Travel Specialists Talk About Hawai'i Resorts

FTF asked travel specialists Rina Anoussis and Martin Gould of The Travel Business, New York about their favorite Hawai'ian family resorts in the spring of 2004. Their candidness is one reason a family travel expert can be invaluable in trip planning.

MG: "The Four Seasons Maui at Wailea is very, very popular with friends and clients but has some slight drawbacks. It's attractive but wedged in between big hotels -- when this small, deep property reaches a high occupancy level, guests may overflow onto the lawn surrounding the pool. The rooms and the staff are very nice, the service is very good, and there are many amenities for families [FTF Ed. Note: This hotel recently received a $50 million rennovation of facilities and services]. 

Next door is the Grand Wailea, another incredible resort with a much larger pool. It's also a very impressive facility but it's huge. If you like San Juan or Miami Beach, it's fine, but these hotels on Maui are not my idea of the true Hawai'i.

"I think a very good resort for families is the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at Ko Olina (800/626-4446, 808/679-0079; Kapolei - Oahu, Hawaii 96707) on O'ahu. It's on a truly beautiful piece of land with a view of the mountains and a very large beach and pool area. This is an undeveloped part of the island and feels remote, but it's only about 20 minutes from Waikiki so you have the accessibility of the Wax Museum, Atlantis submarine rides, and bustle if the kids want some action. The resort's children's program (ages 4-12) has different cultural activities daily, and its own large computer room. Everything is spread out, very elegant and well done, and the enormous guest rooms are very spacious for families. The Ihilani is also known for its fabulous spa for parents, with hundreds of massages and treatments." 

RA:  "Lots of families are visiting Lana'i -- it's wild, beautiful and a very interesting place, with two fabulous golf courses and little other development. I prefer to book families close to the beach and recommend the seaside Manele Bay Hotel ( 800/819-5053, 808/565-2000). They get lots of children, particularly over the winter school break from California, and have a popular daily children's program and nighttime activities. Manele Bay is a gorgeous place, with an Asian art collection and Oriental antiques. I went on an eco-tour of the area by Jeep and did lots of day hikes.

The sister property, the Lodge at Koele( 800/819-5053, 808/565-4000) in Lana'i's central highlands, has very beautiful and exotic decor like the Four Seasons on Bali. It has won many awards and the food was voted 'Best in Hawaii' by Zagat , so its' the perfect place for an adult evening out. [Editor's Note: In the fall of 2005, the Manele Bay reopened after extensive renovation, and it and the Lodge at Koele are now managed by Four Seasons. We anticipate that these will remain equally fine, exclusive resorts.]

RA: "To reach Lana'i, I took the catamaran from Maui, a very short crossing. Another family resort my clients like is Maui's Ritz Carlton Kapalua, which is elegant too, with a wonderful children's program. It's in a very lively part of Maui, which may be better with teens. There are a lot of environmental daytrips to the tropical rainforest and surrounding countryside.

"When you go to Hawai'i, you have to experience the surf and the surfers. I really do feel families should see the other, more natural Hawai'i as well."