Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea: One of the Best Resort Spas I’ve Ever Experienced
I have been to many spas over the years, ranging from ultra-luxury destinations to small boutique spas, and I’ve probably had hundreds of facials and massages at this point. The spa at Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is honestly one of the best spa experiences I’ve ever had.
The resort unveiled the newly reimagined Kilolani Spa in 2024 following a massive $55 million renovation. At 50,000 square feet, it is now the largest spa in Hawaii.
The facility is truly stunning. The spa is separated into men’s and women’s areas, with beautiful coed hydrotherapy spaces as well. The locker rooms and relaxation areas feel incredibly upscale and spacious without being pretentious.
The experience begins with an intention-setting ritual, which sounds a little “spa cheesy,” but actually felt grounding and relaxing. From there, you move into the outdoor hydrotherapy gardens where you’re given a body scrub to use in gorgeous open-air showers surrounded by lush tropical landscaping.
The hydrotherapy area was one of my favorite parts of the entire experience. There are steam rooms, saunas, cold buckets, cool mist sprays, and a massive hot tub with a water feature in the center that gives an incredible shoulder and back massage. The hot/cold contrast experience was surprisingly invigorating and left me feeling completely reset.
The massage itself was top notch — easily one of the better resort spa massages I’ve had — but what really makes this spa special is the overall experience and atmosphere. It feels immersive rather than transactional.
The relaxation room overlooked the ocean and offered healthy snacks and drinks, making it very hard to leave once the treatment was over.
One thing that also surprised me was how impressive the fitness center was. Resort gyms are often an afterthought, but the gym at Grand Wailea was genuinely excellent. There were multiple Pelotons and treadmills, a large free weight area, plenty of circuit and strength-training equipment, and enough space that it never felt overcrowded. I was honestly very impressed with the gym overall.
Grand Wailea has become known as a very family-oriented resort, and it absolutely is, but the spa provides the perfect adult escape from the activity and energy of the main property. Whether you’re doing a couples treatment, sneaking away for a few hours solo, or just need a true reset during a busy family vacation, I would absolutely recommend making time for Kilolani Spa.