For some people, Hawaii fitness is a contraction in terms. They see a tropical vacation as the perfect excuse to shelve the exercise regimen and enjoy a lazy getaway to an idyllic destination.
But for travelers who don’t want to disrupt their fitness routines, hotels around the 50th state have come up with creative ways to work out, island-style.
In response to a growing interest in fitness travel, several Hawaii resorts have introduced classes and facilities designed to make physical activity downright fun. Likeminded travelers can meet for morning movement classes that get them charged up for the day to come, or they can work up a sweat together later in the day to recharge their batteries before an evening of mai tais and mahi mahi.
Following are several resorts offering fast-paced fitness activities with a lively Hawaiian flair.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: Hualalai Sports Club
The Big Island luxury resort features an equally high-end sports club whose goal is total body rejuvenation. Heart-pumping health and fitness offerings include Butts and Guts, focusing on legwork and abdominal action; Barre Fusion training using body weight, light weights and balls; Sports Pump, calling on barbells and dumbbells for a complete body workout; and Aqua Fitness in the club’s lap pool.
www.fourseasons.com/hualalai
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa: Moana Athletic Club
This 5,000-square-foot facility in west Maui is state-of-the art, and so are its exercise offerings. Fitness buffs get wet and sandy during Beach Boot Camp, while the Water Aerobics and Hydro-Fit options provide a splashy way to get the heart pounding. Step Intervals, Flexibility Training and Body Conditioning are equally popular options for feeling the power in paradise.
www.maui.hyatt.com
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa: Ihilani Spa
Oceanside in west Oahu, this full-service health and wellness center caters to the active set with classes that take advantage of its beautiful surroundings. During the Beach Workout, participants jog in the sand and do jumping jacks, lunges, pushups and core exercises in the great outdoors. Aqua Jog provides a no-impact workout in the ocean lagoon, while Yumba blends yoga with a Latin-based dance workout.
www.ihilani.com
Kahala Hotel and Resort: Chi Health Energy Fitness Center
Blue seas and sunny skies set a picturesque backdrop for workouts at this deluxe Oahu resort fitness center. The TRX Core aerobic workout blends various training methods for strengthening the core and sculpting the body. Chi Fusion Fit builds muscles in an interval format, while Holo Holo (travel) Fitness adds resistance bands and exercises to a walk along the coast. Clients can also combine two popular activities during the Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga class.
www.kahalaresort.com
Mauna Lani Resort: Mauna Lani Sports Club
Located on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii Island, this sports club does its best to keep visitors smiling while they get in shape. Its Cardio-Yoga Fusion is an upbeat combination of power yoga, dance, balance, strength and jump training. Guests get their cardio on during the indoor/outdoor Sunrise Bootcamp circuit class, while Core and More uses body weight and resistance bands for strength and flexibility.
www.maunalani.com
Royal Lahaina Resort: Passion of Movement Studio
This brand new movement center on Maui features daily classes crafted by fitness instructor Morgan Torres. Visitors can focus on abdominal exercising, Pilates mat work with props, stretching and flexibility training, TRX using their own body weight with straps, Bosu Circuit for toning and stability and Pilates machine work. For those looking for a more intense workout, Beach Boot Camp alternates jumping and toning.
www.royallahaina.com
Turtle Bay Resort: Nalu Kinetic Spa
The north shore Oahu hotel recently opened the doors to this reinvented spa-fitness-wellness center right next to the ocean. Among the many changes to the facility is the creation of a movement studio for popular wellness programs like Zumba and Hot Hula. Consider trying Wet Sweat, a high-energy, body-weight, boot camp exercise class held on the beach — the epitome of Hawaii fitness.
www.turtlebayresort.com
