Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Review
When Laurance S. Rockefeller’s Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in July 1965 it was the most expensive hotel ever built, was named one of the “three greatest hotels in the world” by Esquire magazine, was named one of the “10 best buildings of 1966” by Fortune, and it charged what were viewed as exorbitant room rates that started at $43 per night and included breakfast and dinner.
Bad news is... room rates have gone up! Good news is... most of what made Mauna Kea so special back in the early days still remains, including the crystal clear water and white sands of Kauna’oa Bay, and the mid-century modern architecture and design in the main building, among lots of other things.
Our recent stay over Festive 2020-2021 was fantastic, and we were definitely drawn in by the special Mauna Kea vibe. Here are some of the things we loved the most.
It’s all about the beach, and the beach is stunning! Soft white sand, a crescent shape that is great for walks, and the water is very clear and stays shallow before gently dropping off toward two rafts floating offshore. There are lots of umbrellas over lounge chairs, and guests can rent paddleboards, surfboards, boogie boards and more from the resort’s beach team.
The oceanfront Seaside Tennis Club is spectacular. While we were there, the courts were buzzing with players in clinics, taking private lessons, and playing matches against friends and family. If you are a tennis player, you will love this facility with its beautiful ocean views and fantastic tennis energy.
The golf course is just steps from the main building, and we loved how we could walk from our room to the first tee, golf shop, or the driving range in under 2 minutes. Lots of the holes have beautiful ocean views, and cruising around the course on the Golf Boards is so much fun.
The views from the oceanfront rooms in the main building are truly spectacular. We were in an Ocean Front Deluxe room with two lanais, a walk-in closet, large bathroom, and stunning 180-degree panoramic views of the beach, pool, and ocean.
Manta is fantastic for breakfast and dinner. Service and food were always excellent, and the views from nearly every table are gorgeous. Copper Bar is casual with live music, and we enjoyed a dinner at Merida over at Hapuna (via the house shuttle).
The sunsets are not only gorgeous but they are a full-on daily event at Mauna Kea, and we loved this! The signature Fredrico’s flow from the Hau Tree Beach Bar and guests hang out on the beach with cocktails, kids are playing or swimming, and it's a really fantastic way to end each day.
Generations of families return to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel year after year (we met several of them while we were there), and it’s easy to see why. The resort exudes the old-school beach club vibe with golf, tennis, cocktails, and amazing oceanfront sunsets, all of which make it very hard to resist and easy to return to. We loved it and we definitely hope to be back again for another stay.
Virtuoso Amenities
All clients of Kristen Nix Travel will receive these complimentary Virtuoso amenities when staying at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Buffet breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
$100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate or any third party vendor charges, no cash value if not redeemed in full). Guests in Suite accommodations receive a $200 USD Resort/Hotel credit
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
