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Beyond the Border: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

By Morgan Halaska

Sitting on 40 acres of oceanfront on Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa boasts juxtaposing views of land and water, with both the island of Lanai and the lush hills of Upcountry in sight. A stroll through the Oriental Gardens acquaint guests with its resident wildlife. Staff picks coconuts from trees and pineapples from plants, and Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice serves its famous frozen treats made with specialty pure sugar cane syrups.

There’s no mistake you’re in Maui here.

The 806-room resort, which opened in April 1980, completed a multimillion renovation in November 2016 to its meeting/event space and Regency Club. The resort continues to strive for sustainability through its renovations, having earned the LEED-EBOM Silver level certification in 2014—making it the first resort in Hawai’i to do so. With the modernization of the resort is a palpable sense of the island spirit in its aesthetic and atmosphere.

EVENT SPACE

Among the 100,000-plus square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space is the new Halona Kai Event Lawn. Translated as “lookout to the ocean” in Hawai’ian, the 9,500-square-foot outdoor space overlooks the palm tree-studded Ka’anapali Beach coastline to the Pacific Ocean, wowing up to 500 guests seated or standing, especially if events take place during a Maui sunset. The completely level turf also features a 650-square-foot stage, complete with a stateof-the-art acoustic and audio-visual system from PSAV Audio Visuals. 

The existing Monarchy Ballroom received a new look as part of the renovation, modernizing the 18,000 square feet of space (which can be divided into seven smaller spaces) that echoes the natural beauty of Maui. The grand reopening of the space used the entire ballroom, seating its 60 guests at two long tables under canopies, reimagining the ballroom as an intimate dinner gathering. Guests mingled in the Grand Promenade before sitting down to a five-course meal crafted by Executive Chef Greg Grohowski with wine pairings from Stags’ Leap Winery out of Napa, California.

RESTAURANTS & CATERING

Island life comes with many perks, and the availability of fresh seafood is certainly one; ahi tuna is ubiquitous as it is delectable. The Hyatt Regency Maui’s on-site restaurants Japengo and Son’z Steakhouse make use of its land and water surroundings, specializing in seafood and steak. Japengo is known by locals and visitors for its award-winning sushi, and Son’z prides itself on its steaks and vast wine selection. No matter the entrée, locally sourced ingredients are at the core of all the dishes. For private events, Japengo can accommodate 190 banquet-style and 250 reception-style, and Son’z 190 banquet-style. 

Meeting and event catering is equally fresh and local. Chefs source ingredients from their on-site garden as well as from local farmers, fisherman and ranchers. Chef Greg partners with Simpli-Fresh Farm for seasonal harvest, like taro leaf, taro root, strawberry papaya, bread fruit, kabocha pumpkin, Tahitian limes, heirloom toy box tomatoes and sweet Maui onions. Chef and farmer James Simpliciano’s “farm to table to farm” practice makes use of food waste that would otherwise end up in the landfill as a soil medium compost. Simpliciano, for example, uses coffee bean shells from local coffee companies as “coffee parchment” to help regenerate Maui’s soil with its added nutrients.

ACTIVITIES

There’s no shortage of things to do at the Hyatt Regency Maui, with a championship golf course, tennis courts and morning yoga in nearby in Ka’anapali Beach. (Not doing anything is also an option with a private oceanfront cabana.) The Beach Activity Center rents out equipment for snorkeling, stand up paddling, kayaking and boogie boarding in the ocean, and the 15,000-square-foot Marilyn Monroe Spa—Maui’s only oceanfront spa and fitness center—boasts 15 private treatment rooms for a different way to let go. 

When the stars emerge, Director of Astronomy Eddie Mahoney guides a nightly Tour of the Stars on the resort’s rooftop observatory. Mahoney’s wealth of knowledge and high-tech equipment is a unique way to enjoy Maui’s beauty. The Drums of the Pacific Luau is arguably the most Hawai’ian thing to do at the Hyatt Regency Maui. There’s no better—or delicious—way to appreciate Hawai’ian and Polynesian food, dance, music and legend in one evening of entertainment.

But whatever you do, remember to pay the lobby-dwelling penguins a visit. 

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