Hyatt Regency Maui Celebrates 45 Years With Regenerative Landscaping and a Deepened Commitment to Mālama ʻĀina

Source: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

As Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa marks its 45th anniversary, the celebrated Kāʻanapali destination is doing more than reflecting on decades of hospitality—it’s looking forward with purpose. Anchored in Hawaiian values of mālama ʻāina (care for the land), the resort is entering a new chapter shaped by sustainability, biodiversity, and educational guest programming that brings the island’s ecological story to life.

Over the past year, the resort has reimagined its 40-acre landscape with regenerative practices that prioritize native ecosystems and coral reef protection. At the helm is Landscape Manager Jason “JD” Dennis, who has led the implementation of a natural pest control system and the use of BioComplete™ Soil Amendments—organic treatments designed to enrich soil health while eliminating chemical runoff. The result: a Gold Certification for Reef Friendly Landscaping awarded by the Maui Nui Resource Council.

Instead of relying on fertilizers or pesticides, the resort now produces its own compost and liquid inoculants, restoring vital microbial life to the soil and strengthening the island’s nutrient cycles. This shift has an impact well beyond the garden beds—by reducing runoff, it directly protects Maui’s surrounding reef systems from nutrient pollution, a leading threat to coral health in Hawaiʻi.

Guests will also find biodiversity woven throughout the resort’s edible landscapes. A new pollinator garden and the introduction of canoe plants—species brought to Hawaiʻi by early Polynesian voyagers—signal a growing commitment to both ecological restoration and cultural relevance.

These gardens are not just decorative. Ingredients such as lemongrass, rosemary, chilis, and onions are harvested regularly and used in resort dining and team member meals, creating a more sustainable and localized food system. By cultivating what it serves, the resort is deepening its engagement with Hawaiʻi’s natural resources—thoughtfully, and with long-term stewardship in mind.

More than a visual transformation, the resort’s regenerative ethos comes to life through hands-on guest experiences that invite travelers to participate in local restoration efforts. One of the most compelling is the Palace Genki Toss—an interactive program where guests form and launch genki balls (natural spheres made of clay, minerals, and beneficial microbes) into the ocean. These eco-friendly “mud balls” help purify water, suppress harmful algae, and enhance coral health.

Available by request for groups starting at $300 for up to 50 people, the genki toss is led by Dennis and offers a deeper look at the unseen forces that shape marine ecosystems. Guests can examine microbes through a microscope and leave with a new understanding of Hawaiʻi’s fragile reef environment.

The resort also offers a weekly Hawaiian Plant Tour every Wednesday morning. This guided experience takes guests through its thoughtfully maintained grounds to learn about native and canoe plants, traditional land management systems like the ahupuaʻa, and the ecological significance of Hawaiʻi’s flora. The tour illustrates how regenerative landscaping and cultural storytelling can coexist—giving travelers a richer, more grounded sense of place.

As a LEED EBOM Gold-certified property, Hyatt Regency Maui has long championed energy efficiency and environmental performance. But these latest initiatives represent a shift from sustainable maintenance to regenerative innovation—one rooted in reciprocity with the land.