Wailea (in South Maui) and Kaanapali (in West Maui) are the two big hubs of tourism on the island and where 95% of visitors to Maui stay. So, it’s pretty much going to be one of the two.
Kaanapali is usually sunny and dry, making for perfect beach weather. The West Maui Mountains loom large, the three-mile beachfront promenade makes it easy to get around and it seems like there’s always something to do.
The coast along Wailea in South Maui is magnificent. If you can swing it, I think Wailea is THE place to stay. On an island that does luxury well, Wailea is the epicenter.
Kaanapali has pretty idyllic weather all year round (hello Hawaii!), but the south side of the island stays even drier and sunnier than the West side (hence why they’ve started building it up more).
If you’re a serious beach bum, you’re going to be happy in either place. Both Wailea and Kaanapali are abundant with sandy, swimmable beaches but let’s hash out the details a bit more.
Kaanapali has some of the flashiest snorkeling spots on the island plus it’s in close proximity to a lot of good spots in West Maui, but I really like the snorkeling around Wailea and Makena too.
The clear winner here is Wailea. Wailea is hands down the most luxurious resort area in all of Hawaii, not just Maui.