The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.
Papakea delivers a classic West Maui, oceanfront condo experience with a laid‑back, uncrowded vibe. Guests rave about panoramic views, nightly sunsets, and frequent whale and turtle sightings right from the lanai. The grounds are meticulously maintained and feel peaceful, with two pools and hot tubs, putting greens, shuffleboard, tennis/pickleball, and plenty of lawn loungers along the seawall for sunset. The location is a standout: you can walk to Times Supermarket, an ABC store, food trucks, coffee, and casual restaurants, and you’re a short drive to Ka’anapali, Napili, and Kapalua beaches and snorkel spots.
Individual condos are privately owned, but many are clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully stocked—think beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, boogie boards, snorkel gear, games, and well‑equipped kitchens. Families and groups like the spacious layouts (often with lofts), in‑unit laundry, and easy parking; ground‑floor units are especially convenient for pool and lawn access. The resort is friendly and low‑key compared to big hotels, with simple, well‑kept pools, BBQ cabanas, and occasional activities like water aerobics, lei‑making, and a Mai Tai hour. It’s easy to settle into a routine of morning coffee on the lanai, beach or pool time, and grilling at sunset.
Trade‑offs to know: the shoreline fronting Papakea is primarily a seawall/rocky edge; sandy beach is limited and often a short walk next door, with the best beaches a quick drive away. Air conditioning varies by unit (some have none, others use timers or only cool common areas), and loft bedrooms can run warm; a few guests note lanai heat/noise from exterior AC condensers. As with many tropical properties, occasional pests or cleaning/maintenance hiccups happen and service levels can depend on the unit’s management; there are also separate nightly resort fees and occasional early‑morning or construction noise. If AC is important or stairs are a concern, confirm details before booking. Overall, travelers who prefer a relaxed condo setting with stellar views and convenient West Maui access love Papakea.
This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 1000 reviews
Clean, air conditioned bedrooms, beautiful ocean view, immaculate grounds, and close proximity to everything snorkeling and beachy and great food options.
Margaret A.
August 2025
Most everything was old and old carpet. Place need’s upgrading
Daniel K.
August 2025
Very comfortable and ocean front and sunsets beautiful. Love the location.
Tammie S.
August 2025
Beautiful condo and balcony. Top floor condo, with an elevator. The condo was well equipped. The property had nice gas Weber grills. Right on a nice sandy beach. The two pools were very nice and warm. There is an ABC store in the right next door.
Dyan B.
August 2025
Amazing location. Clean, everything we needed!
Anne L.
August 2025
Wonderful. The condo had everything we needed and then some. The view was spectacular. Thank you for sharing your place with our family. Tec
Ted S.
August 2025
Very nice condo. So close to the ocean! Just as advertised. Hosts were very informative. No problems at all enjoyed every evening watching the sunset from the deck.
Lori M.
August 2025
Perfect upper corner unit. Plenty of beach chairs and an umbrella. Great location to local shops and food trucks. Very family friendly for teens. Host was great with communication. Home well kept. We look forward to a return trip.
Yvonne L.
August 2025
Amazing location and property. Just steps from the ocean (and we saw turtles on several occasions out there), next to food carts, cinnamon rolls, great parks, grocery store...you have everything you need here. The apartment was clean and had everything you could need. Fast response from host. I loved it, and we can't wait to come back!
Marie S.
August 2025
really enjoyed our stay in this lovely, well equipped unit. Owner was lovely to work with. Very accomodating!
mo m.
August 2025
Easy check in & great location. Apartment was well stocked for cooking. Grills outside were great. Very comfortable stay at Papakea
Melissa M.
August 2025
Awesome place! Stunning views and beautiful sunsets. I have nothing but great things to say. Just one negative but not a deal breaker and that is mainly the bathroom areas need a good detail cleaning. It wasn’t dirty just I am a detail person. I would definitely stay in the exact same apartment again.
Craig A.
August 2025
Lovely, spacious, and clean property! We enjoyed our stay, the activities nearby, and the beautiful grounds. The unit was perfectly well-equipped. Beautifully sunsets from the balcony! Truly paradise!
Shelley K.
August 2025
We’ve been to this property many times (both with and without young children) and love it here. The view from this particular unit is amazing from sun up to sun down (and even great for star gazing!). We enjoyed most meals on the lanai turtle watching, listening to the waves, and all around relaxing. Host was incredibly kind and wonderful with her communication. It was hot during our stay and the A/C worked great - appreciated having the split units and the option to open the windows and allow the trade winds to come through. We were very comfortable! Truly a little slice of paradise!
Katy d.
August 2025
Amazing stay! The condo was clean, spacious, and right on the ocean. We loved waking up to the sound of the waves and having coffee with stunning views from the porch. Fully stocked with everything we needed and in a great location close to Lahaina, restaurants, and snorkeling. The property is beautiful, the pools and grounds are well kept, and having no resort fees was a huge plus. Internet is fast too. We can’t wait to come back!
Hassan J.
August 2025
This residence is beautiful, perfectly placed, and the grounds of the resort is immaculate! Communications with the host was a breeze and we had a tsunami warning and a local fire causing road stoppages to deal with during our stay in Maui, and the host quickly relayed messages from the property. Property is well stocked with beach and pool necessities. Definitely recommend this place for a small family.
Timothy H.
August 2025
Awesome property with a beautiful view. Great location. Loved the koi ponds. I was disappointed in how long the dryer took to dry clothes but it was due to the type of dryer it is. We would just hand the items on the deck chairs which dried them timely. The unit was well stocked with beach items and kitchen items. Would definitely stay there again.
Cheryl D.
August 2025
This property is fabulous from beginning to end, large, spacious, perfect. Ease of check in, nice employees. Lovely area, well maintained.
Susan C.
August 2025
The unit was in good condition & comfortable.We liked having a garden unit especially with kids.There were beach chairs & towels which made it very convenientThe air conditioner was only in the front room, but the ceiling fans and box fan kept the back rooms cool.The window coverings were nice & were sufficient for blocking out sun & lightThe screen door for the slider was very difficult to open & close. The patio was a bit crowded as there were several chairs and 2 tables. We think it would be easier to navigate with a couple less chairs or a smaller table. We had a great stay and would gladly return.
Roy C.
August 2025
We were able to communicate with the owner directly who was very responsive. The location was perfect. It was a pick up spot for my son’s tour van of the Haleakala Crater. We were in walking distance of wonderful restaurants and bakeries. When the tsunami warning hit the staff directed us to the Kapalua Airport and we were one of the first to reach the airport. It is a spacious unit with tons of amenities and a great shower and bed.
Kellie R.
August 2025
Nice property, but in need of refresh/update.
Wesley C.
August 2025
Beautiful grounds. Wonderful view from lanai. I use it as my screensaver. I traveled with 5 grandchildren from 14 to 21. The 21 yr old was a boy so he had to sleep on the couch. The 4 girls slept in the master using the twin mattress on the floor. They had a wonderful time as they could walk to many shops nearby
jan s.
August 2025
Kitchen had everything we needed to cook and enjoy our meals
Tami T.
August 2025
We love staying here. It is our second time and not the last. It's quiet, on the water with bbq's and a pool.Thank you for hosting our family!
Janelle G.
August 2025
Amazing condo in Maui! Our flight arrived quite late however check-in instructions were easy to follow and seamless. The condo itself is very comfortable and well equipped with extras (beach chairs, umbrellas, laundry soap, etc.) The property itself is gorgeous, clean, and well-maintained by staff. The host was super responsive and helpful throughout our stay. I would absolutely recommend this property and hope to stay again!
Keri M.
August 2025
ALl was great. Clean, all as presented in the on line sale page. Will be back!
Mark S.
August 2025
Wonderful stay- unit has everything you need!
Lisa L.
August 2025
We absolutely loved our stay in Lisa’s condo! The short walk to the beach was perfect for my kids. We loved all the amenties-pool, putt putt and shuffle board. The front desk staff was amazing and gave us great recommendations for a near by gym (Club Maui- also highly recommend) and cinnamon rolls. We loved walking to the nearby food trucks for dinner as well.The condo had all the supplies we needed in the kitchen and we cooked several meals there. Papakea was quiet and very family friendly. The bed was very comfortable. The sofa bed was a little springy but my kids didn’t seem to mind. Overall it was amazing! Lisa was really helpful during the tsunami warning and overall provided great communication. We definitely did not want to leave and can’t wait to come back!
jennie a.
August 2025
We were shocked that major repairs were being made daily to the water system in the G building. No alerts were made at the time of booking, nor later. At the Papakea around 2013, we were alerted that the C building would be closed while all lanais were being upgraded. Had this been our first ever visit, I would have been irate!
Samuel S T.
August 2025
Great location and excellent communication with the owner.
Tim B.
August 2025
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Cozy place on ocean!! Family enjoyed the pool and pickleball the most! Mai tai night was a hit too!!
Greg S.
August 2025
Our stay in this unit was just wonderful! We have stayed at Papakea many times but this was our first stay in this lovely unit. The place was spotless!! And the most well-stocked rental we’ve ever stayed in by far. Gorgeous view, wonderful, communicative and kind owner, all the beach gear included, full kitchen amenities (plastic bags, paper towels, plenty of dishes, glasses and cookware, etc.), books and puzzles, updated furnishings and an extremely comfortable bed. We will definitely stay again! Thanks to the owner for a great vacation!
Catherine S.
August 2025
Beautiful unit. Great communication from host. Ac, appliances and electronics all up to date as well.
Denis D.
August 2025
Overall a great experience. Check in was easy, the unit was fantastic, and you can't beat the views from every room.
Matthew B.
August 2025
Absolutely amazing! Would recommend anyone to stay in this unit. Clean! Beautiful! Location!
Renae H.
July 2025
Check-in process was easy, kitchen had everything we needed. Host very responsive and made great suggestion for after wedding dinner celebration.
Kevin F.
July 2025
This condo was beautiful and comfortable, with peaceful ocean views and we saw lots of sea turtles swimming by! We were visiting during a tsunami evacuation and Maui Paradise Properties was so communicative and shared helpful updates to stay safe. Mahalo for the hospitality and reassurance during an unsettling event.
Catherine S.
July 2025
A/C does not work, the dryer vents directly into the hallway - making it even hotter inside the apartment. It was so hot & humid that it was difficult to sleep. The washing machine kept shutting off. A few of the window cranks are broken. The hideabed mattress cover is stained. 2 of the snorkels were old/broken valves & the small, canvas ice chest was ripped with broken/rusted zippers. The location is great, but the appliances and advertised gear needs repair & replacement.
Leah Y.
July 2025
Was a gorgeous view and great location
Katrina U.
July 2025
Pros:Christine is very receptive, easy to contact. She was willing to let us check in early and leave 1 hour late, which was super helpful. The house has lots of supplies for boogie boarding. The place is clean. The fridge and washing machine worked well. There is ample parking and the beach is close by. Cons: There is no dining table. There are barstools. The AC is very very slow. It took more than 8 hours to cool down the first night. It was cooler outside than inside. If AC is important to you, this is not the place for you.
Jenny K.
July 2025
We could not have picked a better condo for our vacation. The view and amenities were more than I could have asked for. Our favorite part of the day was watching sunsets over the water from the property. The condo is closely located to an affordable grocery store and many good restaurants. Maui Property was a very responsive company to deal with.
Justine C.
July 2025
Our stay here was absolutely excellent. The location is perfect—just steps from the ocean with the soothing sound of waves to wake up to each morning. You can’t beat the proximity to the beach, and we loved being able to walk right out and soak it all in.The property itself was clean, and had everything we needed for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
Caline L.
July 2025
Great location, near everything, but without the crowds. Property was clean, AC worked great, no troubles with anything. Worked with the Gather Vacations /Stice Property Team, they went above and beyond to make sure our stay was so easy.
Matthew S.
July 2025
Tried to contact mgr a couple of times with no response. also view online was very creative to block out the apt building next door. Overall great place on ocean.
david r.
July 2025
Great 2B/2Ba stay - it has an amazing balcony view of the ocean, and full amenities available. Christine had the whole process very smoothly laid out, and the house was completely ready when we arrived. All in all, a great experience and we would definitely stay again the next time we are here.
Sonia V.
July 2025
This condo has everything you need and more. The beach amenities were super appreciated (beach chairs, cooler, snorkeling set, boogie board). The view is breathtaking, and both the condo and the resort are very well taken care of. We loved the location and everything the area has to offer. We arrived very late and the host made sure we would have no problems checking in. Thanks for everything Dawn!
Nicole G.
July 2025
We had a family of 10 stay at Brian's house for 10 nights. The resort grounds are well maintained and have a great view of the ocean. Ample sleeping room for 10 people. A/C in all of the sleeping area came in handy during 80F days. House is well supplied. If your party is 10 adults, then it might feel a bit tight if everyone tried to linger in the family room. We had a mix of adults and teens, and we hung out in the beach or the pool and gathered back in the house to hit the bed. Would highly recommend based on host's responsiveness and location of the resort.
Ajith R.
July 2025
This vacation home is exactly as described. Host was great and had a welcome package waiting for us when we checked in
Andy T.
July 2025
Great location, property and host. This place is a good balance between calm/quiet but still has lots around it. Hosts were great!
Cameron H.
July 2025
At Maui for vacation and Granddaughter wedding
Rick H.
July 2025