Good Morning Hawaii

Welcoming each day with gratitude at Mauna Lani 

One of my favorite things about Hawaiian vacations? The jet lag. There’s something about waking up effortlessly refreshed, two to three hours ahead of schedule, feeling like a morning person—ready to throw open the curtains and seize the day. It’s a rare kind of time zone shift that gives you more vacation, not less.

Our first morning on the Big Island, at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, I join the sunrise canoe paddle. I gather on the beach with a couple dozen other guests in the dim pre-dawn light. After a brief instruction, we paddle in unison for ten minutes, then pause, floating in quiet anticipation. As the first light spills over Mauna Kea, our guide blows a conch shell, and chants into the morning air. I jump in the water, at the promise of hearing the migrating humpback whales sing if I submerge at the right moment. While my untrained ears pick up nothing, the morning ritual is the perfect reminder to greet each day with enthusiasm and gratitude. 

Breakfast at HāLani quickly becomes another morning activity that we look forward to not only for the food, but the service. The servers are genuinely friendly, effortlessly making conversation and doting on our baby, which means we actually get to enjoy our meal while it’s still hot. I cycle through a few favorites: ube pancakes—bright purple and perfectly fluffy, the açaí bowl, and prosciutto & pesto toast—loaded with mushrooms, poached eggs, parmesan, and arugula.

We spend most days at a beachfront Private Hālau Daybed, where we graze on the included fruit plate, obligatory ahi poke and pina coladas between dips in the ocean. We watch the waves and wade out to get a closer look at the green sea turtles blinking lazily in the lava rock tide pools. Walking along the beach path, we come across a 2,300-year-old fishpond where I point out pufferfish and eels to our daughter.

While my partner takes the baby to the sand-bottom Keiki Pool, I sneak away for a relaxing Lomi Lomi massage at The Auberge Spa, where my heated robe is placed on the table far too soon. As an afternoon pick-me-up, we take a Mercedes AMG convertible for a spin along the lava rock lined highway. Auberge’s partnership with Mercedes allows guests to test drive cars and explore the island—because, let’s be real, you probably didn’t road trip here. 

We return to Mauna Lani, realizing the property has pretty much everything we need, and pop into the on-site goop store—the only one in Hawaii. Just next to goop, we grab a snack at The Market—a refreshing option when traveling with kids or staying long enough that you occasionally want a grab-and-go panini and cone of salted caramel ice cream instead of a full sit-down meal. That said, I would happily eat at CanoeHouse—Mauna Lani’s fine dining establishment—every night of my life. 

Tucked near the Residences at Mauna Lani, CanoeHouse is consistently rated one of Hawaii’s best restaurants. Seated outside, we watch the sun sink into the ocean between Tiki torches and palm trees. The Warayaki ahi with wasabi soy and mustard miso sauces is grilled at the table. Followed by seared scallops with maitake mushrooms—perfectly carmelized and beautifully plated. It certainly lives up to expectations. 

On the way back to the room, we stop by The Market for gummy candy and a cookie the size of a scone…because vacation. This trip to Hawaii isn’t about cultural exploration or a transformative wellness journey (though if that’s what you’re after, you’ve still come to the right place—Mauna Lani offers triathlon camps, snorkeling canoe excursions and historic walking tours). This vacation is about creating family memories, and coming home more relaxed than we arrived, all while packing plenty into each day. That night we leave the lanai doors open, letting the waves along the Kohala Coast lull us to sleep, already looking forward to waking up and doing it all over again.