Hawaii

The drive to Kapalua, along Maui's Honoapi'ilani Highway, hugs the western rim of the island and provides an amuse bouche of what awaits: a nearly endless horizon of surf and sky, perfumed air and an unusually strong sense of place. That last element being especially evident at the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay. If the mention of Hawaii still produces reflexive images of tiki heads and loud shirts, the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences has made it a point to provide a more authentic, and thereby transcendent, island experience for its residents and guests.

Not to be confused with the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the Club and Residences property is part of the brand's equity-based program that allows members to either purchase a fractional residence at a specific location or sample any of the portfolio's options through a real estate trust. Either way, buying in results in a deeded interest that can be passed down to family members. But the quality sure to lure most into the former arrangement with Kapalua Bay is the lengths the Ritz-Carlton has gone to ensure that luxury and cultural accuracy aren't mutually exclusive concepts.

A major auction was announced recently for 11 premier condominium homes and three oceanview homesites located on the Hawaiian island of Lana'i, owned by Castle & Cooke, David H. Murdock's real estate company (who also happens to be the owner of Dole Food Co., Inc.). Lana'i is home to many high-end developments and these properties are located across four private ones. The sale will be held on January 16 at a Southern California location and opening bids will range from $435,000 to $845,000, which are up to 68 percent below previous asking prices.

Accelerated Marketing Partners (AMP) will conduct the auction for the homes which represent more than $20.5 million worth of real estate. The residences and homesites being offered at the January 16 sale are located within private Lana'i developments in Oceanside Manele and Upcountry Ko'ele. Each area offers attractions, ranging from scuba diving and whale watching, to horseback riding, a world-class sporting clay venue and archery. All homes are available for immediate occupancy.

Asian-inspired architecture and a beautiful setting combine for one beautiful Hawaiian property. Today's home is located behind the gates of Kukio, the only private golf and beach club on the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. The home offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea, Mount Hualalai, the Kohala Mountains on the Big Island and Haleakala on the Island of Maui. The home features beautifully decorated floral doors leading to a home that incorporates indoor and outdoor space seamlessly.

The home is approximately 9,000 square feet with a private master suite wing that has its own den. There are also two guest suites, a media room and a separate art studio. The grounds were landscaped to with water features and Japanese garden features meant to inspire calm reflection. This home is listed at $13,988,000.

Luxist readers have selected their favorite luxury vacation spots for families around the world. From Scotland, France, New Zealand, and South Africa to Hawaii, Colorado and the Galápagos Islands, these destinations offer wonderful programs tailored specifically for children, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top ten vacation destinations for families, according to our readers, include:

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise Through the Burgundian Countryside (France)
Abercrombie & Kent offers many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for family vacations, but one of the most special trips has got to be its river barge cruise through the Burgundian countryside. A chartered seven day cruise aboard La Belle Epoque, A&K's 126-foot-long, 16.5 feet wide barge, is a luxurious and relaxing way to travel and taste award-winning Burgandy wines.

The barge, which is equipped with six cabins, all outside facing and each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. There's one deluxe double cabin; one deluxe twin/double; two twin/double cabins and two cabins each with twin beds. There's also a small swimming pool, a sauna and several sun decks. Bicycles are also available for anyone in the family wanting to cycle in the towns the barge visits. A gourmet chef is on board to prepare all of the meals, which are included in the cost of the excursion.

The new hotel brand EDITION officially launches its first hotel in Hawaii on October 15, 2010. This new brand is part of Marriott International. The Waikiki EDITION, situated on Oahu, is set in its own private oasis close to Waikiki's celebrated surfer's beach, marina shopping district. This new urban resort was envisioned by Ian Schrager, and operationalized in collaboration with interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg with landscape designer Deborah Nevins.

The lobby's surfing theme is defined by a dramatic, wall-to-wall surfboard installation ( see above) by artist and internationally renowned former professional surfer Herbie Fletcher. It is made from over 100 collected, broken surfboards from the sport's best pipeline surfers: Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Nathan Fletcher, Bruce Irons, and Christian Fletcher. It hangs above the custom-made reception desk, which has been made from sculpted plywood transformed into a natural, organic shape and finished using the techniques and traditions of local Hawaiian surfboard making.

Kona Village Resort, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the winner of the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Luxury Family Vacation. The pristine resort features serene lagoons surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping as well as dramatic, surreal, black lava cliffs that plunge to meet the ocean.

Guests stay in thatched roof hales (Polynesian-inspired bungalows) on 82 oceanfront acres. No televisions, telephones, radios, air conditioners are there to distract. Coconuts supplant traditional "no disturb" signs,

Included in the guest rate are all daily meals, an award-winning, traditional Hawaiian luau and activities from snorkeling and tennis, to lei-making, stargazing and fishing the traditional way with bamboo poles.

Water-based activities include an Outrigger Canoe Program in which guests learn to paddle a canoe, Hawaiian-style. A Wiwo'ole Ribcraft Adventure is available for seasonal whale watching as well as cruises to hidden snorkeling sites with Scooters (dive propulsion vehicles). There's also standup paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, and SCUBA diving (scuba dive instruction and certification programs are available as Kona Village is a PADI certified resort).

Although the President has been spending time on Martha's Vineyard recently he prefers another island in the winter. While Barack Obama loves his Hawaiian vacations, he might need a new place to stay this winter. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the home on Kailua Beach where the Obama family stayed in December 2008 and 2009 has been sold. The home was bought by a Maryland company managed by a nephew of Hawaii real estate baron Harry Weinberg. The five-bedroom home was built in 2006 and was listed for $7.95 million. The listing agent Joel Cavasso, who is with Century 21 Kailua Beach Realty told the Star-Advertiser that the property sold for around $6.9 million. The buyers have never met the President and sales documents list the buyer as Paradise Point Estates LLC. Cassavo said that although the house has been sold the new owners are hoping that the President will still come visit.

Grand Wailea is a resort many call "the best in the world". So it should come as no surprose that it is nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Family Luxury Summer Vacation.

Located on Maui´s most beautiful and serene beach, Grand Wailea offers stunning ocean views and is surround by mesmerizing gardens and lush tropical flowers. This expansive Grand Wailea resort truly reflects the natural beauty of Maui. It also boasts one of the largest and most valuable collections of international art in all the Hawaiian Islands.

The Grand Wailea offers endless possibilities for any age. Lounge by one of the many pools, including the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, which has nine free-from pools, a 2,000 foot long river pool with waterslides and waterfalls, an adult only pool, and baby sand/beach pool. There are also five championship golf courses in close proximity, as well as an 11-court tennis complex and a 50,000 square foot award-winning spa on the grounds of the resort.

Kona Village Resort, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a nominee for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Luxury Family Summer Vacation. The pristine resort features serene lagoons surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping as well as dramatic, surreal, black lava cliffs that plunge to meet the ocean.

Guests stay in thatched roof hales (Polynesian-inspired bungalows) on 82 oceanfront acres. No televisions, telephones, radios, air conditioners are there to distract. Coconuts supplant traditional "no disturb" signs,

Included in the guest rate are all daily meals, an award-winning, traditional Hawaiian luau and activities from snorkeling and tennis, to lei-making, stargazing and fishing the traditional way with bamboo poles.

Water-based activities include an Outrigger Canoe Program in which guests learn to paddle a canoe, Hawaiian-style. A Wiwo'ole Ribcraft Adventure is available for seasonal whale watching as well as cruises to hidden snorkeling sites with Scooters (dive propulsion vehicles). There's also standup paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, and SCUBA diving (scuba dive instruction and certification programs are available as Kona Village is a PADI certified resort).

When it comes to cocktails, why not drink them in paradise? The Halekulani hotel on Waikiki Beach has announced "The Art of the Cocktail" weekend which runs September 17 through September 19. The spirited summit will be staffed by some of the world's most celebrated mixologists including Dale DeGroff, Julie Reiner and Tony Abou-Ganim hosting gatherings and informational seminars. Guests can also take part in hands-on experiences to acquire expert techniques. The full schedule is after the jump.

Today's estate is a world away from Hawaii's newer builds. This Puako Beach oceanfront home has never been on the market before. You can't get much closer to the water than this one which offers up close views of the ocean, turtles, whales and amazing sunsets. The home has large master suites downstairs each with enclosed outdoor showers, there are two bedroom view suites with private lanais upstairs, and sleeping loft offers more space for guests. It has been used as a vacation rental for years and was recently refurbished and upgraded with expansive decks. It is located 30 minutes north of Kailua-Kona airport and only 20 minutes from the provincial town of Waimea but seems like a world away from anywhere. It is listed at $4.65 million.

Nestled on the north shore of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, the Sullivan Estate & SPA Retreat is quite literally an oasis in a vast and chaotic ocean. Thanks to its reliance on solar power, it's also among Luxist's best green spa nominees.

Though the Sullivan Estate traces its beginnings to 1962, it has only been in its current incarnation for a few years. In 2005, German-Australian doctor Juergen Klein bought the estate after selling his skin care company, Jurlique. He and his wife Karin, a veteran in the hospitality industry, combined their expertise to create the spa.

The estate is powered almost entirely by the energy soaked up by solar panels that adorn the roofs of nearly every structure on the property. The photovoltaic tiles on top of the main building produce more than 50 kilowatts of electricity every day – so much that the estate often has enough surplus to sell energy back to customers on Oahu's main power grid.

The OlaLoa spa is billed as a retreat for the "seven senses," specializing in solutions for those under unusual amounts of stress. All therapies are drug-free and focus on balancing all states of mind and body, including massages, yoga, Thai Chi and Quigong. OlaLoa also focuses on longevity, emphasizing the value of dietary supplements to go along with a robust exercise regimen.

Treatments include "Synergized," a 3.5-hour program built to enhance circulation and relax muscle that starts with an herbal steam sauna and ends with an aromatherapy body massage. If that's not enough for you, try "Longevity," a 4.5-hour program that begins with yoga or Thai Chi and ends with a Swedish massage. Either way, you can take comfort in the fact that you're relaxing in the most sustainable manner possible.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

The Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice nominees for the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation include a luxurious family safari in Kenya where you'll see the wilds up close. The second nominee is a family trip to the Rockies in Colorado where just about every winter sport can be enjoyed. The third nominee is a paradise for families located in a picture-perfect stretch of beach on the Big Island's Kona Coast. The fourth nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime educational cruise to the Galápagos Islands. The final nominee is nestled in a rugged 2,500 acres of native forest on the edge of the Mamaku Plateau in New Zealand; it boasts a game reserve, seven trout streams, four lakes and more than 70 kilometers of hiking trails.

Abercrombie & Kent Family Safari in Kenya, Africa
For families with a thirst for adventure, a safari trip to Africa may be the ideal cure to the winter blues. Leave the planning to Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company that's been at it for half a century, now nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation category.

Founded in 1962 by a British family living in East Africa, Abercrombie & Kent offers an unparalleled family safari in Kenya. The 11-day itinerary starts with a flight to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and cultural, economic and political hub of East Africa. Once there, you'll start your journey with a visit to Daphne Sheldrick's Baby Elephant Orphanage, where keepers sometimes sleep with lonely animals at night. Proceed to the Giraffe Center, where you'll feed long-necked beauties from the palm of your hand.

Next, you'll head out into the wilds with a drive to the Sweetwaters Reserve, one of the best places to spot a rare chimpanzee or black rhino. Then delve deep into bush country with a trip to the Samburu game reserve, rife with buffalo, lion, leopard among others; meet with members of the nomadic Samburu tribe and track game, catch butterflies, or even ride a camel.

The next day, you'll spend the first of three days on the Masai Mara Game reserve, sleeping in tents near the Talek River and witnessing the vast expanse of the African savannah. Travel to a nearby village to learn about tribal culture and discover the proper way to throw a spear or light a fire with sticks. For amateur aviators, consider the optional hot air balloon safari before heading home.

Vote now for what you believe is the best international ski destination. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on February 1st.

It seems to be a good week for luxury real estate auctions. Concierge Auctions has announced the results of the January 18 auction of Cher's home in the exclusive Hualalai Resort in Hawaii along with a bunch of other home sales. Cher's home, which she did not live in, was sold to a buyer from Arizona for $8.72 million (it was expected to fetch between $8 and $12 million). The January 18 auction included the successful sale of five properties in Kona, Hawaii, for a total of more than $19.4 million.

In addition to Cher's home, a property at 72-3209 Ka Nehe Place in the Kuki'o Golf and Beach Club and Residences, shown above, which was selling absolute was purchased by a buyer from Beverly Hills for $4.95 million. We profiled this one as an estate of the day and it is a beauty. It was previously offered for $8.45 million so someone got a great deal. A second home selling absolute in Kuki'o, at 72-3205 Punaloa Place, was purchased for $3.85 million. Collectively, the prices achieved for the homes in Kuki'o were $10 per square foot higher than the average price per square foot for other homes sold in the Maniniowali section of Kuki'o over the past six months. Two other home sites in Kuk'io sold for $990,000 and $962,000.