"Give us your first impressions.Staying at Ho’olei is not unlike staying in a house in a master-planned community in the suburbs—if those houses had expansive views of the Pacific, more space than you could ever need, and access to all the amenities and services of a luxury beach resort on Maui. What's the backstory here?The Grand Wailea across the street annexed this private enclave to accommodate big families and guests who want a little more independence than what resort life typically offers. Each two-story villa has two or three bedrooms, at least two bathrooms, a lanai, a patio, a full kitchen, an elevator, a washer and dryer, a garage, and an outdoor grill. Guests staying in the villas get to access the amenities, restaurants and spa at the Grand Wailea, but also have a pool and fitness center of their own. How are the accommodations?Since each unit is individually owned, the decor varies. Our villa was full of oversized furniture (which, for small kids, made getting into bed a challenge) and uninteresting artwork. Yet the beds themselves were ridiculously comfortable; the bathrooms were gigantic; and the kitchen was filled with top-of-the-line appliances. If you plan on heading over to the Grand Wailea frequently, pick a villa toward the bottom of the property; it’s only a five-minute walk, but if you’ve got kids and gear, heading back up the hill is a challenge. Ho’olei does also offer shuttle service though. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?The Wi-Fi is included in the $48 daily resort fee. Are there restaurants on-site?There aren’t any restaurants here, but guests can walk or take a shuttle across the street to Grand Wailea to eat at Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, or visit any of the other resorts in the area. Who else is staying here?We didn’t see many other guests here during our stay; then again, we spent most of our time at the Grand Wailea. Yet when we did hang out in the Ho’olei pool, it was full of families. We noticed several families with older teens, their own sports gear (like surfboards) in tow. How does this hotel compare to similar options in the area?Access to the Grand Wailea—especially for its pool—gives Ho’olei an edge over other condo/villa rentals in Wailea. Is there anything you'd change?The decor is a little underwhelming, and our villa's layout wasn't very baby-friendly. If you're traveling with infants or toddlers, ask in advance about baby-proofing options. Did anything stand out to you?One perk at Ho’olei is the O’hana Grilling service, where you select your menu items—entrees, salads, sides ,and dessert—and the hotel will cart your order to your villa for you to grill. It’s like a homemade meal, sans prep work. The bottom line?Come for the copious amount of space—more than you could ever hope for while traveling to a regular hotel or resort." - Juliana Shallcross
