Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

While this is our eighth visit to Hualalai, it has been a number of years since we visited. We are towards the end of our 8 night stay and it seems like an ideal time to convey my thoughts as to our time here. We travel a fair amount and Hawaii has always been our family’s special place. And we are lucky to stay at FS properties - having been to every FS in Hawaii multiple times. So we have a sense of comparison - which is helpful in assessing a property’s proverbial worth. I write this review looking at all of the sunset, Maui and the waves crashing. I am 10 feet from the sand and 15 feet from the water - largely alone having a pre dinner drink. Only at Hualalai can I do this. The property is unique, special and beautiful. I speculate that at some time god came up with an idea for a resort - and out came Hualalai. Whether you are marvelling at the endless stretch of beach, the beauty of the Kings Pond or the majestic “quiet pool”, it is all ……special. If you reflect - you realize that having the opportunity to spend time here means that you are lucky, fortunate or blessed. This afternoon I shot hoops on the half court. Then had a steam in a beautiful steam room at the spa - then for a swim in the ocean and now a drink by myself at the beach. And shortly dinner with Kim - effectively on the beach at Beach Tree restaurant. That is special. As my wife says - only here can the most uptight man find a place to relax. There are great people - such as Stacey who is committed to ensuring that our stay is perfect. She embodies the Four Seasons spirit of striving for perfection. And Bardia who has focused on ensuring that our dining experiences are optimal. And Petros who oversees the Beach Tree restaurant and generously offered us guidance on a prospective Greek vacation. Very rarely is any stay for an extended period perfect. People are human - they make errors. But at least everyone here recognizes that errors are learning and teaching experiences. And who am I to knit pick such a wonderful place based on minor issues or minor errors - Hualalai is wonderful. And I look forward to coming back in 6 months to remind myself that heaven on earth does exist. If you do not like it at the FS Hualalai- I doubt that you will like it anywhere.

We did a short maternity photoshoot with Kimberly at the Four Seasons Hualalai and it was such a wonderful experience. She was warm, professional, and made the whole session feel relaxed and natural. Kimberly knew all the perfect spots around the property and captured the scenery beautifully while making us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. The photos turned out incredible and are such a special memory from our trip. Highly recommend working with her if you’re looking for a photographer while staying at the Four Seasons!

The Four Seasons Hualalai is one of the best resorts I've ever been to. The service we received was excellent from start to finish: Check-in, housekeeping, room service, poolside, restaurants. And the property itself is really stunning, situated amongst lava rocks. We had a suite overlooking the King's Pond, which was lovely and spacious. Breakfast at ulu was delicious (the buffet is not as expansive as the buffet at Four Seasons Wailea in Maui), where we only waited for a table one morning and just 5-10 minutes at that. I love beaches, but I was very happy with the pool options at Hualalai. While many people note that the "beach" at the resort is rocky, I think the pools make up for it. Also, you get to see turtles along the beach! Also, the King's Pond allows guests to snorkel amongst their fish and eagle ray, which is perfect for people who prefer a calmer snorkeling experience. Yes, the resort is expensive, but there are very few properties like this. It's large enough that even when it's busy with guests you feel like you have a lot of space. It's a really special place. My husband and I got married there 20 years ago and we returned for an anniversary trip with our teen daughter, and we wondered why we waited so long to return!

We decided to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary at the resort after having visited the property 10 years ago for dinner and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Check in was okay. Our check in host provided the standard drinks and checked us in. We arrived around 1pm and our room was not yet ready so they took our bags to storage. Ultimately check in was not very smooth because at 3pm when check in was finally available we spent more than 45 mins coordinating with the front desk to get access to our room. the assistant gm did apologize and checked in on us and offered us extra amenities for the trouble. Rooms-excellent! Huge, great amenities, beautiful tub, huge walk in closets, nice outdoor rock shower Pools-lovely and a wide variety of options, not crowded at all in November and we had great weather except a little windy at times Spa-amenities were under renovation but the tranquility garden was peaceful Kids club: Our daughter enjoyed the kids club which was complimentary and she made little friends! Food and drinks: expensive but very good, The property can be windy. On the morning we were there at breakfast, the umbrella fell on an actual patron! Overall I’m glad we were able to celebrate our 15 year anniversary at the Four Seasons and they did provide us with sparking wine and sweets to commemorate the occasion. Our daughter would love to come back as well!

This was the best hotel we have stayed at in years. The room was clean and the service was incredible. We had whatever we needed the entire time. Anything you can think of eating was available at one of their restaurants. The snorkeling in the lagoon was fun. We had an indoor and outdoor shower in our room. Room service was fast and tasty. The prices were cheap compared to what we spent on Maui. They even helped us book a fishing a trip. Only negative was the sound of the people in the room above us. The walls are pretty thin.. could here every time they used the restroom.. Other than that 5 stars ;) Thanks Trevor1 you made our welcome and stat memorable forever.

We have been going to this property several times a year for many years. It continues to be truly outstanding, in terms of both the resort property and the level of service. Many of the guests are repeat visitors and the management looks after them. They do not "package" the property, and the guests pay full price -- and don't mind doing so. They are not budget-minded tourists looking for a cheap bargain. It is also a wonderful place for families with young kids.

We love Hualalai and spent a week there in early December. We love to visit this property and had a relaxing time enjoying the beach, pools, restaurants and bars. Great spa, gym, walking trails. We love to look at the stars at night and saw shooting stars on several nights. The staff do an amazing job making our experiences special. Mahalo, see you next year.

This was our second visit, first was in July 2022. We stayed 3 nights for my husband’s birthday celebration, combined with 6 nights at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. What we like about 4S Hualalai: the way the resort spreads along the shore and incorporates lava everywhere; the fact that at most of the restaurants and their bar areas you are mere steps from the water. We like the spaciousness of the rooms with the walk-in closet, the “foyer”, the large balcony and especially…the outdoor shower! My husband said the golf course was in exceptional condition. We liked the excellent beach service and I had an amazing massage by Kathy at the Spa. What needs to be improved: Communication between concierge/reservations and communication via the App. By far the biggest disappointment was that they messed up my husband’s birthday greetings and amenities…when we arrived at our room everything wished ME Happy Birthday. I had communicated very clearly about this. The app communication worked much better in 2022. This time around I’d get a response right away from app operator and then “okay I am looping in that department” and then all would fall silent and after repeated attempts we’d end up calling. Frustrating and not what you expect from 4S. There were also several other snafus that occurred…maybe we hit a bad patch of service. I will say I mentioned all of the issues on the survey and received a personal email from the manager so at least I felt heard. And while on site the asst manager did work hard to rectify the birthday situation but it should not have happened in the first place. 4S is expensive and some aspects left me feeling the value wasn’t there. The cocktails need to be improved and seriously, for a $21 mimosa at brunch you can’t offer an included refill? They had all this marketing in the room about a new Happy Hour at Beachtree with snacks and silly me, I thought maybe the snacks would be complimentary as is done at other high end resorts. Not. I know, I know, if you have to ask…you can’t afford it! But a few little extras might go a long way to making people like us (not rich) feel a little more willing to pay the high prices. Will we return? Probably, because my husband enjoys the golf course and there is quite a lot to like about the resort…but unfortunately it was not the service this time around. And Kona Village is right next door and at the same price point (in some room categories actually less) so 4S needs to keep their eye on the game.

From the moment you arrive at Hualālai, it feels less like checking into a resort and more like being welcomed into a private Hawaiian sanctuary. Every detail — from the scent of plumeria in the air to the way the staff greets you by name — reflects a level of care and authenticity that’s unmatched anywhere in Hawai‘i. The grounds are stunning: lush palms, lava rock pools blending into the ocean, and a perfect balance between natural beauty and refined design. The rooms feel like an extension of the island itself — spacious, elegant, and filled with light. Waking up to the sound of waves and stepping onto a lanai that opens to the Pacific is simply unforgettable. The service is extraordinary. Every team member embodies aloha in a way that feels genuine — thoughtful without being overbearing. Whether it’s the beach attendants remembering your favorite drink or the concierge crafting the perfect day trip, you feel seen and cared for. Dining is a highlight — from the incredible breakfast buffet at ‘ULU to cocktails under the stars at Beach Tree. The food celebrates local ingredients and island flavors, but with the polish of world-class cuisine. Hualālai has a special energy — serene yet vibrant, luxurious yet grounded in its place. It’s the rare kind of resort where time slows down, sunsets feel endless, and you leave feeling deeply restored. If there’s one place that captures the magic of Hawai‘i at its most refined, it’s here.

Superb in every respect! Closest major hotel to the airport, only 15 minutes away but utterly secluded on extensive manicured grounds. Wonderful long beachfront with sea turtles and snorkeling. Though the ocean was a bit rough for our stay, there is a large saltwater pond just inside the beach, stocked with 1,000 fish of all types (though no sea turtles), where even little kids can swim and snorkel in slightly warmer waters. The cultural center onsite is a unique gem. The staff there, including especially Micah, provided incredibly engaging and detailed, TED Talk quality lessons on native Hawaiian history, spiritual traditions and culture. Each staff person has a specialty, even to the point of being the kahuna or supreme expert in Hawaii on a topic (such as hula, where Kalumaheihei is the kahuna). This learning experience gave us a much deeper appreciation of Hawaii than any of the others in our many stays over 4 decades, really standing out as a lifetime takeaway. Breakfast buffet was very extensive, on a par with the finest hotels in Asia or Europe, overlooking the ocean 25 feet away. Several large pools which were never crowded because of the size of the facilities. Staff were incredibly friendly and nice. In short, worth every penny and very much making us want to return, to here and other Four Seasons!

Second visit and it was an amazing trip all around! This was our first trip with our 2.5 year old, and it was the perfect place! He had fun at the ocean pool, king’s pond, and the sea shell pool. They also have a play structure on-site, and an indoor play area. The resort grounds are beautiful, and everything is an easy walk. They also have golf carts that you can call to take you anywhere around the resort if you don’t feel like walking. We snorkeled at the ocean pool (saw turtles, flounder, an octopus, and all sorts of other sea life) and at Kukio Bay, and I took an outrigger canoe excursion and snorkeled at Kua Bay as well-amazing! Had some minor challenges with house keeping, but Anthony (the onsite manager) got everything cleared up for us-the way they handled it was excellent. Highly recommend a trip here! And we are looking forward to coming back.

We stayed at the lovely Four Seasons Hualalai for two wonderful nights in September 2025 as a family of three. The staff made us feel well cared for and were always polite, attentive, and friendly! The property is located perfectly away from Kona to its south and from the collection of resorts to its north, creating a perfectly peaceful and dark sky space that we enjoyed! The room had a perfect ocean view, was clean, and the bathroom was spectacular! Breakfast at Ulu's open-air restaurant, with its stunning ocean views, was a delightful affair featuring the freshest tropical fruits. The papayas, passion fruits, and pineapples were flavorful and crave-worthy! The service staff were attentive and made us feel at home. Special thanks to Haoli and to Emily! The spa was a restful and beautiful space. We enjoyed the Lomi Lomi massages and the facilities. The King's Pond was perfect for snorkelling, with a spotted Eagle Ray and other local marine species, apparently all rescued from regional shops that could not sell them due to apparent cosmetic blemishes in their appearance. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and appear peaceful, well-maintained, and give the impression of timelessness. There are several polls, all of which are open 24/7, making them perfect for a swim under the stars. There is also an ocean pool, created by a lava rock enclosure, which is terrific for a swim. The resort is so peaceful and perfect that we didn't feel the need to leave it for any of the beaches along the Kohala coast. We did venture out for a sunset sail and a helicopter ride! It is easy to get to all the lovely beaches from the resort if you choose to do so! Thank you to the team at the Four Seasons Hualalai for making our stay a perfect 10! Mahalo nui loa and Aloha oe from the Kurra family!

Hubby and I both agree 5/5 on our stay here!! We came as part of our honeymoon and they didn’t let us forget it! We felt celebrated everywhere we went. Service was excellent, of course. Everyone was super accommodating and ensured all of our needs were met. The hotel reception was fantastic with accommodating with our check-in/check-out needs. We stayed in the “partial-ocean view golf room” which is the only type of room that isn’t situated around any of pool areas. They’re a 3 min walk from the pools. At first, I was a little bummed and thought maybe we should have booked a different room because the other ones are more central but we ended up very happy with our room! It was very private and quiet. We liked that we could leave our curtains open and never see anyone outside. Everyday we started our morning with a yoga class, Kiersten was an awesome yoga instructor. We’re beginners and she was attentive, funny, and super motivating. Hubby loved the lap pool. Then we posted up at the beach chairs. The ones in front of the adults only pool don’t fill up until like noon so there’s no rush. We were always able to get one. One day, a sea turtle plopped up on shore right in front of us!!! Staff came by to fill out waters, take orders periodically, and even clean our sunglasses. We ate lunch at our beach chairs everyday which was delicious every time. I was super anxious about this resort not being adults-only but there’s a “adults only pool”, a “quiet pool” and a “kids pool”…. except for dinners, I literally forgot there were children on the property at all. We loved the Resident Beach House for dinner. You can only reserve this restaurant after 3pm the day before you want to dine (or the day of) but we didn’t have trouble calling for a 530pm reservation a few hours before. The food was better here and the vibe is more laxe/casual. Beach Tree and Ulu were good too. We did 6pm reservations everyday which allowed us to enjoy an incredible sunset with our meals everyday. Also, since we were the earlier reservations we always got a “front row” table to the beach which was really nice.

Hualalai is the full package — truly, there’s no better place to spend a week in Hawaii as a family. From the moment you arrive, you’re struck by the natural beauty of the layout. The resort unfolds seamlessly across the coastline, with lush gardens, serene pathways, and views of the ocean from nearly everywhere you walk. It feels expansive, yet intimate and welcoming— and you are always just steps from the sand. What makes Hualalai so special for families is the variety of activities and ease of access to everything. Pools for every age group, a fantastic kids’ club, tennis, golf, cultural programming, and ocean adventures are all right at your fingertips. The snorkeling in the protected swimming area is fantastic, we saw turtles daily— in addition to the pond designed for all ages to snorkel.. And because the beach is never more than a few steps away, you can move effortlessly from your pool chair to the sea throughout the day. The staff are phenomenal — attentive, warm, and genuinely invested in making your family’s stay unforgettable (shout out to the girls running crafts by the family pool and Maggie at Ulu breakfast— we hugged every day). The food is excellent and choice is plentiful — especially breakfast, the residents beach club and Ulu.. there’s no need to leave property, although you can stroll down the beach to dine at the rosewood without even getting in a car. For families, it strikes the ultimate balance: enough activities to keep everyone entertained, enough beauty to keep you in awe, and enough calm to let you truly relax. Would make for the perfect intergenerational trip as the resort is very accessible and flat, yet efficiently expansive. We learned Four Seasons Hualalai is not just a resort, it’s an experience that becomes a family tradition. We would return every single year without hesitation if we could.

Overall great experience with my family - will cover multiple categories: 1. Arrival - very easy to get checked in, nice welcome. 2. Room - we had a suite connected to a standard room - great set up. Rooms are recently updated and very nice. 3. Pools - something for everyone, we focused on family pool and kings pond - never felt too crowded although a lot of people there. My wife and I went to the adult pool one day - if we did not have kids with us would be a fun place to hang out. The way the hotel segregates areas by demographic is done very well. 4. Pool service - always someone there to help 5. Restaurants - torn here - Ulu and Miller and Lux were incredible - great service and food. Will at Miller and Lux is a fantastic server! Beach Tree not so much - food was good - long wait and half of what we were served was not what we ordered, and that situation was dealt with by the server very coldly. 6. Spa - got to be 14 to enter, my son loved it, he went every day. Work out room and basketball set up was also good. 7. Concierge - set everything up efficiently. 8. Staff - overall fantastic, everyone was nice. Only negative was the Beach Tree experience referenced above. Overall great stay - when on Big Island this hotel is my choice!