Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

My favorite part of the room was the outdoor lava rock shower, and we loved the property, pools, and every restaurant we tried. ULU stood out for both the food and the setting. There were lots of activities, too. My fiancée enjoyed the Pilates classes while I had a great time in the outrigger canoe experience, and the gym was among the nicest resort gyms I’ve used. The staff, service, amenities, and atmosphere made this a special trip full of memories we won’t forget. I proposed to my girlfriend, now my fiancée, on the beach, and the resort was incredibly accommodating throughout. We can’t wait to come back to Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

The onsite cultural center was a standout. Micah and the other staff gave engaging, detailed lessons on native Hawaiian history, spiritual traditions, and culture, with each person specializing in a subject. Some are considered the top expert in Hawaii on their topic, like Kalumaheihei for hula. That gave us a deeper appreciation of Hawaii than any of our other visits over four decades, and it’s a memory we’ll carry for life. The resort is about 15 minutes from the airport, the closest major hotel, yet feels secluded on extensive, manicured grounds. There’s a long beach with sea turtles and snorkeling, though the ocean was a bit rough during our stay. Just inside the beach is a large saltwater pond stocked with 1,000 fish of all types. It’s a little warmer than the ocean and even small kids can swim and snorkel there, though there are no sea turtles in the pond. Breakfast was a huge buffet, comparable to the finest hotels in Asia or Europe, with the ocean just 25 feet away. The large pools never felt crowded, and the staff were incredibly friendly. Worth every penny, and we very much want to return.

The view from our room was amazing, but the sewer smell stayed in there the whole visit. No staff member seemed to smell it. We tried essential oils and left the rom doors open, but nothing helped. The lights kept blinking, and it took six days to get that fixed. The food was the blandest I’ve tasted, and there seemed to be major communication problems when requests were passed along. Shuttles were always late, or staff didn’t know we needed one even after three or four requests and calls. The property needs major repairs and maintenance. For the price, it wasn’t worth it. I eventually gave up trying to get things fixed.

The beach was beautiful, and we spent the day there after brunch before having dinner at the hotel. We could snorkel and see fish. It’s a five star place with no complaints from me, and I’d come back and stay on my next vacation.