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Kim Steutermann Rogers Destination: Hawaii Island Article Source: Blog Post
Destination: Hawaii (Big) Island Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
This ranks among the best massage facilities on the island, partially due to the superlative setting—private massage areas are situated amid the waterfalls, saltwater pools, and meandering gardens, as well as right on the beach. In fact, the Fairmont Orchid is of the few resorts to offer beachside massage. Splurge on the 110-minute Alii Experience featuring hot-coconut-oil treatments, lomilomi, and hot-stone massage. There are other great treatments, including caviar facials, fragrant herbal wraps, and coffee-and-vanilla scrubs. And where else can you relax to the sounds of cascading waterfalls while watching tropical yellow tang swim beneath you through windows in the floor? www.fairmont.com/orchid.
The spa is for the exclusive use of Four Seasons Resort guests, and features 28 massage treatment areas. Tropical breezes waft through 14 outdoor massage hales, situated in beautiful garden settings. The therapists are top-notch, and a real effort is made to incorporate local traditions. Apothecary services allow you to customize your treatment with ingredients like honey, kukui nuts, and coconut. Massage options range from traditional lomilomi to Thai. www.fourseasons.com.
It's not unusual for locals to drive an hour each way to get their hair styled here. The salon is still the center of the operation, but today it's joined by a full-service spa—nicely designed to let in lots of light—that has an extensive menu of massages, facials, and body treatments. The most popular massage is the lomilomi (traditional Hawaiian massage), but don't overlook the spa's unique body treatments. Consider the seaweed wrap, the detoxifying volcanic clay treatment, or the salt-and-aloe exfoliation. This is the best place for waxing. You can use the gym at the Hapuna Golf Course's clubhouse, accessible via a free shuttle. www.paulbrownhawaii.com.
If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, this is your destination. Most treatments take place in outdoor hales (houses) surrounded by lava rock. Wonderful therapists offer a mix of the traditional standbys (lomilomi massage, moisturizing facials) and innovative treatments influenced by ancient traditions and incorporating local products. One exfoliating body treatment is self-administered in one of the outdoor saunas. Watsu therapy, which mimics the feeling of being in the womb, takes place in a 1,000-square-foot grotto between two lava tubes. You feel totally weightless, thanks to some artfully applied weights and the buoyancy of the warm salt water. It's a great treatment for people with disabilities that keep them from enjoying a traditional massage. The aesthetic treatments on the menu incorporate high-end products from Epicuran and Emminence, so a facial will have a real and lasting therapeutic effect on your skin. The spa also offers a full regimen of fitness and yoga classes. www.maunalani.com.
Overlooking the hotel's main pool with a distant view of the ocean, Mandara offers a very complete, if not unique, spa menu, with more facial options than you'll find at the island's other spas. Mandara, which operates spas all over the world, uses Elemis and La Therapie products in spa and salon treatments. The spa menu contains the usual suspects—lomilomi, scrubs, and wraps—but it incorporates local ingredients (lime and ginger in the scrubs, warm coconut milk in the wraps), and the facility, which fuses contemporary and traditional Asian motifs, is beautiful. www.mandaraspa.com.
Mandara Spas blends European, Balinese, and indigenous treatments to create the ultimate spa experience. Things are no different at this spa at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Though the facility is on the smaller side, the excellent treatments are up to the company's exacting standards. Try the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial or, even better, the Mandara Four Hand Massage, where two therapists work out the kinks simultaneously. Hawaiian traditional lomilomi is also available. The hotel operates a separate hair salon that offers manicures and pedicures in addition to standard salon services. www.mandaraspa.com.
Tucked into a residential neighborhood above Kealekekua, this little gem is a welcome alternative to the large resort spas. Soaking tubs are made of the finest quality wood, and they are enclosed in their own thatched gazebo with portholes in the roof for your stargazing pleasure. Tastefully laid out and run, there's no "hot tub party" vibe here, just a pleasant soak followed by, if you like, an hour-long massage. Mamalahoa offers lomilomi, Swedish, deep-tissue, and a Hawaiian hot-stone massage performed with lava rocks collected from around the island. Indulge in some romance with a twilight soak from 7:30 to 9 pm at $40 per couple. In addition to its secret-hideaway ambience, Mamalahoa's prices are lower than any other spa on the island. Call ahead for appointments. www.mamalahoa-hottubs.com.
With awesome views of Kailua Bay, Oceanfront Massage and Spa offers a full roster of massage treatments, as well as wraps, facials, and waxing. This is a convenient place to get pampered before you hit the village shops. www.oceanfrontmassage.com.
The orchids that you'll find all over the Big Island suffuse the signature treatments at the Kohala Spa. By the end of the relaxing Orchid Isle Wrap, you're completely immersed in the scent. The island's volcanic character is also expressed in several treatments, as well as in the design of the lava-rock soaking tubs. Locker rooms are outfitted with a wealth of beauty and bath products; the spa's retail facility offers a signature line of Coco-Mango lotions, body washes, and shampoos. Open-air cabanas provide a delightful spot for a massage overlooking the ocean. The fitness center is equipped with the latest generation of machines, and group classes are plentiful, with everything from water aerobics to yoga. www.kohalaspa.com.
Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona
Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff
Outrigger Fairway Villas
Kohala Coast Condominium Collection