Which hotel is best, Four Seasons Hualalai or Mauna Lani on Big Island? Four Seasons Hualalai is one of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii. It feels exclusive, and the setting of this hotel is otherworldly. Mauna Lani is situated just up from the Fairmont Orchid and is a beautiful resort hotel but only has one main pool and, in most ways, falls behind Four Seasons Hualalai. Mauna Lani does have the major advantage of being cheaper than the Four Seasons Hualaai.
Four Seasons Hualalai offers many secluded coves that no other hotel shares. The resort feels wild and remote compared to Mauna Lani, which is just up the coast from the Fairmont Orchid.
Both of these hotels are great. Which you choose will depend on your requirements and budget. I will break down the pros and cons of each hotel. Read on to find out which resort is best for you.
1. Best Location: Four Seasons Hualalai Vs. Mauna Lani
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai sits on the shores of the stunning Kona-Kohala coast of Hawaii, situated on the Big Island, also known as Hawaii Island. This luxurious resort enjoys a prime oceanfront location, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and dramatic lava rock formations.
The resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and volcanic landscapes, providing guests with a serene and picturesque setting to relax and unwind. Hualalai is renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundant marine life, making it an ideal destination for snorkeling, diving, and other water sports.
The resort is conveniently located near Kona International Airport, just a short drive away. It is within easy reach of popular attractions such as historic Kailua-Kona town, coffee plantations, and the iconic Volcanoes National Park.
Mauna Lani is a luxurious resort on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, known for its beautiful beaches and upscale resorts. Mauna Lani is known for its historic park and fishponds, which offer a deeply cultural Hawaiian experience. It sits on land considered sacred by ancient Hawaiians and is rich in historical significance.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, is located within the broader Mauna Lani resort area, slightly north of the Fairmont Orchid. It sits on a larger land area and often feels more spread out. Mauna Lani benefits from access to some of the coast’s best beaches, including a private beach club at Makaiwa Bay, known for excellent snorkeling and more substantial ocean activities.
Each offers a hotel different experience due to its respective location and surroundings.
2. Style & Character
Four Seasons has a desert island feel. It is spread over a large lava rock and beach area, giving the hotel a spread-out, tropical desert island feel. The resort is low rise and stunning.
Mauna Lani, situated on the Kohala Coast, boasts a unique cultural heritage. Its expansive grounds include ancient fishponds and historic parklands, which reflect Hawaii’s rich history and traditions and provide guests with a deeper connection to the island’s indigenous culture and natural environment. The grounds at the Mauna Lani feel tropical, and the ancient fishponds are magical.
While both resorts offer stunning grounds, the Four Seasons grounds and setting feel polished perfection when compared to the Mauna Lani, which offers a beautiful blend of natural beauty and cultural significance.
3. Beach & Pools
The pools at Hualalai are brilliant and numerous. At Four Seasons, Hualalai has eight pools, so it wins on this front, too. These pools range from an adults-only pool where you can enjoy cocktails and music to a dedicated kids pool, a lap pool, and, finally, an outdoor aquarium pool where you can swim with thousands of tropical fish. The Banyan Tree pool is steps from the beach.
The resort is built on the water’s edge, so all the beaches and coves are easily accessible from your room and the pools. The beach will probably be a shorter walk from your room at Hualalai.
It’s also worth mentioning that the beaches at Hualalai Resort are basking grounds for the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. The multitude of Green Sea turtles that thrive here enjoy eating the limu (seaweed) off the rocks and resting on the sand or the rocks to warm their bodies. This can add an extra element of fun if you’re into wildlife.
Mauna Lani’s coastal setting, on the edge of the beach, offers a deeper connection to Hawaiian culture and history. While both properties offer stunning coastal settings, Mauna Lani provides only one generic, rectangular pool, so it is not as fun pool-wise.
Mauna Lani benefits from access to some of the coast’s best beaches, including a private beach club at Makaiwa Bay, known for excellent snorkeling and more substantial ocean activities.
4. Rooms
We prefer the rooms at Hualalai. We love the ones on the ground floor (Hualalai rooms are designed in 2-floor blocks). The ground floor rooms at Four Seasons Hualalai all have a blissful outdoor shower. From these rooms, you can walk out from my room onto the dewey lawns in the morning or even step out straight onto the beach if you book one of the beachfront rooms or suites.
Our top picks are the poolside room, where you can stroll from your private terrace to the pool for a quick dip or just enjoy the views of the verdant landscaped gardens from your private balcony. The ground floor poolside rooms aren’t so great for privacy, but for easy access to the pool for the family, they are a dream.
If you can splurge, the one or two-bedroom Anelakai Suite on the lower level at Four Seasons Hualalai is fantastic. They open to an extended lanai with a plunge pool, private lawn, and direct access to the beach. An outdoor dining table inspires breakfasts with an ocean breeze and romantic dinners for two.
The Mauna Lani recently underwent a major renovation, updating its rooms and public spaces to reflect a modern, high-end aesthetic that incorporates elements of native Hawaiian culture. It offers a range of accommodations, including rooms, suites, and private villas, providing options for different preferences and group sizes.
The rooms at Mauna Lani are generally spacious, offering ample space for relaxation and comfort. They are well-equipped with modern amenities, including plush bedding, marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and private lanais or balconies.
We love the outdoor lava rock showers at both Hualalai Mauna Lani. Make sure you request a room with one of these.
Mauna Lani’s room décor often reflects a contemporary Hawaiian design aesthetic, with clean lines, light colors, and natural materials creating a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. They have used natural products like koa wood and neutral colors to create a Hawaiian feeling. The ambiance feels more sleek and minimalistic than the traditional Hawaiian elegance of Fairmont Orchid.
Get a prioritized room upgrade at Mauna Lani or any Four Seasons hotel by booking via our concierge.
5. The Club Floor
There is no club lounge or floor at Mauna Lani or Hualalai.
6. Food & Drink
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai boasts diverse restaurants offering exquisite cuisine in breathtaking settings. ‘ULU Ocean Grill showcases locally sourced ingredients in its innovative Hawaiian-inspired dishes, served amidst panoramic ocean views.
Guests can savor authentic Italian fare at Beach Tree, where wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta are enjoyed beachside under swaying palms. For a taste of Japan, ‘Olu Grill offers fresh sushi and seafood in a casual outdoor setting overlooking the ocean.
The Mauna Lani is known for its farm-to-table dining approach. Its several restaurants use fresh, local ingredients to craft innovative dishes.
7. Golf
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has an excellent golf course crafted with sensitivity to its unique environment. This 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus signature, championship course winds over 7,100 yards, beginning in a lush oasis, flowing across bright green fairways contoured against black lava, and then returning to the ocean for the final holes.
The Mauna Lani Golf Experience offers two championship golf courses: the North Course and the South Course. Known for its stunning ocean views, lava fields, and lush green fairways, these courses combine challenging play with the natural beauty of the Hawaiian landscape.
Mauna Lani Golf offers picturesque ocean views and historic petroglyphs, while Hualalai Golf boasts lush landscaping and stunning oceanfront holes, providing two completely unique and unforgettable golfing experiences on the Big Island of Hawaii.
8. Staff
The staff and service at Four Seasons are usually unmatched. The staff at the Mauna Lani feel warm and Hawaiian and seem to genuinely care, but they do not quite match the Four Seasons service experience.
9. Price
Winter in Hawaii can be slightly cloudier and wetter from December to March, but it is a popular time to travel simply because the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is so miserable and cold. Pricing is reduced at all the hotels in the lower season. November and early December often offer the cheapest time of year to visit.
When comparing pricing, Mauna Lani is usually cheaper than the Hualalai Four Seasons. There are some cheaper Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, such as Four Seasons Oahu that are worth considering and require a smaller budget.
Book your stay at either hotel via our luxury travel concierge for extra benefits and perks, including free breakfast, resort credit, and a prioritized room upgrade.
10. Which Is Best?
Four Seasons Hulalai is secluded and low-rise and has more pools and beaches than Mauna Lani. Mauna Lani offers a deeper connection to Hawaii’s cultural and natural elements via the historic fish ponds and a slightly more Hawaiian ambiance. Both resorts are fabulous, and we are nit-picking to find fault with either. You will have a wonderful time if you can stretch to stay at either.
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