Pulse of Hawaii: Health and Wellness

The health and wellness trend began developing worldwide a few years back, and it continues to rise in popularity.

More travelers are seeking healthy living options where they stay, whether it is organic food, fitness activities or treatments at world-class spas.

And what better place to accommodate health and wellness than Hawaii, which boasts beautiful scenery and a wealth of outdoor adventures?

In terms of fitness, there are plenty of properties that offer facilities, amenities and services catering to the health-conscious.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea offers a 24/7 fitness center, as well as a range of fitness classes, including Mat Pilates and Aqua Cardio Fusion. That’s in addition to its tennis courts, tennis lessons and tennis classes. On-site activities include football, Frisbee, smash ball and volleyball, and the resort also provides for horseback riding, waterfall hikes, volcano tours, eco tours, ziplining, snorkeling, swimming, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, yoga and more.

Hilton Waikoloa Village has a lazy river (for when you want to be a little less active) and a swimming lagoon, and offers the chance to swim with dolphins and sea turtles.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has a high-end sports club focused on body rejuvenation, from legwork and abdominal exercises to Barre Fusion and Aqua Fitness.

Turtle Bay Resort offers a variety of popular wellness programs like Zumba, Hot Hula and Wet Sweat, a full-body boot camp workout along the beach.

Other properties to check out include: Royal Lahaina Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, Kahala Hotel and Resort and JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa.

Heck, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has a 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility.

Innovative fitness classes also continue to rise in popularity on the Islands. For example, Heaven on Earth Spa, Club & Café, located on the ground floor of Kakaako’s Koolani Tower, offers cardio-salsa and even pole dancing lessons for exercise.

Of course, fitness isn’t everything.

Popular organic food-to-table offerings include Kahumana Organic Farm & Café and Down to Earth Organic & Natural in West Oahu. Other top organic offerings include Holuakoa Café & Gardens, Café Pesto, Café Ono and even Four Seasons Maui’s Lobby Lounge.

Waikiki’s Halekulani Hotel has an award-winning French-Hawaiian restaurant called La Mer.

If you are looking to relax in one of Hawaii’s many spas, consider Four Seasons Maui for couples treatment, Pure Kauai for complete personalization, Halekulani for Polynesian-style pampering, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa for hydrotherapy, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, and Hotel Hana-Maui, as highlighted by Ann Abel of SpaFinder.

Four Seasons Hualalai, Grand Wailea, Kauai Marriott, St. Regis Princeville Resort and Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa were the top five choices in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2013 Readers’ Poll.

Hualalai Spa encompasses 28,000 square feet, including an open-air garden, lap pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and cold plunges, all among lush greenery and cool interior spaces. It offers 14 different massages, 13 different facial treatments and 11 different body treatments in addition to its four major health and wellness services (acupuncture, physical therapy, sound/energy healing and yoga therapy).

And don’t forget to check out wellness programs being offered throughout Hawaii. Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) provides health education workshops and health coaching, as well as a program called QuitNet to stop smoking.

A 6,000-year-old, medicine-free therapy designed to treat cancer and other ailments is also being taught by Chinese master Ning Jian Xiong at the Big Island’s Kokolulu Farm through July.

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