The largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii (commonly referred to as The Big Island), offers the most dramatic experiences and (in our opinion) Hawaii’s best resort, the Four Seasons Hualalai. 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!
Where to Stay – Our Top Recommendations:
- Four Seasons Hualalai – Along with its sister property on Maui, Hualalai is one of our top-selling hotels worldwide. This is a spacious resort with guest rooms and suites 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. We recommend the Palm Grove crescent for honeymooners and romantic getaways, more secluded with its own adults-only Tranquility Pool. Families love Sea Shell Crescent, which features a pool meant for active play. Hualalai has an incredible spa with your choice of indoor or outdoor treatment areas, excellent restaurants, and complimentary Kids for All Seasons programs for children. For more on our favorite resort, read David’s blog post from Paradise!
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – Mauna Kea was the first resort located on the Big Island. Lawrence Rockefeller, the original owner, found the best beach on the entire island and built this iconic hotel right by it. Although all beaches in Hawaii are public, there is limited parking for the general public, so hotel guests will mostly have this great beach all to themselves. If your idea of a great vacation is spending the day at the beach and swimming in the ocean, you need to look no further. You’ve found heaven. For proof, check out this photo of the view from David’s room during his stay.
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resort – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, is a private oceanfront retreat on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast, offering ocean-view accommodations, private lanais, and five exclusive two-bedroom residences. Guests enjoy two 18-hole golf courses, a spa, fitness centers, a tennis club, water and land sports, cultural programs, and a children’s program.
- Fairmont Orchid – A reasonably priced luxury option on the Big Island, the Fairmont has large, comfortable rooms and lushly landscaped grounds. Some guests keep coming back because of the good snorkeling opportunities right at the resort … and the chance to see the sea turtles who live on this stretch of beach. Because it’s a larger resort, we recommend the Gold Floor at the Fairmont, a “resort within the resort” that affords guests their own exclusive check-in and check-out area and Concierge services.
- Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort – Kona Village has a storied past – one of the celebrity hideaways and legendary mai tais. Once a secluded sanctuary for the stars, the 150-thatched-roof-hale (or house) resort has been sustainably reopened to A-listers and leisurely beach-goers alike, boasting fresh Pacific Rim-to-table cuisine, décor commissioned from native artists, and spa treatments that usher you into a regenerative state of mental, physical, and spiritual harmony. Don’t miss the 3 p.m. coconut cart delivering refreshing drinks poolside. This resort has quickly become one of our top-selling resorts since its reopening.
Things to See and Do:
The Big Island offers so much to see and do! On David’s last visit to the island, he compiled a list of his 6 top things to do. David isn’t much of an adrenaline junkie, so his list may be too tame for those adventurers out there. If you’re looking for a bit more energy in your trip, we recommend adding the following to your itinerary:
- book a nighttime snorkel excursion to swim with manta rays
- charter a private catamaran and explore secluded beach coves for a private beach experience
- take a helicopter tour to see the active lava flow from the air
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