{"id":6363,"date":"2021-07-10T01:05:12","date_gmt":"2021-07-10T11:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/activityauthority.com\/?p=6363"},"modified":"2024-11-11T18:37:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T04:37:32","slug":"things-know-grand-wailea-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/activityauthority.com\/things-know-grand-wailea-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You Should Know About the Grand Wailea Before Arriving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"grandThey don\u2019t call it grand for nothing: The Grand Wailea<\/b>\u2014a Waldorf Astoria Resort on the south shore of Maui\u2014has it all<\/b>: beauty and romance, leisure and play, elegance and authenticity, glee and tranquility.<\/span><\/p>\n

So spectacular is this spot, in fact, that U.S. News & World Report<\/i> named it one of the top ten luxury resorts on the Valley Isle<\/b>, while it caters to more than half a million visitors annually.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Planning to count yourself as one of them? Whether you\u2019re on your way there or are dreaming up the vacation of a lifetime<\/b>, here are 10 things you should know about the Grand Wailea before arriving<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. This place has mad scale<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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40 acres of premier oceanfront real estate<\/b>. 787 rooms. 5,500-square foot suites. Nine pools,<\/b> comprising 770,000 gallons of water. A spa with 40 treatment rooms.<\/b> Seven bars and restaurants<\/b>. In other words, the Grand Wailea is a hotel of epic proportions, leading many visitors to profess that it is a<\/b> destination in itself.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

How does this translate for guests? The expansiveness is hugely appealing to visitors traveling in large groups, while the diversity of activities\u2014more on that below\u2014can be a major treat. <\/span><\/p>\n

Those hoping to balance their Hawaiian holiday<\/b> with a serene, cozy experience, however, may want to explore the idea of spending a few nights in smaller, homier accommodations\u2014such as the Waldorf Astoria managed (and adjacent) Ho\u02bbolei<\/b>: two-story, gorgeously-appointed villas that, with garages and gourmet kitchens, may feel like a home away from home (albeit a luxe one). 50 units are under the Grand Wailea rental program.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Its luau is one of a kind<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Titled after the ahupua\u02bba <\/i>on which it rests, the Grand Wailea\u2019s \u02bbAha\u02bbaina Luau<\/b><\/a> is outright exquisite (keep in mind this is the new name; previously it went by Honua\u02bbula.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Presented on a grassy knoll in front of the water\u2014while Maui\u2019s largest volcano hovers above\u2014this exceptional celebration ferries spectators into the island\u2019s raw and reverent past, when two notable Polynesian seafarers<\/b>, La\u02bbamaikahiki and Mo\u2019ikeha, sailed into Wailea and learned to co-exist with its gods and goddesses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Chanting, hula, and beats are paired with an extravagant meal featuring luau staples<\/b> like lomi lomi salmon, Kalua pork, and poi, island favorites (such as fried rice and chow fun), and a dessert spread as sweet as the sights (guava mousse, anyone?). Flamboyant for sure, but this performance and feast also sparkles with authentic touches, including a traditional imu <\/i>ceremony<\/b> and Hawaiian lawn games.<\/b> (And did we mention the open bar<\/b>?)<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Its location is unsurpassed<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The Grand Wailea\u2019s backyard is the lush slopes of Haleakala<\/b>; its front is an unforgettable shoreline.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Wailea Beach\u2019s shoreline<\/b>, that is\u2014a cove of sun-kissed, sugary sand that peers out at Maui\u2019s beguiling outer islands. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ranked the #1 beach in America by Dr. Beach<\/b>, beaches don\u2019t get much more picture-perfect than this: The glossy water renders snorkeling and swimming superb, while the colorful umbrellas and buzzy crowds underscore the fact that you\u2019re on vacation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bordering the cove is the Wailea Coastal Walk<\/b>\u2014a lovely boardwalk that traverses five idyllic beaches <\/b>and five high-end resorts<\/b> (and gives shade-seekers the chance to stretch their legs under a mile and a half of beautiful foliage). Through the hotel, you can also go on a guided paddleboard or <\/b>kayak tour<\/a> to Turtle Town<\/b>\u2014an ocean enclave teeming with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.<\/b> Additionally, the resort shares views of the Pacific with The Shops at Wailea <\/b>next door, where 70 stores offer everything from Dr. Seuss paintings <\/b>to gourmet gelato.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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4. The Grand\u2019s pools are to dive<\/i> for<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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First, the facts:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Grand\u02bbs Wailea Canyon Activity Pool<\/b> includes nine pools spread over six enchanting levels. 2,000 feet long,<\/b> a lazy river connects it all, while exhilarating features are presented around every corner\u2014including waterfalls, hot tubs, rushing rapids, a rope swing, <\/b>and a sandy-bottomed lagoon<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, and let\u2019s not forget the waterslides: Its tallest starts six \u201cfloors\u201d above and shoots you into a pool mere feet away from a bar. With Wailea\u2019s perennially sunny weather<\/b> and a seductive, adults-only pool<\/b>, it\u2019s no wonder the Grand\u2019s water wonderland is frequently ranked the #1 pool in Hawaii.<\/b> Evenings<\/a> are equally majestic when a pu<\/i> (or conch shell) is blown during the resort\u2019s nightly torch-lighting ceremony.\u00a0 <\/b>This is one of the more unique activities in Maui<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

All that\u2019s not to say that these pools, while part of your stay, don\u2019t come cheap: Renting a cabana near the water will put you back $600-$2,500 per day, while Casabella beds go for $450 daily. Don\u2019t stress, though: umbrellas and chairs are complimentary, and Wailea Beach\u2014100% free\u2014is right in front of you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5 \u2026and part of that magic includes the world\u2019s first water elevator<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The Grand Wailea is nothing if not ambitious: As if its pools and grounds weren\u2019t outstanding enough, the lavish resort also boasts the world\u2019s first water elevator<\/b>: an enclosed cylinder, open at the top, that takes roughly ten people to the peak of the terraced pools in five minutes. Set in a volcano and surrounded by lava rocks, this is some of the most fun you can legally have in Hawaii.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. It has the largest collection of art in Hawaii<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Over thirty million dollars were spent outfitting the Grand\u2019s lobby and grounds with art that swerves from dazzling to divine to downright peculiar. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the sculptures that gleam around the grounds were created by Fernando Botero<\/b>\u2014a Columbian figurative artist<\/b> whose signature style is depicting humans in outsized, often supine designs. In addition, 81 works\u2014including artifacts, murals, original paintings, and graphics\u2014are sprinkled throughout the resort, giving the Grand as a whole an electrifying, urbane panache. <\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, the Grand Wailea doesn\u2019t take art lightly; it\u2019s immersed it into its core curriculum, so to speak, which ultimately amplifies the resort\u2019s overall uniqueness. Outdoor painting classes<\/b> are offered every Thursday for $40 a pop, while Wednesdays welcome internationally acclaimed photographer Michael Gilbert, who will teach you about light and composition in a three-and-a-half-hour photography workshop<\/b>. Art collection tours<\/b> are also given Tuesdays through Fridays, while local ceramicists, jewelers, woodworkers, and more display their inimitable goods most mornings of the week.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. You can learn to scuba dive right outside your room\u2019s lanai<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Scuba diving<\/b> is one of Maui\u2019s most cherished sports. And for good reason: From manta rays<\/b> to reef sharks<\/b>, Hawaii\u2019s waters are just as captivating as its land attractions. <\/span><\/p>\n

And while snorkeling is great fun\u2014and readily accessible\u2014this soul-stirring activity (invented in part by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1943) will take you down to deeper treasures. <\/span><\/p>\n

Learn the art of it all with the Grand\u2019s daily scuba lesson<\/b>\u2014from 9:30 am-1 pm, skilled instructors will provide you with the knowledge you need to go on a deep ocean voyage.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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8. They\u2019re at the forefront of Maui\u2019s farm-to-fork movement<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Prior to the resort\u2019s opening in 1991 (in its original iteration, the Grand Wailea was the Grand Hyatt Wailea), the area upon which it sits\u2014an ahupua\u02bba<\/i> (or district) traditionally known as Honua\u2019ula\u2014was little more than scrub forest<\/b> and miles and miles of kiawe,<\/i><\/b> <\/i>The Grand has, since then, continually given back to the \u02bbaina <\/i>it altered: Ultra-low kama\u02bbaina<\/a><\/i> deals were offered in the early 90s, the resort once hosted one of the most economical and delicious brunches on the island, and the hotel is often applauded for giving back to the community (in 2016, the resort honored 500 Maui senior citizens with meals, holiday decorations, gifts, and prizes).<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re also at the helm of Maui\u2019s hyper-local food movement<\/b>. In 2011, the Grand\u2019s splendid restaurant, Humuhumunukunukuapua\u2019a launched Localvore week<\/b>\u2014a prix fixe menu based on Maui\u2019s incredible bounty\u2014while in 2015, it began the Ka Malama Dinner, <\/b>a five-course fete, based on the Hawaiian Moon Calendar<\/b>, that emphasizes the greatness of eating seasonally and sustainably. (Adding to the brilliance is a \u201ctalk story\u201d throughout the meal that includes facts about ancient Hawaiian culture.) <\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, many of the resort\u2019s eats and drinks are cultivated on the island. Honey is sourced on the property itself, and every month, the Grand offers a dinner harvested or caught by the hotel\u2019s staff. (Talk about slow food at its finest<\/b>.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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9 \u2026and it\u2019s a utopia for kids<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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If you have keiki<\/i> in your crew, you\u2019re in luck: The Grand Wailea has the most extensive kid\u2019s program in Hawaii<\/b>\u201420,000 square feet of stellar activities that will keep them enthralled for days. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dubbed The Rock<\/b>, this resort within a resort includes a sports lounge<\/b> with a 60\u201d TV, a video arcade<\/b> (including a PlayStation, well, station<\/i>), a snack bar<\/b>, a teens-only hideout<\/b>, its own waterslide<\/b>\u2014even a movie theater<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Adventures are offered daily, from crab hunting <\/b>and scavenger hunts<\/b> to hula classes <\/b>and tide pool excursions<\/b>\u2014making this amusement park of sorts the envy of adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

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10. Its spa is world-famous<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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A number of superlatives are tossed about when describing the Grand\u2019s Spa Grande<\/b>, but opulent<\/i> and enormous <\/i>might be the most apt. <\/span><\/p>\n

Voted one of the ten top spas in the United<\/b> States<\/b> by both Travel + Leisure<\/i> and <\/span>Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler<\/i>, each of the spa\u2019s 50,000 square feet are synonymous with posh\u2014as in Roman tubs, gushing waterfalls, Swiss jet showers, a Japanese furo<\/b> (read: a mega-deep bath fashioned out of hinoki wood), and five specialty baths.<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Their most popular treatment is the Pala\u2019au Journey<\/b>\u2014a full-body lomi lomi<\/i> Hawaiian massage<\/b> followed by an all-encompassing cocoon and scalp treatment\u2014but their Green Coffee and Vanilla Bean Body Scrub is just as delightful. Plus, it\u2019ll leave you super smooth and lustrous\u2014and there\u2019s no better way to experience the resort\u2019s marvels, is there? <\/span><\/p>\n


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