Mauna Lani is the Big Island resort with the deepest sense of place: the long-loved Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, reimagined by Auberge after a major renovation and reopened in early 2020, set on about 32 oceanfront acres of the sunny Kohala Coast at Kalāhuipuaʻa, where ancient Hawaiian fishponds once reserved for royalty still glimmer among the palms. Those ponds and the trails that thread through them, past petroglyph fields and lava tubes in the wider Mauna Lani area, give the stay a cultural richness most resorts can only gesture at; the property's Living Culture programs and cultural advisors bring the stories forward. The resort itself is contemporary and relaxed — rooms reworked with more oceanfront and ocean-view suites, three distinct pools (a resort pool, a family pool and an adults-only infinity-edge pool), the Mauna Lani Beach Club with its Surf Shack, a well-regarded spa, the Holoholo Kids Crew program, and the Kainalu watersports team for paddling, snorkeling and outrigger canoe outings. CanoeHouse, right on the water, is the signature dinner, with sunset over the ocean and on clear evenings Maui's Haleakalā silhouetted across the channel. Golfers get two 18-hole championship courses carved through black lava. The beach in front is a sheltered lagoon-like cove, and the coast's broader white-sand beaches (Hāpuna among them) are a short drive. Fit: couples (CanoeHouse sunsets and the spa), families (the kids program, calm water and space), golfers, and travelers who want the Big Island's culture alongside its sunshine.
The place
Kalāhuipuaʻa was a retreat of Hawaiian aliʻi, and the fishponds were managed for centuries to raise fish for chiefs; the resort's stewardship of the ponds and archaeological sites is part of the experience, with guided walks explaining how they work. The Kohala Coast is the Big Island's dependable sun belt — lava fields, little rain and calm mornings.
Room craft
Oceanfront rooms and suites for the full sunset view, ocean-view rooms for value, and the private bungalows for the top tier. Take the fishpond walk early in the stay, book CanoeHouse for a clear evening, and plan day trips to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (a long but worthwhile drive) and Mauna Kea at night.
Practicals
68-1400 Mauna Lani Drive, Kohala Coast, 25 to 30 minutes north of Kona International Airport; a nightly resort fee (covering snorkel gear, paddleboards, bikes, yoga and Living Culture activities) and parking charges apply. Fit: couples, families, golfers and culture-minded travelers — the Kohala Coast with roots.
Why stay here
- ✓Ancient royal fishponds on site
- ✓CanoeHouse oceanfront dining
- ✓Three pools incl. adults-only infinity
- ✓Full-service spa
- ✓Two championship golf courses
- ✓Kids crew program
- ✓Paddling and snorkeling programs
- ✓Living Culture activities
Good questions
What are the fishponds at Mauna Lani?+
Ancient Hawaiian fishponds at Kalāhuipuaʻa, once reserved for royalty and still maintained today; guided walks explain how they were built and managed.
Is it far from Volcanoes National Park?+
It is a long drive across the island (plan a full day), so many guests split their stay with a night near the park. Kona airport is 25 to 30 minutes away.
Is it good for kids?+
Yes — a dedicated kids program, calm water at the resort cove, three pools and the Kainalu paddling and snorkeling programs make it one of the Kohala Coast's best family resorts.
