Opened in 2013, Andaz’s first and only Hawaiian property has four cascading infinity pools (plus many more private plunge pools) and an enviable location on Mokapu Beach, meaning guests are never more than a few steps from water. The 290 rooms and suites are decked out in stylish, contemporary furnishings—some even come with Viking grills on private lanais—and 10 luxurious villas feature up to four bedrooms, with the largest maxing out at a sprawling 4,000 square feet. The resort’s full calendar of activities offers everything from coconut leaf weaving to kayaking, outrigger canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding—plus GoPro shooting and editing lessons to best capture it all. At Morimoto Maui, one of four restaurants on the property, renowned chef Masaharu Morimoto combines Japanese and Western influences in inspired dishes like yellowtail “pastrami,” served with a gin-spiked crème fraîche.
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
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Stylish Hotel on Mokapu Beach
The stylish Andaz Maui, on Mokapu Beach, has a full calendar of outrigger canoe lessons and talks by marine biologists, ukulele prodigies, and coffee growers. Local ingredients show up in chef Masaharu Morimoto’s dishes—and at the ‘Awili spa, where guests can choose locally sourced ingredients for a custom body treatment.
A Blissful Omakase Treatment
The Awili Spa is a must-go for honeymooners, or individuals seeking deeper R&R in Wailea, Maui. While I waiting for my meeting with the resident apothecary, in a dimly lit room with cascading endless panels of linen, the quiet tranquility was at first almost unnerving as I realized I had forgotten how to find that internal state of relaxation that we often lose in the humdrum of travel. Katie is a knowledgeable, friendly, and clear minded apothecary who created a bespoke, complex, but uniform massage and spot treatment oil that elevated my already intensely relaxing hot stone massage to another level. Katie took the time to understand my preferences and needs, honing in on specific combinations to distill a tailored blend of infused oils. The multitude of antioxidant/immune boosting notes in the oils melded into an aroma that was completely new to me. This service is a true gem that I had read about before my visit but one that I didn’t fully appreciate until the RMT unfurled the soothing peppermint, aloe and green tea spot treatment. My favourite ingredient (one of ~10+) was litsea cubeba, extracted from an evergreen in Southeast Asia. You will find delectable refreshments and mini snacks to accompany the daily infusion of fruits and herbs so be sure to arrive early to being your relaxation in the minimalist dry/wet saunas and hot pool. After it was all over, I retreated to my room in total bliss, lathered in pineapple, green tea, litsea, etc., ready to begin a new day.
