Sugar Beach Or Kaanapli?

I can%26#39;t decide between the Sugar Beach Area or Kannapali area. Which do you prefer and why? What are the pluses and minuses. Aren%26#39;t the beaches/weather better in Sugar Beach?

Sugar Beach Or Kaanapli?

Kaanapali is more of a resort area than Sugar Beach. It%26#39;s a great area to stay, close to Lahaina and the beaches are great. It is more expensive than the Sugar Beach area and more touristy. For a good swimming beach you will want to stay right in Kaanapali resort area, anything north will not have very good swimming beaches until you get to Napili. The Honokowai area just north and the Kahana area have many oceanfront complexes to choose from for less $$$.

I also love Sugar Beach for the weather and the cost, it is located at the north end of Kihei. The beaches just south of Sugar Beach until you get to the Kamaole beaches in South Kihei tend to be a little rocky but there are still many many great places to stay. If you are looking at The Sugar Beach Resort area, that beach is perfectly acceptable for swimming and the beach is long, you can walk for miles. It does tend to be slightly more windy there but it can be windy anywhere on the island at any time. It%26#39;s also a quieter area. Some people may like that and some might not.

There are many places to stay in Kihei that are also great and affordable. You may also want to explore South Kihei as well.

Sugar Beach Or Kaanapli?

Quite a few places on Maui (West and South) are ON beaches, but not directly on beaches that are good for swimming/snorkeling. If you are considering Sugar Beach, I%26#39;d also look farther south to S. Kihei and Wailea to find the best beaches for swimming/snorkeling. They begin with the Kamaole beach parks and extend south through Wailea.

Aloha! Sorry, but I must chime in here.... While more of the beaches in South Maui are continuous, I MUCH prefer the diversity and selection of beaches to the North (West)!

I honestly feel that once exposed to the nicer beaches either South (Kihei-Wailea) OR North(Kaanapali-Kapalua) of Sugar beach, you would feel cheated hanging there. (JMHO!!)

Keep in mind, in West Maui, Kahekili/Keka%26#39;a (or ';Airport';) beach is located on the Kaanapali/Honokowai border %26amp; is one of the cleanest, nicest beaches on the island. Also, you are a VERY short drive to: Kapalua beach, Napili beach, DT Flemming (excel boogie boarding), Oneloa, Slaughterhouse, Honolua bay..... and, of course famous Kaanapali beach....etc etc...

Lastly, you will be less than 15 min from Lahaina %26amp; %26lt;10 to Whalers Village! While Kihei has some ';interesting'; bazzar-type shopping, I don%26#39;t care for the ';Shops at Wailea'; vibe...

Remember, I make no bones about being a (north) West Maui purist, and there are many who will say it%26#39;s best to be South!!! (eh, Sue??)

They are both great. If you are on a budget and want to stay on a good swimming beach and in an oceanfront condo then I would opt for Sugar Beach.

The Mahana in West Maui is another great place to stay oceanfront although the beach is not good for swimming.

The up side to staying on a beach that is pretty to look at and walk on but not good for swimming is you tend to get out an explore more. When we used to stay at The Mahana we would explore other beaches alot. Now we barely leave the property we stay at.

Thanks for the advice. I think it is making me more confused though. I was looking at Kaanapali shores (good price), but it appears that it is actually north of Kaanapali. So I was thinking to stay within that price range maybe it would be better to go down to Sugar beach. Would Kamaole area better? I don%26#39;t need to be in the middle of everything, but it would be nice to have a few stores/restaurants within walking distance.

Problem is, stores and restaurants get established where there%26#39;s a customer base -- traffic. Kaanapali has a lot of high rises. Lahaina has a touristy Front Street. So...businesses want those venues.

I don%26#39;t do a lot of walking on Maui that isn%26#39;t on beaches. It%26#39;s hot on the concrete and I%26#39;m not on Maui to shop, but to enjoy Maui. If I want to shop I drive to shopping. That%26#39;s just me, of course. There are vistors who want to ';mingle'; and want to ';people watch'; from their lanais.

The Lahaina/Kaanapali area is the more densely-populated area of West Maui. Farther north in Kahana, Napili, Kapalua it is quieter. Wherever you are in West Maui, you are out on the NW lobe of the island -- a bit more of a trek to sightsee the rest of Maui.

Sugar Beach is kinda all-by-its-lonesome there at the north end of Kihei. You will definitely be driving to *anywhere*. But...it%26#39;s a nice central point from which to tour the island.

South Maui has been our choice: S. Kihei and Wailea.

Do remember that Maui is a small island. You can cross the valley in 30 minutes. You can travel from Wailea to Lahaina in less than an hour.

the area just before kihei and after it seemed more trashy... trash on side of road etc.. the parks looked a bit dirty too IMO. The west maui area seemed a bit cleaner and better maintained. It might not always be that way but it was for the 3 times we drove south.. so my vote is for Kanapali area or north.. But we will always want to be near honolua bay for the great snorkeling :) We like the honokowie ( sorry about spelling) area.. we stayed at the maui kai and loved it but the mahana looked nice too. The beach worked fine for us to swim at.. and we could also snorkel there too :) Just my opinion :) I think I am a west maui snob though :) But hey you are on maui and it is all good anyways :)

Wailea is very pretty just south of Kihei if you have the $$$ to spend. Kaanapali Villas is located on a great swimming beach. You would probably like it there. You just won%26#39;t have a unit very close to the ocean like you would at Sugar Beach.

If you do decide on Sugar Beach, you won%26#39;t be isolated. You can drive to The Maui Ocean Center where you will find a variety of restaurants. Practically around the corner. You can also drive into Kihei for lots of places to eat and shop.

Guess what Chisue...... An ABC store opened a couple of weeks back in the old Suda Store. Right across the street from the Kihei Canoe Club Hale. There is also a sign up that says Suda is opening a new place off the Piilani Hwy.

Shawna,

If you%26#39;re confused it%26#39;s because you%26#39;ve managed to step into the West Maui-South Maui debate that happens on this forum when someone poses a question like yours. My take on it is this:

Both West and South Maui are among the most beautiful vacation spots in the world and most people would have a wonderful time in either. There are some differences between them but they%26#39;re minor compared to the total experience of just being in Maui. I personally like West Maui better but that%26#39;s entirely a matter of personal taste and preferences. I can understand why some would like South Maui better and I also like some things about South Maui better myself.

My recommendation: Stay a few days in both places if you have time. If not stay in one and explore the other on day trips. That way when you come back you%26#39;ll have developed your own preference.

Enjoy your time in Maui whatever you decide.

My $0.02.