Local Foreigner in Hawaii
Four Seasons’ Ricky Grunden, Local Foreigner’s Emily Pariseau, Four Seasons’ Anthony Utard, and Local Foreigner’s Maggie Ryan, Mark Herman, Libby Shillito, and Brendan Monaghan
More than 2,000 miles from the closest land mass, Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth and truly a world unto itself, an improbably gorgeous set of specks in the sea, where everything from the food to the plant life is completely unique. In 2021, as life was still more or less on hold during the pandemic, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea had a star turn as the flagship White Lotus property in the first season of HBO’s hit. But the brand has long reigned supreme across Hawaii, with five distinct properties across four islands. Earlier this summer, Local Foreigner team members spent ten days with our partners visiting all of them, hitting Oahu, Maui, Lana'i, and the Big Island, and hula'ed home with base tans that had the rest of us reaching for our bronzer in envy.
O‘ahu
Emily, Maggie, Mark, Libby, and Brendan started their trip by jetting in from all over the continental US to Honolulu, and then made the quick transfer to the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, which sits facing a lagoon and the open ocean beyond on the southwest coast of the island. Despite the proximity to the bustle of Waikiki, Ko Olina maximizes the main event here: dreamy views over the water. It’s the sort of place where warm trade winds carry the scent of plumeria as you’re greeted with a lei - you couldn’t be anywhere else other than Hawaii. “We walked in and I thought, ‘This is it - this is the Hawaii I have always imagined,’” Emily Pariseau says, “Turtles, sunsets, palm trees. I loved it.”
Four Seasons O’ahu’s 17-floor high rise towers above the coastline, offering stunning views of the spectacular green scenery. The spirit of aloha can be felt across the property, from the Hawaiian inspired room décor to the nightly sunset ceremonies. Guests are a mix of couples and families, though separate pool areas balance the dynamic. “The hotel is on a protected lagoon, and of all the beaches we saw across the islands, this was the calmest. Like, I would feel comfortable swimming with small kids here,” Emily says. “But we didn’t have any kids with us, so we spent a lot of time at the adult pool, which is a whole different world, and we loved it.” Brendan Monaghan agrees. “The adult pool was a standout,” he concurs.
It’s a long trip to Hawaii, but where there’s a air-travel induced ache, there’s a spa treatment; massages with warm pohaku stones and island botanicals are nearly a must here as the team adjusted to island time. That evening, the trip officially began with a welcome dinner at Mina’s Fish House, an oceanside restaurant by celebrity chef Michael Mina. A table was set directly by the water, torches flickering in the evening breeze. They passed platters of fresh snapper, Kona lobster, and ahi poke as the sun set.
While R&R is central to any Hawaiian itinerary, Ko Olina offers access to many of the state’s marquee sites and activities. “Not only is Ko Olina a great soft landing and first stop on any Hawaii trip, but film buffs will want to include it because it offers access to Kualoa Ranch, where Jurassic Park was filmed,” Emily says. “Pearl Harbor is 25 minutes’ drive, so there is a wealth of World War II history on the island, many of the major Hawaiian surf competitions take place along North Shore between November and March.”
Lana’i
From the iconic scenes of O’ahu, the group boarded Lana’i Air at their private Honolulu terminal for the 30-minute flight to the Pineapple Isle. James Dole purchased this half-moon shaped island that neighbors Maui in 1922 and built the world’s largest pineapple plantation, and while pineapples have given way to slow, sustainable tourism in the last decade and a half, the island remains sweet - you won’t find a single traffic light, let alone anything close to the bustle of Waikiki. Instead, the center of the island is dotted with towering pine trees, and dramatic hills roll down to the fringing beaches. “Lana’i was our favorite island on the whole trip. It really felt very remote and special,” says Maggie Ryan.
Four Seasons has two hotels on Lana’i, which seems like a lot for a 140 square miles, until you visit and realize they’re completely distinct from each other - in fact, you could easily spend a week on the island split between Sensei Lanai, in the middle of the island, and Four Seasons Resort Lanai, on the southern coast. Sensei Lana’i is one of the hidden gems of Four Seasons’ entire collection, and feels like you’ve stumbled on a secret upon arrival up the misty, tree-lined drive. “Sensei is for people who are looking to recalibrate, bring back peace. The wellness offerings here are amazing. There are 10-12 wellness classes per day, and you can even do remote sessions when you get home, to continue that momentum,” Maggie says.
Brendan adds, “I usually find hotels like this to be intimidating, because I am not a traveler that seeks out wellness. But I walked away from Sensei being super blown away by it - this is not a place where you’re deprived. They want you to enjoy yourself, they want you to feel like you're on vacation.” Mark Herman continues, “As someone who is super active, Sensei was so much fun. We did a food sensory class, a gut health class; there are so many options for active classes. It really makes for a holistic vacation, because there's something for everyone, and you can come back for lunch together, or sit by the pool in the afternoon. I want to go back next year to see where my health metrics stand. So, it’s great if you're very activity driven, but also if you want to sink into a spa destination.”
The drive to the Four Seasons Resort Lanai takes about 20 minutes, as you descent out of the clouds and only the wild coast. “I felt like I was living in an Hawaiian rom com at Four Seasons Lana’i,” Brendan laughs, “Which was exactly what I was looking for in Hawaii. It was just happy Hawaii.” The property is dotted with koi ponds and waterfalls, and the lush landscaping around the pools feels wild and tropical. “We loved the decor here. There are Balinese touches and teak blinds. It’s worth the trek - while it’s easy to get to Maui or Oah’u, take one more hop to get to Lana’i. It’s worth it,” Maggie says. Libby Shillito adds, “Don’t miss the sunset catamaran sail before dinner at Nobu. They’re also opening Mozza on property, so even though you’re on this remote island, you’re eating very well.”
Maui
Next up was Maui, which neighbors Lana’i and can be reached by boat in just over an hour. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is the aforementioned White Lotus (though much of the kitschier suite decor was brought in for the show, so don’t get your heart set on the Pineapple Suite a la Shane Patton - you’ll find sophisticated neutrals in place of the show’s yellows and greens.) Plus, this island classic is getting spiffed up, with a full property refresh expected by the end of 2026. Opened in 1990 and spread across 15 tropical acres, the resort’s open-air design and natural wood-and-stone décor reflect a modern take on Hawaiian tradition.
If you’re looking for a social scene, Maui is a great bet. “This was our most highly-anticipated property, and it’s a very lively and social crowd. You meet a lot of people who have been going for 30 years. The vibe is fun and flirtatious, with families with teens, couples making vacation friends, people ready to strike up a conversation over drinks,” Brendan says. “Very vibrant and a lot of fun.”
The Big Island
The final stop on the grand tour of the Aloha state was the dramatic black volcanic coastline of Kona, on the Big Island, which is home to Four Seasons Resort Hualālai. The crown jewel of Four Seasons’ Hawaii properties, Hualālai is a 243-room brand-name hotel in a tried-and-true vacation destination that somehow pulls off the trick of feeling like a hideaway. The magic at Hualalai is that this is no leis-and-luaus Big Island big box; the experiences draw on subtler cultural and natural touchstones – sandalwood oil from Háloa Áina’s native Hawaiian 'Iliahi forest on the slopes of Mauna Loa shows up next to your massage table, while rock salt from the local volcanic salt flats lends a mineral zing to the catch of the day. “Hualālai was a fan favorite,” Mark says. “They do a fantastic job on private experiences, whether that’s dining or a family activity.”
“For multigen families, Hualālai is just epic,” Maggie says. “There’s ping pong, foosball, a beach path. It’s so dynamic, there’s space for everyone on a group or family to do their own thing - there’s a lot to dip into here.” The rooms are arranged in four separate crescents, each centered on a pool, so each group of rooms feels like a smaller resort strung along the coast like so many pearls.
As always when a Local Foreigner team scouts a destination, the group also spent time considering which property is right for which type of traveler, and how to pair them for a longer itinerary depending on your priorities for your island adventure. “For a solo traveler, go to Sensei Lana’i, get the eggplant at Nobu, and load up on spa treatments,” Emily suggests. “Or if you’re a family with teenagers, split your time between Maui and Hualalai. We really came away from the trip feeling that, no matter what you’re looking for in Hawaii, Four Seasons has it covered.”
