Leinaala - Maui Condo & Home

We stayed in unit 205 over the Christmas holiday and had rented it through VRBO. The best things about the complex are that it is ocean front, has a nice lawn area between it and the beach and the price. The ocean views and sunsets are outstanding. It’s also easy to get around the island from Kihei. The down sides are the beach is really just a walking beach. Nothing is close so you pretty much have to get in your car and drive. There is no sidewalk along the road. In the brushy area just south of the complex there were a number of people “camped out” in the brush and grass in addition to one guy camped out on the beach. Parking spots are tight particularly if you have a full sized vehicle. Our unit, 205, was clean and comfortable. Great views of the ocean and sunset. Like many rentals by owner it came with a lot of extras like beach chairs, towels, a cooler, etc...Communication with Emily, the unit manager was great and the on location managers were nice and helpful as well. If you are looking for an experience to live like a local and ok with driving around the island to different activities then this is THE SPOT for you. Great views, a comfortable unit and an affordable price. If you want more of a “Resort” experience or a really nice swimming beach, shopping and restaurants within walking distance of your door or other amenities then I suggest you look elsewhere.

My wife and I revisited unit #104 September 11-17/2018. It had been two years since our last visit. We like this unit because you can walk out the patio door and stroll about 100 yards to the small beach. We were not disappointed with this visit even though a tropical storm was predicted for the next day. The condo manager, Paula, greeted us with a candle and some matches just in case the power went out. The storm passed north of us and didn't impact us. It was still a nice gesture. The air conditioner in the bedroom malfunctioned and after a call to the unit manager (not the condo manager) it was replaced the next day. The owner and the unit manager were genuinely concerned that we were comfortable and both made contact with us to make sure we were okay after the purchase and installation of the new portable AC. If I have to complain about something I would complain about this - living on the bottom floor poses some noise problems and the guests above us were heavy-footed and made frequent trips on to their lanai, opening and closing the sliding door. This was quite annoying. We will return, hopefully soon.

Quiet, private and small complex with nothing by a park between you and the ocean. Leinaala is located north of busy downtown Kihei, but there is shopping and restaurants only a couple of blocks away. The building is tucked behind another townhouse complex so you don't get any noise from busy South Kihei Road. This is our 5th stay at Leinaala, but the 1st time in this unit. The unit has been renovated, has comfortable furnishings, quality linens, and a well appointed kitchen. The rating would have been a 5/5, but the unit needed a thorough cleaning. We did not contact AA Oceanfront, the management company to rectify this because we didn't want our vacation disrupted by cleaning staff and managed the issue on our own. I notified the owner after our trip and he advised that there was a long term rental in the unit right before our arrival and a "deep clean" was ordered that was supposed to be completed before our stay. He apologized that the unit did not meet our expectations in this regard and he was going to follow up with AA Oceanfront. Otherwise, our stay was fantastic. The resident building managers, Bill & Paula are friendly and keep the grounds in tip top shape. If you're looking for a hidden gem, Leinaala is for you.