Sheraton Maui Uses Augmented Reality to Bring Culture Closer for Guests

With AI, AR and VR changing the way we travel, people are able to experience destinations in a whole new way, getting closer to the people, places and cultures they otherwise may not have an opportunity to explore. For visitors to Maui, Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa made navigating the local landscape and culture easy with its newly launched Kuleana Series.

© Abby Cox

The Kuleana Series consists of plaques spread across the 23-acre property, featuring local experts who share in the vision of protecting and preserving the local culture and landscape. Each plaque features a portrait of a different expert — when activated with your smartphone, the augmented reality program gets to work, bringing knowledge and information from these 11 leading scientists and cultural leaders to your fingertips. Located at Pu’u Keka’a, (also known as Black Rock) a volcanic rock formation located along Kaanapali Beach, there is plenty to learn about the local landscape, the people who made it home for centuries and the culture that marries the two.

These augmented reality experiences start upon check-in when you receive an AR portrait that welcomes you and provides you with a map to various plaques located across the property. As you wander the grounds, you’ll learn about everything from the local language to scientific lessons about local plant life and astronomy, all presented in an immersive and engaging format that makes learning fun, especially for little ones.

© Abby Cox

The topics covered are not only engaging but also informative and cover a wide range of subjects that are culturally intriguing and important for tourists visiting and interacting with the local ecosystem. For example, Amy Hodges, director, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, explains why the type of sunscreen you use has a big impact on the environment (she recommends using mineral-based sunscreen), while other experts share mo’oleo (narrated native stories). Others discuss things like endemic species and whale songs. Each talk brings you into an immersive world that illuminates Hawai’i on a level many tourists would otherwise miss out on by just exploring on their own.