Grand Wailea Resort

The hotel was built by Japanese developer Takeshi Sekiguchi, who also put together a large art collection for the hotel. It opened in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt Wailea. The hotel was built at an estimated cost of $650 million, which proved to be more than the economy could sustain, and Sekiguchi lost control of the property, which was sold for $263 million in 1998.Scott Radway, [http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/Hawaii-Business/November-2006/What-8217s-Worth-the-Most-in-the-Islands/ "What’s Worth the Most in the Islands?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021235306/http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/Hawaii-Business/November-2006/What-8217s-Worth-the-Most-in-the-Islands/ |date=2012-10-21 }} Hawaii Business Magazine, November 2006. The property has been sold several times since then and it is now operated by Hilton Worldwide.Elizabeth Kieskowski, [http://www.staradvertiser.com/travel/20101121_art_lifts_grand_wailea_over_the_top.html?id=109595404 "Art lifts Grand Wailea over the top"], Honolulu Star-Advertiser, November 21, 2010. It was the first hotel to join Hilton's Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in 2006 after the Manhattan hotel became a brand. It is the second largest hotel on the island of Maui and is one of Hawaii's most well-known resorts. It is also the site of the first water elevator and the first rotating barrel pipe ride.

In November 2019, the hotel launched a charitable foundation, the Grand Wailea Foundation, which aims to contribute $250,000 annually to nonprofit organizations in south and west Maui.{{cite news |title=Grand Wailea Foundation set |url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2019/11/grand-wailea-foundation-set/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Maui News |date=November 26, 2019}} The first funds were distributed at the Grand Wailea's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2019.{{cite news |title=Grand Wailea Foundation Awards $30,000 During Holiday Kick-Off |url=https://mauinow.com/2019/12/03/grand-wailea-foundation-awards-30000-during-holiday-kick-off/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Maui Now |date=December 3, 2019}} The first recipients, Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua, Maui Historical Society, and the Boys & Girls Club of Maui, were awarded $10,000 each. Nonprofits are allowed to apply for funding on the foundation's website.

The resort hopes to achieve net zero water usage in 2020, and distributes cultural and sustainability information to guests upon their arrival.

The resort has one, two, and three bedroom villas which are across the street from the hotel. The villas, named Ho'olei at Grand Wailea, are two-stories, have a full-sized kitchen, outdoor barbecue, and one-car garages. All the villas have their lanais (decks) facing West.

The hotel has 830 guest rooms, suites, and villas.

There are 100 rooms in the Napua Tower. The rooms in the tower are upgraded, and guests receive complimentary concierge services. Rooms range from 640-5,500 square feet. The tower is home to some of the hotel's suites, including the Two Grand Suites which are equal in size and the largest suite category available (approx nightly cost $10,600).

Members of the hotel are given discounted rooms rates for themselves and their guests and receive member-only promotions.

Wailea Canyon Activity Pool

The Canyon Activity Pool is a 2,000-foot-long, 25,700 total square foot, 770,000-gallon pool.{{cite news|last1=French|first1=Howard W.|title=Pools and Picasso By the Beach in Maui|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/05/travel/pools-and-picasso-by-the-beach-in-maui.html|work=New York Times|date=5 September 1999 |access-date=24 April 2015}} It consists of nine pools on six separate levels, connected by a river. There are four small intertwining slides, two big waterslides, a whitewater rapids slide, a rope swing, a sand beach pool, three Jacuzzis, six waterfalls, a water elevator and an infant pool. The water elevator is the world's first. The pool also has a swim-up bar.

Hibiscus Pool

The Hibiscus Pool is 4,850 square feet. There is an image of a hibiscus flower on the bottom of the pool which is made from 630,000 pieces of Mexican glass mosaic tile. The pool itself is made from 2.2 million tiles.{{cite web|title=Grand Wailea - Hibiscus pool - photos of Maui's Grand Wailea Resort|url=http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/hawaiigeneral/l/blgrwail1hibis.htm|publisher=About|access-date=5 April 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072645/http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/hawaiigeneral/l/blgrwail1hibis.htm|url-status=dead}} It has two Jacuzzis.

Scuba Dive Training Pool

The hotel has on-staff scuba instructors and a scuba dive training pool. It is the only custom-designed scuba pool in Hawaii. Beginning scuba divers practice in the dive pool as well as parts of the activity pool before going out into the ocean.{{cite web|title=Charlie Dolfun Scuba - Scuba Dive Maui|url=http://www.dolfun.us/|publisher=Charlie Dolfun|access-date=5 April 2014}}

Fishpipe

The Fishpipe is a rotating barrel pipe. It is a type of water ride that simulates a waterslide and allows up to three people to ride at once. The pipe has a top speed of 11 mph and is the first rotating barrel ride in the world.{{cite web|last=De Lollis|first=Barbara|title=Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria opens new water ride|url=http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/05/grand-wailea-waldorf-astoria-opens-new-water-ride/691411/1|publisher=USA Today|access-date=5 April 2014}} The barrels are made up of over 150 square meters of transparent plastic material, more than 1200 anchor points, 600 brightly colored nylon cords, and 50 meters of polyester webbing.{{cite web|title=Fish Pipe Hawaii|url=http://fishpipehawaii.com/|publisher=Fish Pipe Hawaii|access-date=5 April 2014}}

Spa Grande is the largest spa in Hawaii, with 50,000 square feet.{{cite news|last1=Smiley|first1=Jane|title=Spa Search: Maui Luxury|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/magazine/spa-search-maui-luxury.html|website=NY Times|date=2 May 2004 |publisher=New York Times|access-date=24 June 2015}} There are 40 treatment rooms.{{cite web|title=Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort|url=http://www.spafinder.com/Spa/84-Grand-Wailea-A-Waldorf-Astoria-Resort-|publisher=Spafinder|access-date=5 April 2014}} The spa has cascading waterfall showers, a Roman tub, saunas, a Japanese furo and five specialty bath and Swiss jet showers. The Grand Salon is a hair and nail salon also located at Spa Grande.

In 2006, the hotel closed its nightclub used the space to host special events, planning to open a cultural space. On February 6, 2020, the Palaha Hawaiian Cultural Center opened. The center hosts daily cultural experiences and showcases Hawaiian art.{{cite news |last1=Kayian |first1=Suzanne |title=The Grand Wailea Opens Hawaiian Cultural Center |url=https://mauitime.com/news/business/the-grand-wailea-opens-hawaiian-cultural-center/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Maui Time |date=February 13, 2020}}

In 2008 the hotel underwent a $50 million restoration project. The project renovated the Botero Bar, the Arrival and Departure Lounge, added new furniture, and placed flatscreen televisions in each room. The spa was also upgraded with new carpet and furniture.

In 2012, the hotel planned a five-year $250 million expansion. The expansion involved additional rooms, new restaurants, new in-room technology, and a new pool.{{cite web|last=De Lollis|first=Barbara|title=Maui's Grand Wailea hotel to get $250 million expansion|url=http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/04/grand-wailea-maui-hotel-250-million-expansion/669639/1|publisher=USA Today|access-date=3 April 2014}} New renovations began in October 2014, room renovations and the pool refresh were completed in late 2017.{{cite web|last1=D|first1=Jason|title=Maui's Grand Wailea Goes for a Grand Refresh|url=http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2015/5/16/55343/1917/hotels/Maui's_Grand_Wailea_Goes_for_a_Grand_Refresh|website=Hotel Chatter|access-date=24 June 2015}} In 2019, the hotel proposed expansion plans, which were met with opposition from local Hawaiians since the hotel was built on sacred burial grounds.{{cite news |last1=Uechi |first1=Colleen |title=Grand Wailea's $91.5M expansion hits opposition |url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2019/05/grand-waileas-91-5m-expansion-hits-opposition/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Maui News |date=May 30, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Grand Wailea Development Request Strikes Opposition |url=https://mauinow.com/2019/11/25/grand-wailea-development-request-strikes-opposition/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Maui Now |date=November 26, 2019}} The plans were postponed in February 2020 by the Maui Planning commission due to community pushback. The expansions were set to cost approximately $150 million.{{cite news |last1=Shaefers |first1=Allison |title=Grand Wailea delay proves barriers to enter Maui's hotel market |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/09/hawaii-news/grand-wailea-delay-proves-barriers-to-enter-mauis-hotel-market/ |access-date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Star Adviser |date=February 9, 2020}}

The resort has four restaurants, four bars, and Sunset Cabana dining as well as room service.

Restaurants

• Humuhumunukunukuapua'a{{cite web|title=Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Restaurant|url=http://www.yelp.com/biz/humuhumunukunukuapuaa-restaurant-wailea|publisher=Yelp|access-date=3 April 2014}}
• Bistro Molokini
• Grand Dining Room Maui
• Café Kula

Bars

• Bistro Bar
• Botero Bar
• Grotto Bar
• Volcano Bar

Many celebrities have been known to stay at the Hotel including Steve Carell,{{cite web|title=Steve Carell : Farniente à Hawaï avec sa femme Nancy et leurs deux enfants|url=http://www.purepeople.com/article/steve-carell-farniente-a-hawai-avec-sa-femme-nancy-et-leurs-deux-enfants_a139038/1|publisher=Pure People|access-date=3 April 2014}} Tiffany Haddish, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Bacon, Kenny Aronoff, Magic Johnson, Common, Redfoo, Jason Collins, Albert Brooks, Paris Hilton, Tony Kanal, Tulsi Gabbard, and Oprah Winfrey.{{cite web |last= |first= |title=5 Hottest Celebrity Destinations |url=http://www.allstays.com/Features/5-hot-celebrity-destinations/ |access-date=3 April 2014 |publisher=AllStays}}

Films

• Just Go With It (2011) was filmed at the hotel{{cite web|title=Just Go with It Hawaii Scenes Filmed mostly at Grand Wailea|url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29220-i86-k4246263-Just_Go_with_It_Hawaii_Scenes_Filmed_mostly_at_Grand_Wailea-Maui_Hawaii.html|publisher=Trip Advisor|access-date=3 April 2014}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.grandwailea.com/ Official Hilton Grand Wailea Resort website]

Category:Hotels in Hawaii

Category:Resorts in Hawaii

Category:Buildings and structures in Maui County, Hawaii

Category:Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

Category:Hotels established in 1991

Category:1991 establishments in Hawaii

Category:Hawaiian architecture