Hawai`i's Spa Experience
Sherrie Strausfogel and Sophia V. Schweitzer
128 p. Color
$22.95
Mutual Publishing
www.mutualpublishing.com

Ah, the sanctuary of an exclusive resort spa, where pampering is prime directive number one! If this sounds like a perfect vacation destination, than Hawai`i's Spa Experience, Rejuvenating Secrets of the Islands is the book for you. It provides not only a complete look at the resort spas on each of the Islands, but also offers sidebar-type sections on spa subjects such as "Aquatic Body Therapy," "Steam as Healer," "Pure Earth, Pure Body," "Lomilomi Massage," and more.

Most chapters are dedicated to the resort spas, separated by island. The introductory and concluding chapters include looks at "Products from Hawaiian Soil," "Spa Cuisine," and "The Hawai`i Spa at Home." The final chapter offers recipes to improve the look of your hair, soothe a sunburn, smooth out cellulite and more.

You might think spotlighting all of these incredible spas, with evocative descriptions of the signature treatments, would be enough for one book. But, the publisher goes one step farther to prepare you for your Hawaiian spa experience by scenting the very pages of the book with the relaxing fragrance of lavender. The effect of smelling the lavender, while looking at the beautiful color photos and reading about the sumptuous treatments, is almost too much to resist. (After a few pages, an overwhelming urge arises to turn to the Appendix and begin making calls to the spas to set up your appointments.) Complete contact information is given for each spa. If your next trip to Hawai`i is some time away, then you might consider contacting some of the Island's spa product manufacturers which are listed and bringing some of the Islands to your home.