From Kilauea Crater’s red-hot lava flows, to the snow-covered peak of mount Mauna Kea, the Big Island of Hawai’i may offer more dramatic and beautiful geographical contrasts than any other spot on earth. Reflecting this geographical drama and natural beauty are the “fire and ice” motifs of the luxurious new 7,500 sq. ft. Day Spa at the Mauna Lani Resort. The Day Spa is Mauna Lani’s ultimate pampering hideaway, surrounded by a fantasy garden of lush tropical foliage, and offering a soothing menu of treats and treatments.

“Nirvana” is what awaits guests of the Volcano Rainforest Retreat.Located one mile off Highway 11 in Volcano, Hawaii, a short 26-mile drive from Hilo (or a leisurely 103 miles from Kona), this intimate cluster of bed-and-breakfast cottages resides just minutes from “Volcano Village” and the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Over a decade ago, the first resort spas in the Islands were quick to call themselves “European style,” as if embarrassed by their Hawaiian roots. Spas in Hawai`i have come into their own since then, and, with astounding speed, have learned to be proud of the Hawaiian element. Today, the emphasis is on native healing traditions, local botanicals, the calming beauty of the ocean, ingredients and techniques from Asia brought here in plantation times, and, above all, the capable, loving touch of Aloha, which comes from the land itself.

History buffs may trace the origins of Old Hawai`i back to 1778, when King Kamehameha the Great first welcomed Captain Cook and his “floating island” of “living white gods” to Hana Harbor on Maui's remote eastern shore. But, better yet, this part of Hawaii’s past can be experienced first-hand by anyone who makes the exhilarating 52-mile journey along windy Hana Highway -- around 600 curves and over 54 one-lane bridges -- to the wonderfully remote Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa.

“Nani” is the Hawaiian word for “beautiful,” and at Kaua'i Nani—a five-acre resort residence on Kaua'i's north shore—beauty is everywhere. A private estate, Kaua'i Nani is also a vacation paradise, and as one of a number of accommodations offered to visitors traveling to the Island with Pure Kaua’i, available to anyone in need of the emotional recharge that only the most stunning scenery (and appealing architecture and interior design) can offer.

A visit to the remarkable Lodge at Moloka‘i Ranch is a step back into a simpler era. The locals call it "cowboy time," where life ambles along at a more natural pace, and the "real" world seems far, far away. Only six years old, this elegantly rustic paniolo inn looks like a piece of Ranch history. Along with its little sister the Beach Village, The Lodge provides an authentic Old Hawai‘i resort experience with genuine aloha, the kind that’s from the heart.

Nestled between Moloka‘i and Maui, Läna‘i is a 20-minute flight from Honolulu, a 45-minute ferry ride from Lahaina, Maui, and worlds away from both. Although it is off the beaten path, this former "Pineapple Isle" now has visitors beating a path to the Four Seasons Resort Läna‘i at Manele Bay.