Grand Wailea Resort

WAILEA, Maui, Jan 3 - Even though I have been to Hawai many times, it was only today that I learned for the first time that "wai" means water in the Hawaiian language.  Wailea, a beautiful place on water, certainly deserves its name.  Take a look at the Grand Wailea Resort, for example, to which I walked after my golf course tour...

A man-made waterfall, for example, graces the entrance to the resort.

And this is the view of the hotel driveway...

...and the front entrance.  No caption is necessary to describe the rest of the lobby pictures.  Just watch for numerous pieces of art (sculptures) that are strewn all over.

On the oceanside of the resort, I was stunned to see an actual church, along with several gazebos.

This is what it looked like close up.

The little lake around the church is stocked with colorful ornamental fish; the kind that one normally sees in Japanese gardens.

The grounds around the church are planted with beautiful impatiens (flowers).

And opposite the front entrance to the church is this sculpture of a woman dressed in white and dancing as if in a trance.  

So I figured that the main purpose of the church is to be used as a wedding chapel.  The setting is certainly beautiful for anyone looking for a romantic venue.  Take a look...

The Grand Wailea Resort beach...

...its "reflecting pool"...

...the "Polynesian village"...

...the rugged coastline at one end of the beach...

...in front of beautiful golden hibiscus groves...

...and a beautiful sunset over another pool with a waterfall.  That's how grand the Grand Wailea is.

And at night, this is what the entrance to the resort looks like... like a driveway to fairyland.

This is, by the way, where I came to watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve last year (see The Final Aloha).  They were spectacular, as everything about Wailea seems to be.

END OF PART 3 - CLICK HERE to see the Sunset...

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