Grand Wailea Resort
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Tourism |
| Predecessor | Grand Hyatt Wailea |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Takeshi Sekiguchi |
| Headquarters | Wailea, Maui , United States |
Area served | Maui, Hawaii |
| Products | Luxury resort accommodations, spa services, dining, cultural center |
| Owner | BRE Hotels & Resorts |
Number of employees | Largest private employer in Maui (exact number not specified) |
| Parent | Hilton Worldwide (management) |
| Website | www |
The Grand Wailea Resort & Spa is a luxury property spanning 40 acres, part of the Waldorf Astoria collection, located along the beachfront in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. Originally launched in 1991 under the name Grand Hyatt Wailea, it is currently owned by BRE Hotels & Resorts and holds the distinction of being Maui's largest private employer.
History
The resort was brought to life by Japanese businessman Takeshi Sekiguchi, who also assembled a significant art collection for the establishment. Opening its doors in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt Wailea, the development cost was estimated at $650 million. Financial difficulties eventually caused Sekiguchi to relinquish ownership, and the hotel was sold in 1998 for $263 million. Since that time, it has undergone several ownership transitions and is now managed by Hilton Worldwide. In 2006, it earned the distinction of becoming the inaugural hotel to join Hilton's newly launched Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand. Ranking as Maui’s second largest hotel, it is a key resort destination in Hawaii and boasts unique features such as the pioneering water elevator and an innovative rotating barrel pipe attraction.
In November 2019, the resort founded the Grand Wailea Foundation, pledging an annual contribution of $250,000 to nonprofit organizations serving south and west Maui. The foundation’s first grants totaling $30,000 were distributed during the resort’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, supporting Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua, Maui Historical Society, and the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. Nonprofits interested in funding can apply through the foundation’s official website.
The resort has set a goal to reach net zero water consumption by 2020 and provides guests with educational materials focused on cultural awareness and sustainability upon check-in.
Villas
Ho'olei at Grand Wailea comprises one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas situated across from the main resort. These two-level residences include fully equipped kitchens, outdoor grilling areas, garages for one vehicle, and lanais oriented toward the west.
Rooms
The property features a total of 830 accommodations encompassing guest rooms, suites, and villas.
Napua Tower
Napua Tower offers 100 renovated rooms complemented by complimentary concierge services. Room sizes vary from 640 up to 5,500 square feet. Among its premium offerings are Two Grand Suites—the largest accommodations available—commanding nightly rates around $10,600.
Membership
Members benefit from reduced room rates for themselves and their guests alongside access to exclusive promotional offers.
Pools
Wailea Canyon Activity Pool This extensive aquatic complex stretches 2,000 feet in length and covers 25,700 square feet, containing approximately 770,000 gallons of water. It consists of nine interconnected pools spread over six levels linked by a flowing river. Features include four small slides, two large water slides, a whitewater rapids slide, a rope swing, a sandy beach pool area, three Jacuzzis, six waterfalls, a pioneering water elevator (the first of its kind worldwide), and a swim-up bar.
Hibiscus Pool Spanning 4,850 square feet, this pool is decorated with a hibiscus flower motif crafted from 630,000 Mexican glass mosaic tiles within a total of 2.2 million tiles used throughout its construction. It also contains two Jacuzzis.
Scuba Dive Training Pool The resort employs scuba instructors on-site and provides Hawaii’s only custom-built scuba training pool. Novice divers receive instruction here as well as in designated sections of the activity pool before venturing into ocean dives.
Fishpipe The Fishpipe is a unique rotating barrel water attraction capable of holding up to three riders simultaneously at speeds reaching 11 mph. It holds the distinction of being the world’s first ride of its kind and is constructed using over 150 square meters of transparent plastic supported by 1,200 anchor points, 600 nylon cords, and 50 meters of polyester webbing.
Spa Grande
Spanning 50,000 square feet and housing 40 treatment rooms, Spa Grande stands as the largest spa in Hawaii. Its amenities include cascading waterfall showers, a Roman-style tub, saunas, a traditional Japanese furo, five distinctive specialty baths, and Swiss jet showers. The Grand Salon, which provides hair and nail care services, is also situated within Spa Grande.
Palaha Hawaiian Cultural Center
In 2006, the hotel ceased operations of its nightclub to transform the area into a venue for cultural events and special gatherings. The Palaha Hawaiian Cultural Center was inaugurated on February 6, 2020, offering daily cultural programming and exhibiting Hawaiian artwork.
Restorations and expansions
A $50 million renovation was finalized in 2008, enhancing the Botero Bar, Arrival and Departure Lounge, guest room interiors, and adding flat-screen televisions. Spa Grande also saw upgrades with new carpeting and furnishings.
Announced in 2012, a five-year expansion plan valued at $250 million aimed to introduce additional guest rooms, new dining establishments, advanced in-room technology, and a new swimming pool. Renovation work commenced in October 2014, with updates to rooms and the pool area completed by late 2017.
In 2019, the hotel proposed an expansion costing between $91.5 million and $150 million; however, this faced resistance from local Hawaiian communities due to concerns over sacred burial sites. As a result of community opposition, the Maui Planning Commission deferred the project in February 2020.
Dining
The resort offers four restaurants, four bars, dining at Sunset Cabana, as well as room service options.
Restaurants
- Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
- Bistro Molokini
- Grand Dining Room Maui
- Café Kula
Bars
- Bistro Bar
- Botero Bar
- Grotto Bar
- Volcano Bar
In popular culture
The hotel is a favored destination for numerous celebrities such as Steve Carell, Tiffany Haddish, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Bacon, Magic Johnson, Common, Paris Hilton, and Oprah Winfrey.
Films
- Just Go With It (2011) was shot on location at the hotel.