Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection

The rooms come with L'Occitane Spa products, a filtered water dispenser, and two stainless steel bottles. There’s also a beach tote and sandals for him and her, nice to use during the stay and take home afterward. The resort has plenty to do, including golf, tennis, pools, and activities ranging from learning to tie a sarong to blowing to canoe experiences. Manta is a highlight for dining: the ocean view is lovely, and both the fresh, refined food and the service are impressive. The sunset setting and breakfast buffet are memorable. The beach is exceptional, with soft sand and clear water. There’s a dedicated snorkeling area where you can see manta rays up close in the evening, an unforgettable experience. The recent renovation was thoughtful and elegant, refreshing the classic design while keeping its character. Mauna Kea feels luxurious without flash and peaceful without being remote. It’s a relaxing Big Island choice for families as well as adults looking for a quieter escape.

I loved the welcome socials here, some of the best I’ve attended, and there are plenty of daily activities. You can shop without leaving the property, and there are several restaurants, plus good food at the golf club. The hotel also has one of the best tennis clubs in the United States, and you can play golf here too. I can’t wait to return and would highly recommend it. Just be sure to take a tour of the island’s rain forests, botanical gardens, volcano, and many waterfalls.

The hotel itself is nice, but there was major construction noise every day of the week from 7:30 in the morning until evening. At $1,700 a night, I expected a much better stay. Management said the work was mentioned on their website, but it wasn’t there when I booked. I don’t think guests should have to keep checking the site in case the hotel makes a major change that degrades the experience without compensation. To me, charging for one thing and delivering another is essentially theft.

Even with our late check-in, Lauae was welcoming and accommodating. Her lovely personality took the edge off a long day of travel, and she made us feel at home right away. Healani also helped us change our checkout time and was very helpful. Our stay at Mauna kea hotel has been wonderful so far, and we’re already looking forward to coming back.