The Grand Wailea Cabanas and Casabellas: What You Never Knew You Needed

My friends and I were planning a trip to Maui with our kids and we knew the most important criteria in deciding on a place to stay was the swimming pool.  Known for their lush landscapes and amazing pools, we didn’t need much convincing to make the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria resort, our unanimous decision.

For one thing, the pool area is HUGE.  We’re talking 2,000-foot-long, 25,700 sq. ft., 770,000-gallon HUGE.  Known as the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, it consists of nine individual pools on six different levels, connected by a river that carries swimmers along whitewater rapids and gentle currents.  There’s also slides, waterfalls, caves, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, a sand beach, the world’s first water elevator, and a swim-up bar.  For guests that are 18 and older, you have the luxury of visiting the Hibiscus Pool, possibly the Grand Wailea’s most instagrammable pool.  I cried inside for days that I didn’t get the chance to experience this beautiful pool.    

Among the many (many) things we loved about the Wailea Canyon Activity pool area was that you could bring your own float devices into the pool.  If you have kids, then you probably know this makes swimming in the pool about 1000 times more fun - especially while you are cruising down the river.  The activity pool desk will even inflate them for you at no charge!  

Each day, we picked up our wristbands and towels from the activity pool desk.  Then we would set out to find some beach chairs together and preferably under an umbrella because while we had gorgeous weather that weekend, it was HOT!  Because the pool is pretty crowded and to be fair, the pool policy is that if you leave your chairs unattended for more than one hour, your belongings will be moved for safe keeping so that other guests will have the opportunity to use the chairs.  

Lucky for us, we were hosted for one day side-by-side casabellas (a partial shade lounger that seats two).  It wasn’t until we used them did we realize the value of renting a casabella or cabana.  The casabellas and cabanas rentals are for the entire day and you can leave them for as long as you want and return with the assurance that it will still be available for your use.  Our kids are older, but I can see the incredible value of a cabana or casabella if you have a baby in the family and need shade for naptime or privacy for breastfeeding.  

Our casabellas were located in the courtyard that lines the beach path and faces the ocean.  I loved this location because it was so much quieter than the pool area.  My friend and I enjoyed drinks and a private conversation while the kids played in the pool.  My daughter came over several times to take a break from the excitement and I think she liked the calmness as well.  Now that we’ve experienced the benefits, we definitely see the value of renting a cabana or casabella.  While we were there, the cabanas seemed to be sold out so if you are planning a trip, it would be wise to rent one in advance.  Rentals are available up to a year in advance at the time of booking your room reservation.  


Thank you to the Grand Wailea for hosting our casabella.  All opinions are honest and entirely my own. 

Mom time! 

The shade can also be left down for full sun exposure.