Aloha State" Splurges"
Luxurious spas. Gourmet restaurants. Posh resorts. We'll show you the best places to splurge on your tropical getaway in the "Aloha State."
Cosmo Oahu
Vibe Couples looking for a fast-paced, nightlife-driven getaway, not to mention top-notch restaurants, love the island of Oahu, thanks to its sophisticated city of Honolulu. Take a private tour of ancient Kaneaki Heiau (a Hawaiian temple) at Makaha Valley, or the newly opened Shangri La in Honolulu, formerly the private estate of late tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Catch a performance by the Honolulu Symphony or Hawaii Opera. Indulge in fantastic Pacific Rim cuisine at Chef Mavro's restaurant in Honolulu. Hang 10 off Oahu's North Shore, famed for its huge, surfer-friendly waves.
Where to Stay: The Halekulani, in Honolulu, sits on a secluded stretch of Waikiki Beach and boasts the gorgeous new Spa Halekulani. Enjoy an intimate meal at the resort's La Mer restaurant, where signature dishes include bouillabaisse and tourte d'escargots (escargot casserole). Call 800-367-2343.
For a stay outside Honolulu, check into the '70s-funky Turtle Bay Resort, on Oahu's North Shore. Ride horses at sunset, spot humpback whales (from December to April) and watch able surfers navigate monster waves from your private lanai. Wanna try? The resort's surf school offers expert instruction. Call 808-293-8811.
Ravishing Kauai
Vibe One look at this lush garden isle, marked by waterfalls and old plantation-style homes, and it's easy to see why it's been a movie set for so many Hollywood flicks. Take a tour to see where South Pacific and From Here to Eternity were filmed. Kauai is also known for its varied landscape. Explore the rugged Na Pali Coast, where the cliffs soar 2,700 feet. Take a helicopter ride over the Waimea Canyon, which Mark Twain named "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Sunbathe on Poipu Beach, a gold-sand crescent popular for water sports.
Where to Stay: One of Kauai's most luxurious and private spots is the Kilauea Lakeside Estate, a former sugar plantation-turned-botanical garden. Owner Steve Hunt's connection to Hawai'i goes way back—his great- uncle, Joseph Poindexter, was governor of the Territory of Hawai'i before the islands became a state. Enjoy hot-stone massages for two by the lake; hula lessons by moonlight; deserted beaches; and helicopter "picnics" (a pilot flies the two of you and a food-laden hamper to a remote spot Hunt learned about from his great-uncle). You can also take excursions to a nearby movie theater showing art flicks (the building dates back to the late 19th century) and for mango-papaya smoothies at nearby Mango Mama's. There are three bedrooms at the estate, and you must rent out the entire property. Call 310-379-7842.
On the west side of the island, stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages, a former sugar plantation. Surprise: The beach has black sand. Once housing for Kekaha Sugar Company workers, the resort's cottages have since been restored. The most romantic? "Hale Iki," a one-bedroom suite fronting the sea, a perfect sunset-viewing perch. Leave a permanent honeymoon memory on The Driftwood Memory Net. Ten years ago, a guest hung a fishing net on the lanai of his cottage and added driftwood for "artistic effect"; over the years, honeymooners have made their own contributions. Call 800-9-WAIMEA.
Young-at-Heart Maui
Vibe Hawai'i's second-largest island has a slogan: "Maui no ka oi" (Maui is best). Not only does this Pacific paradise boast some of the most upscale resorts in the state, it has incredible natural beauty, from a breathtaking coastline to the 10,500-foot-tall dormant Haleakala Volcano. If you experience one activity on Maui, it should be driving the rugged "Road to Hana." The 52-mile-long journey has dramatic twists and turns (600 of them at last count) and 54 one-lane bridges. For the ultimate adventure, rent a convertible and drive this serpentine road yourselves. The Road to Hana takes more than two hours from start to finish, but you'll want to take even longer, stopping along the way to pick guavas, take a dip in one of a handful of swimming ponds and drink in the incredible vistas.
The drive ends at the teeny outpost of Hana, a funky town with tons of local character. Visit the Hana Coast Gallery, and Hasegawa's General Store, a local landmark, stocked with Spam sushi (sushi made with, yep, Spam) and poi (pounded taro).
Where to Stay: When you reach laid-back Hana, check into the secluded and ultra-romantic Hotel Hana Maui, located at the base of Haleakala. The hotel exudes the ambience of Old Hawai'i from the 1920s, '30s and '40s. Nice touch: Sensual art hangs on the walls of the cottages. Call 800-321-HANA.
Bold and Beautiful: The Big Island
Vibe Twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined, the Big Island is home to 11 of the world's 13 climatic regions. Its jagged black lava fields are different from any terrain you've ever experienced, unless perhaps you've landed on the moon. Explore the hiss-and-sizzle spectacle of the active Kilauea Volcano up close by visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. A memorable way to take it all in: on horseback. A Hawaiian cowboy will lead you into the soul of this spiritual land and to a secluded waterfall. While you and the guy you lassoed splash about, your guide will lay out a picnic of ribs, potato salad, French bread and wine. Then, he'll put on some country-and-western dance tunes (popular on the Big Island) and disappear (temporarily, of course!). Another Big Island lure: It's got 19 (count 'em) golf courses.
Where to stay: With private plunge pools and butler service, the super-luxurious bungalows at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows are ultra-romantic honeymoon hideaways. Don't miss a lomilomi hula (a massage choreographed to Hawaiian music) for two at the spa. Then, have your personal chef grill fresh seafood for your dinner while a Hawaiian slack-key guitarist serenades you. Call 808-885-6622.
Couples who stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea can expect to be pampered day and night. Guest rooms feature oversized balconies, ideal for ocean-gazing. Do tear yourselves away from your room at least once for a pampering couple's massage treatment, given seaside in a darling thatch-roofed hale (hut). Call 800-334-6284.
Wild Lanai
Vibe With a population of deer almost triple that of its people, and not one traffic light or fast-food restaurant in sight, Lanai is truly a natural, secluded paradise. One of the best ways to explore this former "pineapple island" (Lanai reigned for 70 years as the world's largest pineapple producer) is in an all-terrain vehicle. Ask for directions to the Luahiwa Petroglyphs (on the eastern edge of the Palawai Basin), which date back more than 500 years. On the way there, dip into Manele Bay for an impromptu swim with wild dolphins—they'll come right up to you.
Where to Stay: Set high above the white-sand beach of Hulopo'e Bay, the Manele Bay Hotel is a real gem. Its 250 rooms are housed in an elegant two-story oceanfront manse amid red cliffs. The décor is part Hawaiian (think bold florals), part Mediterranean (lots of white and pretty pastels), and each room has a spectacular ocean view. The gorgeous Spa at Manele features yummy treatments such as banana-coconut scrubs and pineapple polishes.
Tip: Book a romantic couple's massage by the waterfall—the sound of the water makes each stroke seem even more soothing. Call 800-321-4666.
Less is More: Molokai
Okay, this pretty little island is not exactly what you'd call luxurious—there are no first-class hotels, five-star restaurants or spas there. Yet, romance abounds on Molokai, sometimes called "the most Hawaiian island" because it's largely undeveloped. Imagine lazy days on pristine beaches and nights spent sleeping under the stars.
A don't-miss-it adventure: Arrange for a private, three-mile ride on mules down a spectacular 1,700-foot sea cliff—you'll love the views of Kalaupapa, an isolated peninsula to which leprosy patients were once exiled. Later, enjoy a fabulous fish dinner at Big Daddy's Store and Restaurant, a low-key eatery. Favorites there include ahi poke (raw, cubed yellowfin tuna mixed with sea salt, onion and kukui-nut spices) and butterfish Hawaiian style, baked in ti leaves (from a Pacific tree).






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