Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels in Maui

Maui in Hawaii has always been one of the most popular island getaways. The gorgeous island stands out for its stunning reefs, lovely sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and lush green mountains. What’s more, with the “Aloha!” state having made same-sex marriage legal years earlier, Maui has become the go-to place for destination weddings and honeymoons. Today, LGBTQ travelers consider Maui more than ever, especially since the gay hotel in Maui numbers is increasing. In fact, amongst Maui’s gay hotels is also a hotel that has specifically catered to gay travelers for years now! The island might not have a huge gay infrastructure due to its smaller size and population, but it’s warm and welcoming all the same. This, even when there are no designated gay bars or clubs in Maui – everyone’s welcomed happily everywhere. In fact, Maui even has a gay-friendly nude beach!

In fact, most of Hawaii is very gay-friendly. For instance, the fourth-largest island Kauai is one of the Most Welcoming Gay-Friendly Islands! Even the capital Honolulu is very gay-friendly and has a gay beach-hood! So, pack your bags and say ‘aloha!’ to gay-friendly Maui. To that end, stay at one of the top 11 gay-friendly hotels in Maui.

Travaasa Hana

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At the end of the epic Road to Hana lies Travaasa Hana, a gorgeous and luxurious gay hotel in Maui. The all-inclusive resort lies on the grounds of an old sugar plantation and is the only hotel/resort in the scenic town of Hana. The resort is the perfect place to get away from it while not being very remote from towns such as Kihei. Upon arrival, you’re welcomed with banana bread, which is a local delicacy. When you’re hungry, the open-air Preserve Kitchen + Bar offers delectable meals with sweeping views of Hana Bay. The Spa offers a bevy of body treatments and massages, while the long outdoor infinity pool overlooking the ocean is the perfect place to unwind. Besides a hot tub, there is a slew of outdoor activities such as standup paddleboarding, bicycle rides, Hawaiian net throwing, canoeing, and what-not.

The sea ranch cottages with huge screened patios, hot tubs, and rustic furnishings perfect for a cozy stay are just a short distance from the ocean. With no TVs or clocks (yes, there’s Wi-Fi), Travaasa still feels very laidback and old-school, and therein lies the charm. Are you here for your honeymoon? The Ocean bungalow with a huge lanai offers up-close and personal ocean views.

Grand Wailea Resort

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LGBTQ travelers who’re all about amenities will love Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort and popular since as early as the 1990s. You’re greeted with a lei in the open-air atrium that’s filled with water fountains and sculptures, all against a gorgeous Pacific Ocean backdrop. The lobby belies the grandeur of this place; there’s a 50,000-square-feet-huge spa and a vast pool area with nine pools with waterslides! But, that’s not all. A huge fitness center aside, there are 11 tennis courts, three golf courses, even a chapel, and multiple shops on the property. Foodies will especially love this place, for they have five bars and five restaurants each to choose from to drink and dine at. If these aren’t choices, we don’t know what are! Don’t miss the couples bath salt spa treatment at dinner at the stunning open-air lagoon restaurant.

Rooms are some of the largest on the island, with even entry-level rooms being generously sized and featuring little lanais. Moreover, views include those of the gardens, the mountains, or the ocean, depending on the price. For the ultimate splurge, go for the Napua tower rooms, which have a dedicated lounge for drinks and snacks, as well as a personal concierge.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

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It might be a 90s resort, but Four Seasons is still an ultra-luxurious gay hotel in Maui – perhaps the island’s most luxurious! Tucked on lush acres at the southern end of Wailea Beach, the rooms and suites here are spacious, light-filled, and decorated with potted plants and original Hawaiian artwork. With the 2016 refurbishment, bulky furnishings went out, and streamlined, neutral-hued pieces came in. The marble bathrooms are themselves little luxury dens with double vanities and deep-soaking bathtubs. However, the star is the signature Four Seasons Bed, complete with a pillow menu and temperature-regulation technology. Digital nightstand tablets and huge flatscreen TVs aside, the best affordable rooms are the ones that overlook the gardens. The absolute best, though, is the $1,000+ ocean-view rooms.

The resort might be huge, but the service is top-notch, with the food scene being awe-inspiring. This is evident at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant Spago and the beachside Italian-themed Ferraro. But, it’s especially hard to resist the poolside breakfast, after which a dip in what is one of the Best Hotel Pools In Maui certainly makes your day. Gay travelers will especially love the adults-only Serenity Pool. Wrapping up the features here is the massive spa and the beach, which is right out front.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

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Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is easily one of the most modern resorts in Maui and a design-loving gay traveler’s absolute dream. Walk through the lantern-lit pathway that opens onto an open-air lobby, complete with treelike pillars and loungers lining a central sandpit. The ocean lies just beyond, certainly making for a grand first impression. Sleek rooms and suites are all gleaming woods, marble, and rough-hewn stone, so they feel more like slick city spaces. Teak furniture, gray rugs, and white shutters radiate a relaxed vibe, as do the lava stone bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs. Complimentary minibar drinks and snacks aside, all rooms feature private lanais, with the suites being larger. If you’re craving direct pool and beach access, go for the ocean villas.

The Mokapu Beach setting aside, the all-day restaurant serves an epic breakfast buffet that is to die for. Choose from four amazing pools, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip. Thereon, order drinks from the Bumbye Beach Bar, which does a poolside menu too. Active gay travelers will love the place since it features many cultural lessons like coconut-husking and lei-making, along with fitness classes, photography sessions, and what-not. End your day with a local massage at the apothecary-style ‘Awili Spa.

Montage Kapalua Bay

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The former timeshare that is Montage Kapalua Bay is an excellent gay hotel in Maui. Located just above Napili Bay, the resort features 50 spacious condos, all of which offer sweeping views of Kapalua Bay Beach, one of the island’s best stretches of sand. The resort overflows with amenities, yet the spacious suites might be the most attractive amenity here. Even the entry-level room is a 1,250-square-feet huge one-bedroom suite! What’s more, they all have separate sitting areas and huge bathrooms with soaking tubs. A few above-and-beyond features like ample lanai spaces, powder rooms, and small kitchens are what make staying here so special.

The resort has integrated Hawaii’s seafaring culture into public spaces, such as a triangular and dramatic roof that resembles a traditional Hawaiian canoe house! Among the blissful perks here include snorkeling in the protected bay and seaweed wraps, and Lomi Lomi massages at the spa. But that’s not all; the best activity to do during the day is sip cocktails by the lagoon-style pools. Evenings are best reserved for the traditional barbeque of Old Lahaina Luau, which is a fun-filled way to end the day.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

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There’s something for everyone at the airy hilltop retreat that is the gay-friendly Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Lush, towering pine trees swaying in the wind line the entrance to the resort. In fact, it lends the resort a mountain lodge feel, but with dollops of romance and intimacy. So, gay couples looking for seclusion might love staying here, thanks to all the seclusion. You’ll love the spacious suites here, which come with bedrooms, sitting areas, and even kitchens for romantic cooking sessions. Sip your morning coffee on the huge balcony that overlooks the pool. Even bathrooms are swish, complete with bathtubs and posh Asprey toiletries.

The resort’s centerpiece is the 10,000-square-foot three-tier pool; grab lounge chairs after a hearty breakfast at Ulana restaurant, which has a make-your-Bloody-Mary bar. Sigh. Post a swim, pamper yourself with a Hawaiian-inspired body treatment at the spa. Besides a slew of eating options, the hotel offers whale-watching, snorkeling, nature photography, and hiking. The best place on the property is the beachside Burger Shack, which lies at the entrance to the ultra-secluded beach. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a quiet sundowner.

Wailea Beach Villas Resort

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Wailea Beach Villas Resort is one amazing gay hotel in Maui that’s also one of the Best Hotels Near Kahului Airport if you want luxury close to the airport. Everything about this place is utterly chilled-out, right from the adults-only serene vibe to the private villas themselves. Every villa is privately owned and comes with panoramic views from its lovely lanai. So, the decor differs slightly across villas, which come in two/three-bedroom configurations. But, they have a distinct Polynesian vibe to them, and with oversized furniture and dark woods, it feels like a home away from home. Full kitchens and laundry services aside, they even have outdoor grills, swish bathrooms with bathrobes and bathtubs, and huge terraces with alfresco seating.

Even though there are no restaurants on-site, many excellent restaurants are right along the Wailea coastal path. What’s more, the concierge team can more than handle any requests, right from setting up in-room massages to beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach out front. Rounding up the facilities here is the billiards room, two outdoor pools, and modern fitness facilities.

Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux

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Not all gay travelers want to stay at huge Maui resorts; sometimes, a leafy boutique lodge is just what does the trick. Welcome to the gay-friendly Hotel Wailea, the first and only Relais & Châteaux property in Hawaii. The huge 15-acre resort is all about romance; think charming bridges, koi ponds, and mango trees. This adults-only getaway has just 72 suites, all of which come with sexy open showers, kitchenettes, and patios that look out to the Pacific Ocean. Tasteful Hawaiian art, rich wood details, oak wood floors, and vibrant accent details make the property a delight to stay in. But, the real ticket is the bathrooms with marble-backed rain showers and raised tubs, both large enough for two and stocked with Molton Brown amenities and bath products.

There’s plenty to do at the resort, from the chic cabana-lined swimming pool to the award-winning restaurant. However, other mature amenities include complimentary yoga and tropical mixology classes, Tesla Model X beach shuttles, and even vintage Porsche Roadster convertible and electric bike rentals! Do you feel like splurging? The staff can arrange for a seven-course private dining experience for couples in a panoramic Brazilian wood treehouse. When the beach calls, and it will, then hop onto a Tesla Model X beach shuttle and head off to Wailea beach.

Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui

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Gay travelers looking for a spacious gay hotel in Maui will love the Fairmont Kea Lani, whose suites begin at a whopping 850 square feet! The hotel with an all-white royal exterior embodies the meaning of Kea Lani, which means “heavenly white.” The feeling extends throughout the grand spaces inside, especially the open-air lobby with domed arches, ceilings, and stone floors. The suites, one- and two-bedroom ones, have everything from microwaves and sleeper sofas to private balconies with jaw-dropping ocean views. For the ultimate splurge-worthy experience, go for one of the beach-facing villas, which even have private plunge pools overlooking the ocean.

Polo Beach, which lies right out front and is flanked by lava rock walls, lends this place a secluded feel. Choose from three main swimming pools, including an adults-only one, at swim and lounge. Since this is an all-inclusive resort, the daily fee includes everything from Wi-Fi and fitness classes to snorkel rentals and cultural activities. Two restaurants complete the superior food scene here. Reserve a private cabana near the Tranquility pool and dine on dishes from the flagship restaurant to make your meal extra special.

Ho’olei at Grand Wailea

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Staying at the gay-friendly Ho’olei at Grand Wailea is like staying in a posh home in a gated community – if those homes had expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, that is! This luxury beach resort is made up of two-story villas sprawled across lush oceanfront grounds and combines the privacy of villa-living with the grand amenities of resorts. Every villa has two or three bedrooms, a patio, a lanai, a full kitchen, and even a private outdoor grill for alfresco meals with the sounds of the ocean to accompany it. Gigantic bathrooms with bespoke bath amenities and deep-soaking bathtubs lend a grand feel to the place.

Since it’s a villa community, there aren’t any restaurants on the property. But, travelers staying here can access all of the amenities, including the restaurants and spa at the Grand Wailea right across the road. Aside from that, there’s a separate pool and fitness center on the property as it is. Finally, the resort even offers free shuttles to Wailea Beach and the Grand Wailea, so you can hop on and explore the island whenever you feel like it. 

Napili Kai Beach Resort

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An excellent gay hotel in Maui that is all laidback Hawaii is Napili Kai Beach Resort. The resort’s origins go back to 1962 when it opened with just 12 rooms. The resort has a plantation-style layout today with just two-storied structures spread across plenty of green. It feels like a breath of fresh air, unlike Maui’s larger resorts. Most rooms and suites here begin at 450 square feet and have plush king beds and sleeper sofas. A private lanai overlooking the beach aside, there’s also a chic bathroom and small kitchenette, where you can prepare meals. The look and feel are innately Hawaiian, with the famed Napili Bay zephyr blowing nicely across the entire property.

The resort’s best feature is the beachside Sea House, where you can feast on Hawaiian-style seafood and watch the sunset. Choose from four pools where, after a swim, you can grab snacks and drinks from the poolside Makai Hale snack bar. Enjoy free Keiki hula shows put up by local Maui kids every Tuesday, and don’t miss the resort’s weekly themed parties, including everything from putting to Mai Tai parties to putting. Intrepid gay travelers will love that the Kapalua Coastal Trail begins practically in front of this resort!

Best Gay Neighborhoods in Maui

Even though Maui is very gay-friendly, it doesn’t have a gay scene as buzzing as the Big Island, primarily due to its size and small population. So, it doesn’t have any gay-specific clubs, bars, or even saunas. But, the island’s overall “aloha” spirit ensures that gay travelers are welcomed everywhere. That said, there are pockets that gay travelers will love more than other places on the island. For instance, most of the island’s gay-friendly bars are centered around Kihei and Lahaina on the island’s western coast.

Now, there might not be gay saunas or bathhouses, but there is a gay-friendly beach! South of Wailea on the southwestern coast, there’s a nude beach called Little Beach. In fact, its northern end is very popular with gay locals, with Out Traveler hailing it as amongst America’s top five nude beaches! And, of course, Maui gay hotels are just about everywhere on the island.

Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Maui

• Cafe La Plage: Located in Kihei, this gay-owned and operated bistro is run by a fun French couple. It’s an excellent place for breakfasts and lunches overlooking the North Pacific Ocean, complete with awesome paninis and great coffee.
• Betty’s Beach Cafe: This is one of the most famous gay-owned and operated beach bars on the island. Located in Lahaina, Betty’s is an excellent place to eat, drink and be “Mary!” Happy Hour, which runs from 2 pm to 5 pm everyday, is an absolute blast. Don’t miss their out-of-the-world Sunday brunch, which has egg scrambles, omelets, and some of the most dleicious cocktails you’ll ever drink.
• Vibe Bar Maui: Having been awarded the title of the ‘Best bar’ by Maui Time Weekly for two years in a row, Vibe in Kihei offers eclectic decor, awesome entertainment, and exotic local drinks. Their specialty martinis and their wide varieties are particularly popular.

Best Gay Saunas in Maui

Unfortunately, Maui doesn’t have a gay sauna – yet! However, there’s a gay-friendly beach, and we’re hoping that the gay scene on the island evolves soon to have a bathhouse.

• Little Beach: Gay travelers looking for the sun, sand, and sea vibe will love the clothing-optional Little Beach, which lies just 20 minutes from Kihei. Each Sunday, there’s a weekly beach party here with drum circles and fire dancers and what-not! The best bit? The northern end of the beach is known as the gay portion, with lots of gorgeoys boys glistening in the sun. 

Best Gay Events/Shows/Tours in Maui

• Maui Pride Festival: Maui’s Pride Festival is the biggest LGBTQ event on the island and is held the first weekend in October to avoid the rainy and typhoon season in June. This friendly and fun-filled event celebrates, encourages, and educates people about the diversity of the LGBTQ community. The festivities begin with an Aloha reception at the Maui Sunseeker. The final day kicks off at Stella Blues for breakfast, followed by a hidden waterfall hike or a snorkel tour.
• Rainbow Dinner: Every third Tuesday of the month, the Maui Equality Coalition hosts a “Rainbow Dine-Out” group dinner in various restaurants across the island. It’s an opportunity for the LGBTQ locals and tourists to meet and enjoy a meal together. What’s more, they even organize monthly Maui LGBT Hiking Group on every month’s second Saturday. This group hike heads on some of the most stnning hikinh trails in Maui.