You will come to stay at Melanie's for the unparalleled views. We tend to think of sunsets in Maui- as one should!- but watching the sunrise from the lanai was spectacular. You can't rush it. You just get your coffee and wait. And you won't be disappointed. It's magic. I fell in love with the palm trees that intercept the view. The whales were out every single morning. One morning, I watched a whale slap its tail nearly 30 times (and subsequently read that they are sending migration signals to the other whales). Also, the turtles will pop up for you if you are patient. This lanai is why you should come. Just breathtaking.
The property is very clean and well maintained. Not fussy or overly manicured. Just how we prefer it. Sugar beach is an incredible secret. Not overly trafficked and beautiful in its natural state. We drove to the end of the road to easily accommodate our cooler and chairs.
The location is sort of odd. On the one hand, the drive to Lahaina is beyond beautiful and we came to love the drive as completely additive to our experience. I couldn't get enough of this scenic route. But if you like having grocery or people watching or experiences in walking distance, that's a limit. You are right between Lahaina and Kihie and we liked that we could easily go either way depending on what we felt like. But the location itself felt like a bit of an oasis in terms of amenities and you will have to drive if you desire a bit more vibe. Consider hitting Target or Walmart when you land for provisions, including extra paper towels and toilet paper. Don't miss Waikapu on 30 for great Hawaiian food, or the juice truck and produce stand on the way to Lahaina.
The condo was perfect for us. It needs a little TLC. Was more worn than the pictures would lead you to believe but it didn't much matter. WiFi was solid, which I mention because two of us were playing double duty and working in the morning and evening. We had everything we needed (beach chairs, cooler, snorkel equipment, umbrella, coffee maker!!)
Melanie was a very responsive host. Ultimately, that matters just about more than anything.