Within the 23,000 acres that comprise the Kapalua Resort
you'll find the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and the Kapalua Villas Maui. Both have access to the resort's Kapalua Beach, Oneloa Bay, and Fleming Beach and to two championship golf courses, one along the bay, another up and down the mountains and a third through what used to be pineapple fields.
Although there were originally 10 hard courts at the Village Tennis Center adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, only four of those remain playable (guests can use them at no charge but there is no pro shop or organized programs). Thus the real activity takes places at the Kapalua Tennis Garden, where Peter Burwash International offers a full suite of programs.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua opened in 1992 on a hill overlooking Honokahua Bay and its white-sand beach. Atypically for Ritz-Carlton, which is usually drawn to European style, this 548-room hotel derives its architectural and decorative inspiration from the Hawaiian islands themselves. The interiors hint at elegant plantations, with wood and stone, an open, airy feel, and original art depicting scenes of Hawaii or Hawaiian history. And while Ritz-Carlton couldn't resist installing chandeliers, those in this hotel and their matching wall sconces have been designed to suggest foliage.
As an alternative, there are the Kapalua Villas Maui, a complex of 280 one-to-three-bedroom villas with views that vary from golf fairways to full ocean front as well as a selection of luxury homes.
Tennis Garden Pro Shop: 808-662-7730
The Tennis Garden is renowned as one of the most beautifully situated court complexes in the country.
Its 10 hard courts spill down terraces in the side of a hill with views west across the former whaling anchorage called Lahaina Roads. Peter Burwash International's Jeff Smith directs the program. A former ranked junior, he went on to play Division I tennis for North Carolina State University. He joined PBI in 2009, and Kapalua is his first posting.
Tennis Programs. Conscientious game matching headlines a weekly roster of tennis services and activities. Those include a Cardio drill session with music, the typical stroke-of-the-day clinic as well as one for complete beginners, drop-in doubles sessions, and junior clinics for various ages and abilities. During the summer, there are daily and week-long day camps for juniors ages 8 to 16.
Courts & Fees. The Tennis Garden has 10 hard courts. Court fees: $12/person/day if you're staying at the resort.
Caveat: Annual rainfall at Kapalua averages 70 inches a year—this part of the island wouldn't be so lush otherwise—but you can use those rainy days to visit Lahaina or the moonscape crater of 10,000-foot dormant volcano Mt. Haleakala.
Beach. Four white-sand beaches fringe the resort property: Oneloa Bay, D.T. Fleming Beach, Honoloa Bay, and what many regard as one of the finest beaches in American, Kapalua Bay.
Golf Courses. The resort has 36 holes of golf, all accessible to guests of either hotel.
Plantation Course: This most demanding of the Kapalua courses was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore to take advantage of the expansive vistas, sweeping slopes, deep valleys, and native vegetation. Difficult greens, breathtaking views, wind, and the occasional sight of whales breaching in Lahaina Roads to the west all add to the challenge. It now hosts the annual Kapalua International stop on the PGA Tour. Par: 73. Length: 5,627-7,263 yards.
Bay Course: This earliest of the Kapalua courses debuted in 1975. Arnold Palmer designed it, providing generous and forgiving greens as compensation for the distracting scenery. Par: 72.
July 7-8, 2012: Kapalua Open Junior Tennis Championships
Phone: 808-662-7730
A singles and doubles event for junior boys and girls ages 10 to 18.
Sept. 1-3, 2012: Kapalua Open Tennis Tournament
Phone: 808-662-7730
This annual Labor Day championship: USTA-sanctioned men's and women's singles and doubles in 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and Open divisions as well as Mixed in 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and Open divisions
If you like the sound of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, also check out:
For something similar to the Kapalua Villas Maui, check out:
Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
See the website for rate details.
Kapalua Villas Maui
Rates vary by size and view and do not include taxes or resort fees. One-bedroom rates are for up to a maximum of four people. Two-night minimum bookings apply. See the website for details.
Seasons. Year-round.
General Tourist Information. Visit the Maui Visitors Bureau website or contact them at 1727 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, HI 96793. Phone: 808-244-3530 or Fax: 808-244-1337. Or for information about Hawaii as a whole, visit the Hawaii Visitors Bureau website or contact them at 2270 Kalakaua Ave. #801, Honolulu, HI 96815. Phone: 808-923-1811 or Fax: 808-924-0290.