This hotel reopened in early 2008 after undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that touched on all areas of the hotel.
A significant part of the overhaul involved converting the hotel's north-wing rooms into larger one- and two-bedroom suites (reducing the total number of rooms/suites from 548). The 107 new residential units were offered for sale as whole-ownership condos. Owners of the new residential units are limited to using them for only 30 days per year. The rest of the time, the suites are rented out by the Ritz-Carlton.
Next to the lobby, the volcanic-themed Alaloa Lounge is a striking place at night. Seated at the illuminated onyx bar lit by hand-blown glass pendants, guests face a black lava-stone back wall with a fiery red river of light flowing across. On the other side of the lobby is the new Kai Sushi restaurant, designed in warm tones of wood, woven grasses and gold-hued stone, with hand-carved ceiling beams shaped
like outrigger canoes.
The signature Banyan Tree restaurant at the edge of the property is especially inviting, with ocean-inspired art and dramatic views of the Pacific. A new adjacent outdoor bar and lounge spilling out from a covered terrace is a popular place for lingering over drinks and pupus.
Updates to the huge three-tiered swimming pool also were not forgotten. For $250, guests can use one of seven new luxury pool cabanas for the day. They come with a personal attendant bearing a tropical fruit platter upon arrival, a flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, refrigerator stocked with nonalcoholic beverages for four and a ceiling fan with lights.
The property also is opening an environmental education center that should be up and running by summer 2008. Both children and adults can explore tide pools and learn 
about the migration of whales and the natural rain forest, guided by a marine biologist or naturalist.
A new 17,500-sq-ft spa, with 15 treatment rooms including two outdoor couples' cabanas, opened in June 2008. Most of the treatment rooms open to private outdoor shower gardens, and private and co-ed relaxation areas with basalt stone floors and rain showers overlook a taro patch garden. The spa also offers Hawaiian-based treatments such as lomilomi massage and Hawaiian healing treatments.
Families will enjoy the extra space available in the residential properties. Each of the 900-sq-ft one-bedroom, and 1,300-sq-ft two-bedroom, units features dark-wood floors, area rugs with floral designs, new furnishings, a spacious living/dining room with large gathering table and 42-inch LCD flat-screen TVs.
The only 
downside is that there is not a full kitchen with oven and stove top. But there is a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, toaster and other kitchen amenities.
The remaining guest rooms also have been completely remodeled, along with the hotel's restaurants, and a 24-hour, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio with sea views was created.
The property is smoke-free.
The only thing The Ritz couldn't improve upon here was its location. The most northern of the west Maui hotels, it's likely to have clouds, wind or a little rain. But the quicksilver changes to the light and cloud formations dancing over the mountains behind the resort just add to the setting's natural beauty.
