Rock On
THE TREATMENT: Lomi ‘Ili‘ili Massage
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua
RitzCarlton.com/en/hotels/kapalua-maui/spa
WHAT IT INCLUDES: ‘Ili‘ili is a Hawaiian word for the small stones dancers use like castanets in hula. But here, the massage therapist heats the round, smooth stones to a comfortable temperature, and slides them across your skin in fluid strokes, choreographing a state of relaxation as the penetrating warmth reaches deep into your joints and muscles.
A FIX FOR: Anyone who yearns for total relaxation
THE PERKS: The spa experience begins as soon as you arrive: A host greets you, gives you a tour of the facilities, and makes sure you’re comfortable before your treatment. Afterward, stick around and cool down in a bamboo rain shower or indulge in one of the spa’s heated whirlpools, the eucalyptus-infused steam room or dry cedar sauna. There’s also an open-air relaxation lounge, saline lap pool and whirlpool in a taro garden.
WHY WE LOVE IT: What’s not to love? When Trish, my massage therapist, gently placed the warm stones along my spine and in the palms of my hands, every last ounce of tension melted away and I felt a pervading calm. She also gave my lower back — sore from too many hours sitting in front of the computer — some extra TLC.
THE COST: $195 for 50 minutes — Sarah Ruppenthal
*Please verify current pricing on spa websites.
