The Plantation Inn

A five-minute walk from Lahaina’s bustling Front Street, The Plantation Inn occupies a small corner of Lahainaluna Road. The front of the hotel looks like a residential building, with a welcoming porch and a lawn shaded by greenery. To check in, guests follow signs around the rear of the building, where there’s a small, nondescript office. The atmosphere around The Plantation Inn is always quiet. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Front Street’s crowded bars and restaurants are so close. Although some wear and tear is visible, interiors are lovely, with an old-school Hawaii vibe that includes floral wallpaper, tropical-print cushions, and wicker seating in the restaurant. Children are welcome at The Plantation Inn, but the property is clearly geared towards adults. There isn’t anything for kids to do on-site, and during our visit, we exclusively encountered couples.  

The Plantation Inn is located on a quiet corner of Lahainaluna Road, a five-minute walk from Lahaina’s bustling Front Street. The hotel is within walking distance of local shops, bars, and restaurants, but the property still feels quiet and secluded. Lahaina is known as Maui’s hub for shopping, dining, and “nightlife” (essentially, bars that are open until 10 or 11 p.m). Lahaina is waterfront, but there aren’t many quality beaches in the area. Baby Beach is a 15-minute walk away, or Plantation Inn guests can drive 10 minutes to the hotel’s sister property, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, for access to world-famous Kaanapali Beach. The Plantation Inn is a 45-minute drive from Maui’s Kahului Airport. 

With colorful decor and old-fashioned accents, rooms are everything you might expect at a place with a name like The Plantation Inn. While no two rooms are exactly alike, decor throughout feels homey and classically Hawaiian. Wood floors and dark-wood furniture evoke Hawaii’s stately colonial history, while wainscoting and hibiscus-print quilts add beachy, island-inspired flair. Pineapple accents can be found throughout -- on lamp bases, etched into desk chairs, in artwork -- and allude to Maui’s pineapple producing past (they’re also a traditional sign of hospitality). Bathrooms feature 1930s-inspired art decor tilework, plus pedestal sinks and shower stalls. Most rooms have furnished outdoor balconies or patios, but a few entry-level rooms do not. Despite only having 18 rooms, The Plantation Inn has eight types of rooms and suites. Standard Rooms are the lowest-category rooms and also the smallest in size, and they don’t have outdoor spaces. Aloha Value rooms are slightly larger, and have tiny outdoor balconies that overlook the parking lot. The Lahaina Room faces Lahainaluna Road, and has a large outdoor balcony above Gerard’s restaurant. Lanai Rooms are the nicest and most expensive, and have double French doors that lead outside to private balconies or patios. All rooms are equipped with the same amenities, including flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electronic safes, and ironing facilities. The Plantation Inn has four suites -- each about 600 square feet and able to accommodate up to three people. The Panaewa Suite we visited was like a small one-bedroom apartment, with a full kitchen and separate living and dining spaces. Suites have the same amenities as rooms, and all have private outdoor spaces. Guests should note that neither of the hotel’s buildings has an elevator, and not all room types are available on the ground floor.  

Between The Plantation Inn’s two buildings, there’s a small pool and outdoor lounge area. The tiny rectangular-shaped pool gets a fair amount of use throughout the day, but the atmosphere is always quiet. The pool is surrounded by a patio, with a few lounge chairs, and a built-in hot tub. Next to the pool are several umbrella-shaded dining tables, where the hotel serves free breakfast each morning. For breakfast, guests can choose from a substantial menu of hot and cold options, including eggs Florentine, French toast, and bagels with smoked salmon. Each meal come with coffee, fresh fruit, and homemade juices.  The Plantation Inn’s on-site restaurant, Gerard’s, is widely considered one of the best French restaurants in Maui. The restaurant’s owner (you guessed it, Gerard), hails from France, and combines classic French cooking techniques with local Maui ingredients. The restaurant feels like a homey living room, with floral wallpaper and wicker chairs, but maintains a sense of elegance with its white tablecloths and fine china. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for coveted outdoor tables on the front porch. Freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, and breakfast. The hotel also has coin-operated laundry machines on-site. Travelers looking for additional amenities can use the facilities at The Plantation Inn’s sister property, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, which offers lots of free activities like lei-making and ukulele lessons.