At This Maui Resort, Wellness Means Pampering the Mind, Body, and Soul

When you think of wellness, you may only think of taking care of your body, but Andaz Maui cares for each of its guests comprehensively — meaning no part of the guest experience goes unnoticed. Sure, you can focus on getting physically fit, but the Andaz approach also caters to the mind and soul through education, social interaction, and self-care. Here’s what it’s like.

Photo: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

A long walkway connects Andaz Maui’s driveway to its front lobby. When I got to the lobby for check-in, I was taken aback by the breathtaking views — the lobby overlooks the pools, restaurants, and, in the distance, the cool blue waters of Mokapu Beach. But that’s just a slice of what the resort covers.

Andaz Maui spans 15 acres. The resort has 320 guest rooms spread across three different wings — including 35 suites and 30 luxury villas that are rented out by the property. After traveling for 12 hours from New York City, entering my ocean view room was like getting a breath of fresh air. The room’s crisp, neutral color palette was a calming sight after the long haul, and the space was outfitted with modern, luxurious amenities — a king-sized bed, a full-sized bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a rain shower among them. The room also had a balcony overlooking the beach and the resort’s adults-only pool — a perfect spot to watch the sunrise.

Photo: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

In addition to the on-site gym that offers guests access to modern equipment, yoga mats, and classes, Andaz Maui puts a premium on what guests feed their bodies. Just look at the resort’s food model: “Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served.”

All of the hotel’s four restaurant-bar-style dining options aim to use as many locally sourced ingredients as possible to eliminate import. Ka’ana Kitchen is a must try for breakfast and dinner. For breakfast, pair classic buffet-style fare such as waffles, pancakes, and pastries with fresh fruit juices — my favorite was the refreshing mixture of passionfruit, orange, guava, and pineapple juice. Ka’ana Kitchen also offers chef’s-table family-style dinners, evoking the comfort of home while spoiling guests with a carefully curated six-course meal.

For a light snack while swimming at the pool or relaxing at a cabana, Lehua Lounge and Bumbye Beach Bar offer an array of flavor-filled small bites. I recommend trying the fish tacos and pairing it with a Ginger Buck mocktail from Lehua Lounge. The hotel also houses Morimoto Maui, a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto, best known for Iron Chef America. There, enjoy delicate and delicious sushi platters, poke bowls, and more.

If you’re into cocktails and cooking, Andaz also offers signature “Mix It Up” and “Poke All Around” classes for an additional charge of $59 and $65, respectively. “Mix It Up” allows participants to learn how to make specialty cocktails alongside Andaz’s mixologists. For my class, the mixologist showed us how to make a classic Mai Tai two different ways. If you prefer nonalcoholic beverages, the mixologist also made fresh cocktails and raspberry lemonade. The “Poke All Around” class takes the widely popular food and breaks it down for participants to learn about the fresh ingredients that go inside and how all the flavors come together.

For a traditional wellness experience, Andaz Maui’s ‘Āwili Spa and Salon provides luxurious treatments, facials, and amenities. The dimly lit spa is located near the tranquil adults-only pool and has 10 treatment rooms. Female and male locker rooms are separate; both have saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and cold-plunge pools.

For my treatment, I chose the 60-minute Essential Massage, which incorporates the Hawaiian lomi lomi (“rub rub”) technique of using broad, deep strokes to promote circulation and impart energy. Beforehand, my masseuse asked about any tension spots to make sure she reached those areas during my massage.

The hotel also catered to my need for expression as a creative. While visiting, I had the opportunity to take ‘ukulele classes and learn about the instrument’s history. The teacher, Derick Sebastian, is a Grammy-winning ‘ukulele player who takes pride in teaching visitors how to create a melody with the strum of a few chords.

Outside of pampering guests, Andaz Maui is a cultural breeding place filled with educational opportunities and ways to give back. As a first timer on the island, I was able to speak with the hotel’s Culture Training Specialist, Kalikolehua Storer, as she offered information that was invaluable about her hometown and culture.

In August 2023, wildfire ripped through Lahaina in West Maui, causing many residents to lose their homes, loved ones, and jobs. The island has since taken great strides to rebuild through various initiatives. Andaz Maui gives guests the opportunity to learn about these efforts through in-room welcome messages and connections to relief efforts such as Maui Strong.

Andaz Maui also specializes in sharing educational information in a fun and engaging way. The highlight of my trip was being able to witness my first lūʻau. An event centered on feasting and storytelling, the lūʻau I attended told of the emotional and physical strain of the Polynesian migration from Tahiti, alongside important messages about Hawaiian deities and the US’ involvement in using the island of Kahoʻolawe as training for target practice.

Photo: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

If you’re traveling from the airport in Kahului, Maui, the resort is about a 30-minute drive. You’ll pass by popular shops on the way. Once you arrive at the hotel, there’s really no reason to leave the hotel property — but if you want to, the hotel is situated in the nice area to explore that’s walking distance away from The Shops at Wailea.