Press Release

Refreshed Ihilani Spa to Help Those Who Heal

"Helping and Healing" Program to Benefit Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center

Ko Olina, Oahu, HI – January 5, 2011 – The luxurious JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina is celebrating the revitalization of its renowned Ihilani Spa with a new charitable program called "Helping and Healing," designed to honor Hawaiian healing practitioners on the Leeward Coast.

From January 14 through February 14, the rejuvenated spa will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's (WCCHC) Dr. Agnes Kalaniho'okaha Cope Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center. The "Helping and Healing" donation will come from spa treatments conducted on Mondays and Fridays during the four-week time period, including the Hawaiian Lomilomi massage. To make a reservation, contact Ihilani Spa at 808-679-3321.

"We wanted to re-launch the spa by giving back to a community organization located in our own backyard that fits our theme of ‘Healing by the Sea,'" said Robin Desha, director of Ihilani Spa. "We felt the Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center at WCCHC was a perfect fit, seeing how they serve the people of West Oahu and promote traditional healing practices and customs."

"On behalf of the Council of Elders, Traditional Hawaiian Healers and Kako`o of the Healing Center, mahalo for the generous support and contribution from the Ihilani Spa," said Kamaki Kanahele, Director of the Dr. Agnes Kalaniho'okaha Cope Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center. "Its gracious contribution will honor Hawaiian culture by raising awareness of the strength of traditional Hawaiian approaches to healing to improve the quality of life for all who come to our Healing Center for assistance."

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's Healing Center, which has been providing traditional healing services to the Waianae community since 1996, recently relocated to a new, breathtaking building. The Dr. Agnes Kalaniho'okaha Cope Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center opened on September 14, 2009 at the WCCHC campus. Considered the first of its kind, the Healing Center was completed through a generous $1 million gift by Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa. The Dr. Agnes Kalaniho'okaha Cope Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing Center practices Native Hawaiian healing customs, cultures and traditions. The primary practices of the Healing Center include Lomilomi (massage therapy), La‘au Lapa‘au (herbal medicine), La‘au Kahea (spiritual healing), Ho‘oponopono (conflict resolution), Pale Keiki (midwivery) and Haha (diagnostic healing through observation).

About JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
The luxurious JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina offers 387 spacious guest rooms including 36 suites, which are being completely transformed to feature a residential resort look-and-feel and upgraded amenities including a 42-inch flat screen LCD TV. The AAA Four Diamond award winning resort fronts the first of four lagoons in the 640-acre Ko Olina Resort & Marina, offering the island's most complete resort experience with a relaxed Hawaiian elegance and gracious, warm personalized service. The resort is ideal for meetings and weddings with a total of 77,694 square feet of outdoor and indoor meeting space, including the newly expanded 15,600-square-foot Hokulani Ballroom. Resort activities include 18 holes of championship play at Ko Olina Golf Club, tennis courts with ocean views and a variety of restaurants showcasing unique and distinctive island cuisine, including the AAA Four Diamond award winning Azul restaurant. The world-class Ihilani Spa, voted one of the "Top Spas in the World" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines, has been completely redesigned with a new layout, couple's treatment room, the brand new Ho'onanea suite for private events, and a 24-hour fitness center. Ihilani Spa is internationally renowned for its full complement of invigorating body treatments and massages, using products harvested from the honua (earth) and the moana (ocean) here in the islands. The resort recently ranked as one of the "Top 15 Hawaii Golf Resorts" by Conde Nast Traveler, one of the "World's Best Hawaii Resorts" by Travel + Leisure, and number one in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's "Best of the Best Hotel & Resort" poll voted by island readers.

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 45 JW Marriott hotels in 19 countries; by 2013 the portfolio will encompass 73 properties in 28 countries.

About Marriott International
Marriott International is a leading lodging company with more than 3,400 lodging properties in 68 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites Inn and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, The Ritz-Carlton Residences and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland USA, and had approximately 137,000 employees at 2009 yearend. It is recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2009, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $11 billion. For more information, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com

# # #

Media Contacts
McNeil Wilson Communications
Bernie Caalim at 808-531-0244 / bernie.caalim@mwc-anthology.com
Noreen Kam at 808-531-0244 / noreen.kam@mwc-anthology.com

Back to Press Releases