Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Overview
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is the Big Island's most complete luxury resort — a place where a $200 million reimagination has woven together world-class golf, a celebrated restaurant, Hawaiian cultural heritage, and a stunning Kohala Coast setting into something genuinely extraordinary. The name means "Mountain Reaching Heaven," and the property lives up to it.
Set on 32 oceanfront acres within a larger 3,200-acre resort community, Mauna Lani sits on land once reserved for Hawaiian royalty. Ancient fishponds dating back over 1,000 years are still actively managed on the property in the traditional way, and a dedicated Living Culture team offers guests an authentic connection to Hawaiian heritage through lei-making, hula lessons, outrigger canoe paddles, and guided tours of the sacred grounds.
The resort's CanoeHouse restaurant — credited with helping birth the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement in the 1990s — remains one of the state's most celebrated dining experiences. Two championship golf courses have swept the top two spots in Hawaii's Golfers' Choice rankings. The Auberge Spa features the only Watsu pool in the state. Three swimming pools include an adults-only infinity edge overlooking the ancient fishponds.
Mauna Lani earned MICHELIN Key recognition, AAA Four Diamond status, and Forbes Recommended honors — and it delivers on every one. Whether you're here for the golf, the culture, the beach, or the sheer beauty of black lava meeting white sand and emerald fairways, this is the Big Island at its finest.
Accommodation Options
The $200 million renovation reduced the room count from 368 to 333 — not to downsize, but to make every room larger and more luxurious. Designed by New York's Meyer Davis studio, the rooms blend rich Hawaiian hardwoods, natural fabrics, and contemporary design with deep respect for the land.
Standard guest rooms start at approximately 610 square feet and feature private furnished lanais, dual vanity bathrooms with walk-in showers, and separate sitting areas. Over 90% of accommodations have ocean views. Room categories range from Garden and Mountain View through Ocean View to premium Oceanfront kings.
The 38 suites range from 1,000 to 4,265 square feet. The signature Francis H. I'i Brown Suite — named for the estate's former owner — features a gourmet show kitchen, expansive lanai with fire pit, and sweeping views over the Great Lawn and ancient fishponds. For ultimate seclusion, five private residences (bungalows) offer 4,000 square feet each with private swimming pools, hot tubs, gated entrances, butler service, and private beach access.
Pools, Beaches & Activities
Mauna Lani's three swimming pools each serve a distinct mood. The resort's main pool sits at the heart of the Great Lawn — a sweeping expanse of green that connects the pools to the white sand beach, the Surf Shack, and the Beach Club. It's the social center of the resort, with sun loungers, cabanas, and easy access to Ha Bar for poolside cocktails and food.
The family/keiki pool provides a dedicated area for younger swimmers with age-appropriate depths and a relaxed atmosphere. The adults-only infinity pool is the showpiece: an intimate retreat overlooking the ancient royal fishponds, with private cabanas shaded by palms and a sense of seclusion that belies the resort's size. A 25-meter lap pool rounds out the options for fitness swimmers.
Beyond the pools, Makaiwa Bay delivers outstanding natural beach access. This crescent-shaped cove of white sand offers calm, clear water with excellent snorkeling — sea turtles, colorful reef fish, and moray eels are regular visitors. The Kainalu Beach Club team runs stand-up paddleboarding, surfing instruction, outrigger canoe rides, snorkeling tours, and seasonal whale watching from the beach.
Spa & Wellness
The Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani is a wellness sanctuary that draws on both Hawaiian healing traditions and contemporary techniques. Five treatment rooms, including a dedicated couples' room, two saunas, and a meditation pavilion create a comprehensive spa environment.
The spa's standout feature is its Watsu pool — the only one in the state of Hawaii. Watsu (water shiatsu) combines gentle stretching, massage, and warm water immersion in a deeply restorative experience unlike any other treatment in the islands. Traditional lomilomi massage, the signature goop Glow Facial (the spa houses Hawaii's only goop Store), and the Fire + Ice hot-cold contrast therapy round out a treatment menu that blends island tradition with modern wellness.
Beyond the spa, Mauna Lani's wellness program includes daily yoga (complimentary), two state-of-the-art fitness centers, an open-air fitness terrace, tennis and pickleball courts with professional instruction, and historic biking tours through the surrounding lava fields and archaeological sites.
Dining
Dining at Mauna Lani is anchored by CanoeHouse — one of the most celebrated restaurants in Hawaii and a cornerstone of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement since the 1990s. Set on a private half-acre oceanfront lawn in the original canoe hale, CanoeHouse serves Asian-inspired local cuisine under Executive Chef Rhoda Magbitang. Kona kanpachi, lamb chops, corn ribs, and the legendary garlic fried rice are standouts. After dinner, fire pits on the lawn invite lingering with cocktails under the stars.
HaLani ("Breath of Heaven") offers Mediterranean-themed dinner and a generous breakfast buffet in an open-air setting overlooking the pool and ocean. Ha Bar serves crafted cocktails and lighter fare poolside. The Market channels a New York deli with housemade sandwiches, pastries, and desserts made from Big Island ingredients. The Surf Shack brings a retro beach vibe with casual food connecting the family beach to the Great Lawn. The Mauna Lani Beach Club rounds out the options with all-day casual dining, drinks, and music right on the sand.
Children's menus are available at every venue and through in-room dining, and kids eat free during summer months.
Golf
Mauna Lani's two championship 18-hole courses swept the top two spots in the 2025 Golfers' Choice Awards for Hawaii — and the South Course was simultaneously ranked number one in the entire United States by GolfPass.
The South Course (par 72, 6,938 yards) is built on a 16th-century Kaniku lava flow, creating a dramatic landscape of black lava, emerald fairways, and blue Pacific. Holes 7 and 15 are among the most photographed in golf — the 15th features a thrilling carry over ocean waves. The course hosted the annual Senior Skins Game from 1990 to 2000 and currently hosts the Hawaii State Open.
The North Course (6,601-6,933 yards) rolls through kiawe forests and a 230-acre protected archaeological district, with the signature 17th hole providing one of the Big Island's most photographed golf moments. Lower-handicap players often prefer the North for its more varied and strategic layout.
The Wikiwiki 9-hole short course offers a quick-play option, and golf club rentals at the Wikiwiki Course and driving range are complimentary for resort guests. Both championship courses are managed by Troon Golf, and unlimited golf packages are available.
Nearby Attractions
Mauna Lani's Kohala Coast location puts you within reach of the Big Island's most compelling experiences. The Puako petroglyph fields — one of Hawaii's largest ancient rock carving sites — are nearby, and the resort's own grounds contain petroglyphs and the remarkable 1,000-year-old fishponds that are still managed in the traditional Hawaiian way.
Hapuna Beach, regularly ranked the best in America, is a short drive north. The charming ranching town of Waimea offers Merriman's farm-to-table cuisine, the Parker Ranch heritage center, and Saturday farmer's markets. The Pololu Valley lookout delivers dramatic coastal cliff views at the northern tip of the Kohala Coast.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about two hours southeast, is the Big Island's must-do day trip — walk through lava tubes, hike the Kilauea Iki crater, and witness one of the world's most active volcanic landscapes. Closer to home, the resort concierge arranges whale watching (December-April), deep-sea fishing, helicopter tours, and stargazing excursions on Mauna Kea's summit.
Tips & Good to Know
The resort fee includes more than you might expect — daily yoga, snorkel and SUP gear, tennis and pickleball, bicycle use, fitness centers, the Holoholo Kids Crew, shuttle service, and WiFi. Factor this into your value calculation and take full advantage.
The sunrise outrigger canoe paddle is Mauna Lani's signature experience — book it early in your stay so you can reschedule if conditions aren't ideal. CanoeHouse reservations fill up fast, especially for sunset tables; book before you arrive.
The adults-only infinity pool overlooking the fishponds is the resort's most serene spot — it's quieter in the morning. For the best room value, Garden View and Mountain View rooms still give you the full resort experience at lower rates, and over 90% of rooms have at least partial ocean views regardless of category.
Don't miss the Living Culture programs, especially the fishpond tour — understanding the property's 1,000-year history transforms your stay from vacation to genuine cultural experience.
Location
68-1400 Mauna Lani Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743
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