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At Hawaii's first St. Regis, the water-themed Halele’a Spa has a range of options for relaxing and rejuvenating |
In October, the luxury St. Regis brand opened its first hotel in Hawaii with the St. Regis Princeville Resort, Kauai. At the same time, the Halele‘a (“House of Joy”) Spa also set up shop at the resort, offering a wide range of ways for weary travelers to relax and rejuvenate.
House of Joy
The Halele‘a Spa has 12 treatment rooms, with a dedicated room for couples’ services (check out the romantic cascading shower for two), Vichy treatments and a VIP Maile treatment room.
Unique experiences at Halele‘a Spa include the Kauai Taro clay wrap, the Taro Butter Pohaku hot stone massage and the Voyage from the Sea Signature 4 Hands massage and facial. (This last one lets guests relax with a seaweed extract massage and marine repair facial treatment simultaneously. Divine, we say.)
The resort is near where the Hanalei River meets the Pacific Ocean. As such, water is a major theme of the spa—not only in the treatments and decor but also in the guest experience, including steam rooms infused with essential oils and aromatherapy cold compresses to clear the senses.
Kauai-based brand Malie is creating a series of spa products exclusively for the St. Regis Princeville Resort that use local ingredients, including fresh flower petals, taro root, wild ginger, coffee berry and Kauai clay.
For al fresco relaxation, guests may opt for outdoor oceanside massages in the special Spa Cabana. Unique to Halele‘a are the “mini-services,” 15- to 30-minute massages—scalp, hand and foot—available poolside. These mini-services let clients sample the full spa experience without a lengthy commitment, and are highlighted on the pool menu. Guests can order everything from an avocado salad to a 20-minute hand massage.
For a Signature 4 Hands massage, request Marion McHenry and Toni Williams; for an Exotic Maile massage, Michelle Oberg; for a Taro Butter Pohaku massage, Marion McHenry or Toni Williams; and for a traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, Marion McHenry or Toni Williams.
The spa director is Bridget Phillips (808-826-2412, [email protected]). For spa treatments, travel agents should contact Makana Bacon (808-826-2475, [email protected]) or Robin Simpson (808-826-2476, [email protected]).
House of Luxury
Beyond the spa, there’s the St. Regis itself, the first of its kind in Hawaii, with 225 guest rooms and 51 premium ocean-view suites.
Request a room on the High Level A Wing for the best views. The Premium Ocean View Rooms are the most requested, and the Prince Junior Suites with connecting Double Queen Beds are best for families. If your clients want private butler service (and really, if you’re staying at a St. Regis, you may as well go luxe all the way!), the seven St. Regis Suites and suite #602 (Bali Hai Signature Suite), #1114 (Presidential Suite) and #1113 (the Royal Suite) are the ones to book.
To get around the area in style, the resort offers VIP complimentary car service within a five-mile radius of the property via two Mercedes-Benz M-Class vehicles. Additional transfer service is available for a fee with one of the resort’s island partners.
Makana Terrace, a Hawaii-inspired restaurant with (as the name might imply) an outdoor terrace, is currently the resort’s main dining option. (Try Executive Chef Carlos Jorge’s poached coconut curry, Onaga Madras curry, kefir lime and sesame spinach.) When making reservations for couples or small families (up to four people), ask for table nine. For groups of up to eight, ask for table eight. For less- formal dining, there is also a poolside restaurant and oceanfront bar overlooking Hanalei Bay, and a cocktail lounge with club-style service and live entertainment.
And to the joy of every gourmand who has ever visited Hawaii (or ever wanted to), a signature restaurant from celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will open at the resort later this month.
The most popular dates to visit Kauai are mid-December through the first week of January. Book six months in advance. For general questions about the St. Regis, agents can contact Account Director Victoria Page (310-388-7502, [email protected]).
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| Halele'a Spa's poolside area comes with a unique perk—15- to 30-minute massages |