It takes just 20 minutes to fly from Oahu, the gateway of the Hawaiian Islands, to Maui, the most popular of the islands — from one superb island to another.
The Grand Wailea Resort started as a dream for Takeshi Sakeguchi. He wanted to create a resort of unprecedented quality. Fouteen years and $1 billion later, Getaway went to see the grandest resort of them all.
From the minute you arrive, there's no doubt you are far from an average accommodation. There are 780 rooms and suites spread over 17 hectares and an art collection worth $40 million!
Guest rooms are spacious and have a king or two queen beds. There are private balconies, marble bathrooms with huge tubs and separate showers, sitting area, air conditioning and ceiling fans.
Deluxe Ocean and Garden Guestrooms are on the upper floors of the Wailea, Haleakala and Molokini wings. They offer unobstructed views.
Napua Tower is a private hotel within the resort offering a selection of additional amenities, added services and rooms that are more spacious. They have personalised concierge check-ins and access to a private lounge where continental breakfast is served, as well as cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the early evening. All Napua Club rooms have partial garden or spectacular ocean views.
The Resort's 15,000 square metre Spa Grande is listed in the top 10 in the United States. It unites thalassotherapy, ancient eastern and Hawaiian philosophies and advanced technology for inner and outer beauty, relaxation, rejuvenation and wellness. Internationally experienced therapists offer more than 100 treatments. They use many locally grown products.
Grand Wailea has nine pools. The activity pool is for the child in everyone — it has waterslides, rapids, a rope swing and other exciting attractions. The Hibiscus Pool is just for adults — the beautiful flower gracing the bottom of the pool was created with 630,000 pieces of Mexican glass tile. It has two jacuzzis and cabanas, which can be reserved for your personal use.
Wailea Canyon Activity Pool consists of nine free-form pools at six levels, beginning at 12 metres and dropping to sea level. They are connected by a river which carries swimmers at varying speeds from white water rapids to lazy currents.
Wailea Canyon has four jungle pools, four tile slides, a white water rapids slide, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, the world's only water elevator, sand beach, six waterfalls, caves, three jacuzzis, sauna, infant pool and swim-up bar for refreshing beverages.
The resort has six restaurants, catering for families with young children to fine dining and everything in between. One is a seafood restaurant called 'Humuhumunukunukuapua'a' which is the name of a local fish.
The resort has a challenge court for racquetball, squash, basketball, volleyball or handball, a fitness centre with weight training and cardiovascular rooms, and The Wailea Tennis Club is less than a kilometre away.
There are loads of golf courses to choose from, and for those whose golf isn't all that good, views from the courses and clubhouses make up for that.
If there's something you have forgotten to pack, don't despair. There are plenty of shops selling men's, women's and children's clothing, shoes, beachwear, gifts and pampering products along with galleries and jewellery stores.
