Anyone who has ever been there can tell you that  Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, was already perfect. With stunning gardens, beachfront access, amazing restaurants, and nine individual pools on six different levels, connected by a gentle, swimming river, what more could anyone possibly ask for?

Maui’s favorite family-friendly resort destination just got even more spectacular, thanks to the recent opening of the property’s brand new 50,000-square-foot spa-- the largest of its kind in the region-- specializing in holistic and innovative treatments inspired by the island’s healing practices and rituals. The Kilolani Spa features 40 different, diverse treatment rooms and several themed lounges: the Meditation Lounge, the Reflection Lounge, the Wet Lounge  and Vitality Pool, plus unique and innovative Halotherapy-Infused Infrared Saunas. In the saunas, “warming light wavelengths are directly absorbed into the body, reducing pain, stiffness, and fatigue, while medical-grade salt inhalation enhances respiratory health, reduces inflammation, and improves skin function.”

Kilolani also features a Hammam with an unmistakably Hawaiian twist, incorporating local and indigenous ingredients into the treatments, where guests can choose a self-directed ritual or a personalized treatment with one of several skilled therapists.

The Kilolani Experience is designed to combine the best parts of traditional Hawaiian wellness practices, locally inspired ingredients, and cutting-edge technology to create a space where you can fully relax, recharge, and immerse yourself in Maui’s bounty. Kilolani’s immersive and grounding environment promises that “every sense is awakened through artful expressions of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar, Water of Life, Plant Medicine, and Sound Healing.”

When you book a treatment at the Kilolani Spa, your experience isn’t just the treatment itself, but rather an extended ritual. Guests are invited to enjoy the spa’s Hydrothermal Circuit Amenities one hour prior to their treatment start time, which include open-air Hydrothermal Gardens and a bathing circuit with diverse heating, cooling and hydrotherapy features to stimulate the circulatory system. DIY scrub stations allow for ultimate customization, and steam rooms, saunas, and waterfall showers add to the thoughtful luxury woven seamlessly into the outdoor bathhouse vibe. 

Treatment options include vacation-themed specialties, like the Tropical Superfood Facial, which utilizes tropical fruits like yuzu, pineapple and Kakadu plum, as well as customized, Hawaii-specific sessions like the Holistic Hawaiian Beauty Facial which boasts skincare potions “sourced from the purest Hawaiian botanicals that are formulated into potent natural skincare remedies.” 

Add in the Grand Wailea’s partnership with Los Angeles- based organic grocer Erewhon and you have everything you need. Kilolani’s Wellness Café menu features a variety of Erewhon’s curated selections, including specially formulated elixirs and seasonal light bites. 

After your Kilolani Spa experience, there is no reason to leave the resort (ever?!), thanks to gorgeous Wailea Beach, the property’s 40 acres of lush tropical landscape, and Hawaii’s largest private art collection. We were extra-impressed with the resort’s ever-growing commitment to sustainability, including sourcing almost 75% of their produce from farms in Hawaii, recycling cooking oil and green waste, planting indigenous drought-resistant plants to save water, and operating guest and meeting rooms in an energy-efficient manner, and installing water refill stations. PATH water packaged in aluminum, reusable containers means there are zero single-use plastic water bottles on the property.  Paradise, indeed!