A Maui Icon Celebrates 45 Years
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa honors love for the land.
After the wildfires that blazed through Maui in August 2023 caused much damage to people and property, efforts are ongoing to get the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands rehabilitated and ready for tourism, which is its largest industry and economic driver by far. A year and a half later, there are many signs on the island of the devastation that occurred but also clear signs of locals and visitors helping to bring tourism back to the region.
While the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa was not severely affected by the fires, the hotel — one of the largest along Maui’s west coast and Hawaii’s first and only oceanfront spa — is pulling out all the stops in celebration of its 45th anniversary this year, rolling out the red carpet with irresistible offerings through the end of the year and enticing guests, new and old, to its 800+ room, 40-acre property right along the beach.
Not only does the open-air Atrium Lobby embrace guests with a warm and green welcome but this area also plays host to a weekly Friday market that features local artisans, crafters, and vendors showcasing expertly crafted handmade jewelry, stunning artwork, unique Hawaiian carvings, one-of-a-kind island-inspired gifts, and much more, bringing the opportunity to support small businesses that highlight Maui’s rich culture right to you.
A variety of on-site offerings, including tennis and pickleball, daily Hawaiian cultural activities, wildlife tours (comprises 17 different species of birds, including swans, and parrots) and penguin presentations, and live entertainment including the on-site Drums of the Pacific Luau are available. The resort’s Tour of the Stars rooftop astronomy program is led by an expert NASA solar system ambassador. Up to 80 out of 88 constellations can be viewed from Maui’s location in the Pacific. Located adjacent are two championship golf courses at Ka’anapali Golf Courses and guests can also enjoy the YO! Maui Golf Studio, a golf experience led by PGA Golf Professional Sutee Nitakorn, offering personalized lessons, PXG fittings, and customizable events for all skill levels.
In May, the resort hosted an expanded version of its annual Lei Day festivities in honor of the anniversary year. The weeklong festivities included live music and hula performances, sustainability-themed tours, Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and games including lei making, lauhala coconut weaving, ukulele classes, and more.
Among new and returning experiences available this year are a quarterly dining series celebrating Maui’s culinary artistry and locally crafted libations, a poke history and tasting class exploring the rich culinary traditions of the iconic Hawaiian dish, and a mixology experience where the resort’s expert mixologists lead guests in crafting the mai tai, one of Hawaii’s most celebrated cocktails.
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa takes sustainability efforts seriously and already has several initiatives in place. It was the first resort in the state of Hawaii to earn its LEEDEBOM certification at the GOLD level and when originally certified in 2014, it was one of only four resorts in the world with this distinction. In 2020, it earned the U.S. Green Building Council TRUE Waste Precertification and is the first resort in Hawaii and first large-scale beach resort in the world to achieve this distinction, acknowledging its goals in becoming a zero-waste facility.
Noticeable right away if you are visiting are water stations located at every floor and throughout the resort with reusable water bottles provided in each room, a three-bin waste system in all common areas, and compostable straws, to-go food containers, and utensils. But other efforts include a solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop, high-efficiency shower heads, use of municipally treated greywater and hand-watering for irrigation for landscaping, electric vehicle charging stations on-site, and food scraps composted or given to local farms for repurposed livestock feed.
Additionally, the property now offers a unique and ecofriendly experience complimentary for hotel guests and open for all ages: The Palace Genki Toss, a fun, hands-on sustainability activity for guests of all ages, led by the resort’s landscape manager. Learn about the positive environmental impact of genki balls (natural water-cleaning mud balls), see them in various stages of creation, and help toss them into the ocean to support the health of the local marine ecosystem. Hyatt Regency Maui has long been a leader in sustainable hospitality and is now entering a new era free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. This interactive event showcases just one of the many ways they care for the island and celebrate their commitment to protecting Maui’s sensitive environment — from land to sea — through mindful landscaping, ocean-friendly practices, and aloha.
Another activity led by the resort’s landscape manager that is also complimentary for hotel guests, is the Canoe Plants Walk and Talk Tour, discovering the stories behind Maui’s native and canoe plants on this complimentary guided walk through the resort’s landscape held weekly. Explore plants once carried across the ocean by Polynesian voyagers and learn how they continue to shape Hawaii’s culture and environment today. Take a walk through the resort’s chef’s garden featuring local and indigenous ingredients used on property.
A little inside intel: As part of the 45th anniversary offer, the property is offering several specials including credits for services such as family photography and discounts on cabana or daybed rentals as well as discounted adult admission tickets to its famed Drums of the Pacific Luau — the longest running show on the islands and a celebration of Polynesian culture. The dinner theater performance is a splash of both entertainment and education and worth the visit to this destination resort.
Perhaps stunning natural beauty and endless pristine landscapes experienced from the comfort of this Maui icon will have you falling in love with the land.
