Vacation Internationale Kauhale Makai

The Resort & Its Setting

Vacation Internationale Kauhale Makai is an independent timeshare resort affiliated with RCI, sitting in the heart of Kihei on Maui's leeward coast. As an independent property rather than part of a major hotel brand, it has its own character and its own owners' association running things day to day, while the RCI tie-in gives owners the option to exchange their week or points for stays at other RCI resorts worldwide.

Kihei itself is one of Maui's most established vacation towns — flatter and drier than the lush windward side, with long stretches of beach, calm swimming conditions for much of the year, and an easy, unpretentious holiday feel compared with the resort corridors further south in Wailea.

The Area & Things to Do

Kihei's own beach park is a short trip from the resort and is popular with families for its calm water and picnic areas. A little further south, Wailea Beach offers clearer water and good snorkelling, while boat trips out to Molokini Crater — a crescent-shaped marine sanctuary just offshore — are among the best-known snorkelling and diving excursions on this side of Maui.

Maalaea Harbor, a short drive away, is the departure point for seasonal whale-watching trips and has its own cluster of restaurants and water-activity operators. For a proper day out, Haleakala National Park and its volcanic summit are within reach by car, and the famous Road to Hana — Maui's winding, waterfall-studded coastal drive — is a longer but worthwhile excursion for anyone with a full day to spare. A rental car is genuinely useful here, since Kihei is walkable for dining and shopping but the island's bigger sights are spread out.

Selling or Renting a Week Here

If you own a week or points at Vacation Internationale Kauhale Makai and are thinking of moving it on, BidMyTimeshare.com works as a straightforward owner-to-owner marketplace: you list your week yourself, you set your own asking price, and interested buyers contact you directly through the platform. There's no commission on the sale — sellers simply pay a small one-time listing fee to get their week in front of buyers.

Because this is an independent resort, resale isn't processed through a large branded developer — it goes through Vacation Internationale Kauhale Makai's own owners' association or on-site management. Before agreeing on a price with a buyer, both parties should confirm directly with the resort or its management the current transfer fee, whether the association holds a right of first refusal on resales, and the current annual maintenance fee — these figures aren't published centrally and can change, so get them in writing before any money changes hands. A resale buyer should also clarify exactly what transfers: the usage right or points allocation itself, and whether RCI exchange privileges carry over automatically or need to be re-registered in the new owner's name.

Renters, meanwhile, are mostly looking for straightforward things: confirmed dates, a clear description of the unit and its location within Kihei, and an honest idea of what's within walking distance versus what needs a car.

Practical Notes for Owners and Buyers

If you plan to use RCI exchange privileges rather than stay at Kihei itself, book well ahead — popular exchange windows fill up fastest around the winter high season and the busier summer months. Anyone buying resale purely for personal use should also ask whether the week or points package has ever been deposited with RCI in past years, as this can occasionally affect exchange value.