Get pampered - Hawaiian style - at the Ihilani Spa and the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at Ko Olina on Oahu

KO OLINA, Oahu, Hawaii – My first trip to Oahu in 15 years has been a blur of activity.

Surfing the North Shore. Swimming with sea turtles. Feeding them in an outdoor aquarium. Fine dining at Roy’s Restaurant Ko Olina. Golf on a former Champions Tour and former LPGA Tour venue, the Palmer course at Turtle Bay Resort. Chipping in for birdie on a current LPGA host, the Ko Olina Golf Club. Playing the toughest course in America (read here). A luau at scenic Paradise Cove. An afternoon at the Wet’n'Wild waterpark.

Call me a pampered whimp, but my day spent yesterday at the Ihilani Spa next to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at Ko Olina was a much-needed breather. My therapist, Ruby, was an expert at Lomilomi, a holistic healing tradition in Hawaii that goes beyond simple massage. She told me it involves rhythm, like hula, and plenty of pressure techniques with the forearm. It was just what my muscles needed. They were still sore from my first surfing lesson.

Today, I returned to experience the signature treatment, the Thalasso Therapy, in a jetted tub that pumps in ocean water from across the street (pictured above). I soaked for 25 minutes in the tub, rejuvenating my skin and my soul at the same time. The saltwater gives the feeling of floating. There are more than 150 jets in the tube, each one turning on at a time you least expect. It was very relaxing, yet stimulating at the same time.

The roman bath (pictured below), eucalyptus steam room and dry sauna in the men’s locker room were great for my fried mind and body, too.

My life is back in balance again, just in time for my last stop on this island tour. I’m ready for the madness of Waikiki and Honolulu. But I sure will miss the pampered life of this great resort destination.