Luxury Transformation
New luxury tower, new signature restaurant with a new executive chef, new aquatic experiences and brand-new dining options—it all adds up to a luxurious new experience awaiting guests at West Maui.
Historically, Kā‘anapali, the northwest region on Maui, was a famed retreat for Hawaiian royalty ... with its three-mile sprawling white sandy beaches and beautiful tranquil turquoise and vibrant blue majestic waters, it is the perfect place to envelop yourself in tropical bliss and the unparalleled serenity that is the Valley Isle. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali, pays homage to the deep cultural history and overall sense of place and wellness this location has to offer since recently reopening. Now unveiling a $120 million rejuvenation, the property is elegantly reimagined, dining options along with culinary experiences transformed and an impeccable beachfront luxury tower, Hōkūpa‘a, has emerged as its brightly shining star.
“We like to call Hōkūpa‘a ‘the crown jewel’ of our transformation. We’ve made beautiful changes to the aesthetic of the guest rooms and suites, it is something unlike any other on the island,” says Gregg Lundberg, general manager of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali.
Hōkūpa‘a at The Westin Maui is essentially the new centerpiece of the property, as it showcases the resort’s breathtaking ocean views and is appropriately named after the north star. It is hoped this elevated experience and redefined sense of place will help guide guests to their eventual true north. The overall theme and message of the tower, along with its impeccable amenities, serve to cultivate a redefined sense of mind, body and soul for each and every guest on their journey at the resort and in their quest for joy and wellness.
Guests of the Hōkūpa‘a tower also receive specialty access to The Lanai at Hōkūpa‘a, which is an open-air venue featuring stunning panoramic views along with majestic infinity pools, daily culinary and cultural offerings along with the option for priority booking of amenities featured on-site at the resort. “The Lanai lounge is a respite, it is a haven of sorts, from what’s going on around the property ... it is calm and collected and it is also a fun spot, it is a spectacular place to watch the whales right in front of the resort, it is amazing,” Lundberg adds.
While The Lanai is only accessible to those who are staying in the Hōkūpa‘a tower, it is regarded as a completely immersive experience, showcasing impeccably designed plunge pools, featuring chairs positioned within the pools for guests to enjoy. The Lanai also offers guests a private bar for folks to sit, relax and sip on a specialty craft cocktail or two or even a glass of fine wine with artisan breakfast bites prepared by the chef.
Cultural offerings within The Lanai also include demonstrations for both culinary, culture and specifically mo‘olelo (the Hawaiian word for story which also means to share traditions and his- tory). At The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kā‘anapali, as they embrace the element of traditional storytelling and the method of mo‘olelo, it is hoped guests will learn, see, touch and taste the elements of Hawaiian history and culture through specialty experiences such as farm-to-fork culinary demonstrations, craft cocktail mixology tastings, lei po‘o making and cultural reflections.
“The Lanai is going to be the pinnacle of our property from a guest’s perspective; we are dipping our toe in the water of the luxury market we are going head-to-head with some of the luxury properties out in Wailea,” Lundberg explains. “West Maui has never really had a luxury product now they have the Westin Maui, which is knocking on everyone’s door. [It’s] pretty amazing that the vision is coming true.”
From the reimagined and redefined luxury tower to the grounds, The Westin Maui is very proud to introduce guests to the new living ‘aquatic oasis’ that has emerged from this redesign. “When you walk into the lobby, we have these beautiful living walls—floor to ceiling—that are covered with different types of plant material (native where possible), ferns and all sorts of flowers. It is quite spectacular! When you walk in through the front drive is a beautiful vision as you see a waterfall, raised boardwalks where the pond used to be. It was once this thing that people walked around and now it is a living eco-cycle,” Lundberg says. Upgrades to the six-pool aquatic landscape also include the nearby adult and keiki pools which were believed to have been underutilized previously and thus they opted to recreate the area with a plunge pool and added a relaxing Jacuzzi.
While the luxurious getaway resort boasts idyllic views and pristine surroundings, property enhancements also include the addition of a handful of newly opened dining options. At the helm of the new signature restaurant, waicoco, is James Beard Foundation Award nominee and winner of numerous local awards, chef Chris Kajioka. As executive chef, Kajioka has crafted a seafood and locally harvested and focused menu.
“Every part of the restaurant faces the ocean ... and so that is definitely my favorite thing (seafood and fish) and it is also my favorite thing to eat. Everywhere you look, that is my inspiration and Maui has some amazing farmers and we are tapping into that,” he explains.
Kajioka is the chef and owner of several notable eateries in Honolulu, but
his culinary history runs deep with experiences beginning with training at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York, followed by Aziza in San Francisco, Per Se with Thomas Keller and in Washington State at The Willow’s Inn. The highly sought-after chef crafted a menu that enhances the use of local ingredients and really shines a light on the local elements you can’t get anywhere else. “We don’t want this to be a restaurant in a hotel, we want this to be one of the greatest restaurants on Maui. And we really want it to showcase the local farmers and the local fishermen. This restaurant will be a lot more local and diverse in the ingredients and I think we have some special things to show and this restaurant will be a showcase,” Kajioka adds.
“We believed that he embodied what we had within ourselves, which is a commitment to the culture, unique food products and something that would be different on the boardwalk. Our (Kā‘anapali) boardwalk is littered with restaurants—some free standing and some from other hotels—and we believe Chris has the ability to separate us from the difference in those properties.” Lundberg says.
In addition to the development of their new beach chic signature restaurant, waicoco, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kā‘anapali also features three newly opened dining spots including Hale Mo‘olelo, Mahele Market and Hale ‘Ā. Hale Mo‘olelo is a lively bar which offers seven handcrafted cocktails that are meant to provide easy access to talking story and personal interactions as the name suggests. While Mahele Market offers grab-and-go options, breakfast, lunch and dine-in offerings that are solely focused on local Maui favorites. Within the new adult pool is Hale ‘Ā, which means House of Sparkle. It offers up an artisanal feel and refined palate that will engage adults to imbibe handcrafted drinks and cocktails along the new adult-only pool deck.
Kā‘anapali has always been a place for royalty and it remains so to this day as every guest is welcome to find their sense of place and purpose here.
2365 Kā‘anapali Parkway, (808) 667-2525, marriott.com