Ville Magazine l Insider Access for City Lifestyle Jan/Feb 2016 / Premiere Issue | Page 48

Maui

WHERE I STAYED
The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas: Located on North Kā‘anapali Beach, the villas are a home
away from home and best for long-term stays. It is equipped with a full kitchen, a dining and living area,
a whirlpool tub, a washer and dryer and more. www.westinkaanapali.com
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa: The resort is very family friendly featuring five pools, two waterslides,
flamingos, swans, koi fish feeding, and birds, but there is an adult pool area to sip on cocktails and not
have to worry about getting splashed. photo credit: DonLand / www.westinmaui.com
WHERE I ATE
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa’ Black Rock Kitchen: Chef de Cuisine, Jeffrey Rayno released his new menu
and the Ahi Sashimi and the Stuffed Chicken Breast were my favorite. For you party-goers, Black Rock
also has a lounge with a DJ on the weekends and a great drink menu to enjoy. www.blackrockkitchen.com
Hank’s Haute Dogs offers a Seattle Dog, but the Lobster Dog is the one to order.
Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s Relish Burger Bistro may be similar to Seattle’s location, but Seattle doesn’t
offer the Spicy Ahi Poke Tostadas and they’re worth the trip. www.westinmaui.com/dining/relish
THINGS TO DO
Cliff Diving Ceremony: Every night at the Sheraton, they honor the iconic cliff diving where the last chief
of Maui, Kahekili (Thunderer), proved his spiritual strength by challenging other chiefs to dive from sacred
Pu’u Keka’a to the Pacific. It’s also a right of passage for boys to become men. Maui local and my lifelong
friend’s recommendations: Big Beach and Little (nude) Beach, that has a drum circle on Sundays and
check out Lao Valley, La Perouse, the Haleakala sunrise/sunset and the Olivine Pools.
TIME TO GO
Whale Season: One-third to half of the population of North Pacific Humpback Whales migrate from the
PNW to Maui every year where a majority have their calves. Baby whales... Adorable.
Maui has something for every type of traveler, which is probably why it’s so popular. It was a bit too
touristy for me, but I would still return. The Sheraton would be my chose of stay because they offer
the most things to do.

Oahu

WHERE I STAYED
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa: This Starwood property opened in 1901 on Waikiki Beach. It has
been restored to bring back its Victorian elegance and it is gorgeous, which is probably why the resort
hosts on average three weddings a day. In the pool area you will walk out to see it’s iconic banyan tree
that was transplanted from India. These trees’ roots grow up from the ground and can make one tree
can look like multiple ones. In the India there is even a forest that is made up of one tree only. www.
moana-surfrider.com
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Duke’s only steps from the ocea