The Resort at Kapalua Bay

Is Montage Kapalua Bay still open?

Yes, but under a new name. The resort operated as Montage Kapalua Bay from 2016 until early 2026. On 14 March 2026 Marriott International took over management from Montage, the property was renamed The Resort at Kapalua Bay, and it joined Marriott Bonvoy in a transitional period without a specific brand. Marriott has signed to convert it to a St. Regis in 2027 after a renovation. Ownership did not change, and the resort has stayed open throughout, so a stay booked today is at the same physical property you may remember as the Montage, just under different management and loyalty.

The practical takeaway is to book under the current name and to treat branded outlet details with care. Dining and spa concepts carried over from the Montage era are expected to evolve as the property moves toward the St. Regis conversion, so confirm what is operating for your dates rather than assuming a specific restaurant or spa programme is unchanged.

Why does it work for a honeymoon or anniversary?

It works because seclusion here is real, not marketing. The resort sits on a headland above Kapalua Bay on Maui's northwest tip, roughly a 45-minute drive from the Wailea hotel corridor, which puts a genuine buffer between you and the island's densest resort strip. For a honeymoon or anniversary built around privacy, that distance is the point: the all-suite layout, the protected bay and the quiet grounds combine into a stay that feels like a private residence more than a busy resort.

The northwest-facing lanais deliver the island's most dramatic in-room sunset, with the Kapalua headlands in the foreground, and the calm of Kapalua Bay makes for easy morning swims and snorkels straight off the beach. In guest feedback across the Montage years, the seclusion, the suite space and the setting draw the most consistent praise, while the main caveats are the remoteness and the price, which we cover honestly below.

What are the suites and setting like?

The resort is all-suite, with 54 residences starting at about 820 square feet and running up to expansive multi-bedroom layouts. Most include full kitchens, generous living areas and private lanais oriented to the bay, which is why the property suits longer stays, multi-generational trips and anyone who wants to cook a few meals in rather than eat out every night. This is the largest average footprint of any five-star on Maui, and it is the single biggest reason to choose it over a conventional resort room down in Wailea.

Kapalua Bay itself is a Marine Life Conservation District, a protected crescent with clear water and a healthy reef that stays calmer than the more exposed Wailea beaches. The resort's oceanfront restaurant, long known as Cane and Canoe under the Montage flag, and its spa continue to operate, though both are the areas most likely to be reworked as the St. Regis conversion approaches. Complimentary high-speed WiFi runs throughout.

When should you book, and what does it cost?

Rates start around $800 a night and climb steeply for the larger multi-bedroom residences and the peak winter and summer holiday windows, when West Maui demand is highest. Because the resort is all-suite with only 54 keys, inventory is genuinely limited, so the best-value shoulder seasons of late spring and early autumn tend to sell through first. Plan to book roughly three to four months ahead for a high-season stay, and further out if you need a specific multi-bedroom layout for a family or a group.

One timing note tied to the transition: with a St. Regis renovation on the horizon, it is worth asking at the point of booking whether any works are scheduled during your dates, so you are not surprised by activity on the property. A short call to confirm the current dining and spa line-up is time well spent while the resort moves between brands.

What are the honest trade-offs?

This is our number-two pick in Maui, but seclusion cuts both ways.

How does it compare with the Wailea resorts?

Against the Wailea field, this is the seclusion-and-space specialist. Where the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea leads on polished full-service resort life and the Andaz Maui at Wailea brings the most contemporary, design-forward energy, The Resort at Kapalua Bay counters with all-suite privacy 45 minutes up the coast. The adults-only Hotel Wailea is the closest match on intimacy, but it is a hillside boutique rather than a beachfront all-suite resort. For the full picture, compare every property in our Maui city guide, or line it up against the neighbouring Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua if you want to stay in the same quiet corner.

From $800/night. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.