Sunday, October 9, 2016
Aulani's Lanawai Spa
*If you’re not at all interested in the spa (but please, you really should be!) you might want to skip this update cause I’ve dedicated this entire post to the spa alone.*
Once we got back to our room, it was time for DH’s surprise! He had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. He guessed surf lessons, visiting North Shore. He still didn’t even know once we passed the sign outside the building to it! But once we got to our location, he was shocked and excited! I told him we were getting a couples massage and that we’d be able to use the spa amenities before and after our treatment. He had no idea what that meant but he was excited about his massage!
I checked us in and we were told to sit in the waiting area for us to be called back
Note: They recommend you checking in an hour before your service so that you can make use of the sauna, showers, and hot tubs and be fully in that relaxation state of mind. And just something I thought I’d share – I booked this on our second day because I’m the kind of person that sometimes tans and/or burns in the sun and I did NOT want a massage if I had a sunburn. That sounds awful to be rubbed with a burn! So perhaps reserve your treatment at the very beginning of your trip.
We were then called back and given an introduction of the spa
Very cool waterfall wall
They have you pick a stone at random (I ended up with ‘Strength’ and Dan got ‘Balance’). With that stone, you’re supposed to focus on that word throughout your day at the spa. You then gently toss it into this pool – that is essentially the hub for the spa so you don’t get lost. Which at one point I came out of a room and did this
Dan asked if anyone had thrown their rock and hit the teardrop diamond and she said they did have to replace it once, so try not to hit it
We were then split up at this point – a guy showing DH the men’s changing room and our guide showing me the ladies room. She pointed out the showers, the bathrooms and the locker room to put your things in. She then took me outside to show me the scrub station, where she made me a body scrub to either use in the showers there, or to take home
At that time, DH and his guide had met us outside also and they showed us the two soaking pools, both kept at different temperatures. They showed us the 6 rain showers, each with their own unique pressures, the large Jacuzzi tub and the Cold Water plunging pool, where they recommended we plunge into the cold (I mean disgustingly COLD!) pool then jump right into the spa. I guess the contrast in hot and cold helps promote your circulatory system, or something? I don’t know, but I stood at the ledge of the plunging pool and it was a quick nope from me! They also showed us the reflexology path which was rather nice. After our tour around the garden we were led back into our respective changing rooms (where Dan told me he’d see me in 30 minutes, he was going to do the saunas ) He made himself right at home in front of our guides! I should also mention, they asked if we would like to order cocktails, wine, beer, or food to be delivered to us and we definitely wanted some wine so we placed our order with them and they said they would come and find us and not worry about us trying to locate them. What service!
They give you a very plush robe and extremely comfortable slipper sandals to wear around the spa and outside in their Hydrotherapy Garden. I did get a few shots making sure I was alone so no one thought I was a perv
Locker Room
Vanity Counter where they had everything you could think of on the counters that were free to use as you please including, Make up remover, Facial Sunscreen, Facial moisturizer, cotton pads, and hair dryers.
There was one song I kept hearing every time I was in the bathrooms/changing rooms and it was positively relaxing so I shazam’ed it really quick on my phone to purchase it and in case you want to hear what the spa sounded like it was called, “The Wind Beckons” by Kavin Hoo. Youtube it now! I dare you not to be relaxed.
The Showers
During your ‘stay’, they offer small nibbles and refreshing waters
I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious the Wai Ono was (the peachy color on the right) I asked about how they made it and I guess it was a mix that they made?
I decided to look for a recipe online when I got home and these products popped up, so I can’t help but wonder if they mixed the Peach Green Tea extract with the Pomegranate & Acai Berry extract together. I don’t know if I want to spend $60 on water for myself As tasty as it was though, I might one day. Or I could just save that $60 towards my next Aulani Spa visit I Guess I researched while I was still at Aulani cause this was on my phone
Pineapple Water, Mini Zucchini-Carrot cupcakes and jelly beans
After I changed out of my clothes and into my swimsuit (and since Dan had already made his plans haha!) I decided to check out the Saunas myself – they had a dry one and wet one? Or is it called a steam room? I liked the dry sauna but my favorite was the steam room! Oh my gosh, they infused some Eucalyptus into the steam and it was invigorating and it made my insides feel good I stayed in for about 15 minutes and decided to head out to the gardens. I tried both pools and one was slightly warmer than the other by not much, it felt like. At least to me. So I posted up in the one that was slightly warmer (the one closest to us in the pic)
When lo and behold, our wine showed up
Dan was still inside and didn’t show up for another 10 minutes but when he did show up he said he LOVED the steam room. His body is always sore and he felt like it helped loosen him up for his massage. We sat in the soaking pool for a few more minutes and he wanted to go explore the gardens but while we were in the pool a
CM came up to us and asked us if we would like a freshly chocolate covered pineapple. Uh, yes please!
You guys. This was heaven on earth. Just everything put together. The wine, the sounds, the delicacy, the warm relaxing water.
This was the view looking towards the co-ed relaxation room where they have the refreshments along with plenty of loungers
I had to force myself out at one point to take a look around the rest of the garden but we found the cold water plunging pool
and we definitely found the Jacuzzi tub! (Video to follow) We didn’t stay in but 5 minutes until a CM came looking for us and told us we had about 10 minutes until our treatment to get ready.
There is a ‘waiting’ room just outside of each locker room and that is where you sit/lay and wait for your massage therapist to come and get you. Mine came within minutes and we met up with Dan just outside in the main hallway, where we were both walked to a separate hallway just off the main hallway to our room.
I didn’t take pictures of the room itself, but it was nice and dark and they had us each choose a scent to use for our treatment. I loved my scent so much that I bought a small bottle there and have continued purchasing them from Amazon ever since! I use it on my hands every night and it instantly takes me back to Aulani!
The massage? The best we’ve EVER had. Ever. EVER! And we both agreed afterwards, that both our techs used techniques we’ve never had before! It was beyond phenomenal and worth every single penny that we paid. Even if the other amenities weren’t included, this still would have been worth the price to us. And speaking of price, the prices are a bit steep. $320 for couples massage (not including tip but we were able to use our DVC discount towards this, so it ended up being less than that.
But guess what? After our massages, we could stay as LONG AS WE WANTED IN THE HYDROTHERAPY GARDENS!
Don’t tell us twice!