Laurance S Rockefeller, after viewing the gorgeous stretch of sand at Kauna'oa where the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel now sits, remarked, “A great beach deserves a great hotel.” His words would prove prohetic. Now a landmark of luxury on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, a recent $150 million renovation has ensured that guests of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel will continue to enjoy the exceptional service and unparalleled comfort of this modern luxury hotel.

The facilities

Enjoy one of the best beaches on the big island, the natural white sand Kauna’oa Beach, enhanced by seamless service, padded lounges, cabanas, fluffy towels and umbrellas. For the active set, theres the newly renovated, 18-hole championship Mauna Kea Golf Course, 11 tennis courts with ocean views, and a new 2,500 square-foot fitness center.

The resort also features a museum-quality art collection, with over 1,600 pieces gathered by Mr. Rockefeller and Davis Allen for The Mauna Kea in 1965, as well as soul-soothing therapies and treatments at the transcendent Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara.

The resort boasts a weekly luau, traditional Sunday brunch and clambakes on the beach, and offers extensive dining options, including The Copper Terrace which offers music and cozy firepits for conversation, cocktails and pupus.

The rooms

Guestrooms have crisp, clean lines, plush beds and bold colors along with jaw-dropping views from private, spacious balconies. High tech bells and whistles include large flat screen TVs, media hubs, and beside iPod docks.  Bathrooms come stocked with L’Occitane amenities, and some boast separate showers and soaking tubs with views of the golf course or the ocean.