Maui’s iconic Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, has announced the opening of its highly anticipated Kilolani Spa, an all-new open-air luxury spa adorned by the natural beauty of Hawaii. At 50,000 square feet, Kilolani Spa will be the largest in the state and is designed to preserve the heritage of the landmark hotel and honour local traditions.
“Kilolani Spa truly embodies our commitment to honouring Maui’s rich wellness culture while embracing the modern innovations of the spa industry,” said JP Oliver, managing director of Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
“We look forward to offering our guests personalized treatments imbued with local influences, natural ingredients, and the aloha spirit.”
The approximately $55 million Kilolani Spa encompasses 40 treatment rooms, including couples’ treatment suites, a meditation lounge, a reflection lounge, halotherapy-infused infrared saunas, a hammam, and hydrothermal gardens.
The spa’s concept, which centres on the Hawaiian moon calendar, was developed by Grand Wailea’s in-house cultural and wellness team in collaboration with the renowned spa consultancy TLEE Spas + Wellness and Rachael McCrory, Hilton’s regional director of Spa & Wellness.
Hawaiian culture and indigenous healing arts were fundamental to TLEE Spas + Wellness’s vision. “We are thrilled to introduce guests to Kilolani Spa, where they can feel truly immersed in the spirit of Maui,” said Tracy Lee, president and founder of TLEE Spas.
“It was important to create an experience that honours and connects guests to Hawaii’s deep and diverse culture and wellness traditions.”
Inspired by the Kilolani, Hawaiian stargazers who used the moon to guide all aspects of daily life, the Kilolani Spa experience is aligned with the natural currents of the world. Following the Helu Pō (moon cycles), the spa’s programming continuously evolves in tandem with the 10-day moon period (anahulu’s) and features native botanicals, signature products hand-crafted on Maui, and holistic treatments.
Debuting a new type of “sound healing”, Kilolani Spa has developed a unique blend of harmonic sound therapy with Oli, Hawaiian chants for wisdom, well-being, and preservation. Spearheaded by Kalei ʻUwēko ʻolani, Grand Wailea’s cultural programming manager, this powerful experience is designed to clear negative energy and improve overall well-being.
Tihany Design, a renowned design atelier with a focus on luxury hospitality, utilised the concept of kilolani to design open-air spaces and embrace Hawaii’s natural beauty. The spa’s various lounges and treatment spaces, as well as its full-service salon and studio, provide a range of social and private settings for individuals, couples and groups.
The open-air Hydrothermal Gardens feature cleansing showers, a sauna, a steam room, a vitality pool, waterfall showers, and a garden. The coed Hydrothermal circuit connects these spaces to welcome groups to experience wellness together. At the heart of Kilolani Spa is the only Hammam in Hawaii – a multicultural sanctuary designed for communal rituals and private treatments. Outdoors, the Saltwater Pool is a soothing flotation experience, flanked by Halotherapy-infused infrared saunas.
The Meditation Lounge invites guests to partake in guided meditation using innovative harmonic therapy, while the Reflection Lounge offers diverse seating options for individuals and groups, along with inspiring ocean views.
