Trip report Oct 2025 Westin Kaanapali Villas North/Sheraton

Question

Maui Oct 18-28 - Westin Kaanapali Villas North (Encore promo)/Sheraton using Bonvoy points

Here's a recap of our Maui trip; mostly lodging and meals.

Flight arrived a few min late due to a delay at PDX, we walked to car rental and picked up a car very quickly. Lunch at Kalei's lunchbox, then Costco for beverages and a 12 pack of bao buns for $3.97! If I had a Corgi I'd name it bao buns. Easy drive to Lahaina in our gutless Mitsubishi. Husband kept saying "peddle harder!". Stopped at Foodland for a few more supplies, namely cheese, salami, shrimp chips, olives, a couple non as alcoholic beverages, yogurt, granola, papaya and a PINEAPPLE! Headed to the Westin Villas North for early check in. They stashed our bags and cold stuff and we waited. And waited. And waited longer. At 4 pm husband got in line and they scrambled and found us a room (ours still wasn't ready). I was really surprised that we were oceanview/ oceanfront in building 5. Really nice view. We whipped up a charcuterie board and relaxed with a glass of wine until it was time to head to the pool area to watch the sunset.

Meals:

Kalei's Lunchbox. While I really like this spot and the value, our meals were just ok. Nothing wrong with them, just not stunning. We both had fish sandwiches, one ahi one ono and fries.

Sansei Kapalua. We love the early bird deal and are willing to show up early to get 50% off. Great conversations with others waiting. I know there are mixed feelings about Sansei but we always enjoy the creative sushi rolls, fresh fish, and service. We ate there twice.

Duke's Kaanapali. Really better than we expected. Absolutely delicious seared ahi, nice cold draft beer, excellent service. It's was so good we went twice!

Haliimaile General Store. We had never eaten there and I was excited to finally try it. We downloaded the InKind app and got a nice discount of $25 off a $75 order. Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed. The service was great but the food was just good. Hamburger and fries and fish curry. It all tasted good but I don't think we will return.

We had planned to go to Haven's chop house but cancelled the reservation and used the amazing grills at KORN to cook some marinated kalbi ribs and tossed a bag salad together.

Papi's Ohana Pizza. Quick ordering, pizza wasn't really hot or fresh and was just ok.

Monkey pod - happy hour. We think the pizzas are a great deal with a beer or mai tai.

Hula Grill - one of their best items is the messy but delicious pulled pork sandwich.

I'm happy to share details any lodging and the Westin timeshare presentation if there is interest.

Answer

Thank you for sharing your detailed Maui trip report! It sounds like you had a mix of great views, relaxing resort time, and varied dining experiences. Staying at the Westin Kaanapali Villas North seems to have been a highlight, especially with your oceanview/oceanfront room in building 5. Despite the delay in room availability, having your charcuterie board and sunset by the pool sounds like a perfect start to the trip.

Regarding your meals, here's a recap and some insights based on your experiences:

Kalei's Lunchbox: Good value for fish sandwiches and fries. Meals were decent but not outstanding.
Sansei Kapalua: Highly recommended if you enjoy early bird sushi specials and creative rolls. Positive atmosphere while waiting and consistently fresh fish.
Duke's Kaanapali: Surprisingly excellent! Seared ahi, cold draft beers, and great service made it worth visiting twice.
Haliimaile General Store: Service was great, but food was just “good.” Hamburger, fries, and fish curry were fine but not exceptional; may not return.
Haven’s Chop House: Skipped in favor of using the resort grills for marinated kalbi ribs and a salad. Great option for casual in-unit cooking.
Papi's Ohana Pizza: Convenient, but pizzas were lukewarm and just okay.
Monkeypod (Happy Hour): Good value with pizzas and drinks.
Hula Grill: Pulled pork sandwich is a standout menu item—messy but delicious.

For lodging, your experience at the Westin seems positive aside from the initial wait for your room. If anyone is interested, you mentioned you can provide more insights about the timeshare presentation, which could be useful for travelers considering the Westin Villas North.

Overall, your trip highlights some excellent dining choices (Duke's and Sansei stand out), a few underwhelming meals (Haliimaile and Papi's), and the benefit of having a rental car for flexibility. The mix of resort relaxation, scenic drives, and local eats seems like a balanced Maui itinerary.

Trip report Oct 2025 Westin Kaanapali Villas North/Sheraton

More Maui Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions