Maui’s well-heeled vacationers have long flocked to Wailea, a verdant paradise lined with upscale beachfront resorts. Kaanapali, 45 minutes up the coastal Honoapiʻilani Highway, was the island’s bustling alternative.

But the debut of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kā‘anapali’s $160-million renovation is reshaping the traditional narrative, bringing a taste of upscale Wailea to the buzzier Kaanapali Beach. The 12-acre property’s crown jewel is Hōkūpaʻa Tower, Kāʻanapali’s only modern luxury experience. Its 217 spacious guestrooms and suites feature large wraparound terraces for observing the ocean, the resort’s six-pool Kawaiola Aquatic Playground and the dazzling starscape.

© The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Booking through American Express Travel’s The Hotel Collection scored us an upgrade to a commodius corner suite on the tower’s eighth floor, nestled between the shimmering Pacific and majestic West Maui mountains. Other benefits included a convenient 4 p.m. check-out before our redeye home, as well as a $100 credit we lavished on strawberry and banana daiquiris.

© The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

As tower guests, we enjoyed exclusive access to The Lanai at Hōkūpaʻa, a private sanctuary sequestered within the larger resort. Located on the ground floor of the 11-story tower, The Lanai boasts its own restaurant, a multitude of plunge pools overlooking the white-sand beach, unlimited snack service and a fully stocked bar. Aside from alcohol, all food and beverage service is included in the room rate. Herein lies the pinnacle of Hawaiian luxury: No jockeying for a chaise longue, no lifting a pen to sign a check.

© The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Hōkūpaʻa, Hawaiian for North Star, may well be an unplanned double entendre and not just the beacon you’ll see from your balcony on a typical arcadian evening. Opened just more than a year after wildfires ravaged Maui’s northwest communities, the elegant Hōkūpaʻa may be considered a guiding light for Hawaii Tourism Authority’s new $6 million marketing campaign to welcome back vacationers. Cascading waterfalls, lush gardens and flamingo-ridden koi ponds that greet guests upon check-in signal The Westin Maui is ready for business.

© The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

The hotel’s sweeping renovation includes a full day’s worth of aquatic activity: an 87,000-square-foot natatory playground with a 270-foot waterslide, an adults-only pool deck with a swim-up bar, a swim-through grotto and whirlpools galore. Unwind at the redesigned Heavenly Spa by Westin, a 15,000-square-foot oasis specializing in a full menu of facials, wraps and massages. The Lomi Lomi massage, a Hawaiian technique with movements mimicking the waves, targets joints you may not know you had. Unwind after your service in a private cabana, maybe with a Mai Tai in hand.

© RED Hospitality and Leisure

But if you’d like to venture off property, call RED Hospitality and Leisure for a ride to Maalaea Harbor, where you can board its new Ali’i Kai Maui catamaran. By day, the luxurious 65-foot vessel provides snorkeling, scuba diving and whale-watching excursions. By dusk, Ali’i Kai specializes in date nights to remember. The Royal Sunset Sail is a magical 2.5-hour journey with an otherworldly backdrop. A ticket for the Premium Top Deck provides private seating; a dedicated server for your locally inspired, five-course menu; and exclusive pours of Moët & Chandon and Caymus Vineyards.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali

2365 Kaanapali Pkwy
Lahaina, HI 96761
tel 808 667 2525