My husband and I stayed 7 nights on the 10th-floor condo at the Royal Kahana hosted by Ryan. It was probably the best decision I made on this long-awaited first trip to Hawaii.
There are many reasons why this condo is a standout.
1. Location. Very close to the famous Napili and Kapalua beaches. It is far from the section of Maui that is very commercialized with several chain hotels on the strip. So, if you like peace this is the place for you. Yet it is just a short drive to Lahaina where most restaurants and shops exist. Love the closeness of Miso Phat, a superb sushi joint, literally across the street. And for lovers of fresh or cooked fish, the Maui Fish Market is just down the road (by car). We cooked fresh fish on several occasions, just wrapped in foil, on the clean gas grills by the pool. They are cleaned and maintained daily.
2. The condo lanai. It has a high-top table and 2 comfy cushioned chairs as well as a sofa and a large coffee table. The scenery is fantastic. You see the ocean (unobstructed) and hear the waves and feel the breeze, constantly. You see surfers and swimmers in the morning. Ryan even has a pair of binoculars to check out the various sailboats from the balcony, and possibly look for turtles on the beach. The lanai attracts white doves, sparrows, and other local birds and we would wake up to their calls, perhaps waiting for the crumbs from breakfast.
3. The decor and design of the studio. Very thoughtful and artful Hawaiian decor, even on the lanai walls. It is a large studio and you never feel cramped because of the layout, the drawers, the tables, and the kitchen cabinets, all designed to hold a multitude of personal stuff. Super clean!!
4. The kitchen area. Is well equipped with dishes, glasses, pots/pans, knives, silverware, toaster, blender, coffee maker, cutting boards, kitchen towels, paper towels, etc. etc.. We made fruit shakes, coffee, toast, and oatmeal (essentially breakfast items) to save time/money eating out and enjoy the scenery from the beautiful lanai.
5. The hallway area - leading into the bathroom has a closet filled with beach gear - boogie board, padded cooler, beach chairs, beach umbrella. There is also an iron and ironing board and several hangers for hanging clothes. On the opposite side of the closet are the washer and dryer. We had brought our own detergent but Ryan's closet was stocked with detergent and cleaning supplies and a broom for dusting. This place was so clean that we felt guilty if we didn't sweep the floor often (you are bound to bring in the sand even if you try not to). The bathroom has several drawers and nice shower heads with good water pressure and an array of shampoo/conditioner/soaps and ample towels. Ryan also provides beach towels.
Overall, our stay deserved a clear A+
Finally, the communication with Ryan in the several weeks leading to our stay was amazingly prompt and any questions we had were addressed in great detail. This is what sets Ryan apart as a genuinely interested host who takes pride in not just providing all the comforts in the condo but he goes above and beyond in ensuring that his guests enjoy Maui and all that this beautiful island has to offer. The handy notes he sent me on making reservations at restaurants, parks, and luaus as well as a critical evaluation of these places made our trip so memorable.
And guess what? Ryan even ordered a rainbow on our last day when we looked out to bid farewell to Maui. Who can beat that? (I sent the picture to Ryan)