As Hurricane Lane barreled down on Maui, we were faced with a choice: hunker down in our hotel, or brave the two-mile drive to our next stop, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, where a condo with all the comforts of home awaited us.
The storm had so far just brought some wind to our side of the island, so we decided to make the move and loaded up the car. But as we were checking out, we heard about a brushfire that had broken out between us and Honua Kai. So we quickly rounded up the kids, said our farewells and made a dash for it.
As we drove, smoke billowed over the road and we heard sirens all around. We made it through though, and sighed with relief as we pulled into the driveway of the Honua Kai. The lobby was like an oasis with a picturesque view of the ocean beyond the main pool. Check in was a breeze. We stocked up at a nearby grocery and enjoyed a home-cooked dinner.
In the morning came the great news that the hurricane had veered away from the island and the weather would be improving. We started our day with coffee from the Aina Gourmet Market Café in the lobby, picked up pastries for the kids, and went off to explore the resort.
In the middle of the resort is a three-acre network of pools that includes five hot tubs, a waterslide, waterfalls, a shallow pool with a sandy beach, and a children’s area with fountains for play. All of this overlooks the ocean where you can swim, snorkel, and just stroll down the beach and beach walk. 
The resort is comprised of two buildings, the original Hokulani building, which was built in 2009, and the slightly newer Konea building, finished in 2010.
We were staying on the Hokulani side, with the main lobby and Aina market. The Konea building has the Whaler’s General store with gifts, as well as food and drinks, and is also where the spa is located. The Ho’ola Spa takes its cue from the island and offers mountain- and sea-inspired treatments.
Nearby, and located right on the water, is Duke’s restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there’s a wide array of favorites and Hawaiian dishes, as well as a kids' menu that goes beyond the usual staples to include grilled island fish and BBQ ribs.
Since the weather was finally clearing, we didn’t spend much time at the resort. But each evening as we returned to our unit, salty, sandy and exhausted from the day's adventure, we appreciated the comforts of our fully-stocked kitchen, in-unit laundry, and separate bedrooms, which allowed my wife and I to plop down exhausted into bed, while the kids wound down at their own pace -- just like home.
The author and his family were guests of Honua Kai Resort & Spa. No other consideration was received and all opinions are his own.
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