100% of Net Proceeds from This Beautiful Coffee Table Book Go to Help Victims of Maui Wildfires
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When the catastrophic wildfires tore across West Maui last month, they became the deadliest the United States had seen in a century. Out of the ashes, however, the community has come together in unprecedented ways and shows of support. Most recently, one of the island’s beloved hospitality destinations decided to use a milestone moment to pay it forward.
Hotel Wailea, which is Hawaii’s only Relais & Chateaux property, is contributing a portion of each guest’s stay to the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund, benefitting hospitality workers impacted by the fires. This week, they’ve also released Hotel Wailea, a commemorative 10th anniversary travel tome with Assouline, and 100% of net proceeds through December 31 will be donated to charities on the island.
Hotel Wailea
assouline.com
$120.00
“We are thankful that Wailea and the surrounding areas have remained safe, but our hearts are with our ohana in West Maui,” says Jonathan McManus, founder of Hotel Wailea and the Private Label Collection hospitality group. “As our book captures the natural beauty of Maui and the spirit of aloha, it made sense to donate proceeds to organizations including the Kokua Fund, the Hawai’i Red Cross, and the Hawai’i Community Foundation.”
Collectively, these groups are supporting those impacted by the disaster, including families who need lodging, food, and relief supplies, and various nonprofit organizations serving on the front lines. While purchasing the book delivers aid to those in need, it also brings a taste of Maui into people’s homes.
With every page, readers will feel transported to the island’s rugged lava fields and tropical rain forests. They’ll smell the sweet scent of plumeria flowers on a fresh-strung lei, feel the warm trade winds as they rustle through the palms, or experience humpback whales on their annual winter migration. They might even taste the poolside cocktails made with local garden ingredients and watch the sunset from Hotel Wailea’s lantern-lit treehouse. There, amidst a canopy of mango trees, a seven-course, local ingredient-driven tasting menu changes every evening—and attracts a discerning crowd.
Mixed within the pages of original photography are quotes from notable guests who have stayed there over the years, like Hollywood film agent and producer, Shep Gordon, the American musician, Pat Monahan, and Chef David Kinch of the Michelin three-star restaurant, Manresa.
Admittedly, Hotel Wailea’s allure lies in its uniqueness. Unlike the commercial beachfront properties loaded with tourists and younger guests, this venue is set high up off the beach, with just 72 suites sprawling over sixteen acres. As the sole adults-only luxury hotel in all of Hawaii, the experience is ultra-private, with personalized service and vibrant cuisine.
The book also unearths lesser-known details about the hotel’s transformation over the years. Unbeknownst to many, the space it occupies was first built as a private Japanese men’s club and designed by the renowned Japanese architect Takashi Okamoto. Though it’s since been reimagined and infused with a luxe yet relaxed European flair, guests can still experience some of Okamoto’s influences, like the omnipresent sounds of running water, and two grandiose rooms with fifty-foot ceilings that are reminiscent of Japanese parasols.
McManus and his team used the state-mandated closure during COVID to refresh their suites and public spaces, including the newly introduced Birdcage Bar. The striking open-air space, which overlooks the West Maui mountains and is furnished with bright colors and talon-footed tables, was named for the wild lovebirds who have long gathered in its eaves.
Indeed, there is much to love about this special destination, and the island it calls home. To show support, order a copy of Hotel Wailea, and experience the resilient nature, sensory beauty, and singular magic of Maui.
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