The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Overview
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort holds a trump card that most Kohala Coast resorts can only envy — direct beachfront access to Hapuna Beach, consistently ranked the number one beach in Hawaii and among the best in America. While many neighboring properties sit on lava rock with distant ocean views, the Westin puts your toes in the sand of a half-mile crescent of white powder, with turquoise water so inviting you'll understand why Laurance Rockefeller originally chose this coastline for his Big Island vision.
The resort underwent a $46-50 million renovation in 2018, transforming the former Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel into a contemporary Westin property with 249 ocean-facing rooms, each featuring a private lanai and the brand's signature Heavenly Bed. The architecture makes clever use of its clifftop perch above the beach, with every room oriented toward the Pacific and a unique double-door breeze system that lets you swap air conditioning for natural trade winds.
As part of the Mauna Kea Resort alongside its sister property, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, guests enjoy an unusual two-resort advantage — complimentary evening shuttle and signing privileges at the Mauna Kea's restaurants effectively double your dining options. The on-site Arnold Palmer-designed Hapuna Golf Course, Hapuna Spa by Mandara, and a pair of swimming pools (including an adults-only infinity edge with sunset views) round out a resort that delivers genuine luxury at what many consider the best value on the Kohala Coast.
Accommodation Options
All 249 rooms at the Westin Hapuna Beach face the ocean — there's not a parking-lot view in the house. Every room comes with a private furnished lanai, and the resort's clever double-door design (a solid entry door plus a wooden louver privacy door) lets you invite trade winds through the room while maintaining privacy. It's a small architectural detail that captures the Big Island experience better than any amount of tropical décor.
Standard rooms run approximately 600 square feet including the lanai, with categories ranging from Partial Ocean View through Ocean View to Oceanfront. All feature the Westin Heavenly Bed, five-fixture bathrooms with the Heavenly Shower, HD TV, refrigerator, and complimentary WiFi. The 17 suites include Premier Ocean View Suites with panoramic corner views and the rare Lanai Suites — ground-floor units with oversized living spaces ideal for families or extended stays.
For the most dramatic vistas, the higher-floor Oceanfront rooms deliver unobstructed Hapuna Beach panoramas from bed. Request a room on the 7th floor or above for the widest coastal views.
Pools, Beaches & Activities
Two swimming pools offer contrasting vibes. The 6,800-square-foot freeform family pool with hot tub sits on the lower deck near the dining areas, with cabanas and daybeds available for reservation — a social, lively atmosphere during the day. The adults-only infinity-edge pool is perched at an elevated position overlooking Hapuna Beach, with its own hot tub, private cabanas, and Pacific sunset views that make it one of the Kohala Coast's finest spots for an evening cocktail.
But the pools are the warm-up act. Hapuna Beach is the main event — a half-mile sweep of white sand with excellent swimming, bodyboarding, and snorkeling conditions. The resort provides complimentary beach chairs (included in the resort fee) and two-hour daily snorkel gear rental. Beach rental packages with chairs, umbrellas, and Yeti coolers are available for those wanting the full setup. The resort even lends complimentary GoPro kits for 24-hour periods — a thoughtful touch for capturing underwater adventures.
Spa & Wellness
Hapuna Spa by Mandara occupies a serene space within the resort, offering five treatment rooms including a couples' suite with balneotherapy, plus outdoor waterfall massage hales and oceanfront massage cabanas. The spa blends Balinese and Hawaiian healing traditions, with lomilomi massage — the traditional healing massage of Hawaiian royalty — as its signature treatment.
Beyond lomilomi, the menu includes Balinese-inspired body treatments, deep-tissue massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs, and skincare using Elemis products. The couples' suite with balneotherapy is a standout for romantic retreats. The fourth-floor Wellness Center is complimentary for resort guests, equipped with modern cardio and strength equipment, free weights, squat racks, and Hyperice recovery products.
Dining
The Westin Hapuna Beach offers four on-site dining venues, but the real story is the two-resort advantage. A complimentary evening shuttle runs to the sister Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, where guests enjoy signing privileges at its restaurants — including the celebrated Manta — effectively doubling your dinner options without any extra cost.
On property, Meridia is the signature restaurant, serving Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with panoramic Hapuna Beach views, fresh island-sourced ingredients, and artisanal cocktails. Ikena Landing handles oceanfront breakfast with locally inspired dishes. The Naupaka Beach Grill serves casual poolside fare and cocktails — perfect for not straying far from the water. Piko Coffee + Bar provides all-day grab-and-go coffee and light bites.
The resort fee includes a daily welcome activity and cultural experiences, making the overall dining and activity value strong for the Kohala Coast.
Golf
The Hapuna Golf Course is right on the resort's doorstep — an 18-hole, par-72 championship layout designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay that delivers one of the Big Island's most dramatic golf experiences. The course climbs from sea level to 700 feet in elevation, creating sweeping views of the Kohala Coast, Maui across the channel, and the volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
The links-style design features Bermuda grass throughout, with the 3rd, 9th, and 12th holes earning particular acclaim for their panoramic vistas from the course's highest points. The finishing 18th is a strong closer. The course consistently ranks among the top 5 in Hawaii on Golf Advisor. The resort fee includes daily range balls for two guests, and the sister Mauna Kea Golf Course (Robert Trent Jones Sr.) is minutes away for those wanting to play both.
Nearby Attractions
The Kohala Coast surrounding the resort offers the Big Island's finest concentration of attractions. The sister Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Kauna'oa Bay are just minutes north — the complimentary shuttle makes it easy to explore both properties' beaches. Puako's petroglyph fields, with thousands of ancient Hawaiian rock carvings, are a short drive away.
The charming town of Waimea (Kamuela) is 20 minutes inland, home to Merriman's farm-to-table restaurant, Parker Ranch heritage, and Saturday farmer's markets. Pololu Valley, at the northern tip of the Kohala Coast, rewards the drive with dramatic cliff views and a steep trail to a black sand beach.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about two hours southeast — an essential Big Island day trip. The resort concierge arranges whale watching (December through April), deep-sea fishing, helicopter tours, and stargazing excursions on Mauna Kea's summit.
Tips & Good to Know
The two-resort shuttle to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is one of the Kohala Coast's best-kept perks — take advantage of it for dinner variety. Signing privileges mean you can charge meals at Mauna Kea's restaurants to your Westin room.
Hapuna Beach gets busy by mid-morning, especially on weekends when locals arrive. Early risers who set up by 8 AM get the best spots and calmer water for snorkeling. The south end of the beach tends to be quieter. The resort fee ($37/night) includes more than you might realize — WiFi, welcome lei, cultural activities, snorkel gear, golf range balls, GoPro lending, and the dining shuttle. Factor this into your value assessment.
The complimentary 45-minute professional photo session with Blinnk Photography is an unusual and genuinely useful perk — book it for sunset and you'll have vacation photos worth framing. Pet owners take note: the Westin is one of the rare Kohala Coast resorts that accepts pets up to 75 pounds.
Location
62-100 Kauna'oa Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743
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