Recently in Maui Category

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

The Travelocity Roaming Gnome is on another adventure, and this time he has been seen at several different Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts. When you stay at one of these resorts in 2008, you can go on a Roaming Gnome scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes. Roaming Gnomes will be hidden in secret spots around the resorts. Participants will receive a clue sheet with hints as to where they are hiding. Once you complete your clue sheet, you can redeem it for a prize at the resort. You will also be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a five-day, four-night resort stay, plus two airline tickets worth up to $750 each. The contest began on May 1 and will continue through the end of 2008. The grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the year.

Participating Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts are: Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando, Florida; The Westin St. John Resort & Villas in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands; The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui, Hawai'i; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas in Kaua'i, Hawai'i; The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas in Rancho Mirage, California; Sheraton Desert Oasis and The Westin Kierland Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona; Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon, Colorado; Sheraton Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Vistana's Beach Club in Jensen Beach, Florida.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on Florida.

The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival returns this weekend to Maui for its 27th year. During this four-day culinary extravaganza, you may discover some of the world's top gastronomic trends and enjoy an array of exciting gourmet events. This year's festival brings together top master sommeliers, celebrated chefs and industry insiders for themed tastings, seminars and gala evening events. Cooking demonstrations, wine tasting seminars, winemaker dinners and a golf tournament are but a few of the highlights of this festival. The festival will be held through June 29, 2008, with tickets available here. After each day of culinary delight, unwind in spacious and inspired accommodations at The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas or The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership.

For an exciting lesson on Hawaiian history, check out the International Festival of Canoes, Maui's signature cultural heritage event that honors the voyaging canoe that united Polynesia. During this festival, master carvers from across the Pacific gather in Lahaina to create canoes, surfboards and tikis from wood logs. Here you may enjoy cultural arts performances, a parade, ancient warrior demonstrations, Polynesian crafts and Hawaiian dining experiences. Or discover relaxing hands-on experiences, like quilting lessons and wood block carving. The festival concludes with an ancient Hawaiian ceremony and sunset canoe launch in Kamehameha Iki Park. The festival will be held May 18 through 31, 2008 with admission free for most events. Lahaina is located just ten miles from The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas and The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North.

Candice Kraughto, is the director of public relations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, and thelobby.com's expert on the region.

After a 3-year hiatus from exercise, I was finally revived from activity-apathy by a tempting offer from my friend Sumithra from The Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Fly to Maui for a getaway with the girls and experience this exotic-sounding ritual called “moonlight yoga.” Not a fan of pretzel poses, I was dubious that this would inspire me to an elevated level of exercise nirvana, but Sumithra said she’d arrange for cocktails and chocolate fondue by the pool afterwards, so I signed up!

I laid my towel on the ground of our beachfront classroom. About 6 other barefoot girls (and 1 guy) and I formed a circle around the yogi instructor. We looked towards the dark ocean waves rolling in and the glowing candles in the sand. Breathe in on your left, breathe out on your right. Hey, I could get the hang of this, the shoulder rolls, the torso twists, this was gentle, civilized, almost spiritual even with the full moon peeking over my left shoulder. No talking during the one hour oasis of steady soft movements – so quiet and peaceful. When it was over I got up from my towel on the sand and looked over at my friends. It was like getting off the table after a massage – almost! The resort's Heavenly Spa by Westin offers “moonlight yoga” every month during full moon.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

February is American Heart Month, a time of year when the American Heart Association reminds people to de-stress, eat healthier foods and get more exercise. If you want to do something beneficial for your heart this February, then consider treating yourself to a relaxing vacation at a destination known for exhilarating outdoor adventures and nourishing local cuisine. You will discover both on Maui when you stay at The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas or The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North.

From hiking and biking to horseback riding and sailing, you will never run out of unique ways to explore Maui. Set off on an invigorating hike and discover dormant, desert-like volcanic craters and spectacular waterfalls. Or transform your perspective underwater as you snorkel alongside colorful coral reefs.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject. Today, she gives us the inside scoop on Starwood Vacation Network.

If you take a vacation each year and enjoy having access to a multitude of vacation choices, you should consider Starwood Vacation Ownership. Starwood Vacation Owners have the option to join Starwood Vacation Network, which enables Owners to experience vacation flexibility and incredible member perks.

As a member of Starwood Vacation Network, you may choose to exchange your week at your Home Resort for a reservation at other Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts in the ever-growing network. For example, if you love surfing, swimming and other water sports, you might consider owning an annual week of outdoor adventures at The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas (pictured) on Maui. As an Owner, you're ensured a space at your Home Resort. So what happens if you want to explore the hiking trails of the Colorado Rockies? Simply trade your Use Week for similar accommodations at Sheraton Mountain Vista.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.

With its white sandy beaches, aromatic flora and stunning vistas, it's no surprise Maui is a nature lover's paradise. When it's time to unwind, you'll discover ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation when you stay at The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas or The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North. But if you're up for some island adventure, during the winter and spring, you can add the majestic humpback whales to your list of wonders to see when you visit Maui. Each December, more than 600 humpback whales make the 3,000-mile trip from Alaska to Maui where they mate and give birth. After the calves are born, the whales remain in the waters near Maui until May, when they return to Alaska. Although you can view the whales from the shore, you can get a closer look by taking a whale-watching cruise. But if you're prone to seasickness, take necessary precautions—the waters surrounding Maui can be rough and choppy.

Today, the whales are an incredible tourist attraction, but during the 1800s, the whales were a valued commodity. Lahaina was once the capital of the islands, home of royalty and center for the whaling fleets. The Whalers Village Museum preserves the old village of Lahaina and presents it from the perspective of a sailor. You'll find a recreation of the living quarters of a whaling ship, where 25 men lived cramped together for as long as five years during whaling voyages. Other exhibits include antique ornaments and utensils made from whale ivory and bone, as well as one of the world’s largest scale models of a whaling ship.

Jeremy McCarthy is the Director of Spa Operations Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

One of the most talked about booths on the exhibit hall of the International Spa Association’s annual conference was the White Lion tea display. A nude (or was he?) male model was on display in a bathtub filled with Bath Pearls, the luxury tea line’s new extension into bath teas.

A bath tea is not (contrary to what you might be thinking) a tea that you drink while sitting in the tub, but rather a tea bag that you can drop into the tub to enjoy the fragrance and detoxifying benefits of herbal tea while soaking your cares away. Different “flavors” are available depending on your desire to either refresh with Lemon Eucalpytus, relax with Lavender Rose, or renew with Pomegranate Ylang Ylang. The new bath pearls and other White Lion traditional tea products are available for sale at the Heavenly Spa by Westin at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa.

Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on vacation ownership and special contests. Today she's brought us something extra special...

Now is the time to enter Starwood’s Global Adventures Sweepstakes for a chance to win one million Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints and a seemingly endless array of travel opportunities. One lucky winner will receive the Grand Prize of one million Starpoints, 50 days of Avis full-size car rental and an abundance of adventures. From a breathtaking beach getaway in Mexico to an adventure-filled excursion in Maui to an invigorating alpine escape in Aspen, Colorado, a multitude of diverse destinations are within reach with one million Starpoints.

You have until October 15, 2009 to enter the grand prize drawing, to be held on Halloween: October 31, 2009. But register soon because a different travel package will be awarded each quarter. Quarterly prizewinners will receive five nights’ accommodations at a resort destination, an Avis rental car and two round trip coach airline tickets.

The first of which is a six-day, five-night getaway to the Sheraton Maui Resort. Situated on Ka‘anapali Beach and neighboring other Starwood destinations such as the Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas (pictured) and the Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, this spectacular Maui spot beckons hopeless romantics and fun-seeking families alike. For information on this sweepstakes and latest offers, subscribe to Starwood Vacation Ownership’s RSS Feed.