Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea

The history?

The Grand Wailea is a Waldorf Astoria property and lives up to the iconic hotel group’s reputation for being best-in-class. But the 844-room resort—which is spread across 40 acres directly in front of Wailea Beach—has an intriguing history: Opened in 1991, it was the passion project of Japanese developer Takeshi Sekiguchi, who envisioned a luxury resort that would capture the magic of Maui’s water, light, sound, trees, flowers, and art. He wanted it to be romantic and feminine; he knew that “because women make the majority of travel decisions for the family, the resort should capture women’s hearts.” So, in addition to sprawling botanical gardens filled with edible fruit trees and a massive collection of flowers, he created saltwater lagoons and pools with waterfalls; he also adorned the hallways with a massive art collection and the central plaza with voluptuous sculptures by Botero. Around every corner, it seems there’s a whimsical touch imparted by Sekiguchi. One personal favorite? The giant slabs of rock imported straight from the base of Mount Fuji that were meticulously rearranged in their original position to surround a traditional Japanese koi pond.

Photo: Courtesy of Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

What should you try?

Maybe it was the hours I spent in the sunny hydrotherapy gardens, meandering from cold plunge to flotation pool to eucalyptus-scented hammam. Or maybe it was the new-moon-inspired “release and let go” harmonic meditation I listened to while swaddled in a fuzzy blanket and laying in a softly vibrating chair. Whatever it was, my afternoon at the Kilolani spa induced a total state of bliss—so much so, that by the time my therapist called me for my scheduled Helu Pō ritual, I was pretty sure I couldn’t possibly become any more relaxed. I was wrong: My 120-minute treatment, which featured “native botanical remedies, intuitive body work, mindfulness, and holistic healing” aligned with the moon’s current ‘anuhulu’ or 10-day cycle can only be described as transcendent. Over the course of two hours, every inch of my body was scrubbed, massaged, stretched, and soothed with salt, plants, and fragrant oils. “This is amazing,” I whispered as my therapist performed a cranial sacral release on my skull and spine. “A journey to the moon,” she whispered back, a twinkle in her eye.

Photo: Courtesy of Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

How environmentally friendly is it?

The Grand Wailea implements water-saving, solid-waste-reduction, and energy-saving measures that include no single-use plastic; more than 90% of the on-site food is sourced locally; cooking oil is recycled into biofuel; green waste is recycled into compost; and the majority of landscaping is native and drought-resistant.

What else do we need to know?

The opening of Kilolani Spa is just the start of Grand Wailea’s dedication to wellness programming. At the resort’s Loulu café, guests can find a curated selection of products from LA-based grocer Erewhon in addition to tasty treats like acai bowls and smoothies; at the on-site fitness center and movement studio, there’s a full schedule of daily classes ranging from cycling to beach yoga. A sleep retreat hosted by renowned sleep doctor Rebecca Robbins is planned for June, and soon, the resort will unveil a whole new class of “wellness rooms” designed specifically with the health-focused traveler in mind. Located just steps away from the spa in a quiet ground-floor wing of the resort, the rooms will feature a nature-inspired aesthetic, grassy private yards, and a complete suite of mind-body amenities. Think: ALEN air purifiers, Technogym movement kits, yoga mats, Theraguns, Dyson hair dryers, white-noise sound machines, Tibetan singing bowls, healing crystals, and much more.

Who can go?

Kilolani Spa is open to guests of Grand Wailea as well as the public; guests must be over the age of 18. Guests under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent. Passes to the hydrotherapy garden can be purchased for $75.

Booking details for Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea