{"id":157,"date":"2009-01-21T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-01-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/01\/romance-renovations-heat-up-hawaii-vacation-scene\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T13:43:47","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T19:43:47","slug":"romance-renovations-heat-up-hawaii-vacation-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/01\/romance-renovations-heat-up-hawaii-vacation-scene\/","title":{"rendered":"Romance, renovations heat up Hawaii vacation scene"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Honolulu-hotels\"<\/a> By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

Hawaii is romantic 365 days a year, but a Valentine\u2019s Day in the islands is the ultimate couples\u2019 getaway. Hawaii vacations<\/a><\/strong> have never been more reasonable than in 2009\u2026and with many of the classic island properties unveiling top-to-bottom renovations, the Hawaii hotel scene has never looked so luxurious.<\/p>\n

Of all the many revamps, the one that makes this island-hopper happiest is the reopening of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though it opened in 1965, this Kohala Coast property has an ageless, striking beauty: Lush greens set on black lava against a turquoise sea-meets-sky backdrop. Offshore earthquakes caused major structural damage back in 2006, and many islanders wept as the grand hotel shut its doors. However, owners Prince Resorts Hawaii wouldn\u2019t let a legend die so easily. Two years and $150 million later, it\u2019s back and ready to eclipse all expectations, with more spacious rooms (but fewer of them), an upgraded golf course<\/strong>, and oceanview baths. (Champagne bubble bath at sunset — hellllooo!)<\/p>\n

Over on the island of Oahu, Waikiki welcomes back its longtime landmark Honolulu hotel<\/a>, the Royal Hawaiian<\/a><\/strong>. The \u201cPink Palace of the Pacific,\u201d as it was known, hadn\u2019t aged quite as gracefully as the aforementioned Mauna Kea — in fact, it was as last-generation tacky as astrapless taffeta Gunne Sax dress. With a wrist corsage. No longer, however:  As of January 20th, 2009, it\u2019s the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. From the newly installed koa wood check-in desks (no more queuing at the counter) to the late-night poolside cabana cocktailing<\/strong> to the \u201ccontemporary-elegant\u201d guest room renovations, the Pink Lady has definitely joined the modern era.<\/p>\n

The Hilton Hawaiian Village<\/a><\/strong> has always felt like a little town of its own, just within the borders of Waikiki. It recently opened the Grand Waikikian<\/strong>, an entire new skyscraper\u2019s worth of all-suite guest lodgings. The sexiest thing about it is its 5000-square-foot pool<\/strong>, which has waterfalls and plenty of little swim-up grottos for canoodling and camera moments.  <\/p>\n

And finally, no Valentine\u2019s roundup is complete without the Four Seasons Maui<\/a><\/strong>, which is everyone\u2019s romantic go-to getaway. One of the latest things this Maui hotel<\/a> has introduced is custom perfume blending<\/strong>. Guests can create their own custom scent from the finest natural ingredients, either individually or as a couple. It\u2019s said that the sense of smell is most closely connected to the memory center\u2026in which case, a specially blended Valentine\u2019s scent is the perfect way to recreate happy twosome moments long after you\u2019ve bid Aloha to your Hawaii vacation.<\/p>\n

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