Grand Wailea Maui’s new $55 million spa is a destination in itself

If you’re not sure if you can visit Maui again, the answer is a resounding yes. The people who live there need tourism to come back strong so they can begin to rebuild after last year’s wildfires. If you need a reason to come now, the stunning new Kilolani Spa at the recently renovated Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria resort, is it. The largest spa in Hawaii, it is a true wellness center designed to treat your body, mind and spirit. Warning: it’s so luxurious you’ll never want to take it off.

Towards the moon and the stars

Like everything at Grand Wailea, Kilolani Spa draws inspiration from its ancestral heritage and respectfully pays homage to the rich island culture. During its development, the resort’s incredible cultural director, Kalei ‘Uwēko’olani, was instrumental in ensuring that every space, every treatment, every sensory experience was authentic, from the native plants used during the treatments right through to the traditional indigenous healing practices that are the spa. cornerstone.

Rather than just being a resort spa where you run to treat yourself to a massage or facial, Kilolani is a transformative space that deserves to be the centerpiece of your vacation. While Grand Wailea is a great place for kids and multi-generational families, do yourself a favor and consider coming here alone, with a loved one, or with your friends so you can focus on adult self-care.

“Kilolani” means “stargazer” or “reaching for the heavens” and it’s a charming and fitting name for a spa that’s literally inspired by the sky and the Hawaiian lunar calendar. Kilolani’s programming changes three times a month to accommodate the different phases of the moon. Each phase lasts 10 days and reflects the new beginning of Anahulu Ho’onui, the clarity of Anahulu Poepoe, or the resting Anahulu Ho’ēmi. Aligning with the natural flow of the universe is a powerful idea that makes so much sense.

Everything about Kilolani is well thought out and intentional so that your time there is much deeper than just relaxation. In fact, your experience begins when you are escorted to “the portal” – a natural, calming cocoon designed to serve as a transitional space – and asked to set an intention by dipping your hands into a container filled with water infused with real Wed. salt, then throw them into the world.

The moment the friendly spa attendant greeted you in the locker room (a term that doesn’t live up to its calm, refined beauty) and handed you the best spa robe you’ve ever worn (it’s silky and sophisticated (and my husband and I treated ourselves to a couple from the spa boutique before leaving for the airport), you will already feel subjected to the magic of Kilolani. Details like charging stations inside each locker and private changing areas go a long way to making you feel completely taken care of.

Hydrotherapy gardens

You’ll want to spend some quiet time in the outdoor hydrotherapy gardens, so be sure to arrive early for your treatment to experience all they have to offer. Even if you don’t have a treatment, you can always book a two hour tour like my husband did so we can spend time together swimming in the Vitalité pool and admiring the beautiful surroundings.

The hydrotherapy gardens offer a wide variety of restorative activities, including a steam room, sauna, saltwater vitality pool, scrub stations, and a Hawaiian-inspired steam room. Additionally, the exquisite contrasting bath circuit includes rinse/refresh showers, waterfall showers and a cold plunge. The whole experience is both invigorating and relaxing. Give yourself enough time to be able to stay present in each one and appreciate the unique way you feel.

If all that isn’t enough, you can add in a halotherapy infrared sauna session, which offers benefits such as improved respiratory health and immune resilience and helps relieve muscle tension.

Reflection room and meditation room

When it comes to a room with a view, the best seats in the house are upstairs in the Reflection Lounge, where you can sit in your bathrobe and browse the collection of books on Hawaiian culture or simply wait for your treatment with complimentary snacks and treats. water. Overlooking the resort’s lush landscape, the outdoor lounge will never make you forget you’re in Maui.

If you prefer to relax, head next to the meditation lounge and lie down on a lounge chair with a soft blanket. You can even opt for a personalized guided meditation that uses harmonic and vibrational sound therapy that works in conjunction with the current phase of the moon.

Signature rituals and treatments

While this all beats just about any previous spa experience I’ve had, it was just icing on the cake. The Hawaiian-inspired treatments were the main reason I came to Kilolani and they exceeded my highest expectations. Reading the spa menu while we planned our trip was as enticing to me as reading the menu at Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, Grand Wailea’s thatched restaurant on the lagoon.

I knew I had to try one of the spa’s signature 120-minute rituals (120 minutes!!) and I went back and forth choosing before finally settling on the ʻAwa relaxation ritual. For two blissful hours, I was scrubbed, oiled, wrapped and massaged until my skin was as soft as a baby’s and my mind was the best kind of mush. I could have purred like a cat, I was so happy.

Because I couldn’t resist the description, I also reserved the Honey Macadamia Wrap for the next day. This way I could enjoy the hydrotherapy gardens twice. In addition to the whipped honey wrap, the 90-minute treatment included a vanilla passionflower scalp treatment and macadamia foot scrub. It was a treat for all the senses and left me intoxicated with the delicious aromas.

I visited Kilolani during Anahulu Ho’onui, a time of new beginnings, self-discovery, manifestation, and setting intentions. I discovered that I loved the way this new spa made me feel. I’m manifesting my return next year and plan to indulge in another (or two) of the signature rituals.

Is this paradise? No, it’s Kilolani.