This Ritz is a complete universe, one of those resorts where you can happily sit by the ocean with a book for 2 whole weeks and never leave the grounds. It rises proudly on a knoll, in a singularly spectacular setting between the rainforest and the sea. During construction, the burial sites of hundreds of ancient Hawaiians were discovered in the sand, so the hotel was moved inland to avoid disrupting the graves. The setback gives the hotel a commanding view of Molokai. Today, Hawaiian cultural advisor Clifford Nae'ole helps guide resort developments and hosts the Ritz’s signature events, such as the Celebration of the Arts—a weeklong indigenous arts and cultural festival. The resplendent accommodations feature dark wood floors, plush beds, marble bathrooms, and private lanais overlooking the landscaped grounds and mostly undeveloped coast. The Ritz offers one of the best club lounges in the state, serving gourmet coffee and pastries, a lunch buffet, cookies in the afternoon, hot appetizers and drinks at sunset, and assorted goodies throughout the day. Additional amenities include several superior restaurants; a 10,000-square-foot, three-tiered pool; and the 17,500-square-foot Waihua Spa, with steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools surrounded by lava-rock walls. Make sure to visit Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment center and explore the captivating activities for adults and kids. (You can even feed the resident potbellied pigs.) A bit of a hike from the resort proper, D. T. Fleming Beach is beautiful but tends to be windier and rougher than the bays immediately south; a 5-minute shuttle ride delivers you to calmer Oneloa or Kapalua.