Ali Goes to Hawaii | Goop

In partnership with our friends at United Airlines®

I moved the dates of this trip (what feels like) a million times. Finally touching down in Hawaii and checking in to the serene Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, was sweet manna for my stressed-out, Zoomed-out soul. There was plenty of time to daydream about what this long-craved getaway might look like—canoeing at dawn, chic swimwear, the freshest sushi—and this full-body exhale of a week on the Kohala Coast delivered in every way.

FYI: Traveling these days is logistics-heavy. United has multiple daily flights to Hawaii (more from the US mainland than any other airline—phew!) and was a total dream to fly with (plus, the Travel-Ready Center is there to help), but be sure to check all the COVID-19-regulation boxes and safety precautions well before you depart.*

COVID-19 disclaimer: We are working hard to keep our content as up to date as possible (deliveries, outdoor dining, etc.), but given the evolving nature of local COVID-19 restrictions, we recommend double-checking the information in this story with any business you plan on visiting. Also, please note that we have not vetted any businesses listed within our guides for their compliance with applicable safety regulations.

SHOP

goop Mauna Lani

Call me biased, but I think the goop Mauna Lani store is up there with the best hotel shopping experiences in the world. And I’m not alone. Every guest I spoke to lounging by the pool or ambling around the gardens agreed. The “goops, I forgot” section is a godsend, given my husband left his swim trunks, sandals, and (how, how!?) sunglasses at home. Meanwhile, I lingered around the jewelry edit weighing the pros and cons of a vacation splurge. Verdict: There are no cons. The floral sundresses, strategic G. Label selection, and good clean goop everything were also up for consideration.

DO

Turtle Time

Endangered baby sea turtles have been reared in the Mauna Lani’s saltwater ponds since 1989, and that’s where they stay until they’re large enough to survive (and hopefully thrive) in the wild. Every Fourth of July, the turtles are released down the beach into the ocean in the hopes of swelling the population’s dwindling numbers. I looped my daily runs around these pretty ponds and promptly fell for the baby hatchlings and their little fish neighbors. We’re hoping—fingers and toes crossed—to make it back to Mauna Lani in July to see these little guys released.

Paddle to the Sun

Hawaiian culture is intrinsically linked to the ocean, and I must say, Mauna Lani’s canoe guides did a stellar job at bringing that connection to life in real time as we paddled out. The coastline looks particularly dreamy at this hour—the colors, the Mauna Kea volcano, the streaky morning sky…honestly, it’s unmissable. All that aside, hopping from sand to canoe versus a sweaty a.m. workout in a studio is an easy sell.

Swim with the Manta Rays

The moonlight swim with manta rays at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel turned out to be one of the most magical experiences of my life. First off, don’t panic—these guys don’t have stingers, and there’s a guide with you at all times. Floating alongside these giant creatures as they glide around you is, in two words: extremely cool.

Photo courtesy of James L. Wing

Photo courtesy of James L. Wing

*Flight schedule subject to change.