Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Blessing Ceremony

Maui Now was invited to take a sneak peek of Maui’s newest resort, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, which opens tomorrow, April 15, in Kā‘anapali.

Maui’s highly anticipated new oceanfront resort is situated on 16 acres of North Kā‘anapali Beach. About 120 of the resorts employees and other guests celebrated with a traditional Hawaiian blessing earlier today.

Kahu Kapono‘ai Molitau led the blessing ceremony, which included a maile lei untying, symbolic in Hawaiian culture for opening a space.

“The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is a truly unique resort that combines Hawai‘i’s rich heritage with the aloha spirit for which the islands are known,” said Steve Williams, chief operating officer.

The new resort will be run by General Manager Chris Rabang, a Maui native who is returning home after spending two years in Samoa where he opened two other hotels.

Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Hawaiian blessing ceremony 4.14.17. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Pool area at Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Inu Pool Bar at Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Part of the pool area at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Kalo growing on the Nanea Ocean Resort Villa grounds. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Executive Chef Ikaika Manaku and Sous Chef Ben Marquez of Nanea Ocean Villas. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Hawaiian blessing ceremony on 4.14.17. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

Maile lei untying at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas on 4/14/17. L-R: Makalapua Kanuha, Complex Director of Culture at Westin Nanea, Ron Hensel, Regional Project Director – Vistana Signature Experiences, Chris Rabang, General Manager of Westin Nanea, Angela Nolan, Area Managing Director, Hawai‘i Villas, Vistana Signature Experiences, Bruce McNish, Vice President of Operations, Vistana Signature Experiences. PC: Nikki Schenfeld

“Nanea means tranquility, a state of relaxation,” he said. “We strive to have our guests leave better than when they arrived and all throughout the modern luxury and services provided throughout the resort it will all lead to a state of Nanea,” Rabang added.

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas has 390 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and has been designed to be a relaxing haven replete with culturally inspired programs and distinctive Hawaiian experiences. The hotel boasts a keiki pool area, water slide, and poolside cabanas with TV’s inside.

Under the careful guidance of the resort’s cultural director, Makalapua Kanuha, the essence of Hawai‘i has been carefully woven into design elements throughout the property. Additionally, the Pu‘uhonua o Nanea Cultural Center will be at the resort’s heart and will provide innovative and educational cultural offerings that will honor local history, language, art, crafts, music and dance.

Westin Nanea is a sister property to Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas next door and although guests staying at the next door resort won’t be able to use pool facilities, there will be a free shuttle between The Westin Kā‘anapali, Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas and Nanea Ocean Villas. Hotel guests at either of the three properties can also visit each Westin property and be able to charge to their rooms at any of the hotels restaurant outlets.

Each of the villas at The Westin Nanea offers many of the key amenities of home, combined with signature Westin touches. The master bedrooms include king-size signature Westin Heavenly Beds and Westin Heavenly Baths with showers, bathtubs and vanities. The living areas offer armoires, queen-size sofa sleepers and private furnished lanais. Villas also come with fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers.

The two restaurants at the resort include Mauka Makai and Inu pool bar. Rabang said that both restaurants look to incorporate local produce on the menus to help support local businesses.

The resort prides itself on Hawaiian culture and it’s evident throughout the property with kalo growing just feet away from the outdoor lobby to the Hawaiian symbols etched on the side of the building.

“We have a big commitment to culture, so every element of our property is like a real life cultural center,” Rabang said. “The pico in the lobby – that’s our lifeline, our tie to our genealogy and our ancestors on Maui,” he added.

“The fishing basket (in the lobby) that was used to collect fish – the significance of that is we want to collect the stories from our ancestors and we want to share those with any guests coming through our doors and we also want them to collect and share their own stories so they can take their memories from Nanea back home,” he concluded.

The first guests will arrive at the new resort tomorrow.

Click here for more information about The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas.