The Gardens at West Maui

If you want to lay out by the pool and have servers bring you a Mai Tai while you read a book, then this is not the place for you. However, if you want a clean, comfortable place with a full kitchen to prepare to-go meals while you’re out all day exploring Maui and then come back exhausted and lay your head down and sleep comfortably, then this just might be perfect for you. Located at the South end of Kapalua and across a lazy two lane road to Napili Bay Beach and a 7 minute walk to Kapalua Bay Beach (both of which were named #1 by Dr. Beach on different years) as well as facing the Kapalua Golf Course, this is a great place to stay. Great local restaurants are nearby including one of our favorites, Miso Phat for sushi. Stay here and enjoy much Aloha.

The Gardens is in a great location, within a five minute walk to two of the most beautiful beaches anywhere – Napili Bay and Kapalua Bay. Both of these beaches are crescent shape bays that make the beaches relatively calm. Great for snorkeling, swimming and safe for the kids. Yesterday, because it is December, there were surfers at Napili Bay and they were catching small breakers and riding them into the beach. Kapalua is a favorite site for weddings and taking wedding pictures, in the afternoon I counted four wedding parties coming for picture sessions and couples do get married on the beach. It is that beautiful and the Ritz Carlton has developed a beautiful property on the beach. Both beaches are public and easily available to anyone who wants to use them.

I know the area and wanted to see if there were any timeshares to buy or trade into. I found out about the Gardens walked over to it from where we were staying and was impressed by the location and the beautiful grounds at the rear of the property. The fully grown Hawaiian gardens at the rear of the property are impressive.

I had not seen the inside of the units until I arrived for my visit earlier this week and I was immediately impressed. The unit I am in is on the second floor and is well planned and quite spacious. The living room and kitchen face the rear and look out on the Kapula Bay Golf Course and the front of the unit is the Garden, which separates the walk ways to the rear buildings. There are about 30 units, made up of mostly one bedroom units and some studios. The one bedroom is large with two full bathrooms, the bedroom is large and has a king size bed and there is ample closet space. It is one of the largest one bedrooms that we have stayed in. There is a functional lanai along the entire back of the unit and it faces the golf course.

The condition of the facility is excellent for an older property. The gardens are very well maintained and the landscaping is worthy of picture taking. The furniture is the normal timeshare beach style, not exciting but functional and in good shape. The interior walls and carpeting are neutral tones and light by design.

The Kitchen is great - it has a complete assortment of nearly new full-size appliances and a washer-dryer combo unit in the closet. When I come for my next visit I will drag along a smaller assortment of clothes. The kitchen is functionally well laid out and has everything you would want. Bar stools face the kitchen so you could eat a quick meal there or at the table for four.

A major benefit over many Hawaii timeshares and motel type units is central AC. Yes the winds usually make the room comfortable without AC, but last night there was no wind and it would have been an uncomfortable night. Truthfully, it is one of the reasons that I bought my unit here.

I have not had any problems at the resort. I got in late on Saturday, thanks to my continuing bad luck with United Airlines and their inability to make connecting flights happen. Anyway the office was closed but they have a lock back and a convenience phone which connects them to their sister resort in Kahana. I was able to get everything I needed in a minute or so to get into my unit and finish registration the next day.

There are a few planned activities but in a smaller resort like this they do not have the need to provide them. It’s very expensive for a small resort to run activities that are likely to be poorly attended anyway. If you cannot entertain yourself with the natural beauty and wonders of the west side of Maui there is not much left to be said.

The resort has a pool, hot tub and gas grills and easy access to two world class beaches. There is only one other time share in the immediate area. One Napili Way offers larger units and they are still selling their weeks for $20,000 each, or trying to, and you still have a short walk to the beaches.

The staff I have met have been friendly and helpful but there is not a lot of staff here since this facilities office is open four days a week and operations are handled out of the Sands of Kahana. Many times the resort staff that I get to know best is from the maintenance department, which is indicative of a problem. I have not had any.

Western Maui is about the beaches and the Gardens is a great location since you can walk to where you want to go and not hassle with parking. If you want upscale Kapalua is to the North with the Ritz Carlton and the restaurants, golf and tennis amenities that you would expense. Napili has many smaller hotels, motels and resorts and is vacation oriented. So you will find a complete range of restaurants nearby. A car is essential.

In terms of suitability, the resort has a few drawbacks. First, they do not have two bedroom units so larger families will have to get two units. For a couple the resort is perfect, the two full bathrooms make four people in a unit less troublesome. The second floor unit requires being able to climb a full flight of stairs.

Issues, a few, the unit would really benefit from having ceiling fans installed. The roosters that live next door, not the golf course next door, the other side are a voiceterous group. From staying on Kuaui, the rooster capital of Hawaii, I know roosters. First roosters do not crow at sun rise, they crow when they rise and most roosters have bad sleep habits. With the AC on I cannot hear them but since we did not need it most of the week ear plugs are a solid item to pack. Roosters seem to rise around four a.m. regardless of when the sun decides to rise. Ear Plugs have been necessary at many more upscale resorts due to elevators, roads, parking lots, late hour pools, noisy neighbors and hyperactive children scampering about. Roosters are part of nature, which I can tolerate ear plugs at the ready for a good night’s sleep. The only other issue is the lack of a TV set in the bedroom. I do not have children with me on this trip but a second TV keeps the down time more peaceful.

All in all, I am very happy with this resort and look forward to coming back in two years when my every other year ownership permits. The Garden units are mostly floating weeks, except 51 & 52, so you can plan to come when your travel plans permit. The units have been on Ebay a lot, this is one of the best units I have purchased for under $500, today they can be had for about $100 and the maintenance is reasonable.

Go Gardens, Aloha.