Lifestyle
Four Seasons Maui Transforms Into a Festive Paradise This Holiday Season
Discover Four Seasons Resort Maui’s festive paradise with walk-through floral installations, authentic Hawaiian celebrations, trending mahjong gatherings, and luxury holiday experiences from December through New Year’s 2026.
When most people picture the holidays, they imagine snow-dusted pines and crackling fireplaces. But what if your winter escape traded snowflakes for orchids, hot cocoa for mai tais, and sleigh bells for slack key guitar? At Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the festive season gets a serious tropical upgrade—and honestly, it’s everything your Instagram feed has been missing.
A Wreath You Can Actually Walk Through
Forget the wreath on your front door. This year, Four Seasons Maui is going big—like, walk-through-it big. Starting December 2, renowned local floral artist Noah Harder is transforming the resort entrance with a show-stopping installation that’s equal parts art gallery and holiday magic.
Picture this: a giant wreath draped in sumptuous velvet, dripping with orchids, and glowing from within. We’re talking clusters of velvet bows, ornaments, dried flowers, and natural elements in rich jewel tones and deep emerald greens—all woven together with tropical and seasonal greenery. It’s the kind of entrance that makes you pause, pull out your phone, and think, “Yeah, this is definitely going on the grid.”
“The team has been hard at work weaving together experiences that honor the spirit of the season and the rich culture that makes this place so extraordinary,” says Konrad Gstrein, Regional Vice President and General Manager. Translation? They’re not just decorating—they’re creating moments you’ll actually remember.
Sunset, Hula, and Bubbly: The Ultimate Golden Hour
New this year is Sunset Mele on the Pā, and it’s exactly as dreamy as it sounds. Every evening from December 21 through January 3, guests gather on the traditional pā in The Queen’s Garden—a space honoring Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani.
As the sun dips below Maui’s pristine coastline, live hula dancers or slack key guitarists take the stage while servers pass around bubbly. It’s cultural immersion meets happy hour, and it’s completely complimentary. Pro tip: Arrive early to snag a prime spot for those golden hour photos.
Mahjong Meets Mai Tais (Yes, Really)
If you’ve been scrolling TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed mahjong having a major moment. The centuries-old tile game is trending hard, and Four Seasons Maui is bringing it straight to paradise with their new Mahjong and Mai Tais experience.
Partnering with Mahjong Country Club—founded by women who learned from their moms and grandmothers—the resort is hosting sessions that blend ancient strategy with serious tropical vibes. Whether you’re a mahjong newbie or a seasoned player, expert instructors will get you up to speed before live play begins. And yes, mai tais are absolutely included.
Sessions run December 21-24, 26-30, and January 1-2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at KOMO. It’s the perfect fusion of trending culture and island relaxation.
Honoring Traditions, Hawaiian Style
Four Seasons Maui knows the holidays mean different things to different people, and they’re celebrating it all. Nightly Hanukkah services run December 14-21, complete with a latke-making demonstration led by Executive Chef Ryan Schelling on December 21.
Christmas Eve brings Santa’s dramatic arrival—not by sleigh, but by outrigger canoe at Wailea Beach. Because when you’re in Hawaii, even Santa knows how to make an entrance. Families can also join the pastry team for holiday cookie decorating, creating edible memories with an island twist.
For the competitive families, the three-day Wailea Challenge tournament (December 21-23 and December 28-30) features canoe racing, spear throwing, and obstacle courses. Or keep it casual with the Tropical Pickleball Mixer round-robin tournament on December 27 and January 3.
Wellness With an Ocean View
Between the festivities, the resort offers plenty of ways to recharge. Daily beach yoga, oceanside massages in traditional Hawaiian hale (thatched structures), and vitamin IV therapy through the resort’s collaboration with Next|Health keep wellness at the forefront.
But the real showstopper? Floating Sound Baths at the Adult Pool on December 22, 29, and January 5. Imagine floating under Maui’s star-studded sky while sound waves wash over you. It’s meditation meets vacation, and it’s exactly the kind of unique experience that makes Four Seasons Maui stand out.
Ring in 2026, Island Style
New Year’s Eve at Four Seasons Maui is a multi-venue celebration. Start with dinner at DUO Steak and Seafood’s buffet, Chef Russell Rummer’s holiday menu at Ferraro’s Restaurant & Bar, or Wolfgang Puck’s seven-course tasting at Spago Maui.
The night culminates with the Electric Aloha New Year’s Eve Party on the Oceanfront Lawn at 10 p.m., featuring live music from the band Halfmoons and midnight fireworks over Wailea Beach. And if you’re feeling ambitious, kick off 2026 with General Manager Konrad Gstrein’s New Year’s Day morning run along the stunning Wailea coastline.
Why This Matters
In a world where holiday experiences can feel cookie-cutter, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully. They’re honoring Hawaiian culture while embracing trending experiences like mahjong. They’re creating Instagram-worthy moments while maintaining authentic connections to place and community.
Whether you’re returning to familiar shores or discovering Maui for the first time, this festive season offers something genuinely special: a chance to celebrate the holidays in a way that feels both fresh and timeless.
Ready to trade your winter coat for a lei? The complete schedule of festive programming is available at fourseasons.com/maui or by calling (808) 874-8000.
About Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
This Forbes Five-Star oceanfront resort sits on 15 breathtaking acres along the Wailea Coast, featuring 383 rooms, world-class dining at four celebrated restaurants (Ferraro’s, Spago Maui, DUO Steak and Seafood, and KOMO), three pools overlooking the Pacific, and one of the nation’s top-rated spas. It’s luxury that lives in harmony with its environment and community—exactly what the holidays should feel like.
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
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The Knowledge
How to avoid seeing disturbing video on social media and protect your peace of mind
How to avoid seeing disturbing video on social media and protect your peace of mind
Last Updated on January 29, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Annie Margaret, University of Colorado Boulder
How to avoid seeing disturbing video on social media and protect your peace of mind
When graphic videos like those of the recent shooting of a protester by federal agents in Minneapolis go viral, it can feel impossible to protect yourself from seeing things you did not consent to see. But there are steps you can take.
Social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement, not protect your peace of mind. The major platforms have also reduced their content moderation efforts over the past year or so. That means upsetting content can reach you even when you never chose to watch it.
You do not have to watch every piece of content that crosses your screen, however. Protecting your own mental state is not avoidance or denial. As a researcher who studies ways to counteract the negative effects of social media on mental health and well-being, I believe it’s a way of safeguarding the bandwidth you need to stay engaged, compassionate and effective.
Why this matters
Research shows that repeated exposure to violent or disturbing media can increase stress, heighten anxiety and contribute to feelings of helplessness. These effects are not just short-term. Over time, they erode the emotional resources you rely on to care for yourself and others.
Protecting your attention is a form of care. Liberating your attention from harmful content is not withdrawal. It is reclaiming your most powerful creative force: your consciousness.
Just as with food, not everything on the table is meant to be eaten. You wouldn’t eat something spoiled or toxic simply because it was served to you. In the same way, not every piece of media laid out in your feed deserves your attention. Choosing what to consume is a matter of health.
And while you can choose what you keep in your own kitchen cabinets, you often have less control over what shows up in your feeds. That is why it helps to take intentional steps to filter, block and set boundaries.
Practical steps you can take
Fortunately, there are straightforward ways to reduce your chances of being confronted with violent or disturbing videos. Here are four that I recommend:
- Turn off autoplay or limit sensitive content. Note that these settings can vary depending on device, operating system and app version, and can change.
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/d1deR/2
- Use keyword filters. Most platforms allow you to mute or block specific words, phrases or hashtags. This reduces the chance that graphic or violent content slips into your feed.
- Curate your feed. Unfollow accounts that regularly share disturbing images. Follow accounts that bring you knowledge, connection or joy instead.
- Set boundaries. Reserve phone-free time during meals or before bed. Research shows that intentional breaks reduce stress and improve well-being.
Reclaim your agency
Social media is not neutral. Its algorithms are engineered to hold your attention, even when that means amplifying harmful or sensational material. Watching passively only serves the interests of the social media companies. Choosing to protect your attention is a way to reclaim your agency.
The urge to follow along in real time can be strong, especially during crises. But choosing not to watch every disturbing image is not neglect; it is self-preservation. Looking away protects your ability to act with purpose. When your attention is hijacked, your energy goes into shock and outrage. When your attention is steady, you can choose where to invest it.
You are not powerless. Every boundary you set – whether it is turning off autoplay, filtering content or curating your feed – is a way of taking control over what enters your mind. These actions are the foundation for being able to connect with others, help people and work for meaningful change.
More resources
I’m the executive director of the Post-Internet Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people navigate the psychological and social challenges of life online. With my team, I designed the evidence-backed PRISM intervention to help people manage their social media use.
Our research-based program emphasizes agency, intention and values alignment as the keys to developing healthier patterns of media consumption. You can try the PRISM process for yourself with an online class I launched through Coursera in October 2025. You can find the course, Values Aligned Media Consumption, on Coursera. The course is aimed at anyone 18 and over, and the videos are free to watch.
This story was updated on Jan. 25, 2026 to include reference to the recent shooting in Minneapolis.
Annie Margaret, Teaching Assistant Professor of Creative Technology & Design, ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado Boulder
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Lifestyle
Understanding Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Numbers to Know in 2026
The American Heart Association’s 2026 update reveals a decrease in deaths from heart disease and stroke, despite rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Following their Life’s Essential 8 guidelines can prevent 40% of cardiovascular deaths, emphasizing the importance of healthier lifestyles for improved heart health.
Understanding Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Numbers to Know in 2026
(Family Features) Taking care of your heart with healthy behaviors may be at the top of your wellness priority list already, and there may be good news about the effects of adhering to expert recommendations.
New information from the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics Update shows deaths from heart disease and stroke are on the decline. However, rates continue to climb for high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity – all of which are health risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Following expert guidance can be your prescription for better health as 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable.
To help maintain and improve your cardiovascular health, consider following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, which is a set of four health behaviors (eat better, be more active, quit tobacco and get healthy sleep) and four health factors (manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar and manage blood pressure).
In the United States, optimal Life’s Essential 8 scores could prevent up to 40% of annual all-cause and cardiovascular disease deaths among adults.
Consider these highlights from the statistics update:
- Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and stroke is the No. 4 leading cause of death.
- Together, heart disease and stroke accounted for more than a quarter of all deaths in the U.S. in 2023.
- Cardiovascular diseases, including all types of heart disease and stroke, claim more lives in the U.S. each year than all forms of cancer and accidental deaths — the Nos. 2 and 3 causes of death – combined.
- On average, every 34 seconds, someone died of cardiovascular disease in 2023.
- On average, about two people died of heart disease every 3 minutes in the U.S. in 2023.
- On average in 2023, someone died of stroke every 3 minutes, 14 seconds in the U.S.
- Nearly half of U.S. adults now have high blood pressure.
- Nearly 29.5 million U.S. adults have diagnosed diabetes.
- About 50% of U.S. adults have obesity or severe obesity, and 28.1% of youth ages 2-19 have obesity.
- Only 1 in 4 U.S. adults meets national physical activity guidelines. Only 1 in 5 U.S. youths ages 6-17 are physically active for 60 minutes or more every day of the week.
To learn more about how to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, visit heart.org.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Lifestyle
5 Tips to Upgrade Your Home Office
Consider these ideas to blend function, comfort and style, and create a home office that inspires creativity and makes you want to sit down and get things done.
Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by Daily News Staff
5 Tips to Upgrade Your Home Office
(Family Features) Hybrid schedules and remote work have become the norm for many people, which means a functional and inspiring workspace is more necessity than luxury. With the right setup – be it a dedicated room or a cozy corner – your space can boost productivity, spark creativity and make your workday more enjoyable. Consider these ideas to blend function, comfort and style, and create a home office that inspires creativity and makes you want to sit down and get things done. Focus on Comfort The desk and chair are the foundation of any home office. Be sure to build a setup that matches your work style by picking the right height desk (with the proper amount of storage and workspace to complete your tasks) and an adjustable chair with good lumbar support. If you’re at your computer most of the time during the day, an ergonomic keyboard and monitor stand can also make a comfortable difference. Create a Clutter-Free Work Zone Incorporating smart storage solutions like shelves, filing cabinets or baskets can help keep your workspace tidy and free of distracting clutter. Desk trays can keep small office supplies organized and within easy reach while maintaining a clean aesthetic. Add Personality with Decor Much like the rest of your home, your workspace should reflect your personality and style. Add artwork, decorative accents, plants or a photo wall to bring inspiration and freshness to your office and choose a color palette that promotes positivity and focus, such as soft blues, greens or neutrals. Layer Functional Lighting For optimal productivity, combine natural light with task and ambient lighting. If possible, position your desk near a window to capture natural light then supplement your space with a desk lamp for focused illumination and floor lamps, under-shelf lighting or wall sconces to add warmth and depth. Don’t Forget Acoustics Distracting noises can negatively impact focus. To absorb sound, use soft furnishings like rugs, upholstered chairs or curtains and consider a white noise machine if you need a more soothing work environment. Find more ideas to update every room in your house at eLivingtoday.com. Photo courtesy of ShutterstockDiscover more from Daily News
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