Inside Hub 808 at The Andaz Maui in Wailea

Estimated read time 4 min read

UPDATE: 4.6.15: The Andaz Maui has now instituted a $40 a night resort fee per day plus tax. This will be for stays starting June 2, 2015 and beyond. However, the Hub 808 kids club is still complimentary. Although, as View From The Wing blog points out, the $40 resort fee, added with the $30 a day parking fee, makes the Andaz even more expensive than it already is. Sigh. 

It's a given that most resorts in Maui, and Hawaii in general, take good care of the kikei (children) but at the Andaz Maui, a new Hyatt resort in the Wailea area, we were impressed with just how “un”-family-resort this placed looked.

Every inch of the sprawling 15-acre property is sleek and modern, from the guestrooms to the spa. But, thanks to the warm colors and soft materials used, the place is incredibly zen. And it's completely kid-friendly. There's even a sand pit in the lobby. Well, it might be decorative but don't worry, your kids will have more fun in the bigger sand pit downstairs, a.k.a. the beach, thanks to Hub 808, the Andaz's kids club.

Open daily for kids ages 5-12 from 9am to 3pm, Hub 808 (the area code of Hawaii) has one of those awesome Cedarworks indoor playhouses, a small slide, kiddie tables and chairs, and a good selection of toys, books and board games. For kids on the older side, the Hub boasts a giant flat-screen TV and the all-important video game hook-ups. 

Activities vary from day-to-day but during your visit, your kids will likely learn how to make flower leis, go on a scavenger hunt and swim in the main pool, off the beach.  

Best of all, this kids club is totally free with your stay. (There's not even a resort fee or WiFi charge at the Andaz.) Should you need someone to watch the kids later in the day, from 5pm to 8pm, the resort charges $30 an hour. Should you need someone to watch your younger children during the day or at night, the Andaz, as does almost every resort in Maui, uses The Nanny Connection. 

WHAT ELSE MAKES THE ANDAZ MAUI KID-FRIENDLY?

1. Healthy Versions of Kids' Food: The resort's Ka'ana Kitchen restaurant is a farm-to-table restaurant where 90 percent of the menu is locally sourced. Grub for the kiddies at dinnertime included grilled chicken (not fried), vegetables and real mac n' cheese (not the boxed kind.) 

2. Cribs in Cabanas: Lounging poolside is possible with a baby, thanks to the portable cribs the resort will set up for you. The pool staff will also give you floaties, rafts, noodles, and inner tubes as well. There's no water structure or slide at the Andaz but the main pool is not very deep and has a wide, sloped entrance for little ones. 

3. 24-Hour Market: A midnight milk run here simply involves heading downstairs to the Mokapu Market which sells the basic necessities, along with toys, souvenirs, jewelry, coffee, gelato and way, way, way more. 

4. Pre-Arrival/Post-Departure Lounge: This lounge is a bit of a secret. Located in the basement, the lounge has a sitting area, a dining table, a workstation and showers, in case you and your brood arrive several hours before check-in. You can also lounge down here if it's past check-out time but still hours from your flight departure. 

5. The Activities: The beach activities offered at Andaz are not just plentiful but exciting. Most are complimentary, some are an additional fee. Here's a sample schedule. There are also basic beach equipment rentals available too, starting at $10 a day for snorkel gear and $15 for boogie boards. Paddle boards and kayaks start at $40 an hour.

Rooms at the Andaz Maui include free WiFi and free minibar snacks and drinks (sorry, booze not included.) All rooms have their own terraces but only the deluxe rooms and suites have both bathtubs and showers. Rates start around $550 a night in August. Go here to book. 

Juliana https://tripsandgiggles.com

Juliana is the founder and editor of Trips + Giggles. She has three children and lives in Los Angeles.

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