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Mauna Lani is ideally situated along three miles of pristine coastline. It boasts 350 spacious rooms, along with its five 4,000-square-foot bungalows each with private swimming pools and whirlpool spas. The twenty-nine separate villas complete these exceptional accommodations. With an eye toward guest preference, hotel designers cleverly planned the property so that 90 percent of its rooms have direct ocean views, while the other 10 percent offer a stunning panorama dominated by the towering Mauna Kea.
The resort’s spirit of preservation, Mauna Lani |
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Spa, which opened during 2001, offers a perfect example of how age-old Hawaiian traditions are being adapted for the 21st Century. More than 40,000 square feet of indoor outdoor treatment facilities, the spa’s design recreates a village-like atmosphere.
Nine thatched hale– or huts– are totally surrounded by lush tropical plantings and fragrant la’au (healing) gardens that faithfully echo the island’s rich cultural heritage. Two of the spas feature natural lava saunas, among a bounty of other relaxing amenities. The Spa’s abiding theme of “Fire and Ice” reminds guests |
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of the Big Island’s incredible diversity, ranging from snow-capped peaks of Mauna Loa and its dormant Kaniku volcano to the ever-present eruptions of Kilauea, the active volcano with its continual displays of fiery lava that add to the island’s land mass. This theme symbolizes the contrasting calm and energetic spirits within us. Using home-grown medicinal plants and tropical ambrosias. |
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Mauna Lani Resort’s more notable features, Kalahuipua’a Fishponds, forms the resort’s spiritual center. These seven remarkable ponds– called ‘loko’ in Hawaiian– were created by ancient islanders to raise fish that supplemented their ocean-fishing livelihoods. Still teeming with a variety of tropical fish, these ancient ponds reveal an ingenious design that made use of sluice gates and other water circulation techniques to keep the fish healthy and prolific.
So, whether a guests’ passions run toward fire, ice, or somewhere in between, the luxurious, tradition-steeped Mauna Lani Resort awaits to indulge them in a perfect Hawaiian setting.
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