Elite Traveler Summer 2020

elite traveler SUMMER 2020 111

Clockwise from left Spa hale surrounded by verdant trees; the zen-style spa; the resort features nature at every turn

SPA By far Koele’s pièce de résistance, its 10 stand-alone spa hales line the edge of the verdant grounds in the shadow of the adjacent mountain. Possibly among the finest enclosures ever built for spa treatments, each of these restorative, Japanese-Hawaiian cottages holds a commodious great room complete with two massage tables, an ofuro (deep, wooden soaking tub), a table and chair set, plus an infrared sauna and steam shower. Through a sliding door, a private garden with onsen pools and an outdoor shower awaits. Enjoy unlimited spa treatments during your stay, including some that use the resort’s own oil blends. EXPLORE Quiet, sparsely populated Lanai has the vibe of a bygone Hawaii. It has no traffic, stoplights, chain stores or malls — just a tiny, nostalgic village. Most visitors choose Lanai for its slower pace, and they are charmed by the quietude. Koele requires a minimum stay of three days, which isn’t quite enough to do everything; guests leave wishing they had stayed longer. Activities, on property and off, include a variety of fitness, yoga and meditation classes, personal training, sunrise hikes, snorkeling and diving expeditions, educational seminars, horseback riding, ATV adventures, art classes and a sunset cruise to Sweetheart Rock. Next door, a zip-line facility and adventure park built to disappear into the terrain invites adventurous play. By Becca Hensley From $4,500 per night. Contact David Emig, hotel

manager, david.emig@fourseasons.com, +1 808 565 3132, fourseasons.com/koele

Photos Robb Aaron Gordon