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24 DAYSPA | AUGUST 2016 SPA HOPPING Hawaii: State of Grace She may be America's youngest state, but Hawaii has cultivated culture and traditions for over 1,500 years. By Marina Chetner Ah, Hawaii. For decades, visitors have been en- chanted with this paradise of lush rainforests, cerulean waters and fi ery volcanoes, where the evenings are balmy and the air is scented with plumeria (frangipani). Mark Twain characterized this Pacifi c archipelago as "the loveliest fl eet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." America's 50th state is also embraced for its vibrant culture infused with aloha, the sacred Hawai- ian word for love, grace and welcome. Hawaii's appeal is rooted in its rich heritage. The islands nurture an ancient and enduring culture, ini- tiated by early Polynesian settlers and followed by the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Fili- pino sugar plantation workers who immigrated in the 1880s, establishing Hawaii's multi-ethnic population. After barely surviving a lengthy suppressive period dur- ing its annexation in the late 19th century, Hawaiian culture blossomed like an exotic fl ower after it became a U.S. state in 1959. These days, eager tourists—8.6 million in 2015 alone—fl ock to Hawaii to experience its beaches, music, dance, food and, of course, spas. Oahu and Maui are the most visited of the archipelago's eight major islands, and their respective neighborhoods of Waikiki and Wailea are home to spas committed to honoring the islands' history and practices with Poly- nesian and Asian treatment techniques and rituals, not to mention a bounty of indigenous botanicals such as lilikoi (passionfruit) and frangipani. Among Hawaii's fi nest are the following four spa properties. PHOTO COURTESY FOUR SEASONS MAUI