|
 Marriott's Maui Ocean Club- Maui, HI
-by Brian E. Smith
With a water slide, pool waterfalls, a swim-through cavern, and beachfront location, the
Maui Ocean Club is a water enthusiast's paradise. Beginning swimmers have their own play area with features such
as a pirate ship water structure. This Marriott Vacation Club Resort is located along a one-mile stretch of sand
that includes luxury properties by Hyatt, Westin, Sheraton and others. They all make up the Kaanapali Beach resort
area, which includes fine shopping and dining at the Whalers Village center.
Of the four Marriott vacation ownership properties in the Hawaiian Islands, this one is located in the most developed
area and presents the best choice of easily accessible dining, shopping and golfing. Nearby Whalers Village has
a number of clothing, jewelry, art and collectible stores, including well-known retailers and Hawaiian favorites.
The timeshare is co-located with the Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club, a full-service hotel. In fact, Marriott
converted part of the original hotel into villas to create the timeshares  and,
according to the resort website, the next construction phase is scheduled to run from April through September of
2005. As former hotel room spaces, the timeshare units do not have full kitchens. Instead, the one and two bedroom
villas have "gourmet centers" with microwaves, compact dishwashers, and bar-size refrigerators and sinks.
It is therefore convenient that there are good restaurants close at hand.
The Maui Ocean Club offers several dining options and the other resorts located within walking distance also feature
many wonderful choices. The Hyatt Regency's Swan Court restaurant features an extensive buffet breakfast and a
romantic dinner setting. On Kaanapali beach, the Marriott, the Royal Lahaina, and the Hyatt Regency all offer luaus,
which feature Polynesian reviews and lavish buffets.
Thirty-six holes of golf are available at the Kaanapali resort, with the North course designed by Robert Trent
Jones, Sr. Other recreational opportunities abound and the oceanfront path that runs along the entire Kaanapali
beach line is a perfect place for early morning strolls or for jogging. One of our family members went parasailing
on a route that took him in front of our villa windows. There are garden, mountain and ocean view units, and the
latter offers an  expansive vista toward the islands of Lanai and Molokai.
The resort is a short 5 mile trip to the town of Lahaina, the capital of King Kamehameha's Hawaiian kingdom from
the late 1700's until 1843. This harbor town was once notable as the whaling capital of the mid-Pacific. Lahaina
is the place to catch ferries or sailboats to Lanai and Molokai, islands that both offer day tours. The timeshare
is 26 miles from Maui's main airport at Kahului, but with a rented convertible and the top down, the drive and
your concerns melt away in no time.
© Copyright 2004 by Brian E. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
|
