If you read eith Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast the Hyatt Regency Maui always ranks as one of the top 20 resorts in Hawaii-it usually ranks between #12 and #15. It is always the highest (and usually only) ranked resort in Kaanapalli...and for good reason....it is the best that resort has to offer.

It developer Chris Hemmeter did a great job. Plus he had the land to do it right (40 lush tropical acres). Mr. Hemmeter, as his follow up, also did the Westin Maui. However, that was just a remodel of the old Surf hotel...and it shows. The Westin is crowded on to 12 acres vs the Hyatt's 40. Plus, the old Surf hotel was a lower end hotel that had small rooms...Mr. Hemmeter was stuck with that restriction on the remodel. Hence, the Westin has much smaller rooms on a much smaller piece of tropical paradise.

This is not to say the Westin is not a great resort. It is. In fact, Chris Hemmeter to a great job considering the old hotel he had to work with from the outset. However, the fact of the matter is there were restriction from the outset with the Westin whereas the Hyatt came to magnificient life from a blank slate. Any architect will tell you that is the way to go.

This is why the Hyatt oozes tropical charm, is open and spread out, while the Westin closed and compact.

The Hyatt just feels right and the travel magazines agree. This is why the Hyatt always beats out the Westin in rankings.

While it is true that the Westin is closer to Whaler's Village I think that fact can be looked at as a pro or a con. Did you really travel thousands of miles to be right next to a shopping center (a truly lovely one) so you could save a few extra foot steps.

In my opinion I'll walk the few extra steps along the beautiful beach walk path to have the quiet, charm, and 40 tropical acres that the Hyatt has to offer every time.

The Hyatt just has the aloha spirit.

The Westin is the kid brother "runner up".