Timeless, Traditional Island Massage Therapies
Blend With Beauty And Contemporary Comforts
At The Four Seasons Resort Maui At Wailea

In a place where even the most relaxing hotels can seem stressed over efforts to modernize with WIFI, hi-speed, iPod docks and flat screen TVs, it’s refreshing to see one resort indulge in the simpler side of guest amenities. That’s exactly what the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea did recently, just months after its own major makeover when they quietly rolled out a trio of hand-made, open-air, thatched-roof massage huts known locally as “Hale Hau.” In the process they’ve shown how to balance high-tech upgrades with low-tech authenticity, all while breathing new life into ancient Hawaiian practices.

Anyone walking along nearby Wailea beach (amid all those sun-tanning tourists) would be hard-pressed to spot the hales through the naupaka hedges. But just on the other side of that verdant border is a cozy, rustic retreat where massage connoisseurs enjoy the wind-swept sights and scents of the sea -- and the trained touch of massage professionals, just as they might have hundreds of years ago.  Perhaps best of all, this primal indulgence is mere footsteps from state-of-the-art Four Seasons luxury.

To ensure authenticity the Resort hired Francis Sinenci, one of the few genuine master hale architects and builders in the world. A former Air Force mechanic of Hawaiian and Philippine ancestry, Sinenci returned to Maui and his hometown of Hana to retire and build hales (pronounced HAH-lays). Despite the challenges his dedication is motivated by respect for an ancient tradition, “We are reviving a dying art. Building a hale is an intricate, time-consuming project, but the end result is always worth it.”

Hale building is an arduous task, requiring as long as six months to finish a project. Sinenci must first find trees suitable for the support pillars and crossbeams. In ancient times the wooden posts and thatch came from hau wood, but today the structure is put together with ohi’a wood, found mostly in Big Island forests.

The logs are stripped of bark and dried in the sun, then soaked in seawater for weeks as a natural treatment against termites and other insects. Then the wood is dried again before the vertical pieces are driven into the ground. Next, the beams and purlins (the narrow strips that hold the roofing material together) are lashed -- usually with nylon cord, although earlier generations used sennit grass or rope made from coconut fiber.

Pili grass was used to roof traditional hales, but scarcity of that ingredient today has led to the use of loulu palm trees. With leaves that can grow several feet wide, the palm branches are lashed to the roof beams in layers, resulting in a roof that is so thick it resists rain and handily weathers strong winds. Remarkably, construction materials do not include any screws or nails (except for the addition of ceiling fans and electrical boxes).

With their foundations rooted firmly in authenticity, the hales serve as an excellent platform for equally bona fide Hawaiian massages. The Four Seasons’ award winning Spa includes an expansive menu of hale services, with many based on Hawaiian legends and traditions. 

For example, Hawaiian Ceremonial Lomi Lomi is a contemporary, multi-sensory experience born from traditional Hawaiian ceremony, weaving the healing touch of Lomi Lomi with meditative dance movement, music, and conscious breathing(?). Its goal is to facilitate a profound transformation and deeper connection to the self. Two or more therapists work in unison and in harmony with nature to perform this extraordinary outdoor session.

Then there is Lomi Pohaku or Stone Massage, a therapeutic massage combining healing stones and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi movements. Stones are heated to a comfortably warm temperature and placed on the body, allowing the heat to penetrate, loosen, and lengthen sore and tight muscles. Guests experience a penetrating deep tissue massage, drawing on the pohuku’s spiritual significance.  The combination of the stone’s heat, energy, and force allows the therapist to massage deeper than would otherwise be possible.

Ancient Hawaiian legend holds that in order to nurture the body, relax the mind, and rejuvenate the spirit, one must go to the water and that’s exactly what happens at these handcrafted huts. The hale symbolizes peacefulness and the true spirit of Hawaii and is said to be a haven for healing. Sinenci notes, “In previous generations, these Hawaiian thatched huts were traditionally used as homes and as a haven for healing. I am preserving the heritage and old traditions of Hawai‘i by continuing to build hale in the authentic Hawaiian way.”

In furnishing guests with its seaside massage hales, the Four Seasons has neatly balanced the common demands for modern comfort with subtler desires for simple authenticity. As a result they’re giving guests the best of both worlds while keeping faith with one of Hawaii’s most delightful traditions.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea 808-874-8000
http://www.fourseasons.com/maui