Spa Without Walls, Big Island Hawaii

What do you do when you have had enough fun on the beach for awhile, but you’re too relaxed to do anything but lie around?  You book a massage, of course!  The Fairmont’s Spa Without Walls is the epitome of a unique pampering experience.  True to its name, treatments are enjoyed outdoors.  I have the choice of several locations for my massage – while the outdoor hale nestled among a secluded retreat of waterfalls, streams and koi ponds is inviting, I ultimately choose an oceanfront cabana.

As I wait for my massage to begin, I relax in the low-slung teak lounges of the outdoor waiting room.  Under the shade of succulent flora, the sound of fountains and waterfalls is my only music.  I’m escorted through the gardens and down the path to the sea, where a shaded and very private cabana awaits.  The afternoon light twinkles over the azure sea and a school of little flying fish are jumping right in front of me.  As the massage begins, the gentle trade winds caress my skin and I surrender to the hypnotic touch of the “lomilomi” massage accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of the waves caressing the shore. Sigh.  It is all so wonderful!  In a refreshing way to finish off the perfect massage, instead of the traditional hot stones, icy cold stones are gently massaged across my temple.  Heaven!