With multiple seating areas, complete with firepits, the lobby lanai offers a lively and inviting atmosphere from sunrise to sunset. PHOTO BY THE RITZ-CARLTON MAUI, KAPALUA.

KAPALUA — The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua announces the final phase of a $100 million resort-wide transformation, including new guestrooms, dining experiences and public spaces that is set to be unveiled by the end of 2022.

“The driving force behind this project is providing our guests with an unrivaled experience that can only be found in Kapalua,” said Andrew Rogers, general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. “This transformation brings new beauty and new energy to our surrounding environment, as the entire resort celebrates our unique sense of place. Our team of talented Hawaii-based architects, designers and builders worked closely with our longtime cultural advisor Clifford Nae’ole to achieve our vision for the future of the resort as a luxury destination.”

Highlights of the extensive, property-wide transformation include:

ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE: Upon arriving at the resort, guests will be welcomed by bright and colorful native flora and fauna that flow into the all new lobby lanai featuring unobstructed views of Honokahua Bay. The infinity-edge lanai honors Hawaiian culture and tells the story of Kapalua. The hand-carved wooden kapa panels adorning the space symbolize the six bays surrounding the resort that were favorites of the Hawaiian chiefs. The distinct lighting fixtures are inspired by ancient fishing traps that were designed to catch fish for royalty.

“The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is a special place for our guests just as Kapalua once was for the great Hawaiian chiefs,” said Nae’ole, the resort’s Hawaiian cultural advisor. “Each element, no matter how big or small, has important significance in Hawaiian culture, and we hope that our guests will enjoy them for both their beauty and meaning.”

CLUB LOUNGE: Further elevating the guest experience, the resort will open The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge at the Anuenue Room in July. This new Club Lounge offers a private indoor-outdoor, weather-protected destination for guests with club access to savor a rainbow and taste the flavors of Maui. The space offers a dedicated concierge and a well-appointed, relaxed lounge environment where guests can enjoy five food and beverage presentations daily. Culinary offerings include breakfast, light snacks, hors d’oeuvres, beverages and sweets, many reflecting the cuisine of the Hawaiian Islands. Unique to the space and exclusively for club guests, Club Lounge programming will include cocktail classes, cooking demonstrations, lei making and exclusive musical performances by Hawaiian artists.

GUEST ROOMS: Embracing Maui’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, the new guest rooms, suites and residences, all with private terraces, feature delicate sand tones and custom wood finishes, evoking a feeling of calm and serenity. Azure blue and deep green accents echo the captivating hues of the sparkling ocean and lush flora, while floor-to-ceiling windows welcome the island environment inside, creating a unique sense of place. Designed by Philpotts & Associates, known for their expertise in Hawaiian culture and design, the room interiors infuse The Ritz-Carlton sophistication with a Hawaiian sense of place. The aesthetic continues into the hallways with rich, dark wood finishes and pops of color from the tropical-inspired carpeting. For guests looking for an even more private setting, the resort will debut The Fire Lanai Collection, a new premium room category in November. Located on the ground floor of the Nāpili Tower, each room will feature extended lanais with a shade trellis, a hammock, sun deck, and fire pit complete with a special menu to make one’s own tropical twist on s’mores, inviting guests to enjoy Maui indoor-outdoor living at its best.

POOL EXPERIENCE: A centerpiece of the sprawling open-air resort is the expansive, 10,000-square-foot reimagined pool experience. Inspired by a famous natural lava rock formation in front of the resort at Makaluapuna Point, the resort’s three zero edge pools connected by cascading waterfalls form a fleur-de-lis and are surrounded by lush tropical florals. The natural inspiration is meant to extend the beach feel from the shore onto the property. Each individual pool features in-water lounges, allowing guests to relax while keeping cool in addition to ample seating options around each one.

For those individuals looking for an even more luxurious and private experience, the resort recently debuted seven custom-designed luxury cabanas and oasis beds.

SUSTAINABILITY: “With the support of our owner, Blackstone, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is making impactful investments to reduce our impact and preserve Maui’s precious natural resources for future generations,” Rogers said. “When completed next year, new solar canopies in the parking lot will generate half of our current demand for power at the resort.”

Sustainability initiatives include reducing water consumption, new waste diversion efforts, providing all guests with complimentary reusable water bottles, installing filling stations throughout the property and replacing all elevators with new, more energy-efficient models.

The hotel is an active supporter of the local community and established the Mauka (mountain) to Makai (ocean) Preservation of Place Project that benefits two nonprofit organizations: the Pu’u Kukui Watershed, Hawaii’s largest private nature preserve and home to rare and endangered flora and fauna; and Hui O Wa’a Kaulua, Maui’s voyaging canoe society. The resort is one of only six Ritz-Carlton hotels in the world to offer Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment. The program offers eco-tours for all ages, from snorkeling to coastal walks to electric bicycle tours, to learn about the environment and leave with an appreciation and respect for nature.

A weekly Malama Hawaii volunteer project (malama means “to care for”) offers guests an opportunity to leave Maui a better place by participating in a beach cleanup or invasive species plant removal.