Visit Hawaii: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort

1. Location

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort covers 40 oceanfront acres on the south end of Kaanapali Beach. A beach path begins here and continues along all the resorts until Sheraton's Black Rock. Along the way is the Whaler's Village, an outdoor shopping mall with high-end stores like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach, Ferragano, Gucci, Tiffany's, and some great restaurants.

The open-air lobby is incredible. Colorful parrots and macaws can be found among the lush tropical plants rustling in the warm breeze.

The grounds around Hyatt Maui are very lush, with swinging rope bridges, cascading waterfalls and bubbling streams. You can spend hours just walking and taking in the sights of the hotel - Japanese gardens, sculptures, eclectic Asian and Pacific art collection, exotic birds (flaming pink flamingoes, penguins and cranes).

Hyatt Maui is 3 miles away from the historic Lahaina Town that has many shops, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. It is 10 minutes away from Kapalua West Airport, and 45 minutes from Kahului Airport, the main airport on Maui where more than likely you will be flying into.

2. Rooms

806 rooms are located in three towers - 9-storey Atrium Tower, 7-storey Lahaina Tower, and 8-storey Napili Tower. Decorated in in soft earth and mauve tones, the rooms have a distinct Asian/Pacific influence.

Your room will have a comfortable separate sitting area and private anai with eye-popping view. If you can afford oceanfront room, you will not regret the extra money spent - those rooms have th best views of the Pacific Ocean and the islands of Lanai and Molokai in the distance.

Each room features:

Beds: 1 king or 2 doubles
Air-conditioning
Private lanai
Mini-refrigerator
Coffee maker with coffee supply
Color cable TV
In-room movies and Sony Playstation
2 separate phone lines
In-room safe
Marble bathroom with vanity mirror and hair dryer
Yukata bathrobes
Iron and board
You can request turndown servic

3. Restaurants

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort has 4 restaurants, 6 lounges and its own luau that is one of the best on Maui.

1) Swan Court - has been rated the most romantic restaurant for dinner on the whole island. The restaurant opens up to a pond with waterfalls and swans swimming around a few feet from your table. They service fantastic breakfast buffet there each morning with every kind of breakfast food you can imagine - made-to-order omelettes, meats, salmon, oatmeal, fresh island fruit, large cheese selection, pastries and desserts.

2) Spats Trattoria - this Italian restaurant is famous for its cozy, intimate atmosphere and exquisite hom-style Italian cuisine. It has earned several awards from Travel Holiday.

3) Cascades Grille & Sushi Bar - this open-air restaurant overlooks the swimming pools and the Pacific Ocean. It service great steaks, fresh island seafood and sushi, along with salads and sandwiches.

4) Pavillion - cute poolside place open for breakfast, lunch and snacks. Menu features sandwiches, salads, burgers and pizza. Full-service bar is open until sunset.

5) "Drums of the Pacific" Luau - traditional Hawaiian feast with local entertainment (fire-eaters and hula dancers). It starts every evening with the sound of the conch, beating of the drums and echoes of Hawaiian chant signal. You are greeted with shell lei and welcomed with fresh mai tais that are served all evening long, along with all your favorite mixed cocktails.

Watch the traditional imu ceremony when roasted pig is lifted from the ground oven, then hit the buffet that features Kalua Pork, Huli Huli Chicken, Mahi Mahi, Ulupalakua Beef, Polynesian Rice, Baked Kula Potatoes, Baked Hawaiian Sweet Potatoes, Vegetables Makamaka, Tropical Fruits Anuenue, Soba Noodles, Roasted Wedges of Maui Onions, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Pacific Ahi Poke, Tossed Green Salad and Poi (taro). The lavish dessert bar includes Macadamia Nut Cream Pie, Haupia with Toasted Coconut, Pineapple Cake and Bread Pudding. It's a real great Hawaiian feast.

The show has many exciting moments, like hula lessons (yes, you can get up on the state and try it after a couple of Mai Tais), coconut tree climbing and coconut husking (don't try this at home), performance that shows you traditional songs and dances of each Polynesian Island, and, at the peak of the night, the Samoan Fire Dance.

6) "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" - first Broadway smash dinner comedy show in Hawaii! The story line involves two New York Italian families whose daughter and sin are getting married and hold a celebratory dinner. The audience joins the characters for dinner, champagne toast, wedding cake and dancing. Feature characters include a headstrong bride named Tina and her fiance Tony. Other characters include Connit, the pregnant maid of honor, Father Mark, the drunk priest, a sining nun, a gay brother, a stripper, and many more.

People Magazine says "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" is a hit" and the Boston Globe calls it "Fabulous... Fabulous Fun!".

7) Grotto Bar - a lava rock oasis, featuring special tropical fruit drinks and smoothies is located under the dual waterfalls.

8) Weeping Banyan - open-air lounge located in the Atrium Lobby on top of a Koi pond, overlooking the Penguin Pond. Contemporary Hawaiian music and torch-lighting ceremony nightly.

4. Things to do

Swimming pool - even though there's lots of beach, most guests seem to prefer the giant half-acre meandering pool with 150-foot lava tube slide. You can swim through waterfalls and find yourself in a secluded cave with a swim-up bar. There is a large jacuzzi set off to the side of the pool that has its own warm waterfall.

For children, there is an interactive children's pool with new slide, dancing waterfall and sandy beach area.

Spa Moana - spa goers will really love Hyatt Maui. Hawaii's first and only oceanfront spa, 10,000 sq ft Spa Moana, opened here in 2000. It has an oceanview excercise room, 11 treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and a huge menu of massages, body treatments and therapies. There is a luxury spa suite for couple who want to enjoy treatments together. You can also relax with massage, manicure of pedicure in oceanfront cabana. The "recovery" room is literally right on the beach, on the second floor, with huge picture windows.

Tour of the Stars - there is a rooftop astronomy program offered 6 nights a week where you can look at the stars through a deep-space telescope. The tour is hosted by Eddie Maloney, the Hyatt's Director of Astronomy. You can see Mars, double stars, etc. If is a fantastic tour even if you are not an astronomy bluff.

Working Out - For fitness enthusiasts, the hotel has free weights, exercise cycles, aerobics classes, steppers, rowers, Nautilus, jogging paths, biclycling trails.

Sailing - Hyatt Regency Maui Resort owns a 40-foot catamaran, the Kiele V, which offers day snorkeling trips and evening sunset cruises.

Golf - South Kaanapali and North Kaanapali Courses are right at the hotel's doorstep. With their rolling greens and magnificently scenic backdrops, it is a little wonder that these courses have been selected to host many tournaments, including Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup, The Women's Kemper Open.

The North Course, an 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., has been rated the best course on Maui by Connoisseur magazine. It gradually rises from sea level to 200 ft above the water. As you are working your way through the hols, you'll enjoy views of the islands, beaches, and, on the best days, even humpback whales cavorting offshore.

The South Course, designed by Arthur Jack Snyder, presents you with a forgiving layout, rolling fairways, and sweeping views of the ocean and mountains.

Camp Hyatt - A fun day camp for children. They will take Sugar Cane Train ride into historic whaling port of Lahaina, build sandcastles, learn how to dance hula, make leis, collect shells, play tennnis, swim and do many other outdoor things. Camp Hyatt operates daily from 9am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm for keiki from 5 to 12 years old.

Other facilities include: