Garden Dreams and Island Rituals: A Blissful Day at Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Walking into the garden-framed exterior of Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai. PPhoto by Alisha Racker
On a recent family trip to Kauai, we spent several days staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa—an expansive, lush property that feels like its own tropical world.
While traveling with kids doesn’t always allow for extended solo moments, I managed to carve out a few glorious hours just for me at Anara Spa. And truly, Anara Spa is the kind of place Hawaiian daydreams are made of.
The co-ed spa pool at Anara Spa is nestled among lush greenery and swaying palms. Photo by Alisha Racker
What You’ll Love About Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai
• Expansive, tranquil spa grounds with indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces
• Private garden hales for massages and body treatments
• Women’s and co-ed amenities including sauna, steam, jacuzzi, lap pool, and outdoor showers
• Thoughtful spa snacks like dried fruit, apple bananas, tea, and chilled towels
• All-day access to spa amenities with a scheduled treatment
• A treatment menu that blends Hawaiian traditions with modern wellness therapies
Anara Spa’s retail shelves showcase the guest-favorite Coco Mango line, along with Malie Organics, Eminence, lululemon, and more. Photo by Alisha Racker
From the moment you arrive, the experience feels intentional and unrushed. Walking up to the spa, you’re greeted by serene pathways, the gentle sound of water, and an airy lobby filled with thoughtfully curated retail items—from island-inspired skincare to beautiful wellness gifts.
The salon and service offerings are seamlessly integrated, giving the space a complete wellness destination feel rather than just a place for treatments.
Thoughtful design details—serpent artwork at the locker room sinks of Anara Spa. Photo by Alisha Racker
After checking in, I was given a brief tour of the spa’s amenities, beginning with the co-ed outdoor lap pool, framed by lounge chairs and potted palms swaying in the breeze.
From there, I was ushered into the women’s lounge, where a spa attendant provided a plush robe, slippers, and locker access.
The women’s area felt like a private retreat all its own: a cozy indoor lounge stocked with hot tea, dried pineapple, and dried mango, plus chilled water always on hand.
An outdoor lava rock shower at Anara Spa, offering a refreshing open-air rinse. Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Kauai
Outside, the women-only amenities continued with a jacuzzi, steam room, and dry sauna—all surrounded by tropical greenery.
One of my favorite features? The lava rock outdoor showers with privacy curtains, allowing you to rinse off under the open sky while still feeling completely secluded.
Like many luxury spas, Anara is a cell-phone-free zone, which instantly encourages you to slow down and fully disconnect.
A tranquil garden relaxation hale at Anara Spa invites quiet moments between treatments. Photo by Alisha Racker
Anara Spa spans an impressive 45,000 square feet—making it the largest spa on Kauai—and blends ancient healing traditions with island-fresh botanical essences to inspire balance and harmony.
In addition to its extensive treatment menu, the spa also includes a 24-hour fitness center, open-air yoga and fitness classes, and specialty offerings like Floatpod and wave massage therapies designed to promote deep relaxation and recovery.
Sipping tea in the outdoor garden hale of Anara Spa. Photo by Alisha Racker
I made sure to arrive early to enjoy as many of the amenities as possible, which I highly recommend. Soon after settling in, I was greeted by my therapist, Kristen, who escorted me to the outdoor garden relaxation area.
This open-air space was absolutely breathtaking, with 360-degree views of lush greenery, the soft rustle of palm leaves, and the feeling of being tucked away in nature.
Additional refreshments awaited here, including chilled apple bananas and cool towels—small details that made the experience feel elevated and thoughtful.
Anara Spa’s Ho‘okupu Wai Bowl, a ceremonial floral offering honoring Hawaiian tradition. Photo by Alisha Racker
On the way to my first treatment, we passed a serene waterfall area featuring a daily Ho‘okupu Wai Bowl offering. Kristen shared that each morning before guests arrive, the bowl is refreshed with flowers gathered from the Grand Hyatt Kauai property.
In Hawaiian culture, ho‘okupu refers to a ceremonial offering—an act of gratitude and reciprocity meant to encourage growth, abundance, and harmony.
Today, this ritual serves as a gentle reminder to pause, appreciate beauty, and offer gratitude to both people and place.
An open-air garden hale at Anara Spa, the setting for a deeply restorative CBD Garden Massage. Photo by Alisha Racker
My first treatment took place in an outdoor hale—a private, open-air garden treatment space—and I can confidently say I’ve never experienced a massage with such a stunning natural backdrop.
I received the CBD Garden Massage (60 minutes), designed to enhance relaxation and recovery using full-spectrum CBD and arnica to soothe tired muscles and calm the nervous system.
Kristen checked in throughout the service and asked if I was comfortable including abdominal massage—a detail I appreciated as it’s not for everyone. I agreed, and it ended up being a grounding and surprisingly restorative part of the experience.
The pressure was spot-on, the products felt luxurious, and the overall sensory environment—the sound of the waterfall, birdsong, and soft breezes—made it deeply immersive and memorable.
After my massage, I enjoyed a 15-minute intermission before heading to a facial treatment room.
This pause allowed me to hydrate, relax, and fully transition into my next experience: the Hawaiian Ali‘i Facial (90 minutes)—a treatment that truly lives up to its royal name.
The Hawaiian Ali‘i Facial unfolds in an open-air treatment room, enhanced by a warm island breeze. Photo by Alisha Racker
This facial blends tropical botanicals with powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and peptides to restore and nourish the skin. Highlights included a customized enzyme treatment, warm stone massage for the neck and shoulders, and therapeutic Hawaiian ti leaves layered over a mask and gently steamed with an aromatic compress.
The service didn’t stop at the face—my scalp, lips, and feet were all pampered as well, with a coconut lip treatment, pineapple papaya foot polish, and a deeply nourishing Epicuren coconut milk hair mask left in my hair.
Outdoor garden path at Anara Spa, Grand Hyatt Kauai. Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Kauai
By the end, my skin felt luminous and refreshed, and later that evening—after washing out the hair mask—my hair felt incredibly hydrated and soft. It was one of those treatments where you can feel the care and intention in every step.
Feeling restored, grounded, and deeply relaxed after my day at Anara Spa. Photo by Alisha Racker
As my spa day came to a close, I took one last walk through the gardens, feeling restored, grounded, and deeply relaxed.
Anara Spa isn’t just a place to book a service—it’s an experience that encourages you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and honor yourself in the process.
Long after leaving the magical island of Kauai, the sense of peace I found here lingered—and that, to me, is the mark of a truly exceptional spa.
Anara Spa Village in the evening light. Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Kauai
To learn more about Anara Spa and Grand Hyatt Kauai and to book your next visit, visit their website or call (808) 240-6440. Follow @grandhyattkauai on Instagram.
Grand Hyatt Kauai is located at 1571 Poipu Road, Koloa, Hawaii, 96756.
[Photos courtesy of Grand Hyatt Kauai and Alisha Racker]
Alisha Racker’s beauty career has spanned over a decade as she's worked as a master esthetician, skin care PR-pro, and freelance writer.
She lives in the beautiful mountains of Salt Lake City with her husband and children. Follow her on Instagram: @slcbeautybabe.