When you visit Hawaii, you\u2019re bound to meet people living there who grew up on the mainland. And many of them will tell you the same story: They simply came five, ten, 25 years ago \u2014 and never left.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not hard to understand why, even as Hawaii consistently ranks among the most expensive US states to live in. It\u2019s not just because of the gorgeous weather or the beautiful beaches; there\u2019s just something different about the energy. It feels calmer, happier \u2014 healthier.<\/p>\n
Thinking about your own escape to paradise for some healthy R&R? Here\u2019s a great place to start.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not hard to understand why so many people visit Hawaii and decide to never leave. Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n
The Wailea Beach Resort in Maui caters to a wellness-inclined traveler. Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n
Where to stay<\/p>\n
Of Hawaii\u2019s 137 islands, the Big Island, Maui and Oahu are among the most popular for visitors.<\/p>\n
Maui has lots of great hotels, including the Wailea Beach Resort<\/a> \u2014 which sits right on the water and is super luxe without being pretentious, something we discovered on a recent visit.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re seeking all things wellness, their new adults-only Olakino wellness pool is something special. \u201cOlakino\u201d means \u201cfor the health and vitality of the body,\u201d and they take that seriously.<\/p>\n You\u2019re really pampered by staff, who stop by with cool towels and tasty treats as you sit in your chair, cabana or in-pool lounger overlooking the infinity edge. They even set you up with a wellness goody bag stocked with things like Evian facial mist.<\/p>\n The pool also has daily wellness \u201cthemes\u201d with extra amenities: La\u2019i, which translates to tranquility or harmony, includes poolside spa offerings like sound baths and mini massages; Ala, which means awaken, has guided workouts; Konea, meaning restored, offers up movement workshops like \u201cfloating yoga\u201d; and A\u2019o, the word for acquiring knowledge, features traditional tea ceremonies.<\/p>\n The adults-only Olakino wellness pool, meaning \u201cfor the health and vitality of the body,\u201d has daily wellness themes and perks like mini massages and yoga. Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n Of course, all the pools have ocean-safe sunscreen and after-sun lotion, plus healthy food and drinks like POG juice \u2014 a yummy blend of passion, orange and guava juices that\u2019s rich in vitamins and antioxidants.<\/p>\n (But no worries, you don\u2019t have to be healthy \u2014 there\u2019s also a killer pulled pork sandwich and banana bread you\u2019ll dream about weeks later.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of health fresh fruit \u2014 and yummy fresh fruit juices, including the orange POG juice. Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n What to eat<\/p>\n About that food: There are a bunch of Hawaiian dishes to help you meet your health goals while delighting your tastebuds.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most popular outside the fiftieth state is the acai bowl. Acai \u2014 which is frozen and pureed to make up the base \u2014 is full of antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, heart disease and other issues. Other research shows they can help regulated blood sugar and cholesterol, too.<\/p>\n Those are customizable, so you also get benefits from whatever you put on top \u2014 and there\u2019s tons of fresh fruit in Hawaii, including pineapples, papaya, melons and bananas.<\/p>\n Acai \u2014 which is frozen and pureed tin an acai bowl \u2014 is full of antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, heart disease and other issues. NY Post<\/p>\n Ube, a purple yam, also has antioxidants, as well as flavonoids and prebiotic fiber. NY Post<\/p>\n Ube, a purple yam, is also popular. Though they\u2019re super sweet, you don\u2019t have to feel guilty about eating them: They\u2019ve got antioxidants (including vitamin C), flavonoids (which help regulate blood sugar) and resistant starch (a prebiotic fiber that promotes gut health).<\/p>\n Poi \u2014 also purple \u2014 comes from taro. It has a sort of gloopy, porridgey texture and plenty of vitamins, minerals and good, gut-healthy probiotics.<\/p>\n Finally, poke has become crazy trendy in the past decade for a reason: Diced raw fish \u2014 the star of the show \u2014 delivers a heap of omega-3 fatty acids<\/a>, plus vegetables like onions, greens, edamame and cucumber are great for you too.<\/p>\n And Spam? Maybe not so healthy, per se, and definitely packed with sodium \u2014 but in moderation, the surprisingly tasty canned meat (and staple of modern Hawaiian cuisine) can definitely boost mental well-being.<\/p>\n Diced raw fish \u2014 the star of a poke dish, like this one from KAPA Bar & Grill \u2014 deliver a heap of omega-3 fatty acids. Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n How to chill<\/p>\n Lomi lomi means \u201cmassage\u201d in Hawaiian, so calling the beloved local spa treatment a \u201clomi lomi massage\u201d is a bit redundant \u2014 but then again, once you\u2019ve had one, you\u2019ll definitely want another.<\/p>\n An ancient practice brought to Hawaii by Polynesians, it\u2019s part therapy for your body and part spiritual ritual \u2014 and can include singing, deep breathing and sound bowls.<\/p>\n The massage is made up of rhythmic strokes often compared to ocean waves, with the experience meant to promote relaxation, circulation and lymphatic drainage.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re staying at the Wailea Beach Hotel, you can upgrade to their Awaken in Wailea<\/a> experience, an hour-long sunrise massage with Tibetan singing bowls, overlooking the water in your own private cabana. <\/p>\n And when you\u2019re done and have worked up an appetite, you\u2019re treated to a private \u2014 and decadent \u2014 breakfast including an acai bowl, eggs, pancakes with ube syrup, avocado toast, fresh fruit and more.<\/p>\n Lomi lomi massage is part therapy for your body and part spiritual ritual. The Awaken in Wailea experience overlooks the ocean at sunrise. Laurence Balter\/Wailea Beach Resort<\/p>\n Ways to stay active<\/p>\n If you\u2019re staying in Maui, the big-ticket activity is sunrise at Haleakal\u0101 National Park. You can drive to the summit, but there are over 30 miles of hiking trails for different skill levels.<\/p>\n Snorkeling will give you a bit of cardio, which is great for heart health, lung capacity and calorie burning.<\/p>\n Looking to stay active? Try a hike, snorkeling, canoeing or even a hula dancing class \u2014 even if your hip wiggles wouldn\u2019t get you hired for a luau. Iris and Light<\/p>\n Want to stay mostly dry? Outrigger canoe tours (which can be booked at hotels like Wailea Beach Resort) will give you a taste of the island \u2014 including any turtles swimming nearby \u2014 while giving your arm muscles a bit of workout.<\/p>\n Finally, while you\u2019ll no doubt attend a luau while you\u2019re there, you can also take a hula class. Hula\u2019s great for engaging your core muscles, but it works your hips, legs arms too.<\/p>\n