The Lotus Center — Hotel in Hawaii

Stay far, far away. My wife and I had booked a couples massage with Lotus for our 2 year anniversary that we were spending in Hawaii. I was excited, as I had been referred by my chiropractor to get a massage for a massive knot in my shoulder.

When we got there 30 minutes early, there was one man waiting at a counter that told us that we'd have to come back closer to our appointment time. No issue, guess we'll just go shopping for a bit. We come back 5 till and are taken through a hotel room turned massage parlor to the back patio, where we were to wait. When we got back there, there was a dead lizard sitting on the patio that was being swarmed by ants. Looked like it had been sitting there for a day or two. Is it hard to grab a broom and dustpan to clean that up?

We waited about 10 minutes and were then taken into a room for our massages. I told my masseuse that I had been recommended by my chiro for some severe shoulder pain and a giant knot behind my shoulder paint. She said she understands and would be able to take care of me.

90 minutes later, the massage is over and I feel no better than when I went in. I was extremely confused as to why I had to get up and rinse myself twice and had a very short massage that didn't target anything that I had discussed. Come to find out, the manager (of which my wife talked with on the phone and email prior to our vacation) scheduled us for a moisturizing massage, which is a 30 minute sea salt scrub, rinse, 30 minute "aloe wrap", rinse, then a 30 minute massage.

I explained to the man that I had no idea what it was when going in, seeing as my wife was confused about it as well, but we don't normally try to make a scene in public about this kind of stuff. Explained myself to the man at the counter and he said he would try to get me in for a deep tissue massage. "sweet!" I thought. He said he call me in about 15 minutes to schedule me, as he'd have to find a masseuse that'd be able to deal with my shoulder. So we paid the ~$300 bill and went back to our room.

The man called me back and said that he could get me in within the next 30 minutes. Awesome! So I ask him what it'll cost, as I was assuming they'd realize the mistake and help out. He said it'd be full price, plus tax, plus gratuity. I am enraged.

I explained to the man that we had discussed with him what we were needing before the trip. He threw it back in my face and tried to blame my wife, saying that she specifically asked for this. That was completely untrue, as I sat next to her for every call.

In conclusion, just stay far away. Find another massage/spa on the island. This is a complete...

June 2025 We booked an Oceanside couples message for friend’s birthday. Don’t be fooled! Even though the link to the spa is available via the Royal Kona Resort website, the Lotus spa is not part of the hotel. The pictures on Facebook are extremely inaccurate. This is not a spa. At the very least, it’s possibly a place you can simply book a massage (like Massage Envy-but definitely not as nice). However, we never made it to the massages because we aborted after we saw what our experience was going to be like.

This “spa” is an outdoor kiosk in a corner of the Royal Kona Resort. On a scale from 1 to 10, the atmosphere is a 1. We arrived about 10 minutes before our massage treatment, thinking there would be an opportunity to change into robes, sign the usual waiver for massage, and maybe have some water and watch the ocean before our treatment…usual spa experience stuff.

Instead, we arrived 10 minutes early to an empty desk with a Lotus sign above the desk. Eventually, an employee came out and told us to wait on a bench near an interior stairwell and gave us dixie cups with water in them.

Right at our designated time, two spa employees dressed in everyday clothes (no uniforms) arrived and brought us out to a tented massage area between the hotel and the back of the restaurant next door. Technically, we could see and hear the ocean, but the people on the balcony and the restaurant kitchen noises were louder because we were about 100 feet from the ocean. This is where we were to change and get onto the massage tables. It was unacceptable because the tent was open on all four sides, and the employees told us to change out of our clothes while under the covers. Additionally, the sheets on the bed were balled up and the sheets appeared to be overused and discolored. We also looked up and the balconies from the second floor were clearly visible and not only could we hear the people talking, they also could look down and see this entire area where the massage was to happen. At this point, we elected to abort because we felt vulnerable and very unsafe.

Save your money and book a spa treatment at...

We booked the oceanside couple's massage followed by a Reiki session for 2 couples, they were very helpful in organizing the 2 appointments for 2 couples. I did have to follow up on my initial email to book but once we had contact with each other they were very responsive. It is a little bit of a walk for the ocean side massage, however it was very worth it and it is a beautiful walk to get there. The sound of the waves crashing drowns out any possible noise from the nearby pool and it was even raining for part of it which added to the ambience. The massage itself was possibly the best I've ever had (it was the lomi lomi massage) and I felt amazing during and afterwards. Next was the Reiki session, I have never done this before so I had no idea what to expect, I had some general knowledge of the practice but nothing I have experienced first hand. I have been having this issue where I have pressure in my ears that can radiate through my sinuses from tinnitus when I lay in bed a certain way that often causes me trouble to fall asleep every single night for the past 6+ months. By the way, I did not disclose this issue at all to them. I actually didn't disclose any issues I have been experiencing period. Well during the session, I felt a sensation in my head for a bit. Not uncomfortable in any way but the only way to describe it is energy flowing through my head. A few mins of this and out of nowhere my one ear pops, then my other ear pops a few times and back to the other. Ever since this appointment I have had no issues at night falling asleep and absolutely no pressure in my ears or sinuses. I have tried many things to help relieve this and nothing has worked... I absolutely recommend this spa, thank you for the amazing...