Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Amazing stay at the Mauna Kea as always, the entire staff was kind and helpful and provided everything needed for a fantastic vacation. Small service details like two luggage holders, ample towels, water bottles, morning coffee stations etc. made us feel at home. The beach crew was exceptional, Victor went...

Amazing stay at the Mauna Kea as always, the entire staff was kind and helpful and provided everything needed for a fantastic vacation. Small service details like two luggage holders, ample towels, water bottles, morning coffee stations etc. made us feel at home. The beach crew was exceptional, Victor went above and beyond to help us get started with the SUPs and enjoy all the beach amenities. The beach equipment being free now is a huge plus for us, it really made it carefree to enjoy whatever activities we wanted, whenever we felt like it. We knew about the construction in advance and it didn't affect our stay too much. Yes the un-renovated room was showing its age but still clean and comfortable. Food was ok but the menus need updating with more fresh/healthy and grab/go options like the Westin. All in all the Mauna Kea remains our favorite hotel on our favorite beach in Hawaii and we can't wait to return!

My wife and I recently stayed 5 nights at the Mauna Kea to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Most of the staff on property warmly wished us a Happy Anniversary, which was super nice. The hotel also greeted us with some special welcome amenities when we got to our room...

My wife and I recently stayed 5 nights at the Mauna Kea to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Most of the staff on property warmly wished us a Happy Anniversary, which was super nice. The hotel also greeted us with some special welcome amenities when we got to our room in the Beachfront wing. We had an ultra-relaxing experience, which is exactly what we wanted. The Mauna Kea was a favorite pre-pandemic destination for us. We knew the resort was being completely renovated and were not quite sure what to expect. During our stay the main tower, registration area, shops, and Copper Bar were closed for remodeling. The golf course was also closed for a refresh. To me, the hotel management was very clever recreating services for areas being renovated. The glass walled golf course restaurant got a makeover and became a new registration area. I actually like the temporary check in area better because it is more spacious than the original but is not located at the entrance of the hotel. We’ll see what the new registration area looks like. Next to the registration, the golf shop became the sole gift shop on the property. I would say it is adequate during the construction period but look forward to the variety of shops as previously. We went to the Westin Hapuna, a sister hotel next door, and shopped at the gift stores there. There are three dining options at the Mauna Kea. The Hau Tree is a beachfront casual dining (swimwear and sand ok) location. Think burgers and local fare. The Copper Bar is the casual dining option in the main hotel (shirt and shoes needed) and has a more upscale menu. I think the Copper Bar’s menu and food quality rivals many of the nicer restaurants on the Kohala Coast. Although the Copper Bar location was being remodeled, the restaurant was relocated to a glass walled banquet room not too far from the pool. There is some outdoor seating and the glass walls make the inside feel more open. I liked it and the food was excellent. I look forward to dining in the remodeled area. Lastly is the Manta Restaurant, the resort’s fine dining option. The Manta boasts a spectacular, elevated ocean view from an outdoor terrace dining area. It has a premium fine dining menu, however the Manta’s atmosphere is not stuffy. This is “casual” fine dining at its very best. I tried many dishes and all were very good to excellent. They also have an extensive wine list. The breakfast buffet is legendary and should be tried at least once. When making reservations try to get a package that includes the buffet breakfast. The entire hotel staff, from the restaurants to the spa, were very service oriented and accommodating. The iconic crescent shaped beach is the best on the Kona coast and great for kids. The ground floor Beach Front rooms open directly onto the broad lawn that runs along the beach. When the tower, new lobby, and shops are finished, then they will remodel the Beach Front wing. As we planned our trip, the reviews were mixed about going to the Mauna Kea while it is being renovated. It’s true that half of the rooms, the old gift shops, the lobby, and golf course were closed. However all three restaurants, spa, pool, beach, tennis courts, and Luau were open. The temporary registration and gift shop were adequate for the reduced number of guests there. My wife and I found the resort quite pleasant with half the number of guests in the restaurants, at the pool, in the recreational areas, and at the beach. We didn’t miss going to the old registration area, lobby, gift shops, or tower rooms. We didn’t mind the “construction appearance” of some areas and only heard construction noise once in 5 days. We enjoyed the beach, great meals, the spa, and great service. If you have never been to the Mauna Kea, then you might want to wait until the renovation is done to get the full experience. I get that. However, if you are like us and are familiar with the resort from previous visits, I think going during the renovation is an excellent idea. From our expectation, we did not lack anything during our stay. All the open areas operated with the usual great Mauna Kea service. We never went off property except for a quick trip to the Hapuna. Our goal was to have super relaxing time at a place with great hospitality. The Mauna Kea delivered.

First time to stay here and not sure how the construction would impact our stay. Let me just say that it was great! From the check in process, to the rooms, to the staff at the beach, to the night time room attendants, it was a great stay! 2/3 of...

First time to stay here and not sure how the construction would impact our stay. Let me just say that it was great! From the check in process, to the rooms, to the staff at the beach, to the night time room attendants, it was a great stay! 2/3 of the resort is under major construction. We never heard any construction noise. I was told that construction will continue well into 2025. Best part of our stay was the lack of people. Beach was almost empty. I would highly recommend this resort while it’s under construction.

We stayed here during the renovation. We were skeptical before our vacation, but it was unfounded and actually really nice that there were so few people staying at the hotel. We have usually stayed in the Deluxe Oceanfront Rooms, but the Main Tower was being renovated during our stay. We...

We stayed here during the renovation. We were skeptical before our vacation, but it was unfounded and actually really nice that there were so few people staying at the hotel. We have usually stayed in the Deluxe Oceanfront Rooms, but the Main Tower was being renovated during our stay. We ended up staying in a Beachfront Room which, while these rooms are going to be remodeled soon, was still nice. We were in a top floor room, and we loved the view and the privacy. Being able to sit on the balcony, watch the sunset and listen to the ocean was heavenly. Having all of the beach equipment available for rental, without having to pay additional fees, was another wonderful perk. We also loved the breakfast buffet. We didn't miss it a single day. If you get the breakfast buffet, the made to order omelets, home-made banana bread and POG juice are amazing. We are Titanium Elite for life so the breakfast buffet was free of charge for us. In addition, there are laundry facilities on the ground floor of the beachfront building which is also free and available for use. They even provide the Tide detergent and the Bounce dryer sheets. The only CONS that we can offer are the following. 1. The coffee in the restaurant is awful. They are apparently stuck with it until the renovation is done. We instead opted for espresso drinks which was way better. And 2. There is no adult pool area so if you go to the pool, expect kids having fun and making noise. While we love children, when we go away on vacation, just the two of us, we like a more "zen" experience and less children. However, I believe that once the renovation is done, there may be an adult only pool area which would be amazing, but I am not 100% certain of this.

My wife and I came here for our honeymoon. It was incredible. I was a little concerned about the construction but we never noticed it! The resort is low occupancy, so it never felt crowded. We especially enjoyed the breakfast staff Floyde, Melinda, and Jenny. And at dinner Blake served...

My wife and I came here for our honeymoon. It was incredible. I was a little concerned about the construction but we never noticed it! The resort is low occupancy, so it never felt crowded. We especially enjoyed the breakfast staff Floyde, Melinda, and Jenny. And at dinner Blake served us twice and did a really great job. The rooms were awesome and we were thrilled with the housekeeping. We look forward to coming back!

Beautiful veiws and beach. Half of the hotel is under a long refurbishment. The golf course is also being upgraded. At first we thought the construction would be an issue but we realized that with the resort being half empty it made it even better. No problems getting and umbrella...

Beautiful veiws and beach. Half of the hotel is under a long refurbishment. The golf course is also being upgraded. At first we thought the construction would be an issue but we realized that with the resort being half empty it made it even better. No problems getting and umbrella or chairs by the pool. Easy to get into the restaurants on the property as well. All the staff were fantastic. The room was large and clean with great veiws of the ocean. We would definitely stay here again

We went to the Mauna Kea to swim with the Manta Rays after canceling our reservation due to the construction. From what we saw, I would definitely skip this hotel until renovations are complete. It was incredibly dated, with old linoleum floors covered in leaves and other debris blowing in...

We went to the Mauna Kea to swim with the Manta Rays after canceling our reservation due to the construction. From what we saw, I would definitely skip this hotel until renovations are complete. It was incredibly dated, with old linoleum floors covered in leaves and other debris blowing in the wind. It felt deserted and eerie enough that we were making jokes about The Shining. The hot tub we got into after our swim had major breaks and chips and neighboring children (not hotel guests) were in the pool. To top off the experience, the bellhops were rude. I am a Marriott gold elite member and loyalist and would have been furious if I paid $1000 a night for this hotel. The beach was pretty but there are a lot of great beach hotels on the island.

This was our second stay at this hotel. The first being after I asked a friend who worked for Marriott in Hawaii what was the most authentic Hawaiian resort that he liked. I'm hooked. I like that it's about the beach, because I like to see the ocean and look...

This was our second stay at this hotel. The first being after I asked a friend who worked for Marriott in Hawaii what was the most authentic Hawaiian resort that he liked. I'm hooked. I like that it's about the beach, because I like to see the ocean and look at everyone on the beach while I enjoy the pool. The level of the service at the pool is great. I like that it's dated. It's authentic. I enjoy the openness of the building. I love the layout of the rooms in the beach wing, where we've stayed both times. I especially love the huge balconies with the giant chairs and ottomans. But I love the architecture of the main tower. Breakfast at Manta was great every morning. Lunch at the pool or beach bar was fun. A light dinner a Copper Bar with entertainment was hit or miss, depending on the entertainment that day or if they were even open. Our Bonvoy status got us an invitation to the weekly Manager's reception. It was nice to meet Kansas and some of his staff and hear about their love of the property. I understand that renovations have begun since our stay. I hope that they are carried out in the spirit of preservation rather than change.

Had a lovely stay at the Mauna Kea. The property and beach are beautiful, even with the ongoing renovations. The cold complimentary juice and cold towel were a nice touch. The entire staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The rooms were a bit dated, but still modern fixtures and powerful...

Had a lovely stay at the Mauna Kea. The property and beach are beautiful, even with the ongoing renovations. The cold complimentary juice and cold towel were a nice touch. The entire staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The rooms were a bit dated, but still modern fixtures and powerful AC. The beach was perfect and not too crowded. The on-site restaurants and the spa were top class. If you can save up for a stay, you won't be disappointed with treating yourself here.

Stayed here during the renovation as our fourth visit to Mauna Kea. Was very worried about the renovation going in, but I’m pleased to report that it was a phenomenal stay. At this point in the renovation, the main tower was closed, but all restaurants were open. My opinion is...

Stayed here during the renovation as our fourth visit to Mauna Kea. Was very worried about the renovation going in, but I’m pleased to report that it was a phenomenal stay. At this point in the renovation, the main tower was closed, but all restaurants were open. My opinion is that if you’ve stayed here in the past and you are OK without being in the main tower, you might like it even better than a regular stay. Occupancy is way down; nothing is crowded in the slightest. The staff is at the top of their game. Construction noise is minimal. The tarps and coverings used to block off construction areas are subtle and not intrusive.

We live on the BI and know this resort well, so I think I can offer a critical but fair review. Beach is one of the best in Hawaii. Hau Tree staff excellent. Room adequate although AC was fluctuating quite a bit at night this visit. Big negative … Spring...

We live on the BI and know this resort well, so I think I can offer a critical but fair review. Beach is one of the best in Hawaii. Hau Tree staff excellent. Room adequate although AC was fluctuating quite a bit at night this visit. Big negative … Spring Break. Sorry, loud kids not our thing. Seeing kids in diapers in the hot tub … er, no. Beach chairs - snagged and held by people not even there. No beach chair service. Lunch at Hau Tree no seating, all full. Too crowded. Staff did the best they could. Manta … so disappointing. Were able to get a seating with short notice for dinner so that was great! But server mediocre. Asked to share some items and had to ask for plates. Top end server would have asked us if we needed. Ordered a second glass of wine and came 15 minutes later after we were done eating. We are not very demanding. Not sure why service was so bad, not crowded at all. Except near us a very large table of drunk obnoxious people. Maybe that was who they cared about … were they home/condo owners?? Salads overdressed and goopy. Scallops were nicely cooked and fresh but over salted. Next time we’ll just go to Copper Bar. So yes, beach awesome. Crowds with loud kids not awesome. Manta mediocre. Hau Tree and bar staff there were excellent and food was ok there. Front desk staff, valets and luggage folks were quite good.

Rooms are average, dated in need of a major facelift. The rooms were very clean and beds were comfortable. It was nice to have the balcony. The restaurants and bars close by 9:00 pm during the week. There was a lot of confusion around reservation for some of the restaurants....

Rooms are average, dated in need of a major facelift. The rooms were very clean and beds were comfortable. It was nice to have the balcony. The restaurants and bars close by 9:00 pm during the week. There was a lot of confusion around reservation for some of the restaurants. We ended up ordering from the bar and taking our food out on the balcony. The beach was lovely ( nothing to do with the hotel) There were ample chairs for guests. The people were friendly and accommodating when you actually saw someone. For a 1000.00 a night you would think that the hotel would offer a few more amenities such as having a restaurant or bar open past nine during the weekdays. The café/gift shop was great for early coffee and pastry ! For the money it was underwhelming.

Lovely hotel with a private secluded entrance and a small beach Highlights: - free beach rentals when the surf isn’t too rough - free laundry room to wash your clothes on the first floor -snorkeling right off the beach when the surf isn’t high- easy to get in and out...

Lovely hotel with a private secluded entrance and a small beach Highlights: - free beach rentals when the surf isn’t too rough - free laundry room to wash your clothes on the first floor -snorkeling right off the beach when the surf isn’t high- easy to get in and out of the water without any big rocks - turtles right by the rocks that you can see from the hotel - whales by the hotel - manta ray viewing- sadly didn’t see any from the hotel but the boats were out almost every night. Platinum got us a continental breakfast which was small so most days we upgraded to the buffet which was HUGE. So many varieties of fruit, yogurt, omelet and waffle bar, lots of meat options, pancakes, oatmeal, salad, miso soup, rice, bread and cake options. Definitely worth the upgrade. You can also hike along the beach to the Westin and take one of their evening shuttles back.

We wouldn’t come every year if it wasn’t a favorite.. we do 5 nights, hardly move from our beach loungers ..save for golf, yoga, hike To Hapuna or small beach north of hotel, snorkel or paddle board . The familiarity of coming again and again , knowing it’s reliably good...

We wouldn’t come every year if it wasn’t a favorite.. we do 5 nights, hardly move from our beach loungers ..save for golf, yoga, hike To Hapuna or small beach north of hotel, snorkel or paddle board . The familiarity of coming again and again , knowing it’s reliably good ..the best beach, where to get coffee, where we want to sit, when the mantas arrive .. sure it’s pricey and sometimes the food or something is annoying..those lifeguards never want u to take a board ou or be helpful.. sup yoga never happens in winter , close those umbrellas if there is a tad of wind, have to grab a mat at the gym On way to class .. small things.. yes property is aging and yes Fredericos are $19 Each .. but we have seen changes over the years that focus on the guest experience like water bottles or beach bag on room, free manta breakfast for Bonvoy ( now there is a fee again?) , all rentals at beach complimentary., peloton bikes added , we did spa once and not again. It’s nothing special, skip hair salon, skip the luau , don’t miss golf.. it’s wonderful, look For mantas at night, catch the best sunsets, sleep Under an umbrella or in a cabana.. splurge on the clam Bake Or Holiday meals on the lawn if you come at that time of year..really so Impressive and beautifully done, we like the gear.. it brings some Aloha home.. rest and recharge is worth it , so infrequent and we have so Many wonderful Memories spent here. We have traveled All Over the world and we come back again and again so that speaks volumes . The condos/homes across the highway are nice too and great for larger groups. April 2024 a large scale remodel Is happening so I bet we won’t be able to come next year if it’s not done which is sad .. but will start saving Marriott points now for our return after the refresh. They are adding adult pool/improved spa, redoing rooms.. it’s been talked about for years. thank you Nuoy for the room upgrade this trip( first time we have ever been upgraded ) wonderful view and we so enjoyed this slice of annual sojourn to Heaven this week

We just returned from a week at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and we hated to leave. The location is wonderful. The hotel is situated to provide excellent views of the ocean, the whales, and the marvelous sunsets. We took the "stay 4 days and get the 5th night free"...

We just returned from a week at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and we hated to leave. The location is wonderful. The hotel is situated to provide excellent views of the ocean, the whales, and the marvelous sunsets. We took the "stay 4 days and get the 5th night free" option, which defrayed somewhat the price of the room, and were upgraded to an oceanfront King room in the main tower for the same rate as the lesser room we had booked. The room was huge, with a very spacious lanai. The bathroom was equally large, with its own lanai. The bed was comfortable, linens in good condition. All the electrics worked. But two things REALLY were excellent - the beach and the beach restaurant, and the STAFF. Everyone we came into contact with was friendly, polite, and efficient. They seemed to genuinely care that we had the best possible experience during our stay. We didn't play the golf course, but we walked it and it was in great condition and looked quite challenging. Neither did we use the Spa, so can't comment on that. The entertainment in the Copper Bar was good every night we were there. The only weakness in the entire stay was the food. Meals at the Beach restaurant were good. But the two meals we ate at the Copper Bar were of mixed quality. Dinner at Manta was overpriced and not particularly appetizing. The breakfast a la carte menu was usually good and the buffet was very overpriced. I hear the hotel is due for a remodel and perhaps the kitchen situation will be addressed then. Despite that, I'm still giving this hotel 5 stars because, for us, the attributes mentioned above far outweigh the glitches. This is not the place to come if you want constant activity, noise and motion. It is quiet and tranquil. This location is a small slice of heaven and very relaxing. As I said, we hated to leave.

We were a bit extravagant and stayed in a corner unit with a private tub area. Everything was so wonderful. The service, the grounds, the beach (outstanding for body surfing) and all the restaurants. It was a bit rough seas for good snorkeling.. the mini cabanas along the beach are...

We were a bit extravagant and stayed in a corner unit with a private tub area. Everything was so wonderful. The service, the grounds, the beach (outstanding for body surfing) and all the restaurants. It was a bit rough seas for good snorkeling.. the mini cabanas along the beach are first come first serve with good cushions. The prime ones are claimed by 7am but the others were available.

Overall, this was a very nice and relaxing stay. I would definitely stay here again with hopes that a few changes will be made once the construction is completed. THE POSITIVES: THE LOCATION: The beach here is really one of a kind. It is a beautiful setting; the water is...

Overall, this was a very nice and relaxing stay. I would definitely stay here again with hopes that a few changes will be made once the construction is completed. THE POSITIVES: THE LOCATION: The beach here is really one of a kind. It is a beautiful setting; the water is stunning, and the bay is sandy – no rocks or coral to deal with. The water is perfect for all ages as it is a shallow bay to start, and one needs to walk a bit to get into deeper water. The staff: Everyone at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel that we interacted with was very nice, helpful, and welcoming. THE ROOM: Our room was an ocean front room in the main tower (the beach front rooms were undergoing renovations). This was a very nice room and the view from the lanai was amazing. Reusable water bottles: They give you a reusable stainless steel water bottle to use while here and to take with you when you leave. There are water filling stations in each of the rooms as well as around the resort. This is a fantastic way to reduce single use plastic bottles and protect the environment. Having the water filling station in the room is very convenient. THE CONSTRUCTION: We were a bit unsure of what to expect booking here during the construction, but it really didn’t impact us at all. We are not “pool” people but if you are, you should wait until the construction is completed as there isn’t a pool during the construction. We were told that the construction will be ongoing until sometime in October 2025. PICKLE BALL COURTS: There are 8 courts that are specific for pickle ball. This is a nice change from trying to play on tennis courts and adjusting the size for pickle ball. It is $25 per person per hour. However, if no one shows up to play the next hour, you may play on. AREAS WHERE THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: THE BEACH SHACK: I am hoping that this will improve after the renovation is completed. We booked the complimentary canoe paddle and was told to check back at 7 am the next morning to see if it was running. An improvement would be to have them call the hotel guest to either confirm or cancel the paddle. I realize that this is weather dependent and won’t go out with high wind but them letting us know via a call would be much better than getting up and heading down to the beach shack to find out it was cancelled. On the positive side, we had no problem getting beach chairs anytime we went down to the beach. I think this was due to the fact that the hotel was not at capacity. THE FOOD: The food here is not what I would expect of a resort of this caliper. The hotel really needs to up its food game. Breakfast was decent. They have all of the things you would expect, an omelet station, fresh fruit, pastries, etc. As a Titanium member for life on Marriott, I was able to get the buffet included. For dinner our first night we ate at the Copper Bar, and I ordered grilled fish on my salad. The fish was raw and when I mentioned it to the server, she said yes it was “pan seared”. This was not ahi, and my expectation was that it would be cooked. She didn’t offer to have it cooked or to get me anything else. Needless to say, I did not eat it. My dinner and the server’s response were disappointing to say the least. The next day, we ate lunch at the Hau Tree (their outdoor bar) and I ordered a beet salad. This was possibly the worst beet salad I have ever had. It had a few pieces of arugula, and the beets were overcooked to the point of being dehydrated. We did not even try Manta Ray for dinner after these two experiences but ate outside of the resort each evening we were here. So, the opportunities exist to really improve the food offerings to align with what one would expect from a resort of this caliper. The beach bar could use some appetizers such as wings, potato skins, fried calamari, hummus and veggies, etc. And the opportunity to improve dining at the Copper Bar, offer fresh grilled fish and a salad these items are not hard to make. I am really hoping that positive changes will be made to your food lineup once the construction is completed. THE DRINKS: The Hau bar drink game was pretty weak. If I wanted a spicy margarita, I had one choice, and it was going with a no name tequila that had been infused with jalapeño and cilantro. I would personally have liked to have had a specific tequila for this drink as well as have had some fresh jalapeños. The lady next to me at the bar ordered a mojito and it didn’t have any mint in it. How is that a mojito? I think it is fine if you just want a beer or low-end wine but that isn’t what I would have expected from this resort.

We had the best stay we’ve ever had at a hotel at the Mauna Kea. Emmy was great at check-in with a big smile and was incredibly helpful in making this an incredible stay for our 51st wedding anniversary. Doug and Ledia were just as helpful when Emmy wasn’t there...

We had the best stay we’ve ever had at a hotel at the Mauna Kea. Emmy was great at check-in with a big smile and was incredibly helpful in making this an incredible stay for our 51st wedding anniversary. Doug and Ledia were just as helpful when Emmy wasn’t there in making our stay incredibly special. everybody else on staff was also wonderful, friendly, and kind. The hotel is finishing up a remodel and it’s terrific. The beach is fabulous and the facilities are in great condition. We can’t say enough good things about the hotel and everybody that we had the opportunity to meet. Housekeeping and maintenance were on top of everything as well and we’re very friendly.