 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|
J
W
Marriott
Ihilani Resort & Spa
at Ko Olina
“Ihilani”
is the Hawaiian word for “heavenly splendor” and
I can’t imagine a better description for the
Ihilani Resort.
Situated on a beautiful blue lagoon,
there is no more picturesque hotel in
Hawaii. The
hotel is away from the traffic and crowds of
Waikiki
with breathtaking views in almost every
direction.
Yet it’s still easily accessible to the
best of Oahu
restaurants and shops.
The
resort sits right on the water, and the
immaculate white sand beaches are definitely
heavenly.
Salt water lagoons are built right around
and through the hotel, filled with tropical
fish, stingrays and even sharks! In fact it’s so
close that you can see them swim right up to you
while sitting at the Naupaka Terrace restaurant
or the poolside grill. You can
almost reach right out and touch a stingray
during lunch!
Also
overlooking the lagoon and gardens is the fine
dining restaurant, Azul, which boasts one of the
most robust wine lists in
Hawaii. Ushio
Tei is a traditional Japanese restaurant with an
all-you-can-eat buffet twice a week. They have
some of the best sushi and sashimi I’ve ever
tasted!
Of
course there’s also fantastic room service, and
with these oversized beautiful guestrooms you
may never want to leave! They
each have their own lanai (private patio) where
you can relax and watch the sunset from a
comfortable lounge chair. Or
indulge in one of their luxurious suites, some
of which have private whirlpool
spas.
|
|
|
|
Despite
the well-appointed rooms you’ll want to sample
the amenities throughout the resort. One of
their most inviting features is the amazing spa,
which offers every therapeutic service your body
The spa
treatments refresh both body and spirit and the
half or full day programs can include
aromatherapy, body wraps, facials, body scrubs
and many different types of massage.
And
if you want to work out your body yourself
instead of letting someone else do it, there is
a full weight/cardiovascular workout room as
well as a lap pool. Or try
the “Hip On Hula” exercise class to work on the
hips while learning the Hawaiian native dance –
Hula!
If
tennis is your thing, there are both grass and
hard courts. Prefer
golf?
A world class golf course is right on the
resort grounds. Even if
you’re a beginning golfer the Ko Olina Golf
Academy provides a wide variety of school
offerings including clinics and private lessons.
Facilities include a grass driving range, a
practice putting green and the finest short game
practice area on the
island.
And
you can’t visit
Hawaii
without participating in ocean activities. The
nearby Ko Olina Marina offers all manner of
water sports and sightseeing tours. You can
go snorkeling, catamaran sailing or take a
romantic sunset cruise. This
state-of-the-art marina is the first built in
Hawaii
in 30 years and has become a great success, with
slips for yachts as well as a burgeoning
commercial trade.
With
“heavenly splendor” as their motto, there is
much to live up to – but the Ihilani
accomplishes it easily. It is a
perfect slice of paradise, and whenever in
Oahu
there can be no finer
destination. | | |
 | |
|
 |
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| | |
