Fairmont Kea Lani

Spent two weeks at this resort and got a pretty good sense for how things run and will offer the following thoughts: * The property has a "wow" factor. Overall beautiful grounds with a strong island vibe. Evidence of ongoing maintenance and cleanliness. Fairly quiet and serene for a good-sized property with some large business/group meetings taking place. *Staff overall very professional, helpful and friendly. Special kudos to Nacho in Valet and Tami at front desk for going the extra mile to satisfy guests. * Food--Ko was solid and Nick's excellent. Room service also did nice job and met time commitments. The pool bar was ok but the prices were high even by Maui standards, $32 for a hamburger. There is a market on lowest level with very limited offerings. Had some breakfast items a few times and was underwhelmed. * Shuttle car--we used this a few times to go out to dinner and nearby places and it worked very well. Little or no waiting. * Location--close to many dining and shopping option. Nice beach as well. *Pools-on surface looked good. Most of our pool time was at the large adult pool. However, getting a chair/umbrella was difficult. Had to contest with selfish people going out and claiming space at dawn. There is some signage asking guests to be considerate, but it was mostly ignored and it's difficult for pool attendant to track. Also, lot of space is taken up by rental cabanas which go for $400 plus a day and were not getting a whole lot of use. Another pool problem was the abundance of annoying flies around the pool and the lawn behind the pool. I get it's outside and mother nature, but in addition there were gnats all over and had some bugs on my lanai. Made me wonder how robust the hotel's pest control efforts were. * Suites--ours was fantastic. Great ocean views, spacious, huge lanai and many nice and modern touches. The public space was also excellent. Lots of seating, nooks and crannies to read a book and again just a wow! * Fitness room was satisfactory but kept quite cool. Parking--self-parking very close by up a slight hill, a minute or two from lobby. But the parking spaces are narrow and below commercial real estate standards. Just about any SUV or Jeep were parked over the lines and in effect taking up two spots. So not perfect, but overall, very good and compared well with other nearby hotels which we stopped into for dinner. I would return if staying in Wailea,

Beautiful hotel in a great location! It was our first trip to Maui & Fairmont delivered! Staff was attentive, food/drinks excellent, property is dreamy and clean- we would definitely go back! One thing to note, if I had to give it one con-there is no beach service but I believe this is because all beaches are public and alcohol isn’t allowed. Kind of a bummer for my husband and I but the lawn area and pools have service.If you get a chance visit Chris at the bar, nicest individual and great at what he does-you won’t be disappointed:)

I am rating this property based on 13 specific criteria on a 1-10 scale: Overall rating and vibe: 10. There's an intoxicating richness about the gorgeous tropical grounds at Kea Lani, where everything was done ... just right. This is an incredible family-friendly resort with 100% suites (many with 3 full beds), superb service, awesome pools, and exceptional dining. You will not be disappointed by this place! Service: 9.99. Only one bad apple staff member, Maddy at the lower Ohana pool, who was very grouchy. Otherwise, 100% incredible service, across the board! Room: 10. Massive standard room which was actually a suite. My ALL/Fairmont Gold status got me a complimentary upgrade to a garden view suite with a palatial bathroom, the BEST-SMELLING Le Labo “Rose 31” bath amenities, and 3 full sized beds that easily fit a family of 5. It also had a massive lanai with a beautiful view of the perfectly landscaped Kea Lani gardens. Complimentary amenities: 10. Welcome lei greeting for all adults and Keiki (kids), including cold tropical drink. Complimentary luxury reusable Fairmont-branded water bottles in room, many complimentary activities, and complimentary sunscreen by pool. Unlimited complimentary towels at the pool. Many complimentary shaded umbrellas at the pools, with plenty of chairs to go around. The resort staff also send incredibly delicious birthday treats (pineapple upside-down cake) to our room because I was celebrating a milestone birthday. Pools: 9.9. Awesome, large, and very family-friendly pool complex. Medium-sized and incredibly fun waterslide. No infinity pools and the pools were not salt-water like at the Four Seasons, but otherwise incredible! The adult-only pool was also appropriately located far away from the Ohana pools. Cabanas: 9. Cabanas are an extra $300 per day and come with 4 chairs and excellent 360-degree sun protection all day. Note: The value is not unbeatable for Wailea because the Four Seasons provides complimentary cabanas with 4-sided shade, but still a great experience. Includes unlimited non-alcoholic drinks and mochi ice cream for everyone. Waterslides: 9.5. There is one waterslide which is incredibly fun and has a 31” minimum height, allowing most 3-4 year olds access as well. Perfect speed, starts in the upper Ohana pool and winds through absolutely stunning tropical landscaping before a fun drop finish into the lower Ohana pool. Lifeguard at top monitoring cameras to ensure slide safety for all. Cleanliness: 10. Incredibly clean and incredible twice-daily housekeeping with evening turndown service! This is a true, luxury, 5-star hotel (unlike the nearby "Grand" Wailea which is a 1-star hotel masquerading as a "5-star"), Family friendliness: 10. Kids 5 and under eat free in all restaurants except Nick’s Fishmarket. Incredible breakfast buffet with many GF options which my two Celiac kids LOVED. Reasonable breakfast buffet pricing ($20 for older kids and $55 for adults). Dining: 10. Ko was excellent. Nick’s was superb. Breakfast buffet was exceptional with many GF options and reasonable pricing for families with younger and older kids. Luxury: 10. Feels like a true 5-star resort. Forbes does not rate this property, but it should score a 5-star or 4-star rating from Forbes, as it is one of the world's nicest and most luxurious Fairmonts. AAA rates it a 4.9 (out of 5.0), so it is knocking on the door of 5-Diamond status and I would award it 5 Diamonds under the AAA criteria. Perhaps AAA soon will. The Michelin Guide does not rate it, but I would rate it 2 Michelin keys based on their criteria. Room for improvement: 9. The only room for improvement would be if Maddy at the pool could be friendlier and exude more “Aloha Spirit” to her cabana guests. Value for Families with Kids: 10. Between the 100% suite layout fitting 5 people comfortably and the "kids 5 and under eat free" policy, the value here is exceptional for a luxury, true 5-star Wailea, Maui resort.

A wonderful hotel in a gorgeous setting! Suites are so well appointed and luxurious in all ways. The breakfast buffet is as good as any we’ve ever seen. One of us is gluten free and having safe options without compromising choice and taste was so appreciated. Facilities, bars, spa all outstanding, which created the perfect high end but down to earth vibe. Would definitely return!

Unbelievable! This hotel brings hospitality to a whole new level. We were fortunate to have an ocean view suite. It was stunning. Everything in the room was perfect. The bed was one of the most comfortable I've ever slept on, the views were incredible, the housekeeping staff were amazing. Everyone we encountered during our stay was friendly, polite and amazingly good at their jobs. The food was exceptional. Going back to Maui, I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

I cannot say enough good things about this hotel in Maui. It was our first time to Maui as a family and we cannot stop talking and reminiscing about how much we love the island and this resort. When we ask our 11 year old her favorite part, she said it is absolutely the music classes at the resort. My husband’s favorite part might have been the breakfast buffet. The resort was the perfect mix of luxury, family, adventure and relaxation! Thank you Fairmont. We cannot wait to come back!

The Fairmont Kea Lani is a beautiful resort with fabulous suites (all rooms are suites). The suite was fabulous, as were all of the staff. So welcoming and attentive. The pool, beach and hotel activities were excellent, as was the breakfast buffet. We celebrated a birthday here with our family (six people) vacation and are so glad we decided on the Fairmont Kea Lani. We will be returning, which is the best compliment!

This was our first visit to a Fairmont Hotel and we were impressed by the entire experience. The room included an entry, Living Room, Bedroom, and spacious bath with a tub and large walk in shower. Both the Bedroom and Living Room had sliding glass doors that led to the Large balcony with both a table seating 4 and a couple of lounge chairs with lots of room to spare. We ate at all of the restaurants on property and consider Nick's Fish the best. Service was exceptional; the check in process was smooth and quick. The valet had our luggage delivered to our room promptly and housekeeping kept the room impeccable. The nightly turndown service was a nice touch that you don't see often anymore. The beach service was quick and efficient providing us with towels, chairs and an umbrella at no extra cost. We enjoyed walking on the trail that ran along the coastline. I'm not sure how far it goes, but we walked for 45 minutes and didn't reach the end. I'd definitely stay again!

I truly don’t even know where to begin, because this stay meant so much to us. From the very first moment we arrived, every single person at the hotel made us feel cared for, welcomed, and genuinely valued. It wasn’t just great service — it felt like real hospitality coming from the heart. When we arrived, the bell team immediately jumped in to help us. Three bellmen were assisting us at the same time, and they were incredibly efficient and kind. Our luggage was delivered so quickly, and one of them even offered to give us a tour of the hotel. We kindly declined because we wanted to explore on our own, but the gesture itself already showed us the level of care we were about to experience. At the front desk we were welcomed by the most wonderful agent (unfortunately couldn’t remember the name) with the warmest smile and the kindest, green shining eyes. She made us feel instantly comfortable and excited to be there. We had what felt like thousands of questions, and she answered every single one with patience and kindness. That first interaction truly set the tone for our entire stay. I also want to mention the concierge team, especially Niko, who was absolutely incredible. We had a small situation where we needed to reschedule our surf lessons, and she handled everything so smoothly and effortlessly. Not only that, but she also gave us wonderful recommendations for the Road to Hāna, which made our adventure even more special. Her help and kindness meant so much to us. A very special thank you to Leanna and Lucy at Ko restaurant. They were so understanding and attentive regarding our food allergies, and they treated us with such warmth and care. The first time we visited Ko, Leanna took care of us like we were family. She made thoughtful recommendations and triple-checked everything to ensure our allergies were taken seriously. You can truly see that she loves what she does and takes pride in doing it right. And the chef at Ko deserves the biggest applause. Every single meal we had was absolutely outstanding — delicious, thoughtful, and clearly made with heart. There wasn’t a single dish we didn’t love. We actually ended up having dinner there three times during our one-week stay because it was simply that good. Our absolute favorite spot, however, became Pilina. Everything about it was magical — the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and especially the service. Chris there is truly exceptional. We went back four times, honestly just to see him again. He has this rare ability to make people feel special and comfortable at the same time. His energy, his professionalism, and his kindness made every evening there unforgettable. Please make sure he knows how appreciated he is. Caterina at the Poolside Bar was also such a joy. She was bubbly, friendly, and genuinely warm. You could feel that she truly cared about making sure guests were having a great time. Housekeeping was always so kind and helpful, and the entire hotel itself is simply breathtaking. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable, the pools are spotless, and the entire property feels like a little piece of paradise on earth. We came to Kea Lani to celebrate my birthday, and I can honestly say you made it magical. This became one of the most memorable vacations of our lives, and that is entirely because of the people who work here. Your smiles, your kindness, and the way you care about your guests made this experience unforgettable. We are leaving with full hearts and beautiful memories, and we will absolutely be coming back. Thank you all for making this stay so special

Had an enjoyable stay here. Room was always clean and very relaxing. Nice to have the activities and learn about the local culture. It’s a large property so depending on your room you might have a long walk to get back to it. Polo beach and the walking path are convenient. The walking path is more stressful than anticipated. People rushing to burn calories and it’s not that wide in some spots. Has a nice open feel to it. Staff all very friendly and helpful.

Wonderful break from a busy life at the Lovely kea Lani. Love the views, gorgeous beach, tasty restaurants, and amazing service at this property! Great location for viewing whales and meandering about the beaches and walkways in the beautiful Wailea area! Great shopping nearby (and free shuttle to haul you around). We use a local taxi service and also get to take a break from driving (if we are going somewhere the shuttle does not service). The suites are so beautiful and comfy, we enjoyed every minute of this stay!

This was our second stay at Kea Lani (and our first since its renovation) and we could not have been more pleased with the entire experience. The rooms (all suites) have always been huge by other luxury hotels' standards, but they have been refreshed along with everything else at the hotel. (Our "partial ocean view" room still gave us a great view of the ocean from the lanai.) The adult pool...the meals...the friendliness of the staff...I could go on, but I would rank this as our top choice after visiting all four islands on a dozen trips.

The Fairmont Kai Lani is like something you imagine when dreaming. Front desk check-in was quick, easy, informative and the staff were so nice. Just to finish on the staff, there wasn’t one person that I ever saw that didn’t have a smile or an aloha for us. They are genuinely happy to answer questions or give directions or ideas on what to do or where to go within the hotel or outside of it. There are 3 pools, 2 hot tubs, and a waterslide. One of the pools and hot tubs are adults only, so that’s nice depending on whether you brought kids or not. There is a lower pool and a higher pool connected by the waterside. Cabanas are available for rent. All the water, pop, and juice you can drink. Alcohol and food cost no more than room service or the restaurants here. Upper pool has a swim up bar too. The resort is right on Polo Beach. You can get lounge chairs down there too. Room service was exceptional. So was our room. The bathroom was like something out of a magazine. Bed was very comfortable and there’s a mini fridge and Nespresso machine. I could go on and on. But I will sign off saying I would definitely recommend staying here whether it’s for a couple nights or a longer stay if you can. We will definitely return again. Had so much fun.

We just completed our third stay at this amazing property. This may be one of our favorite hotels in the whole world. It begins when you make your reservation and the team reaches out to you prior to your stay and continues when you finally arrive at this glorious destination! The check-in and the service throughout our stay is exemplary. We absolutely love the feature that you can text someone at any time and they will get back to you pretty quickly with pretty much any request. It’s such a fantastic feature that I wish every hotel offered. We loved our interaction with the staff every day. The valet runs like clockwork. Everyone there is exceptional. The concierge team are so incredibly helpful with any request. Our room was beautiful as always. We were in a Signature Ocean View. The view is simply spectacular. We were there during whale season and we would get sucked in just enjoying our wine on that stunning balcony watching dozens of whales gracefully dip in and out of view. This hotel is like a dream. We are always so sad to leave. You know the hotel is amazing when you tell yourself, I would literally come back to that destination just to see the staff and stay at that property again. Its that good! There’s no doubt we will be back to Maui and there will be only one hotel we will stay at and that is the Kea Lani!

We come here every year and the stay is consistent and always pleasant. The must be doing something right because we see a lot of the same staff every year (especially the valet staff which is always friendly and efficient!! ). Pools and beach are wonderful. They have chairs on the grass as well which are really nice if you don’t want the hubbub of the pool. Breakfast buffet is amazing (a bit pricey but this is Wailea…). You can linger over coffee or mimosas and we enjoy it every time. Ko restaurant is one of our favorites in the world (see separate review). Sushi restaurant (lobby area) is amazing and with live music at night it is a great experience. One recommendation I would make is to put soft cushions on the pool chairs at the adult pool. They have some on the other chairs( like one the lawn) so having the same ones at the adult pool would be a nice touch:)

I am an Accor Diamond member, have stayed here 5 years in a row, have arranged special occasions with Fairmont Kea Lani and while we had a mostly great time as usual, there were some systemic issues that after discussing with management I am hopeful will be addressed to reflect the five star property that it is. The positives: The property is still stunning and the rooms are clean and well kept. The cleaners do an amazing job and the room was like new every day even though our two kids destroyed it with food and sand daily. Even making the pull out couch daily. The food and drinks at Pilina were great as usual. My wife had one of the best sushi rolls outside of Tokyo there on NYE. The hostess sat our family with two young kids at the best spot for sunset which was amazing where other places would relegate us to the back area. There are lots of fun activities to choose from for different age groups from making leis to fire dancers to crab hunting. Feedback: The amenities could use a refresh. The same necklaces and welcome gifts etc. haven't changed in several years which for returning guests can feel stale. Pool and beach staff were openly frustrated at guests, which frankly so was I, but there was some unprofessional behaviour from employees that I am hopeful will addressed by management after feedback. They need to address chair holding with a solution that works for everyone. Maybe it's just at the holidays when large groups take over the resort, but you can't allow a single person to reserve 10 chairs. Everyone lies and says they'll be "down shortly, just grabbing breakfast" and then don't come for hours. If anything it's lost revenue for people that want to spend. I would recommend something like 2 chairs per person present. I know this has become systemic across resorts, but since they can't control entitled disrespectful guests with a sign, adjustments need to be made. Hopeful to return again for the holidays!