Introduction
Along with its sister property on Maui, Four Seasons Hualalai is one of our top-selling hotels in the world. This is a spacious resort whose guest rooms and suites are arranged in four oceanside crescents and a fifth group of rooms alongside the 18th green of the resort’s golf course… five resorts within the resort.
If Maui is where you go to be seen and Lanai is where you go to be with nature, then Hualalai is the happy point right in the middle. This resort truly has something for everyone! As a Top 30 advisor globally for Four Seasons, Angela from Team O recently stayed here after its multi-million dollar 2019 renovation project and can vouch for this incredible property firsthand.
Arrival Process
Upon arrival at Kona International Airport, guests are greeted by a Four Seasons Resort Hualalai representative who will assist you with your luggage and direct you to your prearranged transportation to the resort. The hotel also provides complimentary parking for guests who rent a car.
At check-in, guests are offered delicious mini mango Mai Tais and can enjoy the breeze of the open-air reception and take in the breathtaking views of the lawn, Beach Tree pool, and ocean; the first of many views at this expansive resort.
Bungalow Accomodations
The rooms are spread out in low-lying crescent-shaped buildings, which gives the feeling that you are staying in one of four boutique hotels rather than one large resort. Each crescent has its own personality that will appeal to different types of travelers. You’ll definitely want to consider the options and know what you want to request when you are ready to book:
- King’s Pond: The oceanfront rooms here are the closest to the beach and have the best views of the entire hotel. At the center of this crescent is King’s Pond a natural spring-fed pond filled with thousands of fish and a perfect opportunity for some snorkeling.
- Sea Shell: Closest to the kids’ pool and surrounding a lush lawn, the Sea Shell crescent is most popular among families.
- Beach Tree: Surrounding the quiet pool, Beach Tree is a great option if you are looking for serenity and relaxation during your trip. This crescent also has the best sunset views.
- Palm Grove: Featuring the new adults-only pool and the hotel’s only swim-up bar, Palm Grove is most popular with couples and honeymooners.
Four Seasons Hualalai recently went through some renovations in 2019. Besides all Superior Suites getting a second bathroom, all suites and rooms have been elevated while maintaining their authenticity. There is a new oceanfront Bungalow Zero near King’s Pond, which houses the new Kekaha Suite on the second floor and the new Kahuwai Suite on the ground floor. There are also incredible newly renovated multi-bedroom residential villas: the Makaloa Villa, Ho`onanea Villa, and Hawaii Loa Presidential Villa. These bungalows offer walking access to the beach and allow families to experience a high-end house rental without compromising any of the benefits and amenities of a Four Seasons. Guests staying in any of the specialty suites or villas can also take advantage of personal concierge services, customized inclusions, and in-suite culinary and wellness experiences. Contact our team to learn more about rates and availability for these accommodations.
Pro Tip: We recommend the Palm Grove Crescent for honeymooners and romantic getaways, more secluded with its own adults-only Tranquility Pool. Angela loved her room on the second floor overlooking Palm Grove. Ground floors feature outdoor showers, however, the second floor has more serene views and an additional level of privacy.
Activities, Activities, Activities
Part of the beauty of Four Seasons Hualalai is that there are so many activities within the resort that you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to and you’ll never get bored! However, visitors to the Big Island can think BIG for their activities! See a live volcano with a hot lava flow, take a helicopter ride for skiing and surfing on the same day, spend the night snorkeling in the dark with Manta Rays, join the locals, and go cliff jumping… this island is everything except boring!
For activities at the resort, families love Sea Shell Crescent which features a pool meant for active play. We also recommend King’s Pond, the new infinity-edge elevated pool that sits on lava rock and is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Hualalai has an incredible spa with your choice of indoor or outdoor treatment areas, a choice of wonderful restaurants, and once again, complimentary Kids for All Seasons programs for children. We also suggest shopping at The Trade Company Shop for some ice cream, smoothies, coffee, and some beer and wine and charging your items straight to your room! Or, you can just forgo the active vacation and rest on the beach and watch the napping turtles all day.
The spa is also a major highlight of this resort. We specifically loved the rock stream water experience and jetlag treatment. The men’s and women’s locker rooms have separate wet areas with a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and cold plunge. There is also an additional co-ed relaxation area with a great bubbling stream and the smooth rocks have a built-in foot massage effect. The fitness area is also quite large with plenty of equipment, a lap pool, a half basketball court, tennis courts, and a separate room for group classes. They offer yoga, pilates, spinning, etc. There are also incredible walking and jogging trails and, of course, golf!
For dining options, select from a trio of restaurants and a pair of ocean-side lounges. The restaurants offer inventive menus that capture the essence of Hawaii’s farms and coasts as the seasons transition. Indulge in a variety of options all week long, ranging from Tuscan cucina rustica and beachfront barbecues to Asian-Pacific dishes and Polynesian appetizers.
Pro Tip: In our opinion, four nights is the ideal minimum that anyone should stay here in order to have enough time to fully experience everything that the hotel has to offer.
Hualalai is our personal favorite of the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii for families. They have a large kids club with indoor and outdoor space and plenty of scheduled activities to keep the kids happy throughout the day.
Complimentary Perks
As a Preferred Partner at Four Seasons, we are able to offer our clients exclusive benefits when they book their stay through our complimentary Virtuoso booking tool or directly through a team member:
- Complimentary room upgrade of one category (STA)
- Daily breakfast credit for up to two guests per bedroom, in Ulu Ocean Grill or through in-room dining
- Hotel/Resort Credit (based on room category booked):
- Guest Rooms: USD 100 credit per stay
- Suites and Specialty Suites: USD 200 credit per stay
- Private Retreats: USD 200 credit per bedroom per stay
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out (STA)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Four Seasons Preferred Partner can generally be combined with any rates you’ll find directly with Four Seasons. The upgrades through Preferred Partner are also prioritized over upgrades through other programs, so you’ll want to use Preferred Partner over a program like Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. As a Preferred Partner agency, we can make Preferred Partner bookings on your behalf.
Additionally, for $200, you can work with our Hotel Plus team to assist with any reservations, activity scheduling, concierge assistance, and more.
Exclusive Promotion: Enjoy a USD 200 credit per night on guest rooms or a USD 400 credit per night for Superior Suite or Deluxe Suite categories. A four-night minimum stay is required. Valid now through December 31, 2024.
Exclusive Promotion: Enjoy unlimited golf on the famous Jack Nicklaus course and daily breakfast for two. Minimum stay required: 2 nights. Offer valid now through December 31, 2024. Blackout dates may apply. This promotion also still combines with all of the other amenities we can offer. Contact us to learn more.
Your Tropical Escape Begins Now
We understand that there are a plethora of luxury resorts to choose from in Hawaii. For a full list of our expert recommendations, you can visit our Preferred Hotels Map. If you are loyal to Four Seasons (and we understand why), we also have a blog recapping every Four Seasons resort in Hawaii to help you decide which hotel best meets your travel needs. For a deeper dive, check out our individual reviews of Four Seasons Maui and Four Seasons Lanai. You can also read our destination spotlight on Hawaii to narrow down which activities are on your bucket list.
Ready to plan your trip? To get started, email us at [email protected] or submit a Travel Request Form on our website.
