New hotels in Maui

Maui is Hawaii's second-largest island, known locally as the Valley Isle for the low, green saddle of farmland that connects its two volcanic halves. Its resort development concentrates on two coastlines — West Maui, around Kaanapali and Kapalua, and South Maui, around Kihei, Wailea and Makena — while the interior and the island's east side hold Haleakala National Park and the Road to Hana. This guide tracks one verified opening on Maui so far: St. Regis Kapalua Bay, Marriott's conversion of the existing Resort at Kapalua Bay on the West Maui coast, planned for 2027. Visitors should also know that Lahaina, West Maui's historic town, was largely destroyed by wildfire in August 2023; as of 2026, resort areas along Kaanapali and Kapalua Beach are fully open, but Lahaina's Front Street commercial core remains closed and under active reconstruction.

What to do

A few days on one coast

West and South Maui both work as a self-contained base for a shorter trip. On West Maui, Kaanapali Beach is the anchor — a three-mile stretch backed by resort development, with Black Rock at its northern end a well-known snorkeling spot. On South Maui, Wailea's coastal boardwalk links a run of coves and beach parks, drier and generally calmer than the west side. From either coast, book a snorkel or dive boat out to Molokini, a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater a few miles offshore with some of the clearest water around the island. Between December and April, humpback whales migrate through the channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai, visible from shore on a clear day and up close on a whale-watching boat.

A full week

A week leaves room for Maui's interior and east side. Haleakala National Park, at the island's center, rises to over 10,000 feet, and its sunrise viewing area requires an advance vehicle reservation; the drive up is cold regardless of season, so bring layers. The Road to Hana, roughly 64 miles of winding coastal highway lined with waterfalls and one-lane bridges, is usually driven as a full-day round trip rather than a stop along the way. Iao Valley State Monument, near Wailuku, adds a shorter half-day hike to a dramatic green needle of rock, and Upcountry Maui — Makawao and Kula, on Haleakala's lower slopes — offers a cooler, agricultural counterpoint to the beach resorts.

Regions of Maui

West Maui (Kaanapali, Kapalua & Napili)

The island's original resort coastline, fully open as of 2026, with Kaanapali Beach's hotel strip, Kapalua's quieter golf-course setting further north, and Napili's smaller, cove-facing beaches in between. St. Regis Kapalua Bay, this guide's one tracked opening, sits within the Kapalua Resort community here, on a roughly 25-acre oceanfront site with direct access to Kapalua Bay.

Lahaina

The historic whaling-era town adjoining Kaanapali, largely destroyed by wildfire in August 2023. Lahaina Harbor has begun a phased reopening, but Front Street's commercial core remains closed to general visitor access while reconstruction continues.

South Maui (Kihei, Wailea & Makena)

A drier, sunnier coastline than the west side, running from Kihei's more affordable, condo-heavy stretch through Wailea's resort corridor to Makena's less developed beaches further south.

Central & Upcountry Maui

Kahului's airport and Wailuku's small historic downtown, near Iao Valley, serve mainly as an arrival point; further up Haleakala's slopes, Makawao and Kula hold farms and small-town main streets. Hana, at the end of the winding road of the same name, remains one of the island's most remote communities.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lahaina open to visitors in 2026?

Partially. Lahaina Harbor has reopened in phases, but the historic Front Street commercial core remains closed behind construction fencing as rebuilding continues following the August 2023 wildfire. Kaanapali and Kapalua, immediately adjoining Lahaina, are fully open.

What hotels does this guide track on Maui?

One so far: St. Regis Kapalua Bay, Marriott's planned 2027 conversion of the existing Resort at Kapalua Bay on the West Maui coast, formerly operated as Montage Kapalua Bay. Our editorial team has not yet verified and published any other Maui hotel openings — check back as coverage expands.

Do I need a reservation for Haleakala sunrise?

Yes. The National Park Service requires an advance online vehicle reservation for the summit area between roughly 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., separate from the park entrance fee, and slots can sell out days ahead in peak season.

When is the best time to see whales off Maui?

Humpback whale season runs roughly from December through April, with January through March typically the most reliable window, in the channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

Should I stay in West Maui or South Maui?

West Maui (Kaanapali/Kapalua) tends to be lusher and closer to the airport-side highway, while South Maui (Wailea/Kihei) is drier and sunnier with generally calmer water; neither is meaningfully closer to the Road to Hana or Haleakala, both reached from either coast.