By Kerry van der Jagt
Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay, Big Island.
SHERATON KONA RESORT AND SPA AT KEAUHOU BAY
BIG ISLAND
According to Hawaiian culture, rocks hold the spiritual power and wisdom of the gods. The oceanfront Sheraton stands on a traditional land division known as ahupua'a, where remnants of ku'ula (sacred) stones can still be seen. On a Land and Sea Tour, guests can visit the stones and finish with a trip aboard a traditional canoe. The new lobby, restaurant and spruced-up rooms look pretty flash (after a $20 million makeover in 2012), but it's the immersive cultural experiences that set this resort apart. Don't miss the manta rays, which swim up each evening.
Ocean-view room for two from $US209 ($231). See sheratonkona.com.
LUMERIA MAUI
BLACK MAUI
On the green slopes of Haleakala volcano, hemmed between the hippie surf town of Paia and the ranching town of Makawao, Lumeria Maui borrows the best from both worlds. Daily yoga, meditation and aromatherapy classes are part of the deal, while activities such as horse riding, surfing and Hawaiian wellness programs are available for a fee. Built in 1909, the plantation estate was renovated in 2012 to create 24 guest rooms, a yoga studio, farm-to-table dining room and saltwater swimming pool. It's a bit New Age, but offered with genuine aloha.
A garden room for two starts from $US389 ($430). See lumeriamaui.com.
TRAVAASA HANA
BLACK MAUI
For aloha to be understood, it must be experienced, and there are few places better than Travaasa Hana. Just getting to Hana is an experience in itself - 620 curves along the 108-kilometre road to Hana. Choose from a sea ranch or garden cottage, but pack your walking shoes - this ocean-front resort is spread across 26 hectares (Hamoa Beach is a five-minute shuttle away). With classes in hula and ukulele, or wellness treatments such as traditional lomi lomi massage, this is old-school Hawaii at its best. The no-tipping policy will have you smiling.
Garden suites for two from $US400 ($443). See travaasa.com.
TURTLE BAY
OAHU
Aloha means different things to different people, but at Turtle Bay on Oahu's north shore, it means one thing - connection to the ocean. Through the resort's program of outdoor activities, such as kayaking, "Talk Story" nights at Surfer, The Bar and surf realisation camps, guests learn about aloha aina, love and respect for the environment. Winter is about whales and waves; year round it's sea turtles and dolphins. Dining options include sea-to-table cuisine at Pa'akai restaurant or Ola, an open-air restaurant literally on the beach. You might recognise the resort as the location for Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Ocean-view rooms for two from $US309 ($342). See turtlebayresort.com.
OUTRIGGER REEF ON THE BEACH
OAHU
At first glance, the Outrigger Reef looks like any other hulking hotel on Waikiki Beach. Then you meet Aunty Luana, the cultural co-ordinator, who greets you with a hug and pause to "talk story". Or you spot the massive canoe in the foyer and collection of canoe art by historian Herb Kane and learn the resort is a major sponsor of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Or you dine at Kani Ka Pila Grill, which means "let's play music", and listen to award-winning musicians, singing up the sounds of the islands. The "No resort fee" policy will also be music to your ears.
Rooms for two from $US209 ($231). See outriggerreef-onthebeach.com.
HAWAII ISLAND RETREAT
BIG ISLAND
Known as "the gathering place of peace-giving stones", the land on which this retreat stands is where King Kamehameha the Great once held council, and is still recognised as a place of healing. The owners offer a range of wellness programs, yoga classes and cultural interactions. The property, high above the cliffs of Hana'ula Bay, includes nine guest rooms, five yurts, a saline infinity pool, yoga room and open-air spa pavilion, spread across 20 hectares of riotous gardens. It is remote, and the service a little eccentric, but there is a power here that is difficult to define.
Ocean suite for two from $US425 ($470). See hawaiiislandretreat.com.
The writer travelled courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii Tourism Oceania.
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