A Maui sunset stays in your mind.
On an island with eye-popping mega-resorts lining white beaches, it is nice to know that there are some properties that can be had for a much lower nightly rate. In Lahaina town, 24 miles west of Kahului Airport in Maui, there are a handful of more inexpensive hotels that will put you within easy reach of restaurants, pubs, shops, art galleries and historic sites in this former whaling town. Just five miles to the north are the famed beaches of Ka'anapali.
Old Lahaina House
This small property, just a two-minute walk south of the wharf at Front Street, is in a casual residential area. The lodging has four rooms with private baths, and they are decorated in a Hawaiian motif. The Riviera Room overlooks a flower-decked garden complete with fountains and has its own private lanai. The Poolside Room has sliding glass doors leading to the swimming pool and deck area. All rooms have air-conditioning and ceiling fans, TV and Wi-Fi.
Old Lahaina House also offers romance packages, flower lei greetings and a rental car service that includes a mini-electric car. The property is close to several restaurants, including the Bamboo Grill, the Lahaina Grill and Betty's Beach Caf . The Feast at Lele, a waterfront luau celebration, is two minutes away.
Old Lahaina House
407 Ilikahi St.
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
808-667-4663
oldlahaina.com
Makai Inn
This two-story, no-frills property on the northern edge of Lahaina town is on the oceanfront. The 18 units are individually designed and range from small studio apartments of 400 square feet each to larger two-bedroom units of roughly 800 square feet. The Makai Inn is built in a horseshoe shape around a courtyard garden. The ends of the "horseshoe" have the four largest rooms, all with oceanfront balconies. The rooms don't have phones or TVs. Wireless Internet is available, though.
Lahaina's party district is a 20-minute walk and if you are looking for a white sand beach, walk toward the center of town and you will find one within 10 minutes. The Canoe Restaurant is a half-block toward town, and the Fu Lin Chinese Restaurant is on the other side of that.
Makai Inn
1415 Front St.
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
808-662-3200
makaiinn.net
Best Western Pioneer Inn
Jack London stayed here. So did W.C. Fields, Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy. Built in 1901, the Pioneer Inn has had more than a century to entertain the famous, the not so famous and perhaps those of questionable character. The Pioneer Inn remains one of the best hotel bargains in Lahaina, and it is in the heart of all the action.
The plantation-style structure sits 50 feet from Lahaina Harbor and is now under the Best Western brand. The guest rooms have been remodeled, but with a nod to the property's vintage charm. High ceilings, old-fashioned bathrooms and period furnishings all keep that distinctive whaler town charm alive.
This is the party section of Lahaina, so the quietest rooms will be facing the courtyard or the huge banyan tree (it covers one square block and is itself a tourist attraction) just next door. The property is surrounded by restaurants, pubs, shops and galleries.
Best Western Pioneer Inn
658 Wharf St.
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
808-661-3636
pioneerinnmaui.com
Tags: Best Western, Lahaina House, Lahaina Maui, Lahaina Maui 96761, Maui 96761