A First Hale Pau Hana Stay: Deanna's Family Story

Published on:

September 2, 2022

Deanna McAlister-Gibson visited Hale Pau Hana with her daughter Presleigh during a June birthday trip. They had visited other Hawaiian islands, but this was their first Maui stay. In this account, published in September 2022, Deanna explains what the beachside condo added to the trip.

A birthday at the condo

Presleigh was turning 12. Having a kitchen and living space gave the family somewhere to celebrate between outings.

“My daughter felt very special to be able to come back to Hawaii for her birthday week,” Deanna said. “It was nice to have a kitchen, living room, and terrace to have her birthday celebration.”

Photograph from Deanna and Presleigh's family stay — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Family photograph shared by Deanna McAlister-Gibson — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Being beside the beach

Deanna had chosen the property for its location. Once there, she appreciated how easily the family could return to the condo between beach visits.

“We loved being on the beach! Watching the sunset every day was a dream. It was so easy to get in the water, shower off, and get back to our room. I loved all of it. ”

Photograph from the family's first Hale Pau Hana visit — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Guest photograph from Deanna's Maui trip — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Comparing their stay with relatives' accommodation

Other family members were staying at a larger resort. Deanna described the differences she noticed on that trip:

“They did not have the ‘on the beach’ experience that we had,” Deanna said. “They had to walk to the beach, could not see the sunset from their lanai, and had no option to walk a short distance for provisions. Our spot was the best!”

That is her comparison of those two stays, rather than a claim about every resort or condo. HPH units are individually furnished, and their floor locations and layouts differ.

Photograph contributed by Deanna McAlister-Gibson — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

A first impression of Maui

Exploring the island reinforced Deanna's choice of Kihei as their base.

“We loved the location,” she said. “After driving around much of the island, I realized that I would not want to stay anywhere else on Maui.”

Photograph from Deanna and Presleigh's Maui holiday — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Photograph from the family's visit — Photo courtesy Deanna McAlister-Gibson.

Mahalo to Deanna for sharing her family's memories and photographs. For your own trip, compare the individual condos and check the beds, guest limit and equipment before booking. Our family-friendly condo guide helps with that comparison.

For a beach visit, use the current advice in our Kamaole Beach II guide. A guest's account describes their visit; ocean conditions and the suitability of an activity still need checking on the day.