• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Been to HRC Kaanapali Lately?

SteveinHNL

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Messages
991
Reaction score
739
Getting ready to book this resort, but seeing a lot of very negative reviews on Tripadvisor, regarding the condition and cleanliness of the units. Also a few people mentioned the beach is gone from erosion. Is this all bunk?

Does anyone have any recent feedback from stays there?

 
There is a HKB FB group. Here is a pic someone posted from 4/15. Still a beach present. That said, I prefer the beaches and snorkeling to the North. In July 2022 a strong southern swell eroded the beach and damaged a portion of the pathway to Whaler's village by the Kaanapali Ali. You can still walk there but with a detour. Northern swells have brought much of the beach back. How the beach was probably depended on when that specific Tripadvisor reviewer stayed at the resort.

One person complaining about the beach said you need a car to get to a better beach. I rent a car (for max flexibility) but you can you use the free Kaanapali Trolley to get to some other beaches. Another person complained about the lack of 5-star amenities. It's a HRC, not a Waldolf Astoria!

There will always be something to complain about. Some reviewers may have unrealistic expectations. The pandemic delayed scheduled renovations. At one point the pull-out couches were pretty stained to the point we would request a sheet to put over them. They all have or are being replaced, along with the bed mattresses and new smart TVs.

Overall, HKB is one of if not the most highly sought-after CUP exchanges and is on Redweek's Top 25 resorts for 2023. I suspect if are able to book it you will enjoy it.
 

Attachments

  • pic.jpg
    pic.jpg
    55.8 KB · Views: 27
Multiple complaints of dirty units, 1BRs getting a lot of street noise, unpleasant staffing. I take all reviews with a grain of salt but the number of unhappy people got my antennas up. Up until now, I have only heard great things about the resort. We would definitely have a car in Maui And would probably use the hotel beach for sunning, as there are so many other beaches that are great for swimming.
 
Just walk a little way down the beach path and the beach widens and is sandy. The Hyatt was just updated, staff are wonderful and the units and views are perfect. We go there in a few weeks. We are at Westin Ka'anapali and this got a 3.5 review on trip advisor. Our unit is great. Not sure who is writing these reviews but timeshares aren't hotel. You don't get daily housecleaning services or early check in. Your status does not play a part so that may be part of it
 
Multiple complaints of dirty units, 1BRs getting a lot of street noise, unpleasant staffing. I take all reviews with a grain of salt but the number of unhappy people got my antennas up. Up until now, I have only heard great things about the resort. We would definitely have a car in Maui And would probably use the hotel beach for sunning, as there are so many other beaches that are great for swimming.
We had 2-2 bedroom units april 29-may 6 and they were clean and updated. Don’t trade for a 1 bedroom as you might get a road facing unit with noise. They are beautiful units with great views.
 
Book it and don't worry. I can't speak personally about the Hyatt Kaanapali units but friend just raved about them from recent trip and the Kaanapali region is just such a great place to vacation I'm sure you'll have an amazing time as we just did for 3 weeks last month.
 
We will try to get there next year in a 2BR but would also like to try the 1BR, does anyone have any experience with the 1BRs there? I understand they are unlikely to have an ocean view, but what about noise, etc.?
 
We will try to get there next year in a 2BR but would also like to try the 1BR, does anyone have any experience with the 1BRs there? I understand they are unlikely to have an ocean view, but what about noise, etc.?
I stayed in the 1 bedroom using hyatt hotel points and using hotel points you can reserve the oceanview. I wouldn’t take the chance of getting a 1 bedroom on the mountain side over the valet entrance. No noise in the oceanview units.
 
We will try to get there next year in a 2BR but would also like to try the 1BR, does anyone have any experience with the 1BRs there? I understand they are unlikely to have an ocean view, but what about noise, etc.?
I heard the higher units on the mountain side are ok. We got the 1st floor mountain side one year and they truly should not use those units. The ocean side 1 bedrooms are very nice. If you use hotel points you can control which side you get. If you exchange in you will most likely get a mountain unit
 
I don’t mind a mountain unit, but I would not want to get one that had a lot of noise and it sounds like that is a likelihood.
 
I don’t mind a mountain unit, but I would not want to get one that had a lot of noise and it sounds like that is a likelihood.
After our experience we no longer exchange into 1 bedrooms. We rather just go for a 2 bedroom
 
We just stayed in a 2BR unit and loved it. It was clean and well maintained. The staff was outstanding and friendly. They only offer valet parking, but it is complimentary other than tips. We would enjoy a return visit if we can get one again.

Best regards.

Mike
 
Just walk a little way down the beach path and the beach widens and is sandy. The Hyatt was just updated, staff are wonderful and the units and views are perfect. We go there in a few weeks. We are at Westin Ka'anapali and this got a 3.5 review on trip advisor. Our unit is great. Not sure who is writing these reviews but timeshares aren't hotel. You don't get daily housecleaning services or early check in. Your status does not play a part so that may be part of it
To add to your point, many people who are unfamiliar with timeshares give negative reviews. Timeshares are a special beast, with their hierarchy of room/types/views/ownership levels etc. Also, most revolve around families, with big rooms, kitchens, bbqs etc. for making your own meals, vs. fancy restaurants, etc. Few have daily room cleanings, and more things are on a do it yourself basis.

People who are inexperienced with all of these differences have expectations that cannot be met, and then this colors their entire stay and review. It is fairly easy to spot these people because many of their negative comments focus on things that TS owners find to be normal, if not favored.
 
It is fairly easy to spot these people because many of their negative comments focus on things that TS owners find to be normal, if not favored.

So true - and well stated. I do favor making some of my own food, and unloading my own stuff to my room, etc.

The complaints are usually about "lack of service", or upgrades/recognition, room preference for people with rewards programs like Bonvoy, HHonors, WOH, etc....
 
Last edited:
Did the fires in Lahaina town impact HKB resort at all recently?
This is the only information being reported right now, specifically for the Hyatt Regency Resort at Ka'anapali, which is right next door to the HRC Maui:

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort And Spa is located near Lahaina and The Points Guy reported the resort is currently without power and beachfront resorts in the area have lost communication abilities, per the Maui Emergency Management Agency.

Source: SFGate.com
 
Did the fires in Lahaina town impact HKB resort at all recently?
And this bulletin from the HRC Ka'anapali website:

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

We wanted to make you aware of inclement weather on the islands. High winds across the Hawaiian islands, due to Hurricane Dora, have fueled multiple fires and there are currently several active wildfires burning on Maui.

At this time, the resort is under a shelter in place, and the resort is currently without power, as is much of the Maui coast. According to the County of Maui, currently no traffic, except emergency personnel, is being allowed into West Maui.

At this time, we are advising incoming Owners and guests who have reservations through August 11 to reschedule their visit.

We encourage you to actively monitor the current situation before you depart and check flight status through your airline carrier. Further updates on resort operating status will be provided on this page should conditions warrant.
 
Getting ready to book this resort, but seeing a lot of very negative reviews on Tripadvisor, regarding the condition and cleanliness of the units. Also a few people mentioned the beach is gone from erosion. Is this all bunk?

Does anyone have any recent feedback from stays there?


I would just point out that people who have a negative experience are far more likely to post than those who have a positive experience. And those unfamiliar with timeshares could find certain things like lack of daily housekeeping a negative. I'm quite happy not to have anyone else in my unit but if you are mostly used to hotels, you likely would feel differently.

That said, any place that charges as much as the HRC Ka'anapali should NOT have excess noise, dirty couches, etc.
 
Top