Hotel at a Glance: Wailea Ekolu Village and Grand Champions

Wailea Ekolu Village and Grand Champions make you feel like you’re in your own Maui vacation home. The Ekolu Village is set on 18 private acres of lush tropical gardens, within view of the Pacific Ocean, and guests stay in their own roomy condos. You’ll be close to shopping and restaurants and have easy access to the town of Wailea and the beach. The Grand Champions location is set on the 11-acre Wailea Blue Golf Course.

• Splash around in the two solar-heated swimming pools, or lie out on the sun deck.
• One- and two-bedroom condos feature private patios, fully equipped kitchens, sitting areas, and partial views of the ocean or a golf course.
• Hit the greens and courts: Guest of the Grand Champions receive special golf and tennis rates.
• Close to the beach: The coastline is a short drive from the property.
• Stroll to The Shops at Wailea, an upscale outdoor shopping area with more than 70 boutiques and restaurants.
• Match point: Play a game of tennis at the Grand Champions on one of 11 paved-court tennis courts, which offers racquet and ball machine rentals.

Maui, Hawaii: Gorgeous Beaches, Haleakala Volcano, and Seasonal Whale Watching

Voted the best island in the United States by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Maui is considered one of the Pacific’s most beautiful spots and a favorite among Hollywood’s elite. The town of Lahaina, along Maui’s western coast, served as Hawaii’s royal capital before 1845. Throughout the mid-19th century, it was known as a whaling town—Herman Melville sailed from Lahaina during this time and gathered inspiration for Moby-Dick. The humpback whales that were once hunted are now protected by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and their population has flourished. The seas around Lahaina boast some of the world’s best whale watching from December to May, when female humpbacks give birth in the warm Pacific waters.

Arguably, Maui’s biggest attraction is Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, which technically encompasses 75% of the island. A paved road leads up to Haleakala’s summit, where you can stretch your legs and walk around the rim of the lunar-like volcanic crater. The towering peak is a playground for bicyclists, who coast down the slopes all the way to the beach town of Paia.

Elsewhere on the island, it’s a rite of passage to drive the Road to Hana, a 68-mile route that zigzags along the scenic northeastern coast with more than 600 hairpin curves. There are several points of interest along the way, including botanical gardens, tiny villages, and waterfall pools you can swim in.

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