Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Rooms and suites

The resort has 196 guest rooms and 53 suites, set near the ocean, the golf course and the gardens.

• 196 guest rooms
• 53 suites

Restaurants and bars

The resort is not all-inclusive. There are five restaurants covering Hawaiian, Japanese, Italian and steakhouse cooking, several with their own bar seating.

• ‘ULU: Pan-Asian and Hawaiian-inspired cuisine
• NOIO: Japanese sushi and omakase, with an omakase bar
• Beach Tree: California Italian cuisine by the beach
• Miller & Lux: American steakhouse
• Resident’s Beach House: global dishes with Hawaiian influences

Beach, pools and spa

There are eight pools: King’s Pond, King’s Pond Infinity Pool, Seashell Pool, Keiki Pool, Ocean Pool, Beach Tree Pool, Palm Grove Pool and a Lap Pool. Palm Grove Pool is reserved for adults, while the Keiki Pool and Seashell Pool suit families.

The spa has 19 treatment rooms, including 18 private outdoor rooms, and a garden area called the Waiea Garden. The resort sits on the ocean with sandy beach areas and lava rock shoreline.

The range of pools means each group of guests can find its own space. Families with small children tend to gather at the Keiki Pool and Seashell Pool, swimmers use the Lap Pool, and couples looking for quiet head to the adults-only Palm Grove Pool. King’s Pond is the most unusual, a large saltwater pool where you can snorkel among tropical fish without the waves and currents of the open ocean.

Activities and entertainment

Hualalai Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus, measuring 7,117 yards.

Kids for All Seasons is a supervised year-round kids club, and the seasonal Camp Manitou program adds extra activities during school holidays.

Beyond the resort, the Big Island is the place to see active volcanic landscapes at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, snorkel with manta rays at night off the Kona coast, and drive up toward the summit area of Mauna Kea for stargazing. The small town of Kailua-Kona has shops, coffee farms nearby and a waterfront promenade.

Who it’s best for

• Best for: families with children of all ages, couples who want a quiet luxury resort with an adults-only pool, and golfers.
• Consider another resort if: you are looking for an all-inclusive price, a lively nightlife scene or a budget-friendly stay.

Getting there from Kona International Airport

The resort is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Kona International Airport (KOA), which makes it one of the closest luxury resorts to the airport on the island.

Because the airport is so close, the resort is a convenient choice for short stays or late arrivals, and it is easy to reach Kailua-Kona town for dinner or shopping.

A rental car is the most practical way to get around the Big Island, since resorts on the Kohala and Kona coasts are spread out and many highlights are a long drive away. Taxis and ride-share cars are available at the airport if you prefer not to drive.

Good to know

• Not all-inclusive; meals and drinks are paid separately
• Palm Grove Pool is adults only
• Kids for All Seasons runs year-round, with Camp Manitou in season
• The golf course is on site