Malama aina, or caring for the land, is a traditional Hawaiian concept that's been practiced on the islands for centuries. For the Hawaiian people, in fact, many of today's popular ideas about the importance of sustainability and preserving the environment are simply time-honored ideals as old as the Hawaiian culture itself.
The Honua Kai Resort & Spa on Maui is taking the concept of malama aina very seriously, and long before the 38-acre luxury condominium property opened in January, all sorts of innovative, environmentally friendly design elements and operational strategies were incorporated, including the decision to hire Lance Gilliland as the resort's director of sustainability.
Sustainability sells
Gilliland has held a variety of positions at a number of properties in Hawaii, including Maui's Grand Wailea Resort, where he won several awards for the environmental programs he implemented. He was also selected by former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano to serve in the state's Office of Environmental Quality Control. That combination of hotel industry and sustainability experience apparently came in handy when Gilliland helped develop a fundamental Honua Kai principle.
"We call it 'eco-nomics': practices that are ecologically sound and economically feasible," Gilliland said. "It just makes sense to conserve energy, reuse, recycle and protect the beautiful natural environment for our homeowners and the resort guests that visit the property."
Honua Kai, for example, is the only resort on Maui to make use of nonpotable water to irrigate its landscaping, which translates to about 180,000 gallons of drinkable water saved each day.
The resort is also home to a state-of-the-art, centralized air-conditioning system that monitors every unit in the resort in order to limit overuse, and the heat generated by that system is in turn reused to heat the water in the property's three pools.
The resort's energy conservation efforts have been so effective that Honua Kai recently received the Maui Electric Co.'s largest-ever rebate for energy savings.
In addition to his profession credentials, Gilliland has native Hawaiian ancestry: His children's first language is Hawaiian, and the Maui property where he lives today has been in his family since 1811. So, perhaps not surprisingly, Gilliland is extremely passionate about caring for Maui's natural resources.
"If we don't protect the islands now, there won't be anything left for visitors to come see, or even for our own kids to enjoy," he said. "We're stepping up to the plate here at Honua Kai and paying the money to make sure we are protecting the environment.
"And what do our guests come for?" Gilliland said. "They come for the blue skies and the clear water, so we're doing our part to ensure that we aren't impacting that in any adverse way."
High-end hideaway
The 318 new, one-, two- and three-bedroom guest suites in the resort's Hokulani Tower feature roomy, glass-railed lanais; fully equipped kitchens; and ample living space. They have been up and running for the better part of 10 months.
The resort's Konea building, which houses 310 similar guest suites and the property's spa, will open early next year. Only steps from a gorgeous ribbon of Kaanapali's North Beach, Honua Kai offers guests a terrific place to escape. The beach is regularly frequented by Hawaii's green sea turtles, is an excellent spot for snorkeling and offers downright dazzling views of nearby Molokai.
"A lot of the attraction to our resort is that we're off the beaten path," Gilliland said. "But if you really want to speed things up some, Lahaina and the Kaanapali hotel strip is not more than 10 minutes away."
For stays through Jan. 31, Honua Kai is offering a 50% discount on all its ohana, one- and two-bedroom guest suites. Resort views start at $225 a night, while oceanview options begin at $300.
Visit www.honuakaimaui.com.