Visit Maui: Olivine

The Grand Wailea recently went through a revamp, and the former Bistro Molokini is now Olivine - a lovely Italian-inspired restaurant, which a bunch of us were fortunate to have visited as Media.

Crispy Squash Blossoms

The Crispy Squash Blossoms were my fave dish.  Stuffed with burrata, and served with a mac nut pesto, local Grand Wailea hot honey, and honeycomb - the squash blossoms were perfectly fried, and the burrata so creamy.  It was such a fabulous combinations of textures and flavors.  

Warm Marinated Olives

The Warm Marinated Olives - such a simple dish, but so flavorful - were my next fave.  Marinated in Maui Olive Oil, local citrus, garlic, and star anise - these olives were addicting!

Classic Hummus

Grilled Italian Salad

Blue Ocean Oysters

Wagyu Beef & Malama Pork Meatballs

Grilled Shrimp Pasta

I was already full off of the food we were served, but last to the table were the meatballs and pasta.

The meatballs were huge and seasoned well, but I just couldn't stop eating the pasta, even though I didn't think I could eat any more!

The handmade strozzapreti made by Maui business Sale Pepe, really held the pesto nicely.  

I love the new concept and vibe at this Grand Wailea restaurant.

Olivine is a great option for Italian food in Wailea!

Olivine

Grand Wailea
3850 Wailea Alanui Dr

Kihei, HI 96753
(808) 875-1234

 

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A Maui Dream Vacation: Our Stay at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria resort

Over the Labor Day weekend holiday, my family with some friends stayed at the beautiful Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui.  It was honestly one of the best vacations I have had with my kids.  When we returned home, I was still smiling from all the fun we had.    

When my friend first suggested staying at the Grand Wailea, I was totally in, but a little concerned about the cost.  After all, the Grand Wailea to me is synonymous with luxury and when I think about the resort, an overview of the sprawling 40-acre resort with the iconic Hibiscus pool instantly comes to mind.  But super lucky for us Hawaii residents, the Grand Wailea offers some very reasonable kama’aina rates.  

Check in at the Grand Wailea was a breeze and we absolutely loved our lei greeter.  She was so warm and friendly and totally read my mind when she offered to take a family picture for us. 

We were upgraded to the Alii Suite, which sleeps up to a family of 5 with sofa bed.  It is a generous 1,300 square feet with a separate bedroom and living area and private lanai.  Best of all it has a half bathroom in addition to the master bathroom with shower and tub!  I think all families can appreciate this feature.  

We LOVED the space.  After spending hours at the pool, the suite gave us all enough space to enjoy some down time on our own before dinner (read: I was able to close the bedroom door to take a much needed nap while the kids watched TV in the living room).  It was also a great meeting place after dinner to spend some time with the other families.  

 

The living area had a pull out sofa, dining table, and wet bar area.

Over the three nights that we spent at the Grand Wailea, we only left twice.  Once to visit Haleakala and the second to have dinner at the Mill House Maui.  That’s it.  The resort has everything you need and gives you no reason to leave.  We spent most of our time at the amazing Grand Wailea’s Canyon Activity Pool, which features 9 pools spread over 6 levels with 7 waterslides, waterfalls, hot tubs, rushing rapids, a lazy river, a rope Tarzan swing, a lagoon area, water elevator, swim-up grotto bar, and their famous Hibiscus pool reserved for 18 and older.  Beautiful Wailea beach is just steps away and you have your option of dining at one of the 7 eateries at the resort.

A portion of the lazy river.

Rope bridge 

Slides!

Tarzan Swing

We got lost a couple of times on the vast property, but in hindsight, I wish I could have stayed lost in paradise a little longer!  The fun we had during our stay at the Grand Wailea was truly priceless.  We returned home reconnected, rejuvenated, and in high spirits from all the great memories we made together.

Sad to go!

Thank you Grand Wailea for the suite upgrade!  The room rate was paid on my own.  All opinions are honest and entirely my own. 

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The Grand Wailea Cabanas and Casabellas: What You Never Knew You Needed

My friends and I were planning a trip to Maui with our kids and we knew the most important criteria in deciding on a place to stay was the swimming pool.  Known for their lush landscapes and amazing pools, we didn’t need much convincing to make the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria resort, our unanimous decision.

For one thing, the pool area is HUGE.  We’re talking 2,000-foot-long, 25,700 sq. ft., 770,000-gallon HUGE.  Known as the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, it consists of nine individual pools on six different levels, connected by a river that carries swimmers along whitewater rapids and gentle currents.  There’s also slides, waterfalls, caves, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, a sand beach, the world’s first water elevator, and a swim-up bar.  For guests that are 18 and older, you have the luxury of visiting the Hibiscus Pool, possibly the Grand Wailea’s most instagrammable pool.  I cried inside for days that I didn’t get the chance to experience this beautiful pool.    

Among the many (many) things we loved about the Wailea Canyon Activity pool area was that you could bring your own float devices into the pool.  If you have kids, then you probably know this makes swimming in the pool about 1000 times more fun - especially while you are cruising down the river.  The activity pool desk will even inflate them for you at no charge!  

Each day, we picked up our wristbands and towels from the activity pool desk.  Then we would set out to find some beach chairs together and preferably under an umbrella because while we had gorgeous weather that weekend, it was HOT!  Because the pool is pretty crowded and to be fair, the pool policy is that if you leave your chairs unattended for more than one hour, your belongings will be moved for safe keeping so that other guests will have the opportunity to use the chairs.  

Lucky for us, we were hosted for one day side-by-side casabellas (a partial shade lounger that seats two).  It wasn’t until we used them did we realize the value of renting a casabella or cabana.  The casabellas and cabanas rentals are for the entire day and you can leave them for as long as you want and return with the assurance that it will still be available for your use.  Our kids are older, but I can see the incredible value of a cabana or casabella if you have a baby in the family and need shade for naptime or privacy for breastfeeding.  

Our casabellas were located in the courtyard that lines the beach path and faces the ocean.  I loved this location because it was so much quieter than the pool area.  My friend and I enjoyed drinks and a private conversation while the kids played in the pool.  My daughter came over several times to take a break from the excitement and I think she liked the calmness as well.  Now that we’ve experienced the benefits, we definitely see the value of renting a cabana or casabella.  While we were there, the cabanas seemed to be sold out so if you are planning a trip, it would be wise to rent one in advance.  Rentals are available up to a year in advance at the time of booking your room reservation.  


Thank you to the Grand Wailea for hosting our casabella.  All opinions are honest and entirely my own. 

Mom time! 

The shade can also be left down for full sun exposure. 

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Hawaii’s Largest Spa - Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Spa time is always a good idea in my book and I try to schedule a little me time whenever I am on vacation.  On this trip to Maui, we stayed at the gorgeous Grand Wailea and I was very excited to visit the Spa Grande for the first time.  

As soon as I walked through the doors of the Spa Grande, I was visually overwhelmed by the huge reception area.  The spa is the largest spa in Hawaii and certainly, the largest spa I have ever visited.  At 50,000 square feet, it is two stories with 40 treatment rooms.  It is no wonder Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines have voted Spa Grande as one of the “Top 10 Spas in the United States!”

After checking in and receiving a locker, I enjoyed an hour dipping in and out of their exclusive Healing Waters of Maui baths – five specialty soaking baths each developed with specific therapeutic value and a special selection of essential oils blended with Hawaiian plants, minerals, herbs, fruits, and spices from local organic farms.  My favorite bath was clouds because of its pleasing smell, but I tried to spend as much time soaking in the bath that promised reduction of water retention.  Hey, I would be in a swimsuit for the entire weekend!  

The spa also offers a Roman area that features a large whirlpool with a cold plunge, a dry sauna, and a eucalyptus steam room.  There’s also the Japanese area that offers traditional Furo baths and the Maui area that features three 10-foot waterfalls to massage your neck and shoulders as well as two tropical showers with 50 water jets that massage your body from head to toe.  Have you booked your appointment yet?

Included with your spa treatment is a complimentary full-body loofah scrub by one of the spa attendants.  The attendants will magically find you while you are in the spa and take you to a room for the honey-mango exfoliation.  When your hour is about to finish, one of the attendants will again find you, provide you with a robe, and send you to the second floor to relax as you wait for your therapist.

The Spa Grande offers an extensive menu of treatments and therapies inspired by ancient Hawaii as well as the West and East cultures.  I was booked with the newly launched Hawaiian Superfood Crystal Facial, a collagen producing facial using O’o Hawaii’s clinical grade formulas to deeply infuse the skin with nutrients.  Honestly, they had me at collagen.  The facial was the most relaxing facial I have had and I loved every minute of it (while I was awake).  The facial uses a rich blend of antioxidants and enzymes to detoxify, exfoliate, minimize pores, and increase elasticity.  My favorite part of the facial was when the esthetician used the rose quartz to massage my face and neck.  I have a crystal roller at home so I knew using the crystal has great skin benefits such as increasing lymphatic drainage and toning the skin.  Plus, it just feels nice.  

I had such a wonderful experience at the Spa Grande that while I was walking back to my room, I was already thinking about when I could go back.  Unfortunately, we were leaving the next day.  On the bright side, I have a new reason to visit Maui – it is the home of my new favorite spa!  If you are lucky enough to be on Maui, be sure to treat yourself at the Spa Grande!    

Thank you to the Spa Grande for hosting my treatment.  All opinions are honest and entirely my own.

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Visit Maui: Bistro Molokini

It's been nearly three years since I dined at Bistro Molokini at the Grand Wailea.  I really enjoyed the food, especially the pizza and onion rings, and on a recent visit, I didn't hesitate to order pizza and onion rings again, along with a couple of salads.

Hamakua Mushroom Pizza

Housemade Maui Onion Rings

Local Wild Arugula Salad

Hamakua Springs Bibb Lettuce Salad

I loved the Hamakua Mushroom Pizza.  The crust was crispy and flaky, and the aioli and caramelized Maui onions only added to the deliciousness!  It was one of the best pizzas I had in a while.  

The panko-fried Onion Rings were enormous and messy, but they were quite yummy.  I ate nearly all of them myself!    

Of the two salads, I liked the Hamakua Springs Bibb Lettuce Salad best, probably because it was full of bacon, red onions, and avocado - my faves!  We opted to add on fresh fish of the day, which was mahi.  A friend commented that the mahi was cooked perfectly!

The Local Wild Arugula Salad consisted of goat cheese, pomegranate, heart of palm and mandarin oranges, and was drizzled with a fig balsamic.

Our server was very friendly and accommodating, and the meal was ideal - nothing too heavy, yet simply satisfying and tasty.  

I look forward to returning on a future visit to Wailea!

Bistro Molokini

Grand Wailea
3850 Wailea Alanui Dr

Kihei, HI 96753
(808) 875-1234

Mahalo to Grand Wailea for hosting the meal. Gratuity was paid on my own.

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Visit Maui: A Luxurious Getaway at the Grand Wailea

The holidays always get a little stressful for me - all the baking, the parties, the shopping, the wrapping.  Often times I lose sight of what the holidays truly mean, and I've found one of the best ways to break free from all of the holiday chaos - even it's just for a weekend, is to escape to a luxurious locale.

This year the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, was the ideal place for a weekend getaway.

With 780 guest rooms, including 99 elegantly-appointed rooms in the private Napua Tower, the Grand Wailea offers the entire family a place to play, unwind, reconnect, and simply indulge in all that the beautiful resort has to offer - stunning views, amazing pools, great dining, stellar service, and so much more.

After checking into our beautiful Royal Suite in the Napua Tower, we immediately went down to the pools.

The resort's Wailea Canyon Activity Pool consists of nine pools on six different levels, including four jungle pools, four slides, a whitewater rapids slide, a sand beach, an infant pool, a rope swing, a swim-up bar, and a water elevator!

There is also an adults-only Hibiscus Pool.

One thing I noticed and really appreciated is that the pool attendants made sure that all guests had wristbands on, and if they didn't, they had to go to the Activity Pool desk to get one (guests must provide name and room number; only registered guests are allowed at the pools and only one wristband is given per guest/day). Also, the resort stresses that it is kapu (prohibited) from leaving towels and items on chairs before the pool opens at 7am or unattended for an hour.

It is no surprise guests can spend the entire day at the pool with so much to do, but for my little guys, there is one thing that did pull them away - The Rock!

The Rock is a 20,000 square-foot facility where they can play table tennis, build with LEGO, play video games, watch movies, and more.

The Spot is geared towards teens, but kids under 13 are welcome when accompanied by a parent.

The `Ohana Hale offers "E for Everyone" video games, as well as a fun LEGO room (kids under 13 must be accompanied by parent).

For a fee, little ones ages 5 to 12 can be dropped off to Camp Grande for Camp Adventures, in which kids not only have access to toys, games, and arts and crafts, but they go crab hunting, make lei, and so much more!

My kids absolutely loved The Rock, and it was a welcome respite when we encountered an all-day downpour during our second day at the resort.  

In addition to the pools and The Rock, there is so much more guests can do.  There are great dining options (you can read my reviews of Bistro Molokini here and Cafe Kula here), numerous shops, and guests have access to a variety of activities (some for a fee), such as a luau, botanical tour, golf, and scuba lessons.

But if all you want to do is relax on the lanai of your gorgeous suite, sip a cocktail by the pool, lounge on the beach, or stroll the immense property to admire the art, the Grand Wailea offers the most luxurious setting to accomplish all of the above.

And the views?  Well, just about everywhere you turn is a picture-perfect view, including the most stunning, no-filter-needed sunsets.

Since we stayed during the holiday season, the property was festively decked out, with beautifully decorated trees throughout the resort.

For the most part, service at the Grand Wailea was top-notch from check-in to check-out, and almost all the employees we encountered truly exuded the aloha spirit.

We had one of the best weekend getaways ever at the Grand Wailea. We stayed in one of the most splendid suites ever; the kids loved the pools and The Rock; the complimentary amenities of the Napua Tower left us spoiled; we were able to experience beautiful views, including the most amazing sunset I've ever witnessed.

After such an unforgettable weekend, the Grand Wailea is easily one of my favorite resorts,


Grand Wailea
3850 Wailea Alanui Dr.

Wailea, HI 96753

1-808-875-1234

Mahalo to the Grand Wailea for hosting our room.  Gratuities were paid on my own.  

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