Kapalua
Kapalua, loosely translated to “arms embracing the sea,” is one of Maui’s premier resort areas located at the foot of the verdant Kahalawai, or West Maui mountains. Kapalua’s lovely shoreline is lined with five bays and three white-sand beaches, one of which was named “The Best Beach in America” by the University of Maryland’s Laboratory of Coastal Research.
In the 1800’s Kapalua was known as the Honolua Ranch and then the Honolua Plantation. Today the 23,000-acre, master-planned Kapalua Resort is home to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, award-winning restaurants, more than 20 boutique shops, historic sites and two renowned golf courses, including the Plantation Course, home to the prestigious PGA TOUR’s Tournament of Champions (January) and the Bay Course, home to the 2009 Kapalua LPGA Classic.
Host of the renowned Kapalua Wine & Food Festival (June), this spectacular area, nestled amongst Cook pines and surrounded by acres of pineapple, is the perfect hide away to indulge in the luxurious side of Maui.
Napili
Napili Bay is a classical crescent-shaped bay with a sandy beach, located at the northwest “corner” of Maui. It is fully developed, in terms of having various kinds of lodging, basic shops, and rental business. Yet the bay is quite secluded and still preserved with the natural beauty and charm of a tropical beach. Napili Bay is “old school” Hawaii; at the oceanside, one doesn’t see high rises, strip malls, or tour vans. Both Napili and Kapalua seem removed from the bustle of other parts of Maui–serene and low key.
Napili weather is a little cooler than Kaanapali; most rain is at night, and tends to pass by early morning. The rainfall difference between Napili and Lahaina town is only a few inches a year. Low rise condominiums line the shoreline.
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