Aqualani
Aqualani is a Hawaii-based beach and pool recreation management company providing turnkey on-site hospitality services, equipment rentals, and retail to 18+ luxury resort properties across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai for brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Westin, and Sheraton.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLahaina, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Aqualani does
Aqualani is a Hawaii-based beach and pool recreation management company that provides turnkey on-site hospitality services to luxury resort properties. The company operates embedded recreation operations at 18+ resort locations across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, serving major hotel brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, Outrigger, and Grand Wailea. Founded by Mike Kelley in 1977 as Beach Activities of Maui and incorporated as Aqualani in 2017, the business employs 240+ staff and is described as the largest dedicated pool and ocean recreation services company in Hawaii.
The company's core products include managed beach and pool recreation services (staffing, operations, retail centers, equipment rentals, and concierge support), consumer-facing rentals (cabanas, day beds, Alli VIP gazebos, SUP boards, surfboards, kayaks, snorkel gear), retail products (Absolutely Natural reef-friendly sunscreen, REVO and Maui Jim sunglasses, beach toys, SPF surf tops), and island activity concierge services. Technology infrastructure centers on property-specific online reservation platforms (ipoolside.com) for cabana and service bookings, along with retail e-commerce storefronts. The company is part of the Kelley Family of Companies, which also includes affiliated ocean and hospitality brands Teralani Sailing Charters, Ka'anapali Surf Club, Black Rock Spa, Aqualani Beach Club, and All Island Concierge.
Aqualani generates revenue through four primary streams: managed services contracts with resort properties (B2B management fees), equipment and activity rentals (transaction fees paid by resort guests), retail product sales (sunscreen, sunglasses, beach items), and affiliate referral revenue from independently affiliated activity companies. Pricing is quote-based and varies by resort location, with cabana bookings and equipment rentals operating on a pay-as-you-go basis through property-specific booking pages. The go-to-market motion combines enterprise field sales to secure long-term resort management contracts with on-site direct-to-consumer service delivery to hotel guests through staffed retail centers, beach kiosks, and poolside locations. The company is privately held by the Kelley family with no disclosed institutional investment, public listing, or M&A activity.
Aqualani firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aqualani
- Legal name
- Aqualani
- Website
- https://aqualani.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aqualani is a Hawaii-based beach and pool recreation management company providing turnkey on-site hospitality services, equipment rentals, and retail to 18+ luxury resort properties across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai for brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Westin, and Sheraton.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aqualani industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Beach and Pool Recreation Management
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies (THAKAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM), Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL)
Keywords
Where Aqualani is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lahaina
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Aqualani business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Resort Recreation Management Services: Aqualani operates as the on-site beach and pool recreation management partner for luxury resort hotels, providing comprehensive services including staffing, operations, retail centers, and guest services. Revenue is generated through service contracts with resort properties.
- Equipment and Activity Rentals: Revenue from rental of beach and pool equipment including cabanas, day beds, lounge chairs, umbrellas, SUP boards, surfboards, kayaks, snorkel gear, boogie boards, and other recreational items.
- Retail Products: Sale of beach and pool retail items including Absolutely Natural sun care products (reef-friendly sunscreen), REVO Sunglasses, beach toys, goggles, SPF surf tops, and other pool/beach necessities at on-site retail centers.
- Affiliate Referral Revenue: Revenue from referral arrangements with independently affiliated activity companies including Teralani Sailing Charters, Ka'anapali Surf Club, and island activity/tour operators through concierge recommendations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Location-specific rental and booking services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Aqualani product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aqualani operates turnkey beach and pool recreation management services at 18+ luxury resort locations across Hawaii under managed-services contracts with resort owners and brands. The company staffs and operates on-site retail centers, beach kiosks, and concierge desks, and sells or rents cabanas, day beds, beach equipment (SUP boards, kayaks, snorkel gear, surfboards, boogie boards), sun care products, and island activity bookings directly to resort guests.
Product overview
Aqualani is a beach and pool recreation management company operating in Hawaii since 1977 (originally as Beach Activities of Maui). The company provides a unified portfolio of hospitality services including pool and beach rentals (cabanas, day beds, gazebos), beach and pool retail items, sun care products (Absolutely Natural sunscreen, REVO Sunglasses), and island activities concierge services. The company manages recreation operations at 12+ resort locations across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Additionally, Aqualani has affiliated companies including Teralani Sailing Adventures (catamaran charters), Ka'anapali Surf Club (surf rentals/lessons), Black Rock Spa (spa services), Aqualani Beach and Recreation Services (watersports), and All Island Concierge. The company employs over 240 staff across 18 resort locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pool & Beach Rentals Private poolside cabanas, day beds (pune'e), and Alli VIP family-sized gazebos, plus on-beach custom-designed casabellas, chaise lounges, and private umbrella set-ups arranged by the beach valet team for resort guests at Aqualani-served properties.
- Beach & Pool Items Exclusive line of beach and pool recreational items including boogie boards, snorkel gear, pool floats, rafts, SPF surf tops, kids toys, hats, and goggles available at each Aqualani location for resort guests.
- Absolutely Natural Sun Care Products Reef-friendly, chemical-free sunscreen sold exclusively at high-end hotels and resorts, offered at all Aqualani locations as the exclusive retail channel.
- REVO Sunglasses Premium sunglasses featuring NASA-based polarized lens technology offered at all Aqualani retail locations.
- Island Activities & Tours Concierge Personal or group planning concierge for island activities and tours, restaurant recommendations, and location information provided at resort locations and beach/pool recreation centers.
- Resort Location Management Turnkey beach and pool recreation management services at multiple resort properties across Hawaii including Hyatt Regency Maui, Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Westin Maui, Sheraton Maui, Honua Kai, and additional locations on Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
Quantifiable outcome
- Largest pool and ocean recreation services company in Hawaii
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Aqualani
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aqualani technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Aqualani partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Teralani Sailing CharterscoreIndependently affiliated company offering sailing catamaran operations. Founded alongside Aqualani under the Kelley Family of Companies. Blake Moore serves as General Manager of Teralani Catamarans. Provides complementary ocean activity services for resort guests.
- Ka'anapali Surf ClubcoreSurf instruction and rental services at Ka'anapali Beach. Independently affiliated company under Kelley Family of Companies. Jeff Melcher collaborates with Ka'anapali Surf Club Director for recommendations at four Ka'anapali Beach resorts.
- Black Rock SpacoreFull-service spa operations at Sheraton Maui Resort. Founded by Mike Kelley as part of the Kelley Family of Companies. Aqualani operates Black Rock Watersports at the same resort property. Complementary wellness and recreation services.
- Aqualani Watersports (Aqualani Beach Club)coreBeach and water sports operations under the Aqualani brand. Offers kayak rentals, snorkel tours, SUP rentals and lessons, and snorkeling rental gear. Services available at Grand Wailea and other locations.
- Aqualani Kauai Concierge (All Island Concierge)minorConcierge services for Kauai island activities and tours. Independently affiliated company providing island-wide activity planning and booking services for resort guests.
- Maui Jim SunglassesminorPremium sunglasses brand carried at Aqualani retail centers at resort properties.
- Absolutely Natural Sun Care ProductsminorReef-friendly, chemical-free sunscreen brand. Only available at high-end hotels and resorts. Aqualani features Absolutely Natural products at all locations as the exclusive retail channel.
- REVO SunglassesminorPremium sunglasses featuring NASA-based polarized lens technology. Carried at Aqualani retail locations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aqualani competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Marriott International: Major hotel brand whose properties (Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club) are Aqualani's direct customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent that could choose to insource beach and pool recreation services rather than contract with Aqualani.
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation: Hotel brand whose Hyatt Regency Maui is an Aqualani flagship location. Comparable as a broad incumbent that owns and operates beachfront resort properties and could vertically integrate recreation management.
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts: Luxury hotel brand whose Hawaii properties (Four Seasons Wailea, Four Seasons Maui) have historically competed with Aqualani-managed resorts. Comparable as a premium incumbent in the same luxury resort market that Aqualani's leadership team came from.
- Viator (Tripadvisor): Global activities and tours marketplace. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering online booking for tours, water activities, and experiences that competes indirectly with Aqualani's island activities concierge service.
Regional players
- Atlantis Adventures Hawaii: Hawaii-based marine activities operator offering submarine tours and ocean excursions. Comparable as a regional player providing resort-guest water-based activities and tours in the same Hawaii market as Aqualani.
- Pacific Whale Foundation: Hawaii-based marine ecotourism operator running ocean excursions from Maui. Directly comparable as a regional marine activities provider in the same Hawaiian waters, and Aqualani's Teralani GM Blake Moore previously served as COO of Pacific Whale Foundation.
- Fair Wind Hawaii: Big Island-based marine activities operator offering snorkel tours, diving, and watersports. Comparable as a regional player in Hawaii's ocean recreation and water sports segment that overlaps with Aqualani's equipment rental and tour offerings.
- Hawaiian Paddle Sports: Maui-based outfitter offering SUP rentals, lessons, and eco-tours. Comparable as a regional water sports operator with overlapping equipment rental and activity offerings in the same Hawaiian resort market.
Emerging players
- GetMyBoat: Online marketplace for boat rentals and water activities. Comparable as an emerging player in marine recreation booking and rentals, representing a digital distribution alternative to Aqualani's on-property concierge model.
- Sailo: Online sailboat and yacht charter marketplace. Comparable as an emerging player in boat rental and water-based experience booking that competes indirectly with Aqualani's affiliate sailing charter offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Aqualani social profiles
Digital presenceAqualani financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aqualani leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Aqualani funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aqualani M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aqualani
What does Aqualani do?
Aqualani operates turnkey beach and pool recreation management services at 18+ luxury resort locations across Hawaii under managed-services contracts with resort owners and brands. The company staffs and operates on-site retail centers, beach kiosks, and concierge desks, and sells or rents cabanas, day beds, beach equipment (SUP boards, kayaks, snorkel gear, surfboards, boogie boards), sun care products, and island activity bookings directly to resort guests.
Is Aqualani a public or private company?
Aqualani is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Aqualani founded?
Aqualani was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aqualani based?
Aqualani is headquartered in Lahaina, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aqualani make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Resort Recreation Management Services are the primary driver. The others are equipment and Activity Rentals, retail Products and affiliate Referral Revenue.
Who are Aqualani's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Viator (Tripadvisor). Regional players are Atlantis Adventures Hawaii, Pacific Whale Foundation, Fair Wind Hawaii and Hawaiian Paddle Sports. Emerging players are GetMyBoat and Sailo.
Does Aqualani have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aqualani.
What industry is Aqualani in?
Aqualani's product category is Beach and Pool Recreation Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAFAL, Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies, with a secondary code of CRAMAIAM, Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales). Its NAICS code is 487210 and its SIC code is 7900.