Andaz Maui is the Wailea choice for travelers who want a beachfront resort with a contemporary pulse: the first Andaz resort anywhere when it opened in 2013 after a top-to-bottom renovation of the former Renaissance Wailea, set on about 15 oceanfront acres along Mōkapu Beach at the quiet northern end of the Wailea resort coast. The design (by Rockwell Group) runs clean and island-modern — pale woods, open-air lobby framing the ocean, rooms refreshed in 2024 — and the property's signature is its series of cascading infinity pools stepping down toward the sand, with cabanas and an adults-focused area for quieter afternoons. The compact footprint is a practical advantage over Wailea's sprawling mega-resorts: you are never far from the beach, the pools, the spa or breakfast. Mōkapu Beach itself is one of South Maui's calmer, swimmable crescents, with gentle morning water and snorkeling along the rocky points; the paved Wailea Beach Path connects the resort to its neighbors and The Shops at Wailea for an easy coastal walk. Dining is a draw in its own right, with oceanfront restaurants and a pool scene that leans social, and the spa offers Hawaiian-inspired treatments. Fit: couples (pool-and-sunset energy, villas and suites for splurges), design-minded travelers, and families who like a resort that is lively without being enormous.
Where it fits on Maui
Wailea is the sunniest, calmest resort coast on the island, and Andaz sits beside the Grand Wailea and Hotel Wailea — this site already covers both, so Andaz is the pick for those who want the beach of the former with a more contemporary, mid-sized feel than either. Big Beach at Mākena is fifteen minutes south, and Molokini snorkel boats leave from nearby harbors.
Room craft
Ocean-view rooms for the classic Wailea panorama, poolside suites for direct access to the cascading pools, and the multi-bedroom villas for families or groups wanting full kitchens. Swim and snorkel Mōkapu early, when the water is glassy, and walk the beach path at sunset.
Practicals
3550 Wailea Alanui Drive, about 30 minutes from Kahului airport; resort fees and parking charges apply. Fit: couples, design-minded travelers and lively families — Wailea with a contemporary pulse.
Why stay here
- ✓Beachfront on Mokapu Beach
- ✓Cascading infinity pools
- ✓Adults-focused pool area
- ✓Oceanfront dining
- ✓Hawaiian-inspired spa
- ✓Multi-bedroom villas
- ✓Wailea Beach Path access
- ✓Fitness center
Good questions
How does Andaz compare with other Wailea resorts?+
It is smaller and more contemporary than the sprawling Grand Wailea, with a social pool scene, while Hotel Wailea is the adults-only hillside retreat. Choose Andaz for beachfront design and energy at a manageable scale.
Is Mokapu Beach good for swimming?+
Usually yes — it is one of Wailea's calmer crescents, especially early, with snorkeling along the rocky points at either end.
Does it work for families?+
Yes — the cascading pools, the calm beach and the multi-bedroom villas with kitchens suit families well, with an adults-focused pool area for quieter time.
