Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Overview
The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa sits on 15 beachfront acres on the Kohala Coast, with direct access to 'Anaeho'omalu Bay — one of the Big Island's most beloved beaches. A-Bay, as locals call it, is a white-sand crescent backed by coconut palms and bordered by ancient Hawaiian fishponds, creating a setting that feels like a postcard come to life. The calm, protected waters are excellent for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking, and the sunsets here — with silhouetted palms against a Pacific sky — are legendary.
All 297 rooms were completely reimagined in a renovation completed in December 2025, bringing warm wood tones, organic textures, and Hawaiian-inspired design featuring custom shoji screens and native floral patterns. The resort manages to feel both contemporary and rooted in place, with cultural connections woven throughout — from the ancient fishponds adjacent to the beach to the Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve a short walk away to the 40+ weekly activities including lei-making, hula, and ukulele lessons.
Three swimming pools (including a heated infinity pool and a children's pool with sandy-bottom entrance), the Mandara Spa, and the 2024 OpenTable Diners' Choice-winning Hawaii Calls Restaurant give you plenty of reasons to stay on property. But the resort's position within the Waikoloa Beach Resort complex — walking distance to Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace — means excellent shopping and dining options are always nearby.
Accommodation Options
The full-property renovation completed in December 2025 updated every one of the 297 rooms with a design inspired by the Big Island's natural landscape. Organic textures, warm wood tones, and floral patterns representing native Hawaiian blossoms create rooms that feel connected to the Kohala Coast outside your window. Custom-crafted shoji screens pay homage to traditional pili grass construction.
Room categories range from Garden/Mountain View through Resort View, Pool View, and Partial Ocean View to Ocean View rooms with balconies framing A-Bay. All rooms include a private lanai, 42-inch TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, and premium bedding. The Na Hale Wing is the premium tier — 14 oceanfront rooms and suites with approximately 600+ square feet, full kitchens in the suites, multiple balconies, and select rooms featuring luxury outdoor garden showers that have become a couples' favorite.
Two-bedroom Na Hale suites accommodate families comfortably with full kitchen and multiple bathrooms, making them practical for longer Kohala Coast stays.
Pools, Beaches & Activities
Three pools cater to different moods and ages. The heated infinity pool draws the ocean-view-seeking adults with its elevated position and oceanfront sightlines. A second pool features a waterslide for family fun. The children's pool is a standout — a sandy-bottom entrance that creates a gentle, beach-like transition into the water, perfect for toddlers and young swimmers who might be intimidated by a sudden pool edge.
Hot tubs accompany the main pools, and private cabanas and daybeds are available for reservation. Poolside service from Hawaii Calls Restaurant means food and drinks come to you.
'Anaeho'omalu Bay is the natural extension of the pool experience — walk across the lawn and you're on one of the Big Island's finest beaches. Beach equipment rental covers kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, boogie boards, and snorkel gear. The bay's protected waters make it one of the Kohala Coast's safest swimming spots, and the snorkeling along the reef edges is rewarding for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike.
Spa & Wellness
The Mandara Spa occupies a 5,750-square-foot, two-level space fronting the main pool, blending Balinese and Hawaiian spa traditions. Seven treatment rooms include both single rooms and couples' double suites, with a full-service salon offering hair, nails, waxing, and bridal services.
The signature lomilomi massage draws on traditional Hawaiian healing, while the Tropical Hawaiian Body Scrub uses natural island ingredients. Stone therapy, Eastern and Western body treatments, and a range of facials round out the menu. The spa's relaxation lounges — separate for men and women — feature steam rooms, lockers, and quiet areas that encourage lingering before and after treatments.
Dining
Hawaii Calls Restaurant & Lounge earned a 2024 OpenTable Diners' Choice Award and anchors the resort's dining program with American and Pacific Rim cuisine. Executive Chef Jayson Kanekoa sources 95% of ingredients locally — a commitment that translates to genuinely island-rooted flavors at breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner. The poolside setting with ocean views makes it equally good for a casual lunch or a dressed-up dinner.
Aka'ula Lanai serves as a grab-and-go breakfast spot and transitions to afternoon and evening drinks — a convenient option when you want to keep things simple. Kona Coffee Shop handles the essential morning coffee. The Sunset Luau, held on Monday and Wednesday evenings, offers a Polynesian cultural show with traditional Hawaiian food, fire dancing, and hula under the stars.
The independent Lava Lava Beach Club, located right on A-Bay's sand, isn't hotel-operated but is steps away and hugely popular for toes-in-the-sand dining and cocktails. Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace, within walking distance, add steakhouses, poke spots, and gourmet markets to your dining rotation.
Golf
The Waikoloa Beach Resort complex is home to a 27-hole golf facility offering three distinct nine-hole loops that combine for varied 18-hole rounds. The Beach Nine, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., plays along historic lava flows near A-Bay with the signature par-5 sixth running down to the ocean. The Kings' Nine (Weiskopf/Morrish) delivers a Scottish links feel with wide fairways and Mauna Kea as a backdrop. The Lakes Nine winds through the resort center with water hazards on five of nine holes.
All three nines are walking distance from the resort, and the variety means you can play three different 18-hole combinations during your stay. The Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea resort courses are within a 15-20 minute drive for golfers wanting to experience the Kohala Coast's full golf collection.
Nearby Attractions
'Anaeho'omalu Bay's cultural landscape extends beyond the beach. Two ancient Hawaiian fishponds — Ku'uali'i and Kahapapa — sit adjacent to the resort, once used by Hawaiian royalty to raise mullet delivered to King Kamehameha via runners on the Ala Kahakai trail. The Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve, a 14-minute walk from the beach, preserves some of the best examples of ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs in the state, with complimentary guided tours available Thursday through Sunday.
Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace are within walking distance for shopping and additional dining. Hapuna Beach State Park, frequently ranked the best beach in America, is about 20 minutes north. The historic town of Waimea offers farm-to-table dining at Merriman's and Parker Ranch heritage.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is roughly two hours southeast and makes for the Big Island's essential day trip. In September 2025, 27 acres of coastline adjacent to A-Bay were permanently preserved by the Trust for Public Land, ensuring this stretch of coast remains protected for future generations.
Tips & Good to Know
The newly renovated rooms (December 2025) are fresh and contemporary — this is the newest room product on the Kohala Coast right now. Request a higher floor in the Na Hale Wing for the best ocean views, or ask about the Na Hale rooms with outdoor garden showers for a memorable couples' experience.
The resort charges a $35/day parking fee — factor this into your budget. The Petroglyph Reserve guided tours (Thursday-Sunday at 9:30 AM) are complimentary and genuinely fascinating — one of the most underrated cultural experiences on the Kohala Coast. Go early before the lava rock heats up.
Lava Lava Beach Club on A-Bay books up quickly for sunset — try to arrive by 4:30 PM for the best tables. The resort offers over 40 activities per week, many complimentary, including cultural workshops that are worth building into your schedule. The EV charging station on property is a useful perk for Tesla and electric vehicle renters.
Location
69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Beach, HI 96738
