maui vacation.