Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa debuts extensive renovations

What is the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa?

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is an 810-room hotel that opened in 1980 and bills itself as the first destination resort in the world.

The property just completed a large-scale, multiyear renovation wherein management refreshed all the rooms, expanded the famous Japanese restaurant (Japengo) and totally overhauled the primary swimming pool.

The resort comprises three main towers: the Napili, Atrium and Lahaina towers, all perched upon 40 acres of oceanfront along a lovely section of the world-famous Kaanapali Beach.

How much the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa costs and how to book it

The Hyatt Regency Maui is expensive, but it can be a bargain if you’re using World of Hyatt points.

The hotel is now a Category 6 World of Hyatt property, meaning a standard award night costs 25,000 points. On some off-peak dates, you can find a room for as few as 21,000 points. This is an excellent deal for Maui, where rooms at most hotels (including this one) are hard to find for less than $700 a night.

Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

I was in Room 2023 in the Atrium Tower for this visit, but I’ve stayed in both of the other towers over the years. All of the towers have their own charm, and each offers a selection of rooms with ocean views.

My newly remodeled double room was modern and fresh, with updated lighting and furniture. It felt much brighter and warmer than the rooms before the renovation.

The small lanai had updated furniture, with sweeping views of the resort’s pool and the Pacific Ocean.

It was an ideal place to watch the incredible Maui sunsets.

Inside the room, I found plenty of outlets, both for standard plugs and USB ports, as well as modern lighting, blackout curtains and a small desk. There was a 48-inch flat-screen television with lots of channels that also allowed for Google Chromecast streaming. The fast Wi-Fi was free for World of Hyatt members. There were also convenient spaces under the comfortable beds to store some items as well.

The bathrooms at the hotel have gotten a major upgrade with larger, more open spaces, including double-sink vanities and modern fixtures.

The only thing that clearly dated back to the 1980 opening was the bathtub, which was pretty small.

The closets faced the front door and didn’t have closing doors (except for the space holding the iron and ironing board). There were a few drawers and a safe, along with a few hangers, robes and slippers. While this style of closet did allow the room to feel more open, there weren’t a ton of places to put luggage and clothes.

Toiletries were by Kamahao, currently branded as Marilyn Monroe Spa, but the hotel told me the toiletries will soon undergo a rebrand. (The spa is no longer called the Marilyn Monroe Spa; it is now referred to as “The Spa” — more on this below.)

What we ate at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

The Hyatt Regency Maui has three main restaurants as well as a coffee shop and several food trucks.

Japengo

Japengo is the dramatically expanded Pacific Rim and sushi restaurant — a Maui favorite.

My brother and I had an amazing multicourse meal one night in the expanded section of the restaurant with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

Dinner for us started on a high note with pork belly bao buns ($23) and spicy edamame ($13). Our main courses included a new favorite for me: the shaking beef noodles ($48). My brother had the Chef Masa’s Special with 15 pieces of sushi, the moriawase sashimi suijin, priced at $70. He told me it was among the best sashimi he’s ever had.

Swan Court/Son’z

You’ll find breakfast at Swan Court in the mornings with a la carte items or a full buffet for $40 for adults and $16 for children up to 12.

The setting is lovely, with views of one of the resort’s ponds and swans and ducks floating by.

The buffet had a good selection of Asian and American cuisine with pastries, bacon, sausage, eggs, fresh fruit and cereal.

As a special treat, the staff brought us ulu pancakes (more like a cake), which were scrumptious.

You can also grab dinner at the same location at night when it turns into a steakhouse called Son’z. I didn’t get to try it, but the menu looks exciting, with items like a seafood tower for $120 or a filet mignon for $59.

Umalu

Umalu is the poolside bar and restaurant serving specialty cocktails along with salads, sandwiches and other bar food-type nibbles. We tried the chicken tenders for $19, which were tasty.

There are also a few food trucks serving shaved ice ($9) and other treats.

The Regency Club

If you are a Globalist or buy up to a club room, you can use the Regency Club, where they serve a full buffet breakfast, light snacks during the day and evening hors d’oeuvres and treats.

Amenities and things to do at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

This is a big resort, and there are lots of things to keep you occupied. There’s a half-acre swimming pool, a children’s lagoon and waterslides. Not to mention, of course, the spectacular and world-famous Kaanapali Beach.

Pools, waterslides and the beach at the Hyatt Regency

Some longtime fans of the hotel will be sad to see that the hidden Grotto Bar is no more, but it’s more than made up for, in my opinion, with a larger swimming pool featuring a sundeck and a big expansion of Japengo.

At the sundeck, the hotel can stage movie nights and entertainment. This is also a prime sunbathing area with first-come, first-served lounge chairs.

A classic feature that didn’t change is the kiddie pool, along with the waterslides and hot tub.

My brother and I were sure to shoot down the waterslide several times every day we were at the resort.

The kids playground had a sprinkler and a shallow pool. It was a popular spot as our visit overlapped with spring break.

The kids area is attached to a deeper pool with a waterfall and stairs leading up to the “big kids'” waterslide.

The Hyatt Regency Maui has a variety of cabanas available for rent, priced dynamically by season between $225 and $500 for a full day.

The beach at the resort is small but gorgeous. There is quite a bit of erosion on this stretch, with the paths partly eroded in spots. That said, there’s enough beach to still enjoy swimming in the ocean and sunbathing on the sand. The waves here are gentle, so it’s an ideal place for ocean activities like snorkeling.

The Spa at the Hyatt Regency Maui

The Spa, rebranded from the former Marilyn Monroe Spa, is a sanctuary for relaxation after long days in the sun. I got the Lomi Lomi Hawaiian massage, priced at $180. If you book through the Hyatt concierge, you’ll get 10% off.

The men’s locker room had a decent sauna, a steam room and a hot tub that you can use for free with any spa service.

Stay Fit Gym at the Hyatt Regency Maui (Moana Athletic Club)

There’s a separate gym below the spa filled with a huge array of free weights, weight machines and even Peloton bikes. If you sign in to a Peloton account on the bikes, you get 100 World of Hyatt points for each session (you know I got those points).

Wildlife at the Hyatt Regency Maui

One of the many things kids will enjoy about the Hyatt Regency Maui is the incredible amount of wild animals the resort offers.

Parrots and other types of exotic bird species are housed around the resort, with some of the hotel’s biggest bird stars brought out during the day in large enclosures around the property.

There are also swans and other wild birds all over the property.

Of course, the stars of the wildlife exhibits are the penguins. These are a resort favorite. The enclosure is currently undergoing repairs, but the hotel assured me they will be back on display soon.

Be sure to walk the grounds to check out some of the fabulous Asian sculptures, tile work and paintings.

It is a truly beautiful property.

Drums of the Pacific Luau

The Drums of the Pacific Luau is a classic Hawaiian luau with a full buffet and a three-hour show; it costs $210 for adults and $105 for children.

Insider tips for staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

There are lots of ways to make a stay at the Hyatt Regency Maui extra special.

• Do yourself a favor and do the Tour of the Stars. It’s the Hyatt’s rooftop astronomy program, with an hourlong show featuring several telescopes and a guide who shows you various constellations and planets.
• Note that there is no complimentary sunscreen available at the pool. You’ll need to buy it at the activities desk or at the gift shop if you don’t bring your own.
• Pets under 50 pounds are welcome for $150 per pet for up to six days.
• There is a resort fee of $49 per day. Remember that World of Hyatt Globalists get this fee waived. The resort fee includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes and yoga, gym access, 15% off greens fees at Kaanapali Golf Courses, and classes like weaving, hula and ukulele lessons, wildlife tours, penguin and koi feedings, and a welcome lei upon arrival.
• Parking costs $40 for valet and $25 for self-parking.
• The hotel has laundry facilities for extended vacations. There is a self-service laundry room.
• You also get unlimited tennis, pickleball or basketball court time with equipment included.
• Be sure to take some long walks along the gorgeous Kaanapali beach. There’s a walkway that extends all the way from Lahaina to the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.

Accessibility

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is fully wheelchair accessible. There are 10 rooms that are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, including roll-in showers, grab bars throughout the rooms, and beds, sofas and closets that are closer to the floor.

The pools and hot tub are also accessible and feature chair lifts for those who may need one.

Paths, elevators and doorways are wide, and there is a wheelchair path from the main level down to the pools. Braille signage can be found in the elevators and on each floor.

Bottom line

I have a special place in my heart for the Hyatt Regency Maui. Friendly employees, a large property, remodeled rooms and lots of amenities make it a great place to call home while visiting Maui. Each time I go back, I end up not wanting to leave and find myself wondering when I can return. The reconstruction of nearby Lahaina is already underway, and I can’t wait to go back and report on the progress of the island.

While it’s not the most luxurious resort on Maui, it’s rich in heart and soul, and can provide an incredible value — especially when using your World of Hyatt points.

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