TRAVEL

Wahine Wellness Sets the Tone

What do you get when you combine consistent sunshine, a 77 degree ocean, world-class dining, nightly live music and a dozen women in Waikiki? A really good time.

BY MIMI TOWLE

Last December we hosted our first company retreat at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, called Waves & Wellness. We had launched the Local Getaways website and quarterly print publications in 2021, a sister pub to Marin Magazine, and wanted to test out a product concept and coincidentally celebrate the Outrigger Reef’s property’s renovations. Simple concept, right? Pick a weekend, throw out an invite and herd cats. Nope. I realized I needed help, so I enlisted one of my besties, Kristen Addicks. Kristen leads yoga retreats around the planet, as in Mexico, Vietnam and the Galapagos, and as a former dancer and mindfulness coach, she teaches an amazing combination of flow yoga with some soulful doses of wisdom for the heart.

I’m not the easiest person to partner with because for the most part my ideas live in my head along with unfinished sentences and half-baked itineraries, so, I am grateful that Kristen’s professionalism rose above the fact that I ordered twice as much food for every meal that we needed, accidentally paid for everyone’s cocktails when we split the bill to avoid this exact expense and threw in last minute Yo-Yo Ma tickets at the Waikiki Shell (this was so worth it!). So the P&L was a lot more “L” than “P.” Also, the guest list ended up being friends of mine from college, who brought their adult daughters and a sprinkling of fun ladies from Marin, not

Kristen's usual client base. Despite the fact that this “first pancake” was nothing like the tightly run, health-focused, profitable retreats Kristen normally leads, she did like yogis do and flowed with the program. The retreat was a blast. Nothing is mandatory, so as a group leader, you can’t take it personally if people want to skip out on an activity. Once I accepted this, I realized everyone was happy being together, and if a few people choose to just sit around the pool and order cocktails instead of participating in a hike, or surf lessons, the goal of group happiness has been met.

Setting is key. Choosing an environment guests feel happy to be in is half the battle, and the new lobby of the Outrigger Reef is the epitome of a well-appointed vacation chill spot, whether you want to read a book, or wait up for the rest of your group to meet. The outdoor eatery, Kani Ka Pila Grille, serves tasty food and beverages all day (including poolside) and has live Hawaiian music every night. A few of us also made kukui nut leis at the new A‘o Cultural Center and listened to Auntie Luana Maitland "talk story" about how the resort is located adjacent to what is now called Grey’s Beach. This is the site of one of four healing springs, where the ali’i would practice a healing practice called Kawehewehe, a removal of ailments, relieving those of all physical, spiritual and emotional burdens. At the end of the weekend we created our own version of this ceremony.

The property provided rooms for daily yoga, and we utilized their shared spaces, to lounge, play games, read magazines and chill. The Voyager 47 Club Lounge was the perfect place to meet up for happy hour and share experiences and life philosophies, which is especially heartwarming with multiple generations. Waikiki is the ideal place to learn to surf or hone skills — definitely one of my highlights was watching moms and daughters cheer each other on as they caught knee-high waves.

We are not unique. The "girls getaways" concept has been gaining traction. In 2021, 75% of the travel booked by women on Airbnb was for women-only groups, the travel search engine Kayak reported a 123% increase in searches for girls getaways in 2021 compared to 2020 and the big daddy, Tripadvisor, reported that searches for "girls' weekend" and "girls' trip" increased by 75% in the first quarter of 2021.

If you are or want to be part of this trend, we’ve done the research on the best spots in Hawaii and California for any type of group getaway — girls, guys, families — everyone's invited. The following are just a few of our favorites. Go to localgetaways.com for our top picks in San Francisco, North Bay, South Bay, East Bay, Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Tahoe, Monterey Peninsula and many Southern California destinations and each Hawaiian Island. And if you are interested in our next one, let us know!

Hawaii

Ka

‘anapali Beach Hotel

One of the first properties built in this world-famous resort, staying at the Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel gives you easy access to Pu‘u Keka‘a (Black Rock), a world-class snorkeling destination, great on-site dining options and a short walk to the action at Whalers Village and other hotels. With a long-standing reputation as the state’s most Hawaiian hotel, the staff not only embraces the Hawaiian cultural value of hospitality, but is responsible for crafting many of the heirloom-quality artifacts in the hotel's public spaces and 432 guest rooms. Recent renovations include upgraded room decor, new native plant gardens, a beachfront restaurant and Hawaiian voyaging academy. kbhmaui.com

Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort

Are shopping, surfing, lounging and sipping cocktails on your list? The newly transformed Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort will not disappoint. Spring for the Voyager 47 Club, which includes a swanky oceanfront rooftop lounge, breakfast and happy hour treats. Located in the heart of Waikiki Beach, dining, dancing, live music, world-class shopping and even ukulele lessons are on-site and steps away. outrigger.com

Mauna Lani, Auberge

If you’re familiar with Hawaii Island’s Mauna Lani, the Auberge Resorts’ stunning transformation offers two beautiful new pools — one just for adults — next to a beach renowned for sea turtle sightings. Rooms have an understated but chic decor, while the soaring lobby spaces have become inviting, open-air living rooms infused with tropical greenery. There’s a spa and fitness room with first-rate equipment on-site, but guests also have access to the Mauna Lani’s stand-alone fitness center with a large lap pool and tennis courts a short drive away. From here you can tour the island, or simply sway in one of the many hammocks on property. aubergeresorts.com/maunalani

California

Fairmont

Let’s just say Fairmont (pick your property, Sonoma Mission Inn or the Claremont Resort and Spa) will not disappoint in the group getaways category. Both of these hotels are steeped in history (not your cookie cutter resort), are built to accommodate groups of any size and have award-winning spas with pools for lounging for the day, as well as fun restaurants and cocktail programs. If budget is an issue, check out midweek specials and promotions. These classic hotels have been creating the backdrop for happy memories for decades. fairmont.com

SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm

When SCP took over the existing Glendeven Inn (built in 1867) and Inn at the Cobbler's Walk, they brought their company’s mission of overall wellness to the already picturesque Northern California setting. In other words, you’re ahead of the game as soon as you click the “book” button. S = Soul, C = Caring, P = planet, so proceeds of your stay go towards adolescent mental health, caring for critically ill children and planting trees. A perfect mix of "away" and "connected," the 15-acre ocean-view farmstead and spa lodge is surrounded by Van Damme State Park and near the quaint restaurants and shops of Mendocino. s cphotel.com/mendocino

Carmel Valley Ranch

Want to try your hand at archery? Falconry? Beekeeping? Or maybe you just want to play a round of golf on a par-70 Pete Dye-designed course? Spread across 500 acres in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Carmel Valley Ranch has space for it all — including three different swimming pools. The almost overwhelming activity menu also might include cooking classes, foraging hikes, or yoga in a hilltop pavilion. The extensive fitness program includes barre, circuit training and water yoga while the menu at Spa Aiyana features 10 different types of massage. Among the resort’s 181 rooms are a variety of accommodation styles and levels, many featuring fireplaces, private decks or both for a true hideaway vibe. carmelvalleyranch.com