By Classic Vacations

In Maui, sustainability isn’t just a philosophy — it’s a promise. Standing on the golden sands of Kā‘anapali, with trade winds carrying the scent of plumeria and the sound of waves meeting the shore, it’s easy to see why protecting this paradise matters. For travelers, the question is no longer should we travel sustainably, but how. 

Classic Vacations recently gathered travel advisors from across the country for its annual E3: Elite. Education. Experience. event — this time, with a powerful new focus on sustainability. In partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and California State University Monterey Bay’s Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program, advisors came together at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali to earn their GSTC certification and deepen their understanding of responsible travel. 

Learning What Sustainability Looks Like in Action 

The training, led by Dr. Paige Viren of CSUMB, went beyond classroom discussions. Advisors explored how tourism can protect, rather than deplete, the destinations we love — from conserving energy and water to ensuring tourism dollars stay within the community. 

Through guided learning, they discovered that sustainability isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset. It’s about asking better questions: Who benefits from my stay? How does this hotel support its environment and people? Does this property reflect the culture it represents? 

Seeing Sustainable Hospitality Firsthand 

To bring those lessons to life, advisors toured two of Classic Vacations’ preferred partners — the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and the Royal Lahaina Resort — both recognized for their sustainability leadership. 

At the Sheraton Maui, the group learned how the resort collaborates with more than 80 local businesses, ensuring that everything from food to furnishings supports Maui’s economy. Guests can also experience Hawaiian culture through culinary programs that highlight indigenous ingredients and through educational experiences like coconut weaving and storytelling with local artisans. 

Nearby, the Royal Lahaina Resort shared how its teams weave cultural heritage into daily operations — from employing local staff and sourcing island-grown produce to hosting community-led events that celebrate Hawaiian traditions. Each initiative demonstrated that sustainability and authenticity are deeply intertwined. 

Why Responsible Travel in Maui Matters 

For Maui, tourism is more than an industry — it’s a lifeline. Supporting responsible tourism means helping the community, culture, and environment recover and thrive together. The island’s recent challenges have underscored how vital it is to ensure that every visit gives back more than it takes. 

When travelers choose hotels that honor local culture, employ local residents, and invest in conservation, they become part of that recovery. For the advisors who attended the training, the experience reinforced a shared perspective: sustainable travel isn’t just about where clients stay, but about the impact those choices make on destinations and communities. 

How to Identify a Sustainable Hotel 

You don’t need to be an expert to make responsible choices. A few simple steps can make a meaningful difference: 

• Look for certifications. Programs like GSTC, Green Key, or EarthCheck signal verified sustainability standards. 

• Read beyond the amenities. A transparent sustainability page that outlines local hiring, waste reduction, or community initiatives is a good sign. 

• Notice how culture is represented. Hotels that authentically incorporate local traditions — in cuisine, design, and programming — are often those most committed to respectful tourism. 

Sustainability is ultimately about connection: connecting travelers to place, culture, and purpose. 

Travel Toward a Better Future 

Maui taught us that sustainable travel isn’t a trend — it’s a shared responsibility. Whether you’re a travel advisor guiding clients or a traveler planning your next journey, choosing a sustainable hotel is one of the simplest ways to make a lasting difference. 

Because every mindful stay helps ensure that destinations like Maui — and the communities that make them extraordinary — continue to thrive for generations to come. 

About Classic Vacations

Since 1978, Classic Vacations® has been a trusted resource for travel advisors, dedicated to helping them design unforgettable journeys for their clients. Classic evolves with advisors, meeting them where they are affirming the belief that travel experiences are better with advisors. By combining technical innovation with a steadfast commitment to exceptional service, Classic consistently exceeds expectations, delivering unmatched value. Classic has earned a reputation for providing advisors with world-class travel products, unmatched white-glove support, industry-leading expertise, top commissions, ongoing education, and recognition. Classic offers everything advisors need to scale their businesses efficiently and create and retain loyal customers for life. Learn more: www.classicvacations.com

The post How to Choose a Sustainable Hotel: Lessons from Maui  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Dale Myers, Pleasant Holidays 

The islands of Hawaii are diverse: Maui is a mecca with its Seven Sacred Pools. The Island of Hawaii is bigger than all the other Hawaiian Islands combined, is the most ecologically diverse and has one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Oahu, the “Gathering Place,” draws the most visitors, due in no small part to world-famous Waikiki Beach.  

However, one of Hawaii’s smallest main islands packs one of its biggest punches and was the genesis of it all. Primordial Kauai, the “Garden Island,” was the first Hawaiian island to form approximately five million years ago and is home to the largest canyon of any island in the Pacific and Hawaii’s only navigable river.

9:30 a.m. 

Wailua River, East Side of Kauai 

“There are sharks in Wailua River so keep your hands inside the boat at all times,” the captain of our low-lying vessel only half-jokingly says. “Seriously though, we do see sharks here occasionally,” he adds, which prompts every passenger on the slow boat to the fabled Fern Grotto to look overboard.  

The banks of the Wailua River, which is fed from rains on Mt. Wai’ale’ale (one of the wettest spots on Earth), once served as the sacred capital of ancient Kauai and the birthplace of its ali’i (royalty). We dock at a small pier on the river and are let loose in the jungle. A well-trodden path winds its way through a dense rainforest and the faint melody of Hawaiian music beckons. We are greeted by a troupe of musicians performing the Hawaiian Wedding Song in front of the Fern Grotto, where couples are told they can now consider themselves married in the Hawaiian tradition. This evokes laughter in most, but terror in others. The jade-colored ferns of the amphitheater-like grotto appear to be swaying to the Hawaiian rhythms bouncing off the acoustically sound black lava rock from which they sprout upside down. 

2 p.m. 

Waimea Canyon, West Side of Kauai 

From the town of Waimea (Hawaiian for “reddish water”), I ascend Waimea Canyon Drive. In the distance is Hawaii’s privately owned “Forbidden Island,” Ni’ihau. Waimea Canyon, aka the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” is a 14-mile-long, one-mile-wide gorge that is more than 3,600 feet deep. From the Waimea Canyon Lookout (mile marker 10), the red layers of the canyon’s walls appear stained by the “reddish water” of the Waimea River, which helped carve the canyon in centuries past. In fact, however, the canyon walls are red due to lava flow that pooled and throughout the years turned from black to red. Across the canyon Waipoo Falls plummets 800 feet while wild goats cling to the cliffs. 

The road from Waimea Canyon ends at the Pu’u o Kila Lookout (mile marker 19), with its panoramic views of Kalalau Valley, the largest valley on the Nāpali Coast. Although only 11 miles across to Ke’e Beach, there is no more road, thus making circumnavigation of Kauai impossible unless on foot, so it’s back in the car for more than 80 miles of driving to see its paradisiacal lagoon. 

5 p.m. 

Hanalei, North Shore of Kauai 

I stop briefly in storied Hanalei to visit the 19^th-century Wai’oli Hui’ia Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The helicopters from Waimea Canyon beat me to the other side of the island and are swarming near the silver-threaded waterfalls cascading from the sheer cliffs behind the green church.  

6 p.m. 

Ke’e Beach 

Eight miles from Hanalei driving past some of the most scenic land on Earth and I land at Ke’e Beach. Ke’e, ironically, means “avoidance,” but is rather so enticing I sprint to the shore and immerse myself in its warm-water lagoon as the sun starts to dip below the cathedral-like Nāpali Coast mountains. The heavy surf pounds the protective reef and washes over the lagoon as the trade winds ruffle the palms. I can see the beginning of the Kalalau Trail, which traverses the Nāpali Coast and is perhaps the most famous hike in all of Hawaii. I don’t know if I’m more amazed by this quintessential tropical setting straight out of a Melville novel or the fact that I experienced all this majesty in just one day.   

Find your dream vacation to Hawaii at https://ustoa.travelstride.com/trip-list/hawaii

About Pleasant Holidays

Founded in 1959, Pleasant Holidays is one of the largest tour operators in the U.S., offering vacation packages, flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, travel protection and related travel services to the world’s most popular destinations including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Central America, Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, Canada, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Bora Bora and French Polynesia. The Company’s portfolio of travel brands includes Pleasant Holidays, Journese, Air By Pleasant and Pleasant Activities.  

Dale Myers is the Digital Content Editor for Pleasant Holidays. He has traveled extensively throughout Hawaii and Europe.  

The post <strong>Kauai: A Day in the Life of Hawaii’s Oldest Island</strong>  appeared first on USTOA Blog.