“"Amazing Hotel! This is and will remain are favorite Big Island Destination."”

Sept.29/Oct.9 2011. From the time we pulled up till the time we drove away we were made to feel like old friends. I have never been treated so well by hotel staff. Cleaning staff came by the room atleast 4 times a day keeping the ice bowl full and making sure we hadf everything we needed. Fresh towels, soap, and lotions were always available. We stayed in the plumeria beach club room on the 3rd floor which has an amazing view of the beach. They gave us a free room upgrade when we arrived. The beach at Mauna Kea is second to none. Water was perfect. One thing of note is the weather at Mauna Kea seems to always be better than in Kona. If your looking for a party scene hotel then this is not the hotel for you. If your looking for a perfect beach great weather and a quiet relaxing time with other wonderful people then you will find no better. My wife and I are 34-39 which is younger than average at Mauna Kea. Prices at hotel are not the cheapest on the island. The breakfast buffet is outstanding! Friday night Clam Bake at the Hao Tree on the beach is a seafood lovers heaven. Can't wait to go back.

“Beautiful beach, beautiful hotel.”

This resort is luxurious without being pretentious. Beautiful rooms, fine restaurant.

“Great hotel”

Enjoyable vacation spot. Be prepared for high prices for meals. We were creative and got our own supplies for breakfast.

“Old Hawaiian style, not for the flashy. Love it!”

Just love this place. It is low key, beautiful beach (which the most important part!) and perfect for large families. My only complaint is the limited dining options. One restaurant shuttered up and closed! The space is empty. We ate at Hau Tree a couple nights and loved it. We've been going to Mauna Kea 15+ years now and it is a family tradition. Special place!

“Great hotel for a beautiful beach getaway”

We think the Mauna Kea has the best beach on the island, and when the surf was calm, I'd say this beach would be perfect for families with children (although there were days when the waves were large enough to knock down an adult). The hotel was superb, the Manta restaurant was great, and the sunset view was one of the best on the island as well. The wine bar was great too, as was the breakfast buffet. The concierge was helpful and pleasant, and the valet parking staff were friendly. Most of the hotel staff were nice, with a few exceptions who appeared a little put out with questions and requests.

“top Notch!”

We loved staying at this hotel. After two days in the air, it was wonderful to get a big hug from Yogi, some wonderful juice and a very friendly reception lady. thanks so much for a memorable stay.

“Excellent stay at the Mauna Kea”

The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was a great experience. The room renovations are outstanding. The service staff were very helpful and always courteous. The facility and grounds exceeded our expectations. As this was the first stop on our trip to Hawaii, it really delivered and set up the remainder of our stay. We only wished we had stayed longer.

“better than ever”

After its recent renovation, the Mauna Kea looks better than ever. It still has the best beach on the island, and is a great spot for adults to relax.

“Paradise”

Paradise is not perfection, but the Mauna Kea does try pretty hard. If you can have just a little Aloha spirit... then you will love this place. The beauty is GREATER than photos tell (how rare is that?) the bottom of the bay looks like it has been groomed by snowcats! The bay has two coral reefs (either side) with turtles by day and Mantas (no stinger!) at night. There are several restaurants to choose from and they range from good to great. I would encourage you for varieties sake to take some meals at the Fairmont Orchid (Brown's and the beach cafe), and the three restaurants of the Four Seasons when you are doing things by the airport or Kona. The rooms are very comfortable and elegant in a way that stresses comfort with a bit of the tropics. The view is great. If you have trouble walking I would avoid the Plumeria wing as it a bit removed from the main hotel, restaurants and the valets. The most magical time we spend in Hawaii is the time swimming with the dolphins in the wild... try a charter like Honu Kona dive or kayaking down at Capt Cook memorial in the morning where they often show.

“Beautifully renovated hotel on a perfect beach”

We stayed in a Golf/Vista room on the 8th floor. The hotel after renovation is fantastic--very cool mid-century modern design situated on a perfect beach. The room itself was beautiful. Nice bed, sleek furniture, Frette linens. Gorgeous bathroom. The pool is small. The beach is incredible...picture perfect, great for swimming. Nice hikes up and down the shoreline from the hotel. Service is friendly and helpful but not obsequious. This is a very understated hotel/resort. If you are looking for huge pool with waterslides, lots of activities, monorails, etc, then this is not the right place. But for a quiet, relaxing vacation this was perfect.