At SpaHalekulani, an intimate retreat in Waikiki's signature 455-room luxury hotel, the long, pulsing strokes of a Hawaiian lomilomi massage mimic the rhythm of the nearby surf. The spa, which opened in 2003, has seven treatment rooms decorated in tones of sage and burnt caramel and features therapies inspired by traditional remedies from Hawaii, the South Pacic and Asia. The rst course is a "foot pounding" with puili sticks (bamboo shafts used in hula dances). Afterward guests can indulge in Ton Ton Amma, a Japanese massage performed with rubber-headed mallets and named for the sound these make on your back, or the Polynesian Nonu massage, which kneads out knots using hot rocks applied with a deep, fluid motion.
The spa is part of the Halekulani's overall mission, of promoting healthy and stylish living. The management has purged trans fats--the partially hydrogenated oils believed to raise cholesterol--from all food served at the hotel. Last year it debuted the first suite ever conceived by Vera Wang, and this spring the designer is scheduled to open a boutique in the hotel where you can buy the home-decor items she used in her suite. Massages from $180. 800-367-2343; halekulani.com.
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