In time to celebrate its 55th anniversary, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Hawaii recently completed a $26.5 million renovation in July.
The property’s 508 guest rooms and suites now bring a sense of place into the spaces with colors, textures and artwork inspired by the Pu’u Keka’a (Black Rock), including art curated by native Hawaii artist Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides. Another nod to the island vibe is the all-new signature restaurant ROCKsalt, which serves up dishes from the land and sea, and uses local Hawaiian produce with exotic spices and ingredients.
Of course, the resort also has several cultural activities that planners can work into a meeting. A ukelele lender program with lessons will get the “aloha” vibe going for groups. Or planners can organize an evening event around the resort’s nightly cliff dive ceremony, a 55-year tradition that tells the story of the last chief of Maui, Kahekili (Thunderer), who proved his spiritual strength by leaping from the sacred Black Rock into the Pacific. A young cliff diver mimics the same leap, leaving a trail of glowing torches in his wake. Another tradition for groups to enjoy is the Maui Nui Luau, an evening of Hawaiian and Polynesian song, dance and history as well as a traditional luau buffet.
Joining the #LastStraw movement has also been important for the property, as it became the first resort in Hawaii to ban single-use plastic straws in August 2017. It offers paper straws as an eco-conscious alternative, and it also recently implemented reef-safe sunscreen dispensers for attendees to use.
