Twenty-five minutes from the Kona airport on Hawaii's Big Island, Mauna Lani is an oasis of sun, sea, spa and expertly guided ocean sports. The only wellness escape better than a luxurious, far-flung ...

When you hear the words “Auberge” and “summer restaurant residency,” you might imagine a fancy, over-the-top experience. But in go-with-the-flow Hawaii, the waves—and everything else—hit differently.

“Hut hoe!” the steerman bellowed, so I switched sides, gripping the T-end of the paddle and digging into the glassy blue beneath me. The only sounds: water splashes as the canoe cut forward, and the ...