The Real Star of HBO’s ‘White Lotus’

The White Lotus is a limited series that received a lot of positive press when it aired on HBO this summer. The TV show follows the flawed, privileged lives of the guests who check into White Lotus, a luxurious beachfront resort in Hawaii. The intense drama kept fans on the edge of their seat every week. And yes, I’m one of the thousands of fans who can’t wait for the second season, which, if we’re lucky, will return next summer.  

Expect big changes though. In August, HBO revealed that the premise of the show will shift “to leave Hawaii behind and follows a different group of vacationers as they jet to another White Lotus property and settle in temporarily amongst its inhabitants.” 

For the first season, one of the main reasons for tuning it was to see Murray Bartlett, who you may recall was Dominic Basaluzzo on another HBO TV show, Looking.  This time around, on The White Lotus, the gay Aussie actor plays Armond, the resort’s manager who succumbs to his personal struggle with drugs. But it’s his drug-induced office romp sesh with hotel staffer, Dillion (Lukas Gage), that will forever be replaying in my mind. Google it, gay cisgender men! You’ll thank me later. 

Although there was some eye candy and several jaw-dropping plot twists throughout the six-part series, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was the real star of the show. The resort – which has 21 ocean-front suites – opened after a temporary closure due to COVID-19 to become the primary filming location for the binge-worthy show.

The property was also the incredible backdrop for the Dunphy-Pritchett family vacation on an episode of ABC’s hit TV show Modern Family. But I really wanted to know the difference between the fictional White Lotus property and the real-life Four Seasons Resort Maui. So, I caught up with Ben Shank, the General Manager at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, to sort out the fact from the fiction. 

Four Seasons Resort Maui or White Lotus – Fact or Fiction?
One thing that was transformed for the show was the resort’s spa, where Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) had those relaxing treatments and awkward heart-to-heart conversations with Belinda (Natasha Rothwell). “Designers changed the suite décor, as well as some of the spa, restaurants, etc. Upon reopening to guests, the resort was fully returned to its original décor,” said Shank.  

And what about the “Palm Suite” where the not-so-happy honeymooners Shane and Rachel Patton (Jake Lacy and Alexandra Daddario) stayed? The Four Seasons’ Elite Suite was dramatically redecorated for the show to create the “Palm Suite.” Real guests can splurge and stay in one of the three top-tiered residential Elite Suites for $16,000 per night. An added-value amenity for staying in one of these luxe suites is a list of epicurean wine experiences, where the resort arranges guests to personally connect with featured winemakers and enjoy private winery tours across the globe. 

And I enjoyed watching those scenes of teenager Quinn (Fred Hechinger) grabbing his blanket and a chair to sleep on the beach and then waking up inspired to join a group of Hawaiian men on their morning jaunt in an outrigger canoe. Well, even though guests aren’t allowed to sleep on the beach, they can enjoy the Complete Suite Experience, which includes a stay in an ocean-front suite and amenities such as an in-suite Peloton bike, credit to the resort’s luxury boutiques, and round-trip luxury transfers. Sorry, but don’t expect to arrive on a private boat while the resort’s smiling staff wait to greet you. Shank dispels that myth depicted in the first episode, “Our guests generally come in from the airport via car transfer and are welcomed with a traditional lei greeting.”

But some events and amenities featured in the show are real. Guests can dine at the lobby lounge from 5 to 11 pm, where they can also enjoy a sunset ceremony, including a Hawaiian hula and music from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Guests can also book a private luau to experience a traditional luau, but without the crowd. And the swim-up bar is real, too! 

“Our adults-only Serenity Pool that features a swim-up bar, as well as elevated panoramic views of Lanai and the West Maui Mountains, and underwater music system, and refreshing bubble loungers,” said Shank.

Indulge in These Luxury Travel Experiences 
All fiction aside, the Four Seasons Resort Maui offers guests unique travel experiences such as lei-making and ukulele lessons. For guests interested in health and wellness experiences, they can participate in the Revitalization Health Optimization Program, the resort’s collaboration with Next|Health to provide guests with a variety of wellness offerings, including customized IV therapy treatments, vitamin shots, and biomarker testing. 

For golfers, you can’t miss out on the private helicopter tour of Wailea Golf Course with a pro. The day begins with a Bloody Mary bar and includes private tee time, a golf intermezzo, and ends in a massage designed to ease those achy post-golf game muscles. 

Even though critics thought the show made some major missteps with portraying authentic Hawaiian culture, in real life, the resort appears to be a staunch supporter of the local Hawaiian community. The resort has sustainable travel experiences like the Fire & Wine culinary adventure that offers a window into the Hawaiian lifestyle of fishing, hunting, and gathering the island’s unique seafood, game, and produce. Open-fire and advanced sommelier, Yeshua Goodman, is your guide as he cooks the gathered goods over an open flame and pairs the food with fine wines. Guests can also participate in the resort’s Malama Hawaii and volunteer to help process historic artifacts and documents at the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. 

But back to the show… Now, I’m really curious to know what luxe property the next cast of flawed characters will check into for the second season of The White Lotus. For now, check out more photos of last season’s superstar, the Four Seasons Resort Maui.