Hotel Wailea defines the ultimate Hawaiian island getaway. Perched above the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and tucked away in a forest of lush palm and banana trees, Hotel Wailea is an ultra-private boutique resort in Maui and Hawaii’s only Relais & Châteaux property. For those who dream of adventure, romance, and laid-back beach luxury, Hotel Wailea is waiting to wish you aloha. Join acclaimed local journalist Malia Mattoch as she explores Hotel Wailea’s intriguing past and dives into the present of this effortlessly glamorous getaway. With page after page of original photography, this book captures the essence and style that make this hidden boutique hotel a home away from home for the in-crowd, celebrities, and anyone else looking for a touch of Maui without the endless crowds. Hotel Wailea began as a mysterious property with a mischievous past. Originally built in the 1980s as a membership club called Diamond, it had the ocean at its feet, Maui’s dormant Haleakal volcano at its back, and intrigue at its center. McManus saw the possibility of creating something new: a tropical luxury village rather than a single high-rise building typical of neighboring properties. “The prevailing thought when you step off a plane to build a hotel in Hawaii is that everything has to be centered around the beach,” McManus says. “Typically, Hawaiians know that living on the beach is an unprivate experience, especially when you compare it to coastal locations in Europe, where it’s all about the ocean view, a sense of privacy, and service.” Hotel Wailea was recognized as Hawaii’s No. 1 resort in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 Worlds Best Awards, the first property to earn the No. 1 spot in Hawaii two years running. Hotel Wailea has also been recognized on the prestigious Travel + Leisure Top 500 Worlds Best list for multiple years, including 2023. The Maui wildfires have become the deadliest wildfires in the United States in the past hundred years. In the wake of this tragedy, Assouline will donate 100 percent of net proceeds from all Hotel Wailea purchases made between August 14 and December 31, 2023 to organizations supporting victims of the Maui wildfires.