by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 12:32 PM ET, Thu May 3, 2018
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa has developed a new way for its guests to enjoy the ocean while also giving back to the local community.
The property has just announced The Westin Maui Waterman program, an opportunity that combines paddle boarding, learning about a national marine sanctuary and beach clean-ups.
"Surrounded by water and in the incredible setting of the largest area of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, we are most excited to share this new endeavor," Thomas Foti, general manager of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, said in a statement. "We are delighted to provide a unique, meaningful and mindful travel experience that we hope stays with guests when they return home and continues the malama aina spirit that is so important in Hawaii."
The new program allows guests to participate in thoughtfully-designed ocean adventures with paddle boarders, boat captains, canoe racers, and others who want to share their respect for the water and passion for the environment with travelers.
These watermen and women will also lead guests to learn about the national marine sanctuary fronting Ka'anapali Beach and the importance of "malama aina" ("protecting the land") through the beach clean-up activity as the sun rises above the majestic Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountains).
The Westin Maui Waterman program will be introduced in three levels - Novice Enthusiast, Advanced Adventure and Personal Perfection.
The monthly Novice Enthusiast activity includes a beach clean-up and conversation that begins on the resort's ocean lawn on the first Friday of each month at 7:00 AM.
For those who want to continue their journey to the Advanced Adventure level of the program, the resort has partnered Ka'anapali Surf Club to present a new standup paddleboard course that's just over one mile long.
"Through partnerships with like-minded organizations such as West Maui Ridge2Reef Initiative and Coral Reef Alliance, we believe that we will make an impactful difference in preserving the Hawaiian culture and our environment by working closely together and enriching the community we live in," said Foti.
The new program at the Maui resort is merely the latest initiative from the Westin brand focused on integrating wellness into its guest's experiences. The brand is well-known for its programming based on Six Pillars of Well-Being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well.
"Increasingly, travelers are looking for chances to give back to the communities they visit as a meaningful way to experience a destination," said Chris Heuisler, Global Run Concierge, Westin Hotels & Resorts. "In fact, 75 percent of people surveyed globally said that giving back is an important part to their sense of well-being; and even more - 80 percent of global respondents intend to give back or volunteer while traveling in the next 12 months"
Westin also recently introduced a sustainability program that involves collecting, processing and reweaving hotel bed linens transforming them into children's pajamas - called Project Rise: ThreadForward.
Last month the brand began distributing the pajamas to children in need whose circumstances can contribute to shortened and more fragmented sleep.
The pajamas are also now also available to purchase at westinstore.com, with a portion of proceeds going back to Delivering Good and continuing to support the efforts to give every child the opportunity to Sleep Well.
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