Postcard From: Hawaii

Lauren recently returned from her first journey to the Hawaii Islands, beginning with an immersive FAM trip to Maui alongside UJV and then heading over to explore Kauai and the Big Island. Having finally experienced the spirit of Aloha for herself, she’s excited to share her expert recommendations and favorite finds with you.

The Stops:

• Maui - 6 nights
• Kauai - 3 nights
• Big Island - 4 nights

Maui

The Hotels Scouted:

• The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali
• Fairmont Kea Lani
• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, by Hyatt
• Hotel Wailea
• The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
• Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Hotel Highlights:

• Relais & Châteaux rated dinner and aerial yoga at Hotel Wailea
• All-suite rooms at Fairmont Kea Lani
• White Lotus filming location and adults only pool at Four Seasons Resort Maui

Favorite Hotel:

Fairmont Kea Lani: recently renovated, this hotel features all-suite rooms, it's in a fantastic location, and has great snorkeling just off the beach

Favorite Activities:

• Sunset cruise - we saw so many dolphins swimming alongside our boat!
• The Luau at the Andaz Maui - great show with a traditional Hawaiian dinner
• Snorkeling - just off the beach you can swim with sea turtles

Kauai

The Hotels Scouted:

• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

Hotel Highlights:

• Multiple pools at the Grand Hyatt making it a very family friendly property
• Views of the Na Pali Coast from the 1 Hotel and the sustainability of the hotel

Favorite Hotel

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay: one of the newest hotels on the islands, this hotel brings the outdoors in and has incredible views from anywhere on property

Favorite Activities:

• Jurassic Falls Helicopter Tour - fly to waterfalls only accessible by helicopter
• Kalalau Lookout at Waimea Canyon - the most beautiful lookout point

Big Island

The Hotels Scouted:

• Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection
• Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
• Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Hotel Highlights:

• The Oceanfront Premier Room at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is literally steps from the ocean
• Mauna Lani's amazing food and customer service
• The privacy of the freestanding Hale rooms at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort and the black lava rocky beach on property is very unique

Favorite Hotel: 

Mauna Lani: this property has one of the most authentic Hawaiian feels and features laid back luxury

Favorite Activities:

• Driving to and walking through Volcanoes National Park - we got to walk along the crater and through lava tubes
• Snorkeling with Manta Rays - one of the only places in the world you can night snorkel with Manta Rays where they come right up to you

The Daily Rundown from Lauren

Day 1 - We arrived to Maui around dinner time, but due to the time change we were wiped! We checked into our rooms at Westin Ka'anapali (being greeted by a lei was so fun!) and then went straight to bed!

Day 2 - This morning, I woke up to the most incredible sunrise and went for a walk along the beach – thank you Hawaii time change!!! I enjoyed the grounds a little more, which has waterfalls and birds on property – it feels very Polynesian and is great for families! I met the rest of the group at the hotel’s restaurant Ulu (so delicious) and then spent the day acclimating in a lovely cabana on property. Later that evening, it was time for a sunset cruise aboard a catamaran.  This was one of my all-time favorite experiences as we got to see sea turtles and even had dolphins swimming alongside our boat for 10 minutes. Unreal!

Day 3 - Today we headed out for a morning UTV adventure through old pineapple farms. It turns out pineapple farms were quite destructive to the rainforest. All of the trees were cut down and plastic covered the area. Now, the plastic runs several feet into the ground and there is concern about removing it and contaminating the ocean, so every UTV group plants a tree at the top in hopes of reforesting the land.  We got sooo muddy and I loved it! After a well-deserved shower, we checked out of our hotel and headed to the Ritz Kapalua for an afternoon of touring and cabana bliss.  Finally, we checked into our next incredible hotel: Fairmont Kea Lani. I absolutely loved this property! As it underwent a renovation in 2020, all of the rooms are modern suites with very large bathrooms! We had one of the most amazing dinners I have ever eaten at Hotel Wailea. This adult-only boutique property is a strong contrast from a lot of the larger properties in Maui. It's part of the Relais & Châteaux hotel collection, and all hotels in this collection must have amazing cuisine. We treated ourselves to a bottle of Bordeaux wine, caviar service, and the most delectable 3 course meal. 

Day 4 - This morning we got to experience a traditional canoe where we paddled out and got to hold sea urchins– so cool when they move in your hand!! A trip to Maui would not be complete without visiting the ultra-luxe Four Seasons, aka the original White Lotus!! I took a tour of the property and longingly gazed at the adult pool, which is the prettiest view on the island in my opinion! I got to check out a few of the massive suites that filming took place in. Clients who stay on property can actually take a White Lotus Tour several days a week to learn about the props and filming locations used – so cool if you're a fan of the show. As if the property couldn’t get any better, they are actually renovating their spa and replacing their pool cabanas. We had lunch on property, and then drove a small part of Road to Hana. We hiked to a waterfall, saw a ton of bamboo trees, stopped in Paia town and had a Dole Whip, and then headed back to have dinner at Monkeypod. You have to try their Mai Thai shots, which they make special with lilikoi (passionfruit) foam. Be careful, the alcohol is real and it will sneak up on you!

Day 5 - This morning, I woke up early, by choice, the sunsets were too beautiful to miss! I then spent some time snorkeling at the hotel’s reef. Within 5 minutes of swimming off of the beach, I met several sea turtles and just hung out watching them float around – literally a foot in front of me! We then switched hotels to our next property: Andaz Maui. This property feels a little smaller than some of the others and is more sleek and trendy, but it’s a great spot for honeymooners. We stopped for lunch a local brewery called Lahaina Brewing – I am a sucker for craft beer and shrimp tacos. And then settled into property before the iconic Feast at Mokapu Luau. This is the perfect experience to get a true taste of Hawaiian culture and history and try a bunch of traditional food like Poi. 

Day 6 - Today was all about the cultural experiences!! Andaz offers so many great classes taught by locals: lei making in your poolside cabana, poke making class (so fun and delicious), and then an art class. Tonight we had an amazing farewell dinner at Ka’ana kitchen (means to share) - best meal of trip! The chef created a blue mango sticky rice cheesecake and wow I will be dreaming about that forever. 

Day 7 - After an incredible FAM, it was time to continue the adventure on my own! I flew to Kauai where my husband met me and immediately noticed how different it was. Maui has gorgeous beaches and drought whereas Kauai is lush and rainy. It’s all about the natural beauty and there’s truly nothing like it. We checked into the Grand Hyatt Kauai, located in the south side of the island and had a relaxing dinner Keoki's Paradise.

Day 8 - This morning, while my husband went scuba diving - and reported one of the best dives of his life - I took a road trip in my little rental jeep to see Waimea Canyon (aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and Kalalau lookout. The island can be driven in just a few hours and I was lucky enough to see a rainbow, which framed all of my photos perfectly. We then had dinner at Beach House, which is a sister restaurant of Monkeypod and more Lilikoi Mai Tais were enjoyed.

Day 9 - This morning, it was time for our once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tour with a landing at Jurassic Falls. This is THE waterfall that was filmed in the original Jurassic Park movie and the pilot played the theme song as we flew overhead. We also flew all around the island and the Na Pali Coast, which have the most dramatic cliffs I have ever seen. If you do not have a fear of heights, this is an absolute MUST. There is no better way to experience the beauty of the land. Another option is to go to the Na Pali coast by boat, but as someone who does not enjoy being on full day boats, I would definitely recommend traveling via air. After, we drove to our next hotel: the incredible 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. This property is wellness focused and the brand is known for being very sustainable. The view of Hanalei Bay is to die for and it also has one of the best hotel gyms I have ever seen. The property is located on the north side of the island, which tends to be a little rainier at certain times of the year, but it gave me moody tropical jungle vibes and I loved it. We spent the rest of the time enjoying all this property has to offer.

Day 10 - After an action-packed few days in Kauai, it was time for our last stop: The Big Island. I was very excited as this island has been described me to as another world and it sure did not disappoint. There are volcanic rocks everywhere lining the roads and the beaches. We checked into Mauna Lani that evening. It was dark when we arrived, so I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a beautiful ocean view in the morning.

Day 11 - This morning we were up early for a 6:30 traditional canoe ride to learn more about the Hawaiian culture and the ritual of sunrise. This is a signature experience at Mauna Lani and it did not disappoint! We then spent the day enjoying this beautiful property; Mauna Lani is filled with wood tones and has a very authentic, laid back luxury feel. Service is incredible and the food is also amazing. Tonight we ate at Canoe House, an OTM favorite restaurant – YUM! 

Day 12 - We spent the day enjoying property, snorkeling, lounging at the beach and then went to Rosewood for lunch at Kahuwai Cookhouse and a site visit. This is the new hotspot in town. The hotel is a traditional Hawaiian “village” composed of freestanding thatch-roofed hale (bungalows), ranging from intimate one-bedroom retreats to expansive four-bedroom oceanfront residences with private plunge pools. We then checked into Four Seasons Hualalai - our last stop on an adventurous journey.  This evening, we did the famous Manta Ray snorkel (Kona has one of the largest populations in the world) and then had dinner and drinks at Kona Brewing. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves beer and wants a low-key yummy meal. They serve multiple beers on tap that you can’t buy anywhere else.

Day 13 -  Today was our day to explore!! We woke up early, had a delicious breakfast and then it was time to circle the island!! We stopped at a chocolate & coffee store on way (roadtrip essentials) then headed to Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the eruption, which took place a few days earlier, but we did get to hike on the crater and walk through lava tubes! After our adventure, we continued on to Punaluu Black Sand Beach and nearby Punaluu bakehouse (known for their sweetbread and baked goods) and then headed back to Four Seasons. 

Day 14 - Our last full day of vacation :( We spent the entire day on property at the Four Seasons. This property has several different pools ranging from kid-friendly, to adults-only, to even a quiet pool.  All pools have amazing ocean views and do not disappoint.  After a full day of relaxation, it was time to fly home 🙁

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