Grand Wailea Spa Grande, Maui
By Doug Wallace
Name of Spa: Spa Grande
Location and overview: Located within the Grand Wailea Resort, Wailea, Maui, the Spa Grande is 50,000 square feet of health and fitness facilities. Their slogan, East Meets West on the Shores of Maui, reflects the philosophy of balancing both Eastern and Western ideologies, addressing both inner and outer beauty at the same time, and combining all that with ancient Hawaiian beliefs and benefits, which bridge humanity with nature.
Points of Distinction: Spa Grande was named one of the Top 10 Spas in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines. It also caters to kids (keiki) and teens with specific packages geared toward spa-goers as young as six. Families are encouraged to create their own treatment packages.
Signature Treatments: Hydrotherapy, masques, massage, facials, scrubs and wraps, the works. There are more than 100 treatments, including a Seashell Massage, Haleakala Dream Bath, Volcanic Ash Facial, Pohaku (Hot Lava Stone) Massage, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage, Ali’i Honey Steam Wrap, Awapuhi (Ginger) Salt Scrub and Hot Wrap. One new, inventive treatment is added every year, and can include anything from green crystal beach sand to volcanic elixirs.
Main product lines: The Spa Grande line features unique, natural, Maui-made spa creations.
The Experience: A huge Venetian chandelier and hand-painted murals greeted me at the door of this elegant space. I was promptly ushered into the men’s bathing area, where I went straight for the Termé Hydrotherapy Circuit, five aromatic baths, ending in a mud bath. I hit the Swiss jet shower in-between each tub to erase all remnants before I went on to the next. It felt like 100 little pin-pricks pelting away at my skin. One-half hour later, I was exfoliated and rinsed in a wet room by an attendant, and escorted to an outdoor lanai to await my Pala’au Journey. And this journey was Paradise – a true Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage (using hands, elbows and forearms) followed by a scalp and foot treatment featuring some of the healing island plants, including awapuhi (ginger) and rosemary. I finished up – almost good enough to eat and practically comatose – with a nice hot steam bath, complete with ice-cold linen head towels. So refreshing!
Other features/facilities: The 4,000 square foot fitness centre doubled in size during the past year and still smells like new car. A co-ed outdoor lanai directly faces the resort’s artful main water fountain with the ocean beyond. A stunning spot to relax.
Best thing about it: The natural unhurriedness of it all. You are really encouraged to really take spend quality time and discover the art of bathing.
What could be improved: Not much, to be honest. Lunch can be brought over from one of the adjoining restaurants, but a specific spa café would work nicely for those finishing up near noontime.
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