#1 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★★ · from $1,200/night
"Kids For All Seasons, snorkel-soft beach at Wailea, the family resort other family resorts measure against."
9.8Room & Design
9.9Service
9.9Location
Why for a family holiday: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea opened in 1990 and remains the family resort the entire Maui family-holiday market is measured against. Three hundred and eighty rooms across the eight-storey beachfront tower, every room with a balcony, the upper-tier ocean-view suites with two bathrooms solve the family logistics, and the adults-only Serenity Pool means parents can trade off.
Best room: Ocean-View Two-Bedroom Suite (the family-of-four flagship) or Plunge Pool Two-Bedroom Suite for the upper tier with private outdoor space.
#2 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★★ · from $700/night
"Hibiscus Pool maze with longest waterslides on the island, the children's-pool benchmark."
9.7Room & Design
9.7Service
9.9Location
Why for a family holiday: Grand Wailea opened in 1991 as the Hyatt Regency Grand Wailea and was rebranded as Waldorf Astoria in 2014 (the property remains under Hilton ownership). Seven hundred and seventy-six rooms across multiple buildings, the upper-tier Napua Tower operating as a hotel-within-a-hotel with its own lounge; the multi-pool Wailea Canyon complex with its water elevator is the family draw.
Best room: Napua Tower King Suite (the hotel-within-a-hotel upgrade) or Two-Bedroom Suite for the family-of-four flagship.
#3 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★★ · from $650/night
"Mokapu Beach, four-pool tier, the design-led family pick."
9.6Room & Design
9.7Service
9.8Location
Why for a family holiday: Andaz Maui at Wailea opened in 2013 as the design-led contemporary alternative to the older Wailea five-star resorts, the Hyatt-group's flagship Andaz property in the Pacific. Two hundred and ninety rooms and 13 villas; the villas suit multigenerational trips, and the cascading pools are dramatic, though the beach out front is shared and busy.
Best room: Andaz Wailea Villa (the four-bedroom multi-generational flagship with private pool) or Wailea Suite for the family-of-four option.
#4 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★★ · from $650/night
"All-suite, Kea Lani Camp kids programme, the multi-generational standard."
9.6Room & Design
9.8Service
9.8Location
Why for a family holiday: Fairmont Kea Lani Maui is the only all-suite resort on the south coast of Maui, every room is a one-bedroom suite or larger, with separate sitting room and bedroom, plus a private balcony. Three hundred and seventy suites and 37 villas; the two-bedroom villas add private plunge pools and direct beach access, and the all-suite format is the family default for a reason.
Best room: Kea Lani Villa (the two-bedroom flagship with private plunge pool) or One-Bedroom Suite for the entry-level all-suite product.
#5 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★ · from $500/night
"Multi-pool layout, oceanfront, family-friendly with strong fitness, the active-family base."
9.4Room & Design
9.5Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: Wailea Beach Resort, A Marriott Resort, sits between the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea on the Wailea cluster, 547 rooms across three towers, with the family infrastructure built around the four-pool complex (including the biggest waterslide setup after the Grand Wailea) makes it the activity-first pick; rooms skew compact, so book up a category.
Best room: Two-Bedroom Hospitality Suite (the family-of-four setup) or Concierge Level Ocean View King for the upgrade tier.
#6 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Kapalua, north-west coast · ★★★★★ · from $1,200/night · formerly Montage Kapalua Bay
"Four-bedroom residences with full kitchens, the most residential luxury setup on the island — currently mid-rebrand, so manage expectations."
9.8Room & Design
9.8Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: This is the all-residence (no standard hotel rooms) Kapalua property: every accommodation is a one-, two-, three-, or four-bedroom residence with a full kitchen, separate living room, and private outdoor space. Fifty residences across the cliffside gardens give every family a kitchen and laundry — the most residential high-end setup on the island.
The honest caveat: Montage left in March 2026 when Marriott International took over management; the property now trades as The Resort at Kapalua Bay and is slated to convert to a St. Regis in 2027. It is still open and bookable (now via Marriott Bonvoy), but the Montage-era kids' programming and service rituals are in flux during the handover. Book it for the residences and the setting, not for a brand promise that no longer applies.
Best room: Three-Bedroom Residence (the family-flagship with kitchen and full living room) or Four-Bedroom Residence for the multi-generational option.
#7 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Kapalua, north-west coast · ★★★★★ · from $700/night
"Ambassadors of the Environment program, Cousteau-led education for children."
9.6Room & Design
9.8Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, opened in 1992 on a 50-acre cliffside estate above Honolua Bay (the north-west coast's most-protected snorkel beach) and is the brand's family-flagship in Hawaii. Four hundred and sixty-three rooms and suites across the multi-building complex; the environmental kids' programme and the cooler, quieter Kapalua microclimate set it apart from the Wailea strip.
Best room: Cliff House (the four-bedroom rental property, the multi-generational flagship) or Two-Bedroom Suite for the family-of-four.
#8 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali, west coast · ★★★★ · from $400/night
"Camp Hyatt, Drums of the Pacific luau, the family trip with built-in cultural programming."
9.4Room & Design
9.5Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa opened in 1980 as the first major resort on Ka'anapali Beach, and remains the family-resort flagship of the Ka'anapali cluster. Eight hundred and six rooms across five buildings on the 40-acre property, with the family infrastructure running at full scale: wildlife in the lobby gardens, a swim-through grotto pool, and a luau on-site.
Best room: Regency Club Suite (the upgrade tier with private lounge and concierge) or Two-Bedroom Suite for the family-of-four option.
#9 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali, west coast · ★★★★ · from $420/night
"Five-pool Aquatic Playground, the multi-pool family resort, Ka'anapali Beach."
9.4Room & Design
9.5Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Ka'anapali, opened in 1971 (originally as the Maui Surf) and has been operated by Westin since 1989. The property completed a $130-million renovation in 2021 that updated the room product and the pool complex. Seven hundred and fifty-eight rooms across two towers; the multi-level pool complex with slides is the centre of the day, and the Ka'anapali beach walk starts at the door.
Best room: Two-Bedroom Suite (the family-of-four setup) or Heavenly Premium King Suite for the upgrade tier.
#10 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali, west coast · ★★★★ · from $380/night
"Black Rock cliff dive ceremony at sunset, Hawaiian cultural family experience."
9.3Room & Design
9.4Service
9.8Location
Why for a family holiday: Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa sits at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach, the property occupies Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock), the volcanic-rock promontory that is the most-significant cultural site on the western coast and the location of the daily cliff-dive ceremony at sunset. Five hundred-plus rooms spread along the rock, and the snorkelling off Black Rock is the best on Ka'anapali.
Best room: Black Rock Two-Bedroom Suite (the family-of-four flagship) or Lagoon View Room for the entry-level family option.
#11 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali, west coast · ★★★★ · from $450/night
"Full kitchens for families, central Ka'anapali Beach."
9.4Room & Design
9.4Service
9.7Location
Why for a family holiday: Marriott's Maui Ocean Club is the timeshare-and-villa-rental property at the south end of Ka'anapali Beach, every accommodation is a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom villa with full kitchen, separate living room, washer-dryer, and private balcony. The villas run the full condo setup; it is a timeshare property operating hotel-style, so book early and expect family scale everywhere.
Best room: Three-Bedroom Villa (the family-of-eight flagship with full kitchen) or Two-Bedroom Villa for the family-of-six option.
#12 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Hāna, east coast · ★★★★★ · from $650/night
"Remote East Maui, multi-generational quiet, no Wi-Fi competing for attention."
9.3Room & Design
9.6Service
9.0Location
Why for a family holiday: Hāna-Maui Resort sits in Hāna town on the eastern coast of Maui, a 2.5-hour drive from the airport along the road-to-Hāna (the famous 64-bridge, 600-curve road), and is the only luxury resort on this side of the island. Sixty-six rooms and suites across the property; the sea-facing cottages take open coastline, and the road to Hana means committing the family to the quiet for a few days, which is the point.
Best room: Sea Ranch Cottage (the cliffside family-of-four flagship) or multi-bedroom rental cottage for the family-of-six option.
#13 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali North, west coast · ★★★★ · from $420/night
"Full kitchens, multi-bedroom apartment-style, the family with grandparents trip."
9.4Room & Design
9.4Service
9.5Location
Why for a family holiday: Honua Kai Resort and Spa is the all-suite, full-kitchen condo-resort on the north end of Ka'anapali (Kahekili Beach, immediately north of the Sheraton Maui's Black Rock), opened in 2009 as one of the newer Maui resort properties. Six hundred and twenty-eight suites across three towers on North Ka'anapali; full kitchens and washer-dryers make it the practical long-stay base.
Best room: Three-Bedroom Hokulani Suite (the multi-generational flagship) or Two-Bedroom Honua Kai Suite for the family-of-six option.
#14 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Napili, north-west coast · ★★★★ · from $450/night
"Small kid-friendly cove, no resort sprawl, the calm family hotel option."
9.3Room & Design
9.7Service
9.6Location
Why for a family holiday: Napili Kai Beach Resort is the family-owned (since 1962) Napili Bay property, 163 rooms across multiple two-storey buildings on the cliff above Napili Bay, the protected snorkel cove between Ka'anapali and Kapalua. The asset is the family-run scale and the Napili Bay snorkel: the calm crescent is effectively the resort's front yard.
Best room: Hawaiian Suite (the multi-bedroom flagship) or a Beachfront One-Bedroom Suite if four of you can share.
#15 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali North, west coast · ★★★★ · from $500/night
"Kids' programme, all-villa layout, the timeshare-style family stay."
9.4Room & Design
9.4Service
9.5Location
Why for a family holiday: Westin Nanea Ocean Villas opened in 2017 on the north end of Ka'anapali (immediately north of Honua Kai) as the Westin-brand timeshare-and-villa-rental property, the newest of the Ka'anapali condo-resort properties. Three hundred and ninety villas across the property; full kitchens and the zero-entry pool carry the family setup, and it runs villa-quiet compared with the main Westin down the beach.
Best room: Three-Bedroom Villa (the multi-generational flagship) or Two-Bedroom Villa for the family-of-six.
#16 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Wailea, south coast · ★★★★★ · from $1,500/night
"Three-and-four-bedroom luxury villas, the multi-generational private-residence option."
9.7Room & Design
9.8Service
9.9Location
Why for a family holiday: Wailea Beach Villas is the all-villa luxury property in the Wailea cluster, every accommodation is a two-bedroom, three-bedroom, or four-bedroom luxury villa with full kitchen, separate living room, private outdoor pool, and direct beachfront access on Wailea Beach. Only a fraction of the villas reach the rental pool at once, so the right beachfront unit needs booking months out.
Best room: Four-Bedroom Beachfront Villa (the multi-generational flagship) or Three-Bedroom Beachfront Villa for the family-of-six option.
#17 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali, west coast · ★★★★ · from $280/night
"Beachfront, Hawaiian cultural programmes for kids, the value-family option."
9.2Room & Design
9.5Service
9.6Location
Why for a family holiday: Outrigger Ka'anapali Beach Resort (formerly Ka'anapali Beach Hotel until 2024) is the value-tier family resort on Ka'anapali, 432 rooms across multiple buildings on a beachfront position immediately south of Black Rock. The asset is the Hawaiian-cultural programming, run daily and taken seriously, at a rate well under the flagship resorts.
Best room: Two-Bedroom Suite (the family-of-four flagship) or Ocean View Room for the entry-level family option.
#18 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali North, west coast · ★★★★ · from $450/night
"All-villa, two pools, the multi-week-family stay option."
9.3Room & Design
9.4Service
9.4Location
Why for a family holiday: Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas opened in 2003 on the north end of Ka'anapali (next door to Honua Kai and Westin Nanea), 1,021 villas across the property, the largest all-villa-property on Maui by villa count. The family flagship is the Two-Bedroom Lockoff Villa, which splits into independent units when the grandparents come too.
Best room: Two-Bedroom Lockoff Villa (the family-flexibility flagship) or One-Bedroom Suite for the smaller-family option.
#19 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Ka'anapali North, west coast · ★★★★ · from $220/night
"Apartment-style, oceanfront, full kitchens, the budget multi-generational option."
9.0Room & Design
9.2Service
9.3Location
Why for a family holiday: Aston Kaanapali Shores is the value-tier all-apartment property on the north end of Ka'anapali (north of the Westin Nanea cluster, on the Kaanapali Shores beachfront). Four hundred and sixty-three apartments across the multi-tower property, the family flagship being the two-bedroom suites; oceanfront condo value is the whole proposition here.
Best room: Two-Bedroom Oceanfront Apartment (the family-of-four flagship) or One-Bedroom Apartment for the smaller-family option.
#20 in Maui for a Family Holiday
Napili, north-west coast · ★★★★ · from $280/night
"Small-resort intimacy, Napili Bay, kitchenette suites, the small-family quiet pick."
9.1Room & Design
9.6Service
9.4Location
Why for a family holiday: The Mauian Hotel on Napili Beach is the smallest hotel on this list, 44 rooms only, family-owned since 1959, on a single low-rise beachfront building on Napili Bay. The asset is the smallest-property scale, 44 rooms means the staff knows every guest by name within a day, and Napili Bay itself does the entertaining.
Best room: Beachfront Studio (the entry-level kitchenette unit) or any direct-beachfront room for the family-of-four option.
Why Maui
Maui is the only American island where the family-vacation infrastructure was built around the multi-generational trip as the customer. The whole tourism economy of the island, the kids' clubs at every five-star resort, the snorkel-equipment-rental at every beach, the shave-ice stand on every corner, the luau on every Friday night, the road-to-Hāna circuit, the Haleakala sunrise tour, was built over the past forty years specifically for the American family flying in from the West Coast for the seven-day spring-break or summer trip. No other Hawaiian island compresses this: the Big Island has the volcano but the family infrastructure is thinner; Kauai has the scenery but the resort cluster is smaller; Oahu has the city but the beach quality is mixed. Maui is the family-vacation island the rest of Hawaii is measured against.
The functional infrastructure of a Maui family hotel matters more than the brand. Five things separate a real family hotel from a luxury hotel that happens to host families. The kids' club, a real programme (8am-3pm or longer, with structured activities, certified staff, age-grouped) is the asset that gives the parents the morning-and-afternoon planning flexibility the trip needs. The pool complex, a multi-pool layout with at least one large waterslide, plus a calm-water family pool and an adult-only pool, handles the day without leaving the property. The snorkel-soft beach, the beach in front of the resort matters as much as the pool; the Wailea-cluster beaches (Mokapu, Wailea, Polo, Po'olenalena) are the calmest on Maui, the Ka'anapali-cluster beaches are longer and slightly choppier, the Kapalua-cluster beaches are the quietest. The connecting-room or suite product, a connecting-room booking (two adjacent rooms with a connecting interior door) is the family-of-five-plus infrastructure; the two-bedroom suite is the upgrade. The dining flexibility, does the breakfast menu accommodate a four-year-old's egg-on-toast at the same time as the parents' eggs benedict, does the room-service work at 6am for the jet-lagged kid, does the in-house casual restaurant work for the family of six without reservations.
The neighbourhood map for Maui family hotels divides into four operating clusters. Wailea (south coast, Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Andaz, Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea Beach Resort) is the highest-tier resort cluster, calm-water beaches, five-resort walking circuit, the strongest kids'-club programmes. Ka'anapali (west coast, Hyatt Regency, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott's Ocean Club) is the longer-beach cluster with the value tier and the Black Rock cliff dive ceremony. Kapalua (north-west coast, The Resort at Kapalua Bay — formerly Montage — and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua) is the quieter end of the western coast, fewer resorts, smaller crowds, the strongest single-property family experiences. Hāna (east coast, Hāna-Maui Resort) is the off-the-grid alternative, the road-to-Hāna trip becomes a multi-night base rather than a day-trip.
How We Ranked These
Editors ranked these hotels on six family-specific criteria, not on overall hotel quality. The criteria are: kids' club product (programmed schedule, staff certification, age-grouping, hours), pool complex (multi-pool layout, waterslides, family pool, separate adult-only or quieter pool), beach quality and snorkel proximity (the beach in front of the property), suite-and-room product (the connecting-room availability, the two-bedroom suite, the multi-generational booking infrastructure), dining flexibility (kid-menu breakfast scaling, in-house casual restaurants, room-service hours), and the soft signals, does the housekeeping handle daily sand-and-towel without prompting, does the front desk recognise the multi-room family booking, does the resort run a real Hawaiian cultural programme (luau, canoe, lei-making) rather than a generic-tropical-resort programme.
Properties that scored highly on absolute luxury but had limited family infrastructure (small kids' clubs, single-pool layouts, beach quality issues, no connecting-room product) ranked lower than properties built around the family holiday. Several adults-skewed boutique hotels did not make this list, they ranked elsewhere in our coverage. A few multi-bedroom condo-villa properties (Honua Kai, Westin Nanea, Marriott's Ocean Club) punched above their tier because their kitchen-suite-villa product is the family-of-six infrastructure that conventional resort rooms cannot match.
The ranking is an editorial product: primary sources, current rate checks, and consistent signals across recent verified family reviews. Hotels cannot pay to appear here.
