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Maui Sunseeker
Rooms: 17
Amenities: Two hot tubs, gas grills, wireless & guest computers
Prices: $105 +
Gay & lesbian primarily, but welcomes everyone

Maui Sunseeker, located in Kihei, is the largest gay and lesbian hotel in Hawaii. Southern Maui’s Mai Poina ‘Oe La’u Beach is nearby – in fact, steps from the door of the Maui Sunseeker. Seventeen guest suites include the Penthouse Suite, a 1,000 square foot, one bedroom suite with a sleeper sofa to accommodate up to four guests.

The Maui Sunseeker is gay owned and operated. The resort has been renovated and updated to have a more modern feel, and has now also taken over the Wailana Inn.

Activities you can take part in while staying at the gay and lesbian Maui Sunseeker in Hawaii include helicopter tours, biking, hiking, horseback riding, zip lining, rafting, parasailing, sunset dining tours, various LGBT events, spa treatments and more.

When I start looking into a gay hotel, there are a few criteria I look at. I don’t want to write about/recommend something just because they cater to the lesbian crowd, or simply because they’re TAG approved. I look at both the facility itself and the reviews it’s gotten from travelers. I was pleasantly surprised when I found this spot as I scanned the Web for cheap Hawaii deals. Summer is almost gone here, and work is a grind, and a few weeks lying on the beach feels like a necessity these days, rather than a luxury!

I first heard about the Maui Sunseeker Resort being a good lesbian hotel in Hawaii on a message board, then started looking into it more. Located in Kihei on the south shore of Maui, it welcomes travelers of any orientation, but does cater to gays and lesbians.

The Basics:
Pacific Ocean Views (seasonal whale watching)
17 room gay owned and operated hotel
Close to beautiful Little Beach, the Iao Valley, Hana, Lahaina and the volcano, Haleakala
Clothing optional rooftop deck
Two hot tubs
Massage therapy available

From what I read, the cons some travelers mentioned were a lack of bars, shops and attractions near the hotel, so you will need to drive if you stay here. Also, there have been a few mentions of “motor lodge” type accommodations, though there are many, more that say the facilities were amazing, so I guess it depends on the type of room you opt for. Gay and lesbian single Hawaiian travelers may be disappointed, this is definitely more of a couples place.

Hawaii is very open to gay and lesbians, however, there are still deeply traditional Asian roots in many communities, meaning that there are still cultures where it’s not accepted. While same-sex marriage never passed here, the debate started in Hawaii. Since tourism is the number one industry in Hawaii, this means that hotels and restaurants do cater to the gay and lesbian traveler, and gay travel in Hawaii is a booming industry. There is not a large gay scene, here, however. It’s also a bit hard to recommend gay establishments here, as they come and go like crazy. Many of the ones we visited a few years ago are no longer there. Continue Reading »