Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa’s Cliff Dive Grill, named for its prime location at Black Rock, on beautiful Ka‘anapali Beach, is the perfect spot to relax while watching the resort’s iconic nightly cliff dive ceremony. Guests will taste delicious pupus, craft beers and tropical cocktails with an awe-inspiring Ka‘anapali sunset as the backdrop. Live music plays in the background as a hula dancer performs for guests, and it’s impossible not to unwind as the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean, signaling the end of another magical Maui day.
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has been honoring the legend of the last chief of Maui, Kahekili, since opening its doors in 1963 through its nightly cliff diving ceremony at Pu‘u Keka‘a (Black Rock).
In Hawaiian tradition Pu‘u Keka‘a, “hill of rolling stones”, is a sacred site with a history dating back hundreds of years. Hawaiians believe that Pu‘u Keka‘a is one of three “‘uhane lele”, a place where souls of the dead leap from earth into their ancestral spirit land. It is believed that only a person with great spiritual strength can enter that world and return.
Chief Kahekili, known by his people as “The Thunderer,” lived in Ka‘anapali and ruled over Maui and O‘ahu between 1749 and 1794. One of his many legendary athletic feats was the ancient Hawaiian sport of “lele kawa,” leaping feet first from heights as high as 300 to 400 feet and plunging into the ocean or fresh water pools below. Although there were many ideal spots on the island to perform this breathtaking sport, the uhane lele – Pu‘u Keka‘a – was not one of them. Chief Kahekili proved his bravery and spiritual strength by jumping from Pu‘u Keka‘a and returning to shore unscathed, and he gained much respect and admiration by his people and warriors.
On January 23, 1963, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa opened its doors to the world. In honor of Hawaii’s royalty that once called Ka‘anapali home, the nightly tradition of torch lighting and cliff diving began. Just before sunset each evening, a young warrior dressed in the traditional “malo” (loincloth) sets torches aflame shedding light upon the lush lawns of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The story of Chief Kahekili and Pu‘u Keka‘a is retold at Cliff Dive Grill as the warrior journeys across the white sands of Ka‘anapali Beach, lighting the torches set on the crest of Black Rock. He traces an ancient path to the summit of Pu‘u Keka‘a, utters a blessing to his ancestors, offers his torch to the ocean below, and finishes with a courageous dive into the rolling surf of the Pacific.
Grab a seat at Cliff Dive Grill, and experience an ancient era come to life as a young cliff diver dives from atop Black Rock and honors the legendary leap of Chief Kahekili. It’s truly a wonderful cultural experience and celebrates the history of Maui.
Cliff Dive Grill is open daily from 11 am
to 9 pm, with happy hour from 3 to 5 pm. For more information, visit
www.cliffdivegrill.com.
