Hawaii does boutique for the modern traveller

You don’t often see ‘Hawaii’ and ‘boutique hotels’ in the same sentence. Yes, this is a state of uncompromising beauty, history and culture with nature in abundance however ‘boutique retreats’ are not considered commonplace, yet look a little deeper and the intrepid visitor will be rewarded by a number of secret gems scattered across these tropical islands.

The key islands for a boutique experience tend to be The Big Island, Maui, Kauai and Lanai.

Larger than all of the other islands combined, Hawaii's Big Island holds most of the ‘Biggest’, ‘Tallest’ and ‘Most active’ records in the world – it is vast enough to hold 11 of the world’s 13 climactic zones — from sandy beaches to snow-capped mountains. Its two volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are taller than Mount Everest, when measured from the seabed to their summits whilst Kilauea, infamous for the iconic images of its melting lava steaming into the ocean, is the most active volcano on Earth.

The Big Island also holds the record in Hawaii for its number of boutique hotels. The majority are in the farming hills of Waimea, near Volcanoes National Park, or amongst the tropical rainforest of Waipio Valley. There’s a historic ranch estate once owned by the Rockefellers featuring luxury suites and a chapel jacarandainn.com; others are home to private waterfalls and wildlife reserves; whilst some claim to be the best place to whale watch and star watch.

Experiential-led activities are on the menu at most of these boutique properties, some offer cultural interaction with local artists; swimming with dolphins; spa treatments; or ask you to get your hands dirty helping out on the farm. One of the most recent openings is The Hawaii Island Retreat, hawaiiislandretreat.com a sustainable eco-lodge and destination spa set in 50 acres. Built in the open-air elegance of a royal Hawaiian palace, this is boutique at its most opulent.

The second largest of Hawaii’s islands, Maui, is home to some of the best beaches in the world - perfect vantage points for the Humpback whales migrating off Maui's shores every winter. The world-class golf courses, art galleries and restaurants found on this island make it a mecca for the rich and famous, yet it is off the beaten track that visitors can find old art colonies, deserted beaches and a stunning coastline filled with waterfalls and lush flora.

Examples of boutique hotels include the Maui Hotel & Luxury Honua Spa hotelhanamaui.com, on the eastern coast with cottages on the beach; and the Aloha Pualani, alohapualani.com a hidden gem with just six suites.

Considered the greenest isle in Hawaii, Kauai, is graced with dramatic topography, thunderous waterfalls, pristine crowd-free beaches and the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ lending itself to being the location of choice for film directors worldwide.

Many of the key boutique hotels on Kauai offer spa facilities and include Hanalei Colony Resort hcr.com on the North Shore, (off the beaten track featuring 48 two-bedroom suites or condos); Waimea Plantation Cottages waimea-plantation.com near the Napali Coast, with simple cottages dating back to when the estate was a sugar plantation; and the recently renovated, Koa Kea koakea.com on Poipu beach. Here guests can find 121 luxury suites and an extensive spa whilst the new Executive Chef comes highly rated from the three Michelin starred El Bulli in Spain.

Lanai is the most remote and smallest of all the inhabited Hawaiian islands, yet this is a haven for visitors seeking to escape in style – and there isn’t a single traffic light on the island to stop them. Along with some of the best preserved rock paintings in the archipelago, turtle watching and diving, this is an island for the well-heeled with some of the most prestigious golf courses and two luxurious boutique hotels to relax in.

One is a charming hillside retreat, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele, reminiscent of a hunting lodge of days gone by; whilst the second hotel is a luxury beachside resort, Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay fourseasons.com/lanai/

In Hawaii, history buffs, culture vultures and wildlife seekers stand side by side (and occasionally swap sides) with adrenaline junkies, sun worshippers and spa lovers. And now with a range of boutique hotels on offer, authentic Hawaii is waiting to be re-discovered.