I've stayed at a few Aman's. I've also had the opportunity to try the new Ritz Carlton Reserve in Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand.

I've been to RC's, FS's, Shangri-La's, PH's and other small boutique luxury properties around the world but have never experienced something like an Aman before. The RC Reserve was the closest I've seen yet, in many ways equivalent to the Aman.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of constructive feedback for Aman as well, it isn't perfect, but as the poster above said, it's about things likes:

Privacy - I have gone an entire day without seeing other guests even when venturing all over the resort and dining in the restaurants. There is absolutely no way another guest would see you from/in your villa, at least in the Aman's I visited.

Service - Top notch. No checks, signing, bills, etc. They all know who you are. They are over the top willing to accommodate any request. Example: provide free on-site tennis lessons at 10pm for my companion at no cost. Provide on the spot cooking class with head chef. Personal tour of on-site garden from head chef. 5am sunrise on the beach champagne breakfast.

Mgmt - GM always accessible via email or phone. Willing to take special requests into consideration and rarely cannot make them happen. Example: specific villa requests, specific food requests. They flew the head chef to Manilla at Amanpulo for us to get some special exotic fruits we requested - at no charge to us.

Architecture / grounds - Asian inspired, a combination of modern and old style. Always reminds me of Thailand, perhaps it's the roots of Aman with Amanpuri. Refined Asian inspired elegance and modernism tied together.

I could go on for a long time. Anyhow, a "hotel" experience like the FS or a standard RC are just totally different. Aman's don't have "lobbies" per say all the time, they don't have elevators to your room, there's no "which floor are you on", there's no maid carts running around the halls. Sorry, it's difficult to describe, best thing to do is give it a try.

Anyhow... back to the topic, I guess I don't understand the price point issue in Hawaii. Staff cost? That I can understand perhaps. They should just import some folks from one of their other Asia based locations and have them stay on property. Anyhow, I just think there'd be a big market for it if it were possible in HI.