We booked a two bedroom oceanfront premier unit for the week of March 15, 2008. There were two adults and 4 "kids" between 17 and 24 from two families. I thought by booking the most expensive unit, I would have the best unit. It does not work that way.

From all of the reviews, I expected a unit with 2 bedrooms and a den with a foldout couch or bed. When we arrived, we were told that the oceanfront units DO NOT HAVE DENS, and the couch in the living room was not a foldout, so we ended up with people sleeping on the couch and an uncomfortable rollaway in the middle of the living room. The situation was not ideal. I left a message for the manager on day 2 that was never returned.

The other worst aspect was the lack of noise insulation or privacy. For some reason, probably moisture control, all of the doors to the bathrooms are louvered and very thin. We could hear everything that everyone did in the bathroom. There was a lot of wasted space in the units (enormous entry hall on a big L). I would have prefered the den that I expected. (I was told by the front desk that fewer than 5% of the units have dens, which is odd, since almost everyone that reviews these units raves about the extra den/bedroom.)

Groceries are very expensive ($8 a gallon for milk, $4.50 a dozen for eggs, $8.00 for a small box of cereal, $6.50 for a 12 pack of sprite cans). We concluded that by the time you buy the stuff to go with a meal, like A1 ($7.00), salad dressing, etc., it was cheaper to go out to eat. We really liked breakfast at CJ Deli and Diner (a mile away - turn left as you get on the highway), and China Bowl in the same mall. We also liked Penne Pasta in Lehaina, also inexpensive, and Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. We grilled a few meals at the highly touted gas grills, but if I went back, I would cook less, if at all, and probably stay at the Westin, Marriott or Hyatt in Kaanapali, with much better pools. The premier oceanfront unit was more than $1000 a night. I could have had two hotel rooms and more service and privacy.

The kitchen was well stocked and even had some spices. The pool area was clean but crowded.

If you have time, take the Pacific Whale Foundation whale watch. It was wonderful!

We've been coming to Maui and staying at the Alii for 12 years now. This most recent trip, we booked through a private party, what a mistake! The bed in the master suite was like sleeping on the ground, it was so hard, I ended up sleeping in the 2nd bedroom in a twin sized bed. The stuffing was coming out of the torn edge of the sofa and not a single remote worked in the unit!
This isn't isolated to this condo being privately owned, we've yet to find a comfortable bed at the Alii and have found the units to be hit or miss. I went to the front desk and inquired about comfortable bedding and units with working remotes,etc and was told that in order to be guaranteed these things, I needed to pay extra for a premiere room!!! Pay more than we are already!!!
Sadly, I doubt that we'll be staying at the Alii again, it's time to move on. The front desk staff just gives you the 'smile' and really aren't concerned with any issues one might encounter at the Alii any longer. Too bad, they've lost a long time customer!

We stayed at the Alii for one week this past January. We had a one bedroom + den which was basically a two bedroom - the den had a bed, dresser, its own private bathroom, and closed off from the main living room with sliding doors. Here are my thoughts:

Pros:
1. Well-equipped kitchen: the kitchen had everything - pots, pans, electric can opener, coffee maker, large bowls for salads, silverware, some tupperware, a microwave, and even a plastic tablecloth for picnics. There were even ice packs in the freezer. The one thing we couldn't find - a rice cooker (yes, we're asian) - the front desk provided immediately at our request.

2. Fabulous bathrooms: there were two - a basic one in the den area, and then a larger one in the master suite. The larger bathroom had two separate sinks, and the shower was large enough for two people, and had a built-in bench. Very, very luxurious.

3. Beachside BBQ grills - we shopped at Costco and grilled out twice - they have huge gas grills with outdoor tables. The grills are complete with all the necessary BBQ tools, and the hotel staff will clean them every morning. Just be sure to go down early to grab one.

4. Fresh coffee, lemonade, and passion fruit juice every day. And a large plasma screen television next to the pool for all the superbowl fans.

5. Chairs for the beach are provided for Alii guests.

Cons:
1. We found dirty women's underwear left in the dresser. 'Nuff said.

2. We paid for an ocean view room - on the second floor, we could only see a sliver of the ocean.

3. Not all rooms are renovated, and some are in the process of being remodeled. The management did send flyers with the days and times of when the construction would be loudest.

4. The pool, while it is nice, is very small compared to some of the other resorts.

5. The fitness center is one small room with the basics - a couple of treadmills, and some free weights.

Overall, the Alii was wonderful, especially since there was a full kitchen for us and we didn't want to eat out every day. I would definitely recommend this for families.

This was our 6th trip to Maui. In past years we stayed at the Hyatt. We decided to try a condo this trip, as we travel with another couple and wanted a little more freedom with meals, etc. We were familiar with the Kaanapali beach area and investigated the Ali'i and decided to try it. I was a little apprehensive, wondering how it could compare to the Hyatt. I cannot convey how wonderful the experience was. We stayed 2 weeks in unit 223. This unit is rented out by Maui Beachfront Rentals but still included the fabulous amenities available to all condos on the property. The condo itself was in a good location, had a lovely view of the grounds and ocean from the lanai. The decor is dated but clean. We really didn't mind that as we come to hawaii for the beauty of the islands, not the decor of the condo! Everything we needed was available for us at the condo, the staff is incredibly friendly, the grounds lovely, and the pool is warm. The beach at the Ali"i is actually much better than in front of the Hyatt and we took full advantage of that fact. We have already booked our return trip for 2 weeks next year!