Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii

Rooms and suites

Rooms include partial ocean view and ocean view options, plus suites. Fairmont Gold rooms include access to a private lounge on the sixth floor of the North Tower.

• Partial ocean view rooms
• Ocean view rooms
• Suites
• Fairmont Gold rooms and suites with private lounge access

Restaurants and bars

The resort is not all-inclusive. Dining ranges from a breakfast buffet to oceanfront Hawaiian cooking and Japanese steakhouse dining, plus a beach bar and a lu’au.

• Brown’s Beach House: oceanfront, AAA Four Diamond restaurant with Hawaiian-inspired cuisine
• Norio’s Japanese Steakhouse: sushi and grilled dishes with a Hawaiian twist
• Hale Kai: poolside restaurant for lunch, aperitifs and dinner
• Orchid Court: breakfast buffet and a la carte options
• Luana Lounge: cocktails and Asian-style snacks
• Kahakai Bar: beachfront bar for tropical cocktails and pupu
• Hawai’iloa Lu’au: Hawaiian feast with hula and fire knife dancing

Beach, pools and spa

The small beach is protected by lava rock, forming a calm cove and a private lagoon for snorkeling. The main pool is about 10,000 sq ft with ocean and mountain views.

The Spa Without Walls offers treatments in oceanfront and waterfall hale (open-air huts) as well as garden areas, with a sauna and steam room.

The main pool stays open around the clock. Families tend to split their time between the pool and the lagoon, where the water is usually flat and shallow near the shore. For couples, the open-air spa huts by the ocean are a highlight, and evening drinks at the Kahakai Bar come with views of the sunset and, on clear days, Mauna Kea in the distance.

Activities and entertainment

Children can join the Keiki Aloha Adventure activity program. The lagoon is popular for snorkeling and paddling in calm water.

Private dining is available at spots such as The Pointe overlooking Pauoa Bay.

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 young children, beginner snorkelers and couples who want a full-service resort with lots of dining choice.
• Consider another resort if: you want a long, wide beach or a small, boutique-style hotel.

Getting there from Kona International Airport

Kona International Airport (KOA) is about a 30-minute drive south of the resort along Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway.

The resort sits in the Mauna Lani area, with shops and restaurants nearby, and Hapuna Beach State Park is a short drive north.

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
• A resort fee applies, and some activities cost extra
• Fairmont Gold lounge on the sixth floor of the North Tower
• Restaurant reservations: +1 808 885 2000