Grand Wailea Resort

The Grand Wailea Resort & Spa is a 40-acre Waldorf Astoria luxury resort located on the beach in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. [3][4] The hotel opened in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt Wailea. The Grand Wailea is owned by BRE Hotels & Resorts and is the largest private employer on the island of Maui.[5][6][7]

Grand Wailea Resort & Spa
Hotel chainWaldorf Astoria
General information
LocationWailea, Hawaii
Address3850 Wailea Alanui Drive
Coordinates20.681173°N 156.438695°W / 20.681173; -156.438695
Opened1991[1]
OwnerBRE Hotels & Resorts
ManagementHilton Worldwide
Grounds40 acres
Design and construction
DeveloperTakashi Sekiguchi
Other information
Number of rooms787[2]
Number of suites52
Number of restaurants5
Number of bars4
Website
Official website

History

The hotel was built by Japanese developer Takeshi Sekiguchi, who also put together a large art collection for the hotel. It opened in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt Wailea. The hotel was built at an estimated cost of $650 million, which proved to be more than the economy could sustain, and Sekiguchi lost control of the property, which was sold for $263 million in 1998.[8] The property has been sold several times since then and it is now operated by Hilton Worldwide.[9] It was the first hotel to join Hilton's Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in 2006 after the Manhattan hotel became a brand.[10] It is the second largest hotel on the island of Maui and is one of Hawaii's most well-known resorts. It is also the site of the first water elevator and the first rotating barrel pipe ride.[2][11]

In November 2019, the hotel launched a charitable foundation, the Grand Wailea Foundation, which aims to contribute $250,000 annually to nonprofit organizations in south and west Maui.[5][12] The first funds were distributed at the Grand Wailea's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2019.[5][6] The first recipients, Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua, Maui Historical Society, and the Boys & Girls Club of Maui, were awarded $10,000 each.[6] Nonprofits are allowed to apply for funding on the foundation's website.[5]

The resort hopes to achieve net-zero water usage in 2020, and distributes cultural and sustainability information to guests upon their arrival.[7]

Accommodation

Villas

The resort has one, two, and three bedroom villas which are across the street from the hotel. The villas, named Ho'olei at Grand Wailea, are two-stories, have a full-sized kitchen, outdoor barbecue, and one-car garages. All the villas have their lanais (decks) facing West.

Rooms

The hotel has 830 guest rooms, suites, and villas.[7]

Napua Tower

There are 100 rooms in the Napua Tower. The rooms in the tower are upgraded, and guests receive complimentary concierge services. Rooms range from 640-5,500 square feet. The tower is home to some of the hotel's suites, including the Two Grand Suites which are equal in size and the largest suite category available (approx nightly cost $10,600).

Membership

Members of the hotel are given discounted rooms rates for themselves and their guests and receive member-only promotions.

Facilities and services

Pools

Wailea Canyon Activity Pool The Canyon Activity Pool is a 2,000-foot-long, 25,700 total square foot, 770,000-gallon pool.[4] It consists of nine pools on six separate levels which are connected by a river. There are four small intertwining slides, two big waterslides, a whitewater rapids slide, a rope swing, a sand beach pool, three Jacuzzis, six waterfalls, a water elevator and an infant pool.[2] The water elevator is the world's first. The pool also has a swim-up bar.

Hibiscus Pool The Hibiscus Pool is 4,850 square feet. There is an image of a hibiscus flower on the bottom of the pool which is made from 630,000 pieces of Mexican glass mosaic tile. The pool itself is made from 2.2 million tiles.[13] It has two Jacuzzis.

Scuba Dive Training Pool The hotel has on-staff scuba instructors and a scuba dive training pool. It is the only custom-designed scuba pool in Hawaii. Beginning scuba divers practice in the dive pool as well as parts of the activity pool before going out into the ocean.[14]

Fishpipe The Fishpipe is a rotating barrel pipe. It is a type of water ride that simulates a waterslide and allows up to three people to ride at once. The pipe has a top speed of 11 mph and is the first rotating barrel ride in the world.[15] The barrels are made up of over 150 square meters of transparent plastic material, more than 1200 anchor points, 600 brightly colored nylon cords, and 50 meters of polyester webbing.[11]

Spa Grande

Spa Grande is the largest spa in Hawaii, with 50,000 square feet.[16] There are 40 treatment rooms.[17] The spa has cascading waterfall showers, a Roman tub, saunas, a Japanese furo and five specialty bath and Swiss jet showers. The Grand Salon is a hair and nail salon also located at Spa Grande.

Palaha Hawaiian Cultural Center

In 2006, the hotel closed its nightclub used the space to host special events, planning to open a cultural space.[10] On February 6, 2020, the Palaha Hawaiian Cultural Center opened. The center hosts daily cultural experiences and showcases Hawaiian art.[18]

Restorations and expansions

In 2008 the hotel underwent a $50 million restoration project.[1] The project renovated the Botero Bar, the Arrival and Departure Lounge, added new furniture, and placed flatscreen televisions in each room.[1] The spa was also upgraded with new carpet and furniture. In 2012, the hotel planned a five-year $250 million expansion. The expansion involved additional rooms, new restaurants, new in-room technology, and a new pool.[10] New renovations began in October 2014, room renovations and the pool refresh were completed in late 2017.[19] In 2019, the hotel proposed expansion plans, which were met with opposition from local Hawaiians since the hotel was built on sacred burial grounds.[20][21] The plans were postponed in February 2020 by the Maui Planning commission due to community pushback. The expansions were set to cost approximately $150 million.[22]

Dining

The resort has four restaurants, four bars, and Sunset Cabana dining as well as room service.

Restaurants

  • Humuhumunukunukuapua'a[23]
  • Bistro Molokini
  • Grand Dining Room Maui
  • Café Kula

Bars

  • Bistro Bar
  • Botero Bar
  • Grotto Bar
  • Volcano Bar

Many celebrities have been known to stay at the Hotel including Steve Carell,[24] Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Bacon, Magic Johnson, Paris Hilton, and Oprah Winfrey.[25]

Films

References
  1. "Built in 1991, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, a Member of The Waldorf Astoria". Hotel Online. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  2. "Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa". Maui Hawaii. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  3. "Kamehameha Schools planners to share strategic update with Maui community". Lahaina News. Lahaina News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  4. French, Howard W. "Pools and Picasso By the Beach in Maui". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. O'Conner, Christina (November 20, 2019). "Grand Wailea launches charitable foundation". Pacific Business News. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  6. "Grand Wailea Foundation Awards $30,000 During Holiday Kick-Off". Maui Now. December 3, 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. O'Connor, Christina (December 30, 2019). "Maui resort launches initiative encouraging guests to 'live with aloha'". Pacific Business Journal. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  8. Scott Radway, "What’s Worth the Most in the Islands?" Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Hawaii Business Magazine, November 2006.
  9. Elizabeth Kieskowski, "Art lifts Grand Wailea over the top", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, November 21, 2010.
  10. De Lollis, Barbara. "Maui's Grand Wailea hotel to get $250 million expansion". USA Today. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. "Fish Pipe Hawaii". Fish Pipe Hawaii. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  12. "Grand Wailea Foundation set". Maui News. November 26, 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  13. "Grand Wailea - Hibiscus pool - photos of Maui's Grand Wailea Resort". About. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  14. "Charlie Dolfun Scuba - Scuba Dive Maui". Charlie Dolfun. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  15. De Lollis, Barbara. "Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria opens new water ride". USA Today. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  16. Smiley, Jane. "Spa Search: Maui Luxury". NY Times. New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  17. "Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort". Spafinder. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  18. Kayian, Suzanne (February 13, 2020). "The Grand Wailea Opens Hawaiian Cultural Center". Maui Time. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  19. D, Jason. "Maui's Grand Wailea Goes for a Grand Refresh". Hotel Chatter. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  20. Uechi, Colleen (May 30, 2019). "Grand Wailea's $91.5M expansion hits opposition". Maui News. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  21. "Grand Wailea Development Request Strikes Opposition". Maui Now. November 26, 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  22. Shaefers, Allison (February 9, 2020). "Grand Wailea delay proves barriers to enter Maui's hotel market". Star Adviser. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  23. "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Restaurant". Yelp. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  24. "Steve Carell : Farniente à Hawaï avec sa femme Nancy et leurs deux enfants". Pure People. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  25. Author, Jessica. "5 Hottest Celebrity Destinations". AllStays. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  26. "Just Go with It Hawaii Scenes Filmed mostly at Grand Wailea". Trip Advisor. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
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