The Hawaii is a relative newcomer to the Lay Z Spa range having first been released in 2018. But, it hasn’t stopped it already becoming a firm favourite with hot tub fans thanks to it low price point and generous dimensions. In fact, there is already a second version of the Hawaii available as a premium HydroJet model.
[amazon link=”B07F2GDZ2V” link_class=”btn_see_more” title=”See More Images” /]It arrives furnished with many of the features that have helped the Lay Z Spa range rocket in popularity. But, not every Lay Z Spa is made identical. In this article, we’ll review the Lay Z Spa Hawaii, uncover the key things you need to know before buying and answer the most common questions people have when it comes to installing and maintaining an inflatable spa.
Key Product Information
[amazon table=”4991″]
Review Summary
Breaking away from the usually round build on many Lay Z Spa’s the Hawaii’s square dimensions give it the miasma of a rigid hot tub. Not just from a visual standpoint but also it’s capacity. The space introduced by the square design also allows the Hawaii to hold more people than most inflatable spas.
In fact, the Lay Z Spa claims the Hawaii can accommodate up to 6 people. Although, we feel this might be a bit of a squeeze for 6 adults but should be fine for children and adults. This makes the Hawaii ideal for couples, families with children of those that want a spa they can share with friends.
Because of its propensity to be used a social spa the Hawaii would have benefited from an LED lighting system. Even something as simple as a floating unit, like the one supplied with the similarly priced Tropez, would have been a welcome addition. And, its a shame Lay Z Spa choose not to do this.
Lastly, its good to see a good number of safety features have been built into the Hawaii. This is particularly important if children are using the hot tub. An RCD protection system cuts the power in the event of electrical shorts caused by water, and the control panel has an IP rating of 5. This means it can withstand the inevitable splashes of water and use by wet hands without damage.
Lay Z Spa Hawaii Best Feature Reviews
Relaxing AirJets
Undoubtedly AirJets make the hot tub experience, and the Hawaii comes furnished with a 120 jet system. The AirJets encircle the base of the spa and release a steady stream of bubbles to agitate the water for a soothing, relaxing experience.
Activated by a single button press on the control panel the AirJets will run for 30 minutes before automatically switching off. In previous reviews, we have remarked we feel this is a little on the short side and a 45 min or 1hr run time would have been better.
That said, it is simple enough to reactivate them again and many hot tubs will automatically shut off the AirJets after a set duration as a safety feature. So, it would be unfair to look too harshly on the Hawaii for this minor drawback.
Strength and Durability
It’s surprising the amount of strain an inflatable spa will have to undertake during its lifetime. Not only does it have to contend with the tremendous weight of the water, whilst remaining rigid and not splitting, it also has to contend with the weight of people climbing over the sides and moving around inside.
To meet these demands the Hawaii has two tricks up its sleeve that will ensure years of good use. The first is Bestway’s (the brand behind Lay Z Spa) patented TriTech technology. This forms the outer covering of the Hawaii and consists of 2 layers of laminated PVC sandwiched over a polyester mesh core. This tough combination makes the Hawaii wear and puncture-resistant.
The second is I-Beam technology and is the reason the Hawaii remains rigid and upright when full of water and can take the strain of people climbing over the sides. Internal welds of laminated PVC tether the inner and outer walls together to provide superior strength.
Power Saving Timer
It comes without saying that a hot tub will increase your energy bills, there’s no avoiding this. But, to help combat keep the running costs as low as possible the Lay Z Spa Hawaii features an energy-saving timer. It has two main functions and you can set when you want the hot tub to heat up from and how long to heat it for. For example, you could set the Hawaii to begin heating the water in 8 hours time and heat the water for 4 hours of use. It will save energy by switching itself off outside these times.
The only downside? You need to plan your hot tub sessions and can’t just jump in at a moment’s notice.
Fast 10 Minute Setup
Lay Z Spa tubs are renowned for their fast and easy setup and the Hawaii is no exception. Everything you need to get going is included in the box and no separate tools are required. Many people can have the spa out of the box and inflated in as little as 10 minutes.
Plus, if you get stuck, the supplied manual and DVD can help you along your way. There are even support videos on YouTube and Bestway provides UK based telephone support for their customers.
The supplied water pump even doubles as the inflation pump so there’s no need to worry about getting out of breath pumping up the Hawaii using a foot-pump!
Upgraded Control Panel and Pump
Before 2017 all Lay Z spa pumps suffered from a disappointing drawback: they were single operation. This means you could run the AirJets, but not the heating and vice versa. This is no longer the case and the Hawaii comes furnished with an upgraded pump system.
This means you can enjoy the comfortably warm water and the AirJet function simultaneously for a wonderfully relaxing spa experience.
However, it would have been nice to see the upgraded pumps adopt the layout and design used by the HydroJet models. These pumps feature a flip-up control panel for very easy access – even when in the hot tub – and a handy storage area for any hot tub accessories you have.
FAQ – Top 7 Questions answered
1 What Do I Need To Do Before Using The Hawaii For The First Time?
Because the water is essentially stagnant in a hot tub extra care needs to be taken to prevent harmful levels of bacteria from building up. This is especially important with fresh water because it already may contain bacteria that will thrive in the warm water.
To prevent this happening you must shock dose the water before using the Hawaii. Common to all hot tubs a shock dose requires simply adding 5-10 times the regular amount of chemicals normally required to treat the water. This preventative step kills virtually all of the bacteria in the freshwater and prevents it from taking hold.
2 Can I Use The Hawaii During The Winter?
Yes, you can, but only on warmer winter days or if your hot tub is inside. Anything below 4°C will damage the hot tubs fabric potentially making it brittle and much more likely to split.
3 What Is The Best Place To Setup This Hot Tub?
A hot tub might appear like a fancy paddling pool but the sheer volume and weight of water they hold is surprising. Many inflatable hot tubs, the Hawaii included, can weight around 900-1000Kg when full with just 80% water.
So, when choosing your ideal location you need to make sure it is not only flat but that it can also support the tremendous weight of the tub itself. For this reason, place it on surfaces such as raised decking only when they have been checked over by an expert.
When it comes to surfaces such as grass or patios there should be no problems. Just make sure the area is clear of stones or anything else which might puncture the hot tub.
4 Do I Need To Clean The Hawaii?
The Hawaii’s laminated PVC skin is resistant to stains and marks. However, is you do need to clean off watermarks or minor stains Lay Z Spa recommends using diluted washing up liquid and a soft sponge. For more stubborn stains a cleaning kit is available from their website.
5 What Regular Maintenance is Required?
Following a procedure common to all kinds of hot the Hawaii requires two mains types of maintenance.
- The first is cleaning the filter. This should be rinsed after every use or at least every other day in order for it to remain effective.
- The second is to treat the water using Chlorine and pH regularly. Chlorine kills bacteria and pH treatment keeps the water at the correct pH level. This prevents problems occurring that are usually associated with high acidity or alkaline levels such as preventing the chlorine working or causing irritation to the eyes.
This might sound complex. However, it is a very simple to se the Clear water chemical spa kit for this purpose
6 How Much Does It Cost To Run?
This is a difficult question to pinpoint since the energy companies love to raise their prices on an almost daily basis. But based on Lay Z Spa’s data it will cost around £7-£10 per week, on average, to power the Hawaii. This will obviously vary depending on use.
7 Are There Any Seats Included?
A common question asked about inflatable hot tubs are if any seats are present. After-all, hard plastic hot tubs have moulded seats as part of their structure.
For the most part, inflatable hot tubs do not feature seats and instead have cushioned floors. Whilst this might sound a little lack-luster these are comfortable for extended periods and many users remark on just how comfortable they are. The lack of seats is also another factor that helps keep the price of inflatable hot tubs much lower than regular hot tubs.
You can buy more premium inflatables such as the Maldives that do feature seats. Just expect to pay at least a few hundred pounds more.
Pros And Cons
Lay Z Spa Hawaii – Is It Right For You?
The Hawaii is an excellent value hot tub. Its sizable dimensions and square build make it the ideal choice for families, couples or using with friends. It is only bested by the Monaco in terms of usable space in this price bracket.
It does have one or two drawbacks but for a sub £500 inflatable spa (at the time of writing), such as the lack of LED lighting and AirJet run time. But, it’s difficult to judge the Hawaii too harshly for these since it excels in build quality and features.
[amazon box=”B07F2GDZ2V” description_items=”3″ description_length=”100″]
