When you visit Hawaii, you’re bound to meet people living there who grew up on the mainland. And many of them will tell you the same story: They simply came five, ten, 25 years ago — and never left.
It’s not hard to understand why, even as Hawaii consistently ranks among the most expensive US states to live in. It’s not just because of the gorgeous weather or the beautiful beaches; there’s just something different about the energy. It feels calmer, happier — healthier.
Thinking about your own escape to paradise for some healthy R&R? Here’s a great place to start.
Where to stay
Of Hawaii’s 137 islands, the Big Island, Maui and Oahu are among the most popular for visitors.
Maui has lots of great hotels, including the Wailea Beach Resort — which sits right on the water and is super luxe without being pretentious, something we discovered on a recent visit.
If you’re seeking all things wellness, their new adults-only Olakino wellness pool is something special. “Olakino” means “for the health and vitality of the body,” and they take that seriously.
You’re really pampered by staff, who stop by with cool towels and tasty treats as you sit in your chair, cabana or in-pool lounger overlooking the infinity edge. They even set you up with a wellness goody bag stocked with things like Evian facial mist.
The pool also has daily wellness “themes” with extra amenities: La’i, which translates to tranquility or harmony, includes poolside spa offerings like sound baths and mini massages; Ala, which means awaken, has guided workouts; Konea, meaning restored, offers up movement workshops like “floating yoga”; and A’o, the word for acquiring knowledge, features traditional tea ceremonies.
Of course, all the pools have ocean-safe sunscreen and after-sun lotion, plus healthy food and drinks like POG juice — a yummy blend of passion, orange and guava juices that’s rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
(But no worries, you don’t have to be healthy — there’s also a killer pulled pork sandwich and banana bread you’ll dream about weeks later.)
What to eat
About that food: There are a bunch of Hawaiian dishes to help you meet your health goals while delighting your tastebuds.
Perhaps the most popular outside the fiftieth state is the acai bowl. Acai — which is frozen and pureed to make up the base — is full of antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, heart disease and other issues. Other research shows they can help regulated blood sugar and cholesterol, too.
Those are customizable, so you also get benefits from whatever you put on top — and there’s tons of fresh fruit in Hawaii, including pineapples, papaya, melons and bananas.
Ube, a purple yam, is also popular. Though they’re super sweet, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating them: They’ve got antioxidants (including vitamin C), flavonoids (which help regulate blood sugar) and resistant starch (a prebiotic fiber that promotes gut health).
Poi — also purple — comes from taro. It has a sort of gloopy, porridgey texture and plenty of vitamins, minerals and good, gut-healthy probiotics.
Finally, poke has become crazy trendy in the past decade for a reason: Diced raw fish — the star of the show — delivers a heap of omega-3 fatty acids, plus vegetables like onions, greens, edamame and cucumber are great for you too.
And Spam? Maybe not so healthy, per se, and definitely packed with sodium — but in moderation, the surprisingly tasty canned meat (and staple of modern Hawaiian cuisine) can definitely boost mental well-being.
How to chill
Lomi lomi means “massage” in Hawaiian, so calling the beloved local spa treatment a “lomi lomi massage” is a bit redundant — but then again, once you’ve had one, you’ll definitely want another.
An ancient practice brought to Hawaii by Polynesians, it’s part therapy for your body and part spiritual ritual — and can include singing, deep breathing and sound bowls.
The massage is made up of rhythmic strokes often compared to ocean waves, with the experience meant to promote relaxation, circulation and lymphatic drainage.
If you’re staying at the Wailea Beach Hotel, you can upgrade to their Awaken in Wailea experience, an hour-long sunrise massage with Tibetan singing bowls, overlooking the water in your own private cabana.
And when you’re done and have worked up an appetite, you’re treated to a private — and decadent — breakfast including an acai bowl, eggs, pancakes with ube syrup, avocado toast, fresh fruit and more.
Ways to stay active
If you’re staying in Maui, the big-ticket activity is sunrise at Haleakalā National Park. You can drive to the summit, but there are over 30 miles of hiking trails for different skill levels.
Snorkeling will give you a bit of cardio, which is great for heart health, lung capacity and calorie burning.
Want to stay mostly dry? Outrigger canoe tours (which can be booked at hotels like Wailea Beach Resort) will give you a taste of the island — including any turtles swimming nearby — while giving your arm muscles a bit of workout.
Finally, while you’ll no doubt attend a luau while you’re there, you can also take a hula class. Hula’s great for engaging your core muscles, but it works your hips, legs arms too.
In fact, the Fitia app estimates you could burn about 150 calories dancing for a half hour.
Local secrets to try
According to “Island Wisdom” by Kainoa Daines and Annie Daly, there are a few plants that Hawaiians often use for healing purposes. You can try them out while you’re there — but they’re available around the country if you want to inject some Hawaiian healing into your routine at home.
- ʻŌlena: Known as turmeric on the mainland, Hawaiians use this in face masks or drinks, blended with water. It’ can reduce inflammation and has antiseptic benefits.
- Niu: The Hawaiian word for coconut. Niu is super hydrating — great if you’re out in the sun — and the oil can be used on your skin and hair.
- Aloe: Necessary for sunburn, it can also help with any skin inflammation. You can buy the gel in a bottle, but fresh aloe — like the plant — is great too.
What to take home with you
Pono, write Daines and Daly, is “about living a life of balance.”
As Hawaiian cultural advisor Clifford Nae’ole explained, “The object of the Hawaiian person is to find your perfect balance, and pono is ultimately about trying your best to achieve that balance within yourself — especially when you know things are out of line.”
If you’re without pono, he said, things go awry — “internally, physically, and mentally.”
So how do you do that? Nae’ole says to be observant, communicate your feelings, know when to smile and allow yourself to cry, and “provide advice when asked, or when warranted.”
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