Besides being fun, the best getaways inspire, educate and motivate you to try new things, and can help broaden your perspectives about people and places. The beachfront Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa recently enhanced its vacation experience with these offerings.

Hydroponics 101

No soil needed: With hydroponic systems, plants grow in ­nutrient-rich solutions delivered directly to their roots. In 2015, the hotel invested $300,000 to convert one of its tennis courts into a hydroponic garden that now produces 340 pounds of kale, arugula, lettuce and microgreens per week for its restaurants.

Complimentary 30- to 50-minute tours serve as an introduction to this approach to farming. Open to the public as well as Grand Hyatt Kauai guests, they’re offered Thursdays and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Reservations aren’t needed; just show up at the garden.

“People are always amazed to discover how much food can be produced in such a small space,” said gardener Devorah King, who usually leads the tour. “They see six varieties of lettuce growing in four stages, from seedlings to when they’re ready to harvest. We pick them young, so they’re really tender and delicious; tour participants can enjoy samples.”

The word hydroponic is derived from the Greek “hydro,” meaning water, and “ponos,” labor. Interestingly, however, hydroponic plants don’t work very hard to grow. Because nutrients are fed to them, they don’t have to expend energy searching for nutrients, as they would if they were growing in soil.

For this reason, King said, hydroponic lettuce matures in about five weeks compared to seven to eight weeks for lettuce grown in soil. This results in a big increase in yield because more crops are harvested throughout the year.

Even better, because the lettuce is not in soil, erosion is not a concern and there are fewer problems with bugs, diseases and fungi. In many cases that eliminates the need for pesticides.

“Hydroponics has helped us provide a practical and sustainable method of food production for our guests,” King said. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of on-site resort food production.”

Renewal via water and sound

Set on an acre dressed up with waterfalls, tropical flowers and greenery, Anara Spa offers a full menu of treatments designed to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.

Float Therapy intrigues. Guests lie in a solution of water and ­Epsom salt, which is meant to relieve tension, decompress the spine, create a feeling of weightlessness and lower the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. The lid of the 8-by-5-foot pod can be closed or left open, so claustrophobia is not an issue. Music or no music, light or no light — that’s also your choice for this 30-, 60- or 90-­minute experience.

“In Hawaii this is called hiu wai — immersing yourself in water to cleanse, refresh and meditate,” said Spa Director Shelley Hall. “Being in the pod is akin to being in the peace and safety of the womb.”

Sound Healing is another unique offering. Wind chimes, rain sticks, singing bowls and small gongs are among the instruments used in 50- and 100-minute sessions that reportedly can lower blood pressure and alleviate aches, pain, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and other ailments.

Healers worldwide have recognized the therapeutic benefits of sound for centuries. Some say pleasant sounds cause the brain to release oxytocin, a natural pain reliever, and dopamine, known as the “happy chemical.” Others believe the body has its own natural resonance, and imbalance occurs when that is out of sync. Sound therapy supposedly promotes healing by emitting gentle, subtle vibrations that return the body’s resonance to its optimal state.

“It provides immense relaxation and can be used to complement traditional medical care,” Hall said. “It’s one of the many paths to well-being.”

Enriching lives

The Enrich program’s name says it all: Guests can volunteer for their choice of four nonprofits, learning something new and making meaningful contributions in the process (arrangements are made directly with the organizations; a poster in the lobby has contact information).

For example, at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, they can do everything from weeding and propagating plants to tidying the gift shop and making arts and crafts that are sold there.

During monthly beach cleanups sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation, they can discover what steps are being taken to address ocean pollution, preserve public access to beaches and protect shorelines from development.

Kauai Habitat for Humanity was founded in December 1992, in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, which destroyed 1,500-plus homes on Kauai and damaged some 5,000 more. Since then, it has completed 34 major repairs/rehabilitations and built 171 new affordable homes all over the island for families in need. Under the watchful eye of construction supervisors, volunteers as young as 16 can assist with tasks such as framing walls, building porches and installing doors, windows and roofs.

Exploring Kauai can be more fun with a furry friend in tow; consider taking a pooch from the Kauai Humane Society on an excursion. A minimum donation of $25 is suggested, and pickups can be made between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Return times are 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The dog comes with a water bowl, leash, waste bags and a list of parks, beaches and trails where they are welcome.

“People have taken a dog out, fallen in love with it and adopted it,” said Diann Hartman, the hotel’s public relations director. “Other times, someone else has met the dog during the outing, bonded with it and wound up giving it a home. Dogs who’ve participated in the program now live in 25 states plus Canada and Europe. Now that’s a lot of wagging tails!”

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.