If swimming and sunbathing is your desired activity, you won't find a better spot than at the resort's pool or on the resort's protected lagoon with its calm, clear waters.
Ihilani Spa
What can I say about the Ihilani Spa? I've visited many spas in Hawaii. The Ihilani Spa is not only the largest, but the most complete spa anywhere I've seen. The facilities are state of the art and the treatments range from standard massages to unique experiences such as the Ihilani Spa's Thalasso Treatment with Color Light Therapy. Thalasso treatment baths in provide guests with underwater massages from a series of hydro and air jets. These jets automatically cycle through six different areas of the body, from feet to shoulders. You can read more about the Ihilani Spa's offerings in our Ihilani Spa Profile.
The Hotel
The hotel itself is unlike many you'll find anywhere, in Hawaii or elsewhere in the world. The rooms are all built surrounding a huge ground level to top floor atrium. The feeling of space is something you immediately appreciate as you enter the lobby.About 85% of all rooms in the hotel have ocean or lagoon views and huge lanais. The standard guest room is far larger than you may be used ranging from 640-680 square feet. All guest rooms and suites include the new Marriott “Revive” bed and linen collection which makes for a truly relaxing sleep.
Bath and Shower of a Standard Guest Room at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
Photo by John FischerAll guest rooms and suites also feature individually controlled air conditioning, ceiling fan, large screen remote control color television with an extensive in-house movie library, dataport and high-speed internet capabilities, in-room safe, AM/FM radio with compact disc player and mini-bar.
My favorite part of the room was the bathroom. With marble floors, a deep-soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower stall and a separate, private water closet, it is joy. How often have you paid a lot of money for a hotel room only to find a bathroom smaller than you have at home? You won't find this to be the case at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa.
One small irritation is that ice is only available by room service or when delivered, apparently, randomly, at some point in the day. I realize that having ice machines on each floor is something that some guests dislike due to the noise. I'm just not one of them.
Dining Options at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
Dining is a real pleasure at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa. Whether it's the breakfast buffet at the open-air Naupaka Terrace, a lunch at the Poolside Grill (where their "best burger in town" fully lives up to the claim rivaling the excellent burgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise), or dinner at the resort's signature restaurant, Azul, you'll not be disappointed in the cuisine. I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the food prices were considering that you're pretty much a "captive audience" at the resort. A number of resorts I've visited tend to jack up their food prices when they know it's a car trip to another dining alternative.
Speaking of Azul, Chef de Cuisine Blaine Wilkinson recently arrived at Azul to spruce up the cuisine at the restaurant. From what I could tell he's achieved the desired goal.
Azul offers both indoor and alfresco terrace dining with a varied menu including an extensive selection of appetizers and a wide choice of either meat or seafood entrees.
I selected the Lobster Bisque as an appetizer and after two weeks of seafood entrees on Maui, Kauai and Oahu, I chose the beef tenderloin as my mainland stomach craved beef. Both were excellent choices. The reasonably priced deserts ($6 per portion) offered much too many tantalizing options. I chose the Azul Chocolate Dome - a chocolate soufflé cake filled with warm melted chocolate and served with fresh coconut sorbet and raspberry fruit coulis.
Azul also offers a Sunday Champagne Brunch. which looked wonderful.
Hokule’a Bar
Hokule'a Bar at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at the Ko Olina Resort on Oahu, Hawaii
Photo by John Fischer
