If you have kids (especially younger ones) you GOTTA stay here! we have never been to this island before, so did alot of research before we came. had some friends that stayed in ekahi village down the road in wailea, and some other friends that stayed the other way near kam 2. the mana kai is da bomb for one reason: location, location, location! you are right on the beach-no lie, like 15 yards and youre there! A ton of the other condos you have to cross s. kihei rd (good luck-run you bugga!!) or if they say you are on the beach like many in wailea, only a few rooms are on the beach and the rest might be like 100 yds or more away depending on where your room lies in their vast compound! the mana kai sits almost parallel to the ocean and is very small. we stayed with our 2 kids (2 and 4) my mother in law and brother in law, and my other brother in law and his wife. The rooms have a unique set up in that a larger room faces the water, has a full kitchen and plenty of space and a smaller room, which is attatched by a common hallway with the larger room, has a bedroom and a full bath. so if you go with other people, its like staying in a house-it was so convenient being so close to the ocean with the kids-don't know how many times i had to go to the room to get food, snorkel stuff, juice, "daddy, poo poo coming!". camera, etc. If i'd have been farther away (ie just about any other condo) I would have jacked 5 bags o' poi from the foodland and taken the next plane home! this place is like 1/4 mile from where wailea starts so you are only like 5 min. from a ton of other beaches if you get sick of the awesome beach 15 yards away (try Makena beach next to the old church). Theres alot of talk about sorento's next door, but my brother in law ate there (he and his wife are doctors) and they said the food was just OK and the service was irritating (they would refill there water after EVERY sip to the point where they would drink anything just to have some time alone!) Best place to eat: "Da Kitchen"-go back up s. kihei rd past kam3 and take a right at the shave ice stand. Get the Hawaiin plate and a side of poi-it will last you for 2 days! TONS of food without chaa ching! Also, rent from Aloha rentacar-they pick you up and are alot cheaper than anyone else, even though their cars might not be super cherry. so try this place, especially if you have kids-its awesome!
ps-if you get anything at the keawakapu store at the mana kai, check your change if the young blondish guy is helping you-he was so baked on the maui ganja when we were there that he didn't even know where he was!!

We stayed at the Mana Kai Resort from July 13 - 22, 2004. We stayed in unit 215. The guy that owns this unit has a website (and webcam) for his condo - checkout www.mauimanakai.com. We rented the two bedroom configuration. There were five of us - two parents, three teenage boys. The configuration worked fine. The beach is great - Keawakapu Beach. Lots of sand, snorkling, medium waves (my kids did lots of boogy boarding). You can walk for a couple miles along the beach. About a 1/2 mile down the beach a sidewalk starts that runs along the resorts - great place for a morning walk or jog. The one bedroom has a beautiful view of the beach. The one bedroon hotel room is on the non-beach side of the building and therefore has no beach view. I've got several pictures of the Mana Kai Resort at

We loved this place - stayed there in December 2003 for 11 days. We were on the top floor and what a view. It was really quiet and all you had to do was take the elevator down to just a few steps to the pool and beach. Great snorkeling out front also. We were disappointed that there wasn't a barbecue but you can go over to the Surfside to barbecue if you want. We would go back again and we are pretty picky about where we stay. Do your research on the internet and you won't find a better value for right on the beach. The restaurant downstairs is great and Sorrento's next door is, too. Walking on this beach you see many multi-million dollar homes.

Just returned from super 4 day weekend (July 4th 2004). Stayed in hotel room on the property (307B). Room was clean, well kept and daily service was good---towels (both bathroom and beach) were plentiful and always available at the desk. The property is magnificent---small but right on the water. The beach is great---long walks available right in front of hotel. Can walk to Wailea property and use their beach bar (just OK). Good body surfing---some rocks so small kids have got to be watched. On property restaurant (Palm) is so-so with kinda inattendent help. But setting is marvelous. Next door (adjoining property) is Sorento's on the Beach. A don't miss place to eat---great service---presentation and food is as good as it gets. Assume $30 entrees as a rule with normal island booze costs---and they have good wine list. Veal dishes all superb. Another good eat bet is a KKO about 2 miles up the beach. Try the Bluenose, a local catch, well worth it. Pan seared, then baked with toasted coconut and topped off with drizzle of Mango Sauce---no better seafood meal in the islands. Lahaina about 40 minutes away assuming traffic flows OK (not always a good bet).

Enjoy yourself---we'll certainly be back there for a periodic weekend when we need to hide from Oahu pace.