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.
What Is The Best Four Seasons Hotel In Hawaii?
Four Seasons has four hotels in Hawaii: Four Seasons Hualalai (on Big Island), Four Seasons Lanai, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is the newest of the four. They are all gorgeous, and they are all pretty expensive. They all feature in our picks of the best Four Seasons hotels in the world. Four Seasons is a particularly outstanding hotel brand, and Four Seasons hotels are usually the best option in any resort area. My reviews of the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii can be found below.
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.
Review: Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection on Big Island, Hawaii, is plonked on the most beautiful pristine white-sand beach on the sun-kissed Kohala Coast of Hawaii. Remember to book your stay at Mauna Lani with our luxury travel concierge for perks like free breakfasts and room upgrades. We should be able to offer you a brilliant deal. Mauna Lani Resort is located on the sunny Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, approximately 23 miles (37 kilometers) north of the Kona International Airport (KOA). The drive from the airport to the resort takes approximately 30-40 minutes.
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.
Review: Four Seasons Hualalai, Hawaii
The primordial beauty of Four Seasons Hualalai is hard to put into words. The eruptions of black lava rock protruding out of crashing waves, golden sands, and green lawns contrast in a way that almost seems unreal. Four Seasons Hualalai is located on Big Island, Hawaii, the one with the big and active Kilauea volcano, which means that the whole resort is built on the dramatic black rock and that you can take a trip to the live volcano if you like. It's worth bearing in mind that this island is pretty big, so the drive to see the volcano is lengthy if worthwhile.
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.
Fairmont Orchid Vs. Mauna Lani. Which Is Best?
Fairmont Orchid and Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection on the Big Island of Hawaii, are luxurious properties with unique offerings and beautiful settings. Below, we have outlined which is best for various attributes. Both hotels are luxurious and offer exceptional service and beautiful settings. Your choice might come down to the cost, which will change throughout the year. Other great hotel options on Hawaii's Big Island include Four Seasons Hualalai and Rosewood Kona Village.
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.
Four Seasons Hualalai Vs. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort. Which Is Best?
Which is the best hotel? Four Seasons Hualalai or Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort? The ultra-luxury hotel group Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® now manages the newest luxury resort on Hawaii’s big island, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, which reopened in 2022 after a complete renovation of the property. Located on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i, luxury travelers will be curious to compare the newly refurbished ROsewood resort to the unique and highly rated Hualalai, a Four Seasons resort.
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.
Four Seasons Hualalai Vs. Fairmont Orchid. Which Is Best?
Which hotel is best, Four Seasons Hualalai or Fairmont Orchid 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. Fairmont Orchid is situated just up from the Mauna Lani. It is a beautiful resort hotel set around a tropical free-form pool and, in most ways, falls below Four Seasons Hualalai for luxury. Fairmont Orchid 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.
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.
Review: Four Seasons Maui
We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, which includes the stunning Four Seasons Maui in the most exclusive resort on Maui, Wailea. Four Seasons Maui is the most resort-based Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands, situated in the exclusive resort area of Wailea. To get the best deal at Four Seasons Maui, book your next stay via our luxury travel concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, free breakfast (which is glorious here), resort credit, room upgrades (subject to availability), and perks while matching the rates on the Four Seasons Maui website.
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.
Best Four Seasons Hotels And Resorts In North America
We have already investigated the best Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the world, and now we look exclusively at the best Four Seasons hotels and resorts in North America which includes USA and Canada as well as Mexico. Our opinions and expert reviews are based on our own experiences at these wonderful hotels. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, with over 100 properties in more than 40 countries. In my opinion, the best Four Seasons hotel in the world is the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons hotel.
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.
Cheapest Four Seasons Hotel In Hawaii
While all the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii are very special, they are not all the same price, so in this review, we investigate the cheapest Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii. Four Seasons has five exclusive hotels in Hawaii; Four Seasons Hualalai (on Big Island), Four Seasons Lanai, Lanai at Koele, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is the newest of the four. They are all gorgeous, and they are all pretty expensive.
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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