Welcome to the Honua Kai Cafe
(We have NO affiliation with the Honua Kai Resort & Spa
Nor IntraWest, nor Playground)

17 times now!!!  On October 11, 2011 Conde Nast readers voted Maui as the #1 island in the world for the 17th time!  Why vacation at any other island in the world but the #1 island – Maui?

This website celebrates the newest 5-star resort on Ka’anapali Beach, Maui; the Honua Kai (Ho-new-ah-keye) Resort & Spa.

We own a condo at the Honua Kai and are members of the Honua Kai “Ambassador Club” where owners can find guests to stay at ANY unit in the resort.  In return we get a small commission and you get THE best rates anywhere – nobody can offer you better rates.

So look at some of the pictures and ask a question if you have one (in the way of a comment which we will answer).  Then when you are ready click the icon below and you will enter the Ambassador Club reservations system with our owner number attached and get the best rates anywhere.

Need a studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom at the Honua Kai?  Well click here and you will get THE best discounts available to anyone – you get our owner discount!  You will be brought direct to the Honua Kai Owner’s desk – you make your reservation direct with them with our discount number!  This is a win-win for both of us.

Honua Kai Owner’s deep discount reservations
that you can use too – just click the above icon

Click here to make a reservation. You will be asked for “Enter Membership Number” you can get it by clicking here.

There is a new website that does all the legwork for you comparing prices of all the places you can rent Honua Kai villas – Honua Kai Resort & Spa Rentals. In a matter of a few minutes you will have ALL your questions answered as to pricing and availability of Honua Kai villas.

Watch the below video – just click the picture

Click the above video to view

Outside Pictures

Honua Kai Resort & Spa

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Duke's of Maui Restaurant is the brown ocean front building

Inside Pictures

Six Star Resort

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Treat yourself and stay at a true six star resort in Ka'anapali

Mom and the little one

Starting around Thanksgiving and lasting until mid May humpback whales visit Maui to give birth and mate.  This is truly a magnificent sight to behold.

When you visit Maui during this time of the year you can scan the sea and see dozens of whale sightings at the same time.  There are the breaching whales, the spray shooting 30 feet into the air as a whale blows and breaths, and whales playing around in the water.

We have been on many of the boats that leave Lahaina many times during the day but the ones that are the best are the zodiacs – the inflatable rubber boats.  These are sturdy boats with a restroom so they are not that small.  There is just something about sitting two feet above the water and watching these whales close up.

Bring a pair of polarized sunglasses, sun tan lotion, and a hat of some kind.  Of course don’t forget your camera and a light jacket.  You would be amazed how the temperature drops a mile off the Maui coast.  The best camera to bring is a movie camera or a digital camera that can take movies.  It’s almost impossible to snap a picture of a fantastic breach – just turn the move camera on and later edit the frames that show what took place in a fraction of a second.

Mom teaching breaching to the little one

Make the most of your time with Rough Guide DIRECTIONS Maui. Slim, stylish and pocketable, the guide is an up-to-date, authoritative and user-friendly companion to this unforgettable destination. Full-colour and richly illustrated throughout, the guide highlights the best Maui has on offer from awesome pacific surf on Big Beach to ravishingly tropical scenery and the best hikes from which to adsorb it all – giving you inspiration for things to do, 24 hours a day. You’ll find accurate information on the regions top attractions from historic Lahaina to the countless waterfalls and ravines that line the demanding road to Hāna as well as the most popular child-friendly attractions. The guide features up-to-date listings of all the hottest places to stay, eat, drink, club, shop and enjoy the wide array of leisure activities on offer to suit all budgets. Comes complete with comprehensive maps to help you find your way around.

Rough Guide Directions Maui

Villa rental business is gaining fast popularity these days. Buying a vacation rental property and putting it on hire is a great business idea. Villa rental property can be of a varied range, starting from villas to lodges, boats, cruises, estate, bungalows, castles, farm houses and apartments. We tell you more about the Villa rental business.

Once you are done buying a villa rental property, you must cast your eyes upon the rental plans, rates, housekeeping and other necessities. You must have a clear idea of the rental of other competitive rental villas and then set yours. The most important things to be kept in mind while determining the rental rates is the size of the property, the amenities the villa will offer, the proximity of sight seeing and tourist spots from the villa and so on. All these factors will determine the rates of the villa. If you have nightly rates, it should be somewhat around 1/5th of the weekly rate. Remember, your monthly mortgage should be less than or equal to that of the weekly rate in peak time.

Have a clear idea about target renters. If your villa is small, you can advertise it as a condo for luxury and relaxation for retired people. If your villa is huge and can accommodate more people, you can target families and tour groups as renters.

Furnish your villa properly. Proper furnishing and appealing décor will take you a long way in the villa rental business. There should be ample of free space, a private pool, steam bath and play areas. The décor and amenities of the rooms should be in proper par with the rates you quote.

Introduce off season discounts to get more people. The peak season should mark the time of highest profit and the off-season should be satisfactory as well. Introducing small discounts will keep the money flowing during off-season.

Payments should be very easy and sorted. Remember, the guests will expect the best payment options and policies from you. Acceptance of personal checks, pay pal, cash, and Online Bank transfer will be easy for the guests. Have a written agreement signed by the guests containing all the rules and regulations related to payment. You can possibly ask them to return the agreement paper when they give you the payment.

The website of your villa should be well-organized. It should contain all the information about the villa such as, the rates according to the number of rooms and days, accessibility, amenities and payment options. Catchy pictures of the villa should be put up on the website.

Honua Kai owners I can help you set up a great rental business – just drop me a note; click here.

There are helicopter tours. Then there are Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tours. With state-of-the-art aircraft, expert pilots and a reputation for excellence, Blue Hawaiian literally soars above its competition.  We have taken many trips with Blue Hawaiian and highly recommend them.

As repeat Best of Maui winners, this family-owned helicopter company continues to take touring to new heights. The shining stars of the company’s fleet are the ultra-quiet ECO-Star helicopters. These Cadillacs of the helicopter world are the first of their kind designed specifically for air touring, and are equipped with the latest safety technology, wrap-around windows, multiple camera system, a cushy interior and more. And with itineraries that cover everywhere from Hana on the east end to the West Maui Mountains, and places in between, Blue Hawaiian is one touring company that sure is going places.

First place:
Blue Hawaiian Helicopter
is located at 105 Kahului Heliport
808-871-8844

Second place:
Air Maui Helicopter Tours
1 Kahului AirportRoad,Hangar 110
808-877-7005

Third place:
UFO Parasailing
12 Ulupono St. • Lahaina, Maui
808-661-7836

Every Sunday morning you will find my wife and I at the #1 place in Maui for a Sunday morning buffet.  This is a no-brainer since we normally get to Maui at 4 PM on a Saturday and Sunday morning has our internal clock off by 5 hours and we are ravenously hungry Sunday morning.

Here are the three winners:

• #1 Place – Ka’anapali Beach Hotel
• #2 Place – Makena Beach & Golf Resort
• #3 Place – Grand Dining Room at Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

Maui Prince Hotel

Best Sunday Brunch and within walking distance!

This is a nice old-old resort that we have Sunday Brunch every time we visit the Honua Kai; you can walk there!  It’s about a 25 minute walk and is south of Black Rock.  Walking along the beach, on the great Ka’anapali board walk, Sunday morning is just fantastic.  The Hawaiian views of Maui and the Pacific ocean get us ready for the feast we are about to devour!

2525 Ka’anapali Parkway,
Ka’anapali Maui. Call 808-661-0011

Website: kbhmaui.com

Makena Beach & Golf Resort

I’m going to be honest and tell you I’ve not had brunch at this resort – it’s way way south Maui and when we are down in that area it’s past brunch time. I will say that all the reviews I read indicate that it’s a fine brunch.

5400 Makena Alanui Dr. • Makena, Maui• 808-875-5888

Website: www.makenaresortmaui.com

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

We have friends that have Sunday Brunch at the Grand Wailea all the time – it’s their big splurge while on Maui.  The Sunday brunch is astronomical along with the price.  For the money I’d rather go to the #1 Sunday Brunch near the Honua Kai and go whale watching for the same price.

The Grand Wailea is a 45 minute drive south from the Honua Kai.

3850Wailea Alanui Dr. •Wailea, Maui• 808-875-1234

Website:  Grandwailea.com

Click to read more

Sam Sato’s

Tucked away in Wailuku Millyard, Sam Sato’s is a little gem with a long history on Maui. Founded in 1933, the first Sam Sato’s was at Camp 3 in Sprecklesville. Over the decades, it moved to Puunene, then Happy Valley—and since 1993 its latest incarnation has been at 1750 Wili Pa Loop

“My grandparents founded Sam Sato’s,” says Kirk Toma. “My parents, Charles and Lynne Toma, are still very much involved. My sister, Keri, helps out too. ”Basically, it’s a breakfast and lunch spot from7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can pick up Manju until 4 p.m.”

Themanju, or Japanese sweet rice cakes, are all baked in house, as are the turnovers —the latter with fruit flavors such as peach, apple, blueberry, coconut, and pineapple coconut. Different designs on the crust guide you to what’s inside. “Our dry noodles are really popular,” says Kirk. We cook them with bean sprouts, green onions and char siu. They go really well with our barbecue-beef sticks. Other noodle dishes include super dry with veggies along with saimin, won-ton mein and chow fun.” You may order take-out noodles in small, medium, large and extra large pans for parties at home.

Diners also love local plate lunches of hamburger steak, stew, spare ribs, beef tomato and yakitori. Sides include kimchee, and thickly-cut French fries with the uniquely Maui-style dip of mayonnaise and mustard. “The beef tomato at Sam Sato’s is out of this world,” says Mickey Helm of Wailuku.

Sam Sato’s
1750Wili Pa Loop
Wailuku. Maui 808-244-7124

Second place winner:
Da Kitchen
425 Koloa St. • Kahului • 808-871-7782
and
2439 S. Kihei Road • Kihei • 808-875-7782

Third place winner:
Aloha Mixed Plate
1285 Front St
Lahaina, Maui • 808-661-3322

Signs educate guests about coral reef and turtles

Environmental Education

There is a coral reef directly in front of the Honua Kai and the resort has posted informational signs which can easily be seen as you walk over a bridge on the way to the beach and ocean.  The signs inform guests that a healthy coral reef is vital to the area and that snorkeling over and around coral should be done without harming the coral.  Feeding fish by hand should not be done since it easily upsets the natural balance of predator and prey fish.  Too many of one type can harm the coral reef as a side effect of fish feeding.

The goal is to have a healthy coral reef in front of the Honua Kai and the signs will ensure that folks who swim/snorkel/SCUBA dive nearby are stewards of the Honua Kai.

Endangered green sea turtle (honu)

Two endangered species of marine and mammal creatures visit the beach right in front of the Honua Kai – the green sea turtle (Honu) and the Hawaiian monk seal.  There are informational signs along the Honua Kai shore line that inform guests of these rare animals and that its not cool to run, scream, and chase these gentle animals.

Retention Ponds

Retention ponds (huge “bowls” of scooped out beach sand and soil) were deliberately designed and landscaped into the Honua Kai property to protect the beach and ocean from soil run-off during heavy rain storms.  The concept of fertigation means that the soil that does run into the retention ponds fertilizes the plants that have deep roots in the ponds to hold the retention ponds together for a long time.

Wetlands and Dunes

The Honua Kai is the ONLY resort on Maui with a wetland pond on the property.  When Honua Kai was designed special attention was paid to the wetland pond to insure it remains alive and healthy today with a great future.  The aukuu (black-crowned night heron) and kolea (Pacific golden plover) have begun stopping here to preen and rest at the Honua Kai wetland pond.  It really adds something to the feeling of being with nature while at the beach.

Almost invisible to the eye are sand dunes which line the beach in front of the Honua Kai.  These sand dunes form a line of defense against howling winds during intense storms and shield the resort from drifting sand.  This can happen often during the year in Maui.  The sand dunes also act as a warehouse of sand that can be used to replace beach sand lost during large pacific storms.