The year 2020 was a challenging one for the hospitality industry. The pandemic forced many resorts to temporarily close for an unspecified amount of time as travelers stayed home and luggage sat empty. However, the Four Seasons Resort Maui turned hardship into opportunity. The resort invited HBO to film its hit satirical comedy “The White Lotus” during its several-month closure in 2020. It was a creative and lucrative way to ride out the storm. And although “The White Lotus” satirizes the excesses of vacationers at a luxury Hawaiian hotel, no one at the Four Seasons Resort Maui seems to mind. In fact, the 31-year-old resort is so magnificent and alluring, that satire seems to be the last thing on anyone’s mind.
The location of the Four Seasons Resort Maui is precisely why it is so captivating. The 383-room resort sits on the long public beach of Wailea Coast, arguably the most beautiful stretch of sand along the west-facing shore. Most of the rooms, restaurants, and pools face the ocean, including more than 100 cabanas that are scattered throughout the resort. While roughly 80 cabanas are available to guests at no extra charge, two Missoni-designed cabanas can be reserved and enjoyed beachfront with a dedicated adults-only infinity pool surrounded by towering palm trees. Closer to the beach, Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante is the place to be for dinner and sunset views, especially the ricotta cavatelli with braised Chianti short ribs.
If the Four Seasons Resort Maui’s location isn’t mesmerizing enough, the artwork certainly will be. The resort houses more than 2,000 original pieces by Hawaiian-influenced artists, including Jun Kaneko’s soothing giant ceramic heads that “guard” the resort’s entrance and Robert Kushner’s stunning Night Blooming Cereus series. It’s worth spending an afternoon strolling around the resort to admire its distinctive collection, overseen by the resort’s Art Director, Rosina Potter. An added bonus for art lovers: the resort’s two presidential suites, the Maile Three-Bedroom Presidential Suite (4,000 square feet) and the Lokelani Three-Bedroom Presidential Suite (7,200 square feet), are veritable galleries with works by Ron Kent, Pete Cabrinna, Carol Bennett, and Mary Mitsuda.
Beyond the art and superb location, the Four Seasons Resort Maui has another asset that most other 5-star resorts lack: a long-tenured staff that provides a deep sense of welcoming. Nearly a quarter, representing 227 employees, have worked at the hotel for at least 10 years. “Aunty Wendy” is one such employee. As the hotel’s Hawaiian Cultural Ambassador, Wendy is in charge of the resort’s cultural celebrations and classes. Another Four Seasons Resort Maui gem is Kevin Gavagan, the Hawaiian storyteller and cultural garden tour guide. Kevin has an encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture and has conducted garden tours throughout the resort’s 15 acres since 2001.
Kevin’s garden tour is not on TripAdvisor or other travel websites; his gifts, like many of the staff at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, are reserved for those fortunate enough to make it to this special corner on Wailea Coast. One final note: For those seeking a holiday getaway, the Four Seasons Resort Maui has designed a Thanksgiving weekend “pop-up” restaurant in conjunction with Wally’s Wine & Spirits. Now, with COVID-19 restrictions lifted, it’s a great time to be in Maui again, especially at the Four Seasons Resort Maui.
