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As if the sounds of voice and ukulele and colors of beach and orchids and greenery were not enough, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is home to a museum quality art collection. Throughout the hotel and gardens are the works of some of Hawaii's most prestigious local artists: John Young, Hiroshi Tagami, Michael Powell, Dale Evers, Luigi Fumagalli, and more. In the lobby of the Tapa Tower is a bronze of Alfred Aholo Apaka by local sculptor Kim Duffett; Apaka introduced Hawaii's music to worldwide audiences with his appearance on national television in the late 1950s.
The Kahiko Statues guard the Hilton
Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa
a symbol of respect and celebration.
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Duffett's most recent effort reigns at the redesigned entrance to the Village: a trio of larger-than-life dancers performing ancient hula. Although the sculptures are cast in bronze and designed to withstand hurricane-force winds, from every angel they seem to move and flow. They are a symbol of respect and celebration for the beauty of the Hawaiian culture. Unveiled on May 16, 2001 the three dancers, called "Kaha Ka `lo Me Na Makani", pay tribute to the importance of dance, chant, and song in Hawaii, by symbolically giving it mana.
The Kahiko Statues were recently recognized by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, which granted Hilton Hawaiian Village the "Keep It Hawaii" award for keeping things culturally correct, instead of fifties/sixties commercial.
The 22-acre resort is also home to a Bishop Museum collection at the Hawaiian Arts & Culture Center in Kalia Tower. There are treasured Hawaiian artifacts, Edison company Hawaiian footage from 1906, bird feather cloaks, photographs of old Waikiki, and ancient tools and weapons, such as a shark tooth club. A gigantic surfboard belonged to water sprint champion Duke Kahanomoku, the first athlete from Hawaii to win an Olympic gold medal. The entire collection is valued at more than $5 million.
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More than 40 ethnic shops and
restaurants make up Hilton's
famed Rainbow Bazaar.
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The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa was the brain child of entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser and partner Fritz Burns. Building began in the mid 1950s on land they purchased next to the old Niumalu Hotel. Thatched guest cottages were hand-built by Hawaiian Samoans who were brought in to weave coconut fronds into thatchings. In three months workers completed the first unit of 70 guest rooms and suites, the Tapa Room (now the site of the Tapa Tower) was planted with giant palm trees and lush gardens, and three swimming pools were built.
Along Rainbow Drive, the entrance to the resort today, more than 40 ethnic shops and restaurants make up Hilton's famed Rainbow Bazaar. Massive granite lions guard the Moongate at the entrance to Hong Kong Alley. You can explore a Thai temple, a replica of a 50-foot high Japanese Pagoda, and an entire Japanese farmhouse.
A visit to Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa wouldn't be complete without some quality time at the exclusive Mandara Spa right there in our own Kalia Tower. I discovered the spa has a pleasant shaded balcony with cushioned chairs where you can wait for your spa treatment and/or relax with a magazine and refreshing drink of water afterwards. Mandara Spa treatments include beauty and relaxation concepts from around the world. Asian spices and oils are used for masques, scrubs and wraps; massage styles range from Swedish to Lomi Lomi. You can even have the Mandara special massage: two therapists working in unison. (Photo: What could be more luxurious that a poolside massage?"
 I found myself tempted by the "Exploration in Chocolate", where two persons receive side-by-side massages in a deluxe twin spa suite. A pot full of a rich chocolate macadamia nut scrub is the highlight of the experience. It's a two-and-a-half hour event, so I opted for the simple "Massage Around the World" for 50 minutes.
The name "Mandara" comes from an ancient Sanskrit legend about the gods' quest to find the elixir of immortality and eternal youth. The Mandara Spa is a full service salon with an outdoor infinity pool, whirlpool and sundeck.
At the Holistica Hawaii Preventive Medicine Center in the Ali`i Tower I learned you can even explore the inner aspects of your personal health with cutting edge medical technology. The vision of Dr. John Klock, oncologist and founder, Holistica provides an exceptional medical experience in a relaxed and rejuvenating setting. It's the only EBT scanning center in the world located in a resort setting.
A full range of highly accurate EBT scans, including heart and full-body scans are all FDA-approved and conducted by board-certified physicians and staff. Scans include a private physician consultation and a complete report to share with your primary care physician back home. It's non-invasive, painless, and typically takes only thirty minutes to an hour. On the mainland you'd have to go to the Mayo Clinic, UCLA Medical Center, Tulane University Hospital, or Walter Reed Army Hospital for EBT scanning like this.
 It's time to bid "aloha" to water lilies, koi and turtles, red ginger, and orange and blue birds-of-paradise. With so much to see and learn and experience at Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, we departed with the feeling that we'll be back again and again, and, like the Hilton's birdlife, we would always feel right at home at the Village.
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Feature and most photos by Carolyn Proctor, Las Vegas Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent.
Read the Jetsetters Magazine Feature "Hiking Leahi"
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