A year after devastating wildfires sent Hawaii’s second-largest island into a unique crisis situation, the island is now very much open for business. And although tourism to the famed island and its town of Lahaina (the town and region by the same name), once the archipelago’s center of leadership and commerce, are still down 25 percent, visitors are encouraged to return, albeit with a new mantra from locals and Hawaiian officials — Mālama Maui — to exercise even more respect and responsibility than before.
At Vanish, that type of travel has always been our m.o. But when it comes to isolated, magical, and culturally significant places like Maui, the directive to visit responsibly does take on more weight. Visiting Maui right now means arriving with aloha, compassion, patience, and empathy.
And while we spent a week exploring the island, that just barely scratched the surface and whetted our appetite to return. One of the places we found the most respite was the Westin Maui, centrally located on the shores of Kā’anapali, a veritable Shangri La for families and anyone looking for an turnkey vacation in one of the most coveted spots on earth.
Earlier this year, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali completed its multi-year, $160 million transformation with the complete renovation and rebranding of the Ocean Tower into Kūkahi Tower. Guests will now enjoy a completely refreshed design aimed at facilitating a calming and rejuvenating stay. A 10,000-square-foot social center – located within Kūkahi Tower – is the first resort venue of its kind in Hawai‘i for guests and the community to gather and enjoy arcade games, Topgolf Swing Suites, a bar, lounge, and more.
The newly-transformed, beachfront resort offers guests an incomparable experience rooted in nurturing wellness, the sharing of Hawaiian wisdom and a real-world immersion into nature. With the Pacific Ocean and verdant volcanic mountains, there are countless opportunities for adventure and rejuvenation.
“Our original tower, which once stood alone, has been renamed Kūkahi, which literally means ‘to stand alone’ or ‘stand upright’ in Hawaiian,” said Joshua Hargrove, general manager of the Westin Maui. “But like many Hawaiian concepts, it has a deeper meaning: the element and energy force that creates growth from the land. In line with this theme, our hope is that guests in Kūkahi would experience an empowering sense of well-being and personal growth during their time here.”
The design of Kūkahi Tower is inspired by a poem found in the Bishop library that describes the location of the resort in the early 1800s. The poem describes the “paʻūpili mist” – the light rain that commonly falls in the early hours of the morning in this area. As the water surges from the mountains and moves from the land towards the ocean, a misty fog hangs in the air. As the sun starts to shine, and the paʻūpili mist settles on the pili grass leaving a “million points of starlight” behind. This evokes the image of light that infuses life and energy, and can be connected to the concepts of “inner self discovery” and “positive energy and wellness,” which are at the core of Westin Maui’s resort experience.
When entering a Kūkahi room guests are greeted with a design that combines simplicity and elegance, brought to life by a natural palette. Clean architectural lines, rich wood finishes, and subtle contrasts woven throughout the textile selections create a calming, bright and sophisticated atmosphere. Each room features curated details like bespoke artwork, unique printed textiles and woven area rugs designed specifically for Kūkahi. A generous lanai and incredible ocean views expand the living space and cement the experience in Kūkahi.
Notable room features include original, wall-mounted wood sculptures; and a sleek, modern entertainment center with built in storage and an incorporated desk with outlets and USB charging ports. In the bathroom, guests enjoy warm tones of wood mingled with marble accompanied by striking espresso metal accents and a stunning illuminated vanity mirror.
Alongside the redesign of Kūkahi Tower, the resort also recently welcomed Ulu Kitchen by acclaimed chef Peter Merriman. Ulu Kitchen specializes in a blend of old-fashioned Hawaiian hospitality with carefully crafted food and beverages that celebrate the rich bounty of Hawai‘i’s fishermen, ranchers and farms – all served in an outstanding ocean view setting.
You will also not want to miss the Luau, one of the best dining experiences and hands down one of the most extravagant and worthwhile cultural experiences of my life. My kids were absolutely blown away by this performance.
The resort began this transformative redevelopment following its acquisition by a joint venture including Trinity Investments and other institutional investors in 2017. Trinity’s in-house asset management and development teams led the renovation and repositioning plan for the resort.
