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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
It might seem a bit counterintuitive to position a spa away from the gently lapping waves of the beautiful Kahuwai Bay, but that distinct vantage is exactly what gives Asaya, which overlooks the otherworldly lava fields at the resort’s perimeter, its unique character. Hawaii contains multitudes, and you will get it here, from the impermeable mineral landscape to the soft ambience of the jungle to the salt-and-pepper beaches where sailors launch their Hawaiian canoes, or wa’as.
Kona Village has long been a beloved family-friendly resort, and its recent reinvention under Rosewood Hotels has been executed with both an eye to preserving what made it so special over the decades, while bringing it fully into the contemporary moment. Central among that reinvention is the establishment of a truly classy spa.
What’s the vibe?
The treatment rooms at Asaya announce their intent with their positioning: This is a spa that is in touch with its surroundings, both in the environmentally inspired treatments (think hot stone massages that utilize pohaku—lava rock—or body treatments that use local sea sponges to stimulate the lymphatic system) and in the general spirit. No formality required here, this place is more about simplicity, lack of pretense, and the friendly, familial spirit that characterizes Hawaiian hospitality. With its individual hales (luxurious ti-leaf-thatched rooms), there is never a sense of density among the guests at Kona, and that peaceful spirit of privacy extends to the spa, where open-air treatment rooms are enclosed in minimalist paneling, the black wood echoing the stark aesthetics of the surroundings.
What’s the history?
Rosewood has long established Asayas elsewhere in the world (Hong Kong, Phuket, Guangzhou, and Vienna), but the Kona Village iteration, which opened in 2023, is its first venture in the Americas. As such, there’s quite a lot riding on the success of this expansion; there’s been a lot invested in the reinvention of Kona altogether—a massive undertaking that has taken the resort from beloved if somewhat-down-to-earth destination to a world-class resort, with the price tag to match. (The starting room rate is now $1,695 a night.)
What should you try?
With such incredible surroundings serving as inspiration, it would be a folly not to indulge some of the more locally focused treatments—and if you’re a full-on “earth, wind, fire” (the elements, not the band) type, Asaya offers several “journeys” meant to connect the inner self to the natural environs while also catering to the exterior. The Lokahi Ceremony, for example, utilizes Hawaiian healing practices by pairing a body peel with massage; a new Mahina Renewal Ritual takes place outside, in the moonlight. If that all feels a bit performative, you can get straight to the bodywork, no judgment implied. And of course, the spa carries a number of top-end products (Evidens de Beauté, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Ground, and Prospect Farms) that have little to do with the surroundings but lots to do with how good your skin might look and feel at the conclusion of your visit.
How environmentally friendly is it?
The old Kona existed at a time when “sustainability” was not part of the vernacular. Energy was supplied by diesel generators, while the new Kona runs entirely on solar. Eventually, it hopes to transfer energy back to the grid. The resort employees a full-time sustainability manager, and, when I visited just after the reopening in 2023, she was busy overseeing a vegetable garden and hatching plans for an on-site industrial composter. The Asaya Spa is one of the resort s three LEED-certified buildings, reinforcing its role as a leader in sustainable building practices. Generally speaking the resort and spa showcase an impressive dedication to honoring and preserving Hawaii’s stunning environment.
What else do we need to know?
Bottom line: A place that used to be focused on the family is now striving to be a wellness destination as well.
Booking details for Asaya Spa at Kona Village
Address: 72 300 Maheawalu Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States
Read more from Vogue s Global Spa Guide.
