ASSOULINE Travel | Hotel Wailea

 Hotel Wailea defines the ultimate Hawaiian-island escape. Perched above the deep-blue water of the Pacific Ocean and tucked away in forest of lush palm and banana trees, Hotel Wailea is an ultra-private Maui boutique resort and Hawaii’s only Relais & Châteaux property. For those dreaming of adventure, romance and laid-back beach luxury, Hotel Wailea is waiting to wish you aloha.

Join acclaimed local journalist Malia Mattoch as she explores Hotel Wailea’s intriguing past and plunges into the present of this effortlessly glamorous escape. With page after page of original photography, this book captures the essence and style that make this hidden boutique hotel a home away from home for the in-crowd, celebrities and anyone else looking for a touch of Maui without the endless crowds.

Hotel Wailea began as a mysterious property with a mischievous past. Originally constructed in the 1980s as a member club called the Diamond, it had the ocean at its feet, Maui’s dormant Haleakalā volcano at its back and intrigue at its core. McManus saw the possibility of creating something new: a tropical luxury village rather than a single high-rise building typical of neighboring properties. “The prevailing thought process coming off a plane to do a hotel in Hawaii is that everything has to be centered on the beach,” says McManus. “Typically, locals in Hawaii know that living on the beach is a less than private experience, especially when you compare it to seaside locations in Europe, where it’s about the ocean views, a sense of privacy and service.”

Hotel Wailea was recognized as the No. 1 Hawaii resort in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards, the first property ever to win No. 1 Hawaii two years in a row. Hotel Wailea has also been recognized on the prestigious Travel + Leisure Top 500 World’s Best List for multiple years, including in 2023.