KILOLANI SPA
A Wellness Break At Grand Wailea Maui
If the stresses of modern life have gotten on your last nerve and the chilly winter winds have started blowing down your street, then Maui is the right place to run away to—more specifically, to the southwestern side of that Hawaiian island. That’s where the Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, beckons—perfectly suited to renew, refresh, relax, and recharge your internal batteries. This elegant beachfront enclave is one of Hawaii’s landmark hotels, constructed in 1991 and far from the terrible 2023 fire that destroyed the city of Lahaina.
That fire is a crucial reason to choose Maui for a warm-weather escape, as the island’s tourism-based economy suffered terribly after the city was lost. It is slowly being rebuilt, but the rest of the island is just as vibrant and beautiful as ever, especially the Wailea area, which has long been famed for its beautiful beaches, golf courses, and luxury hotels.
There are myriad ways to immerse yourself in a wellness bubble from the moment you arrive at the Grand Wailea. Drop your bags, throw on the swimsuit, and hit the warm ocean water for starters, then prepare for the resort’s newest attraction, Hawaii’s most significant.
You’ll be surprised to hear that it’s not the massive Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, with its five intertwining slides (as well as another whitewater rapids slide), caves, waterfalls, four jungle pools, and even a “Tarzan” pool with an actual rope swing. However, that’s where to drop all your city stress at the water’s edge and have a blast. No, the biggest thing happening is the new spa, which opened in 2024. We recently got to experience it firsthand, and it is spectacular.
THE NEW JEWEL
Stepping into the Kilolani Spa’s lobby, it isn’t immediately apparent that 50,000 square feet of spa facilities are awaiting you. That massive size makes it the largest spa in Hawaii, one that is outfitted with the most modern spa innovations and permeated with indigenous Hawaiian culture and Polynesian wellness knowledge.
The Hawaiian influence is evident when you enter the “Portal,” the first stop into a world filled with ways to find many kinds of bliss. Unsurprisingly, the space evokes the moon, as in Hawaiian culture, “the Kilolani” are the stargazers, the people who find the night sky an inspiring place filled with meaning that can be brought to earth.
This namesake leads to a unique and specific way for this spa to structure its offerings by following the moon cycles (Helu Pō in Hawaiian). That means the treatments and products used constantly change every ten days, using the moon as the guide.
Once inside, Kilolani Spa is a cornucopia of wellness delights, ranging from the expected spa treatments, including signature rituals lasting two hours, designed to promote relaxation and even help with insomnia, to massage facials and body treatments. Add more unexpected possibilities with a sound healing experience, an astrology reading with “soul healing,” and a breathwork session, with the result (perhaps) being a new perspective on life.
YOU’LL DEFINITELY WANT MORE
Take that blissful feeling into the gorgeous outdoor Hydrotherapy Gardens and let Hawaiian waters wash over you in stimulating hot/cold plunge pools, a saltwater flotation pool, a hammam influenced by Hawaiian traditions, a steam room, a sauna, and more. You’ll want to return for more when you float out of this spa. There’s also yoga classes held out in the gardens, on the beach, or in a studio; a trip into the vast, fully equipped gym; standup paddleboarding out in the ocean; and even a visit to “the biostation,” where vitamin infusions, testosterone therapy, peptide therapy, and other medical treatments await.
You can even book into one of the resort’s wellness rooms, complete with eucalyptus bedding, air purifiers, meditation goggles, compression boots, a white noise machine, and more, all designed to put you in a state of physical and emotional bliss.
Spend at least one evening indulging in the resort’s Botero Lounge, where massive sculptures by that talented artist overlook a lively space that serves craft cocktails, sushi, steaks, and burgers in an open-air setting. Spend at least one evening indulging in the resort’s Botero Lounge, where massive sculptures by that talented artist overlook a lively space that serves craft cocktails, sushi, steaks, and burgers in an open-air setting.
For more information about the Grand Wailea Maui Resort, visit grandwailea.com
DON’T-MISS ENTICEMENTS
No trip to Maui is complete without making time for some of the island’s don’t-miss experiences, starting with taking the road to Hana. That winding cliff’s edge road is spectacular, with lots of chances to park near one of the countless streams you cross and then climb up into the rainforest to discover a pristine waterfall. Wear a swimsuit, bring a towel and water shoes, and jump in!
Once in Hana, be sure to go past the small town and visit the Seven Sacred Pools (Pools of Ohe’o), one of Maui’s most beautiful natural formations. Make time to visit Haleakala National Park, which is high up in southern Maui. That’s where the volcanic crater awaits, a silently eerie place with a landscape that seems like the moon’s surface must be. Take a short, medium, or long hike there, and be sure to carry water, as temperatures can get warm in the dormant caldera. It’s a spectacular sight, as are the views of the island and ocean stretching out below.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take a snorkeling or scuba diving trip out to Molokini for a look at giant clams, gorgeous coral reefs, and even a shark or two. Make sure your boat stops at Turtle Town, a spot in the ocean where sea turtles call home. That’s a genuinely magical ocean adventure that always makes your heart sing.
For information on Maui, visit gohawaii.com/islands/maui