Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

I rarely leave one‑star reviews, but my stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was deeply disappointing and nowhere near the level expected for a property of this reputation and price point. Service was consistently poor and painfully slow. Requests took far too long to be addressed—if they were addressed at all—and when issues were raised, the response was almost always a polite apology rather than any meaningful attempt to fix the problem. There was a clear lack of urgency and, worse, a sense that many employees simply didn’t care whether problems were resolved. Saying “sorry” without action beca…

The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a stunning beachfront property that manages to feel both timeless and newly refreshed. The recent renovation is beautifully done—elegant, calm, and thoughtful—enhancing the hotel’s classic design without losing its soul. The beach is exceptional, with soft sand, clear water, and a dedicated area for snorkeling where you can experience manta rays up close in the evening, which is truly unforgettable. Dining on property at Manta is a highlight. Overlooking the ocean, the setting alone is worth the visit, but the food and service are equally impressive—refined, fre…

The hotel is fantastic. It has one of the best tennis clubs in the United States. I cannot wait to go back. It has several restaurants on site and gave the best welcome socials that I have attended. You can also play golf here and the golf club has great food. You don't need to leave the resort to shop and the hotel has plenty daily activities to do. Would highly recommend. However, you do need to take a tour of the island's rain forests, botanical gardens, volcano, and many waterfalls.

Currently on the beach here as a guest. Ordered two mango smoothies from the beach bar at $48 plus tip for $60. Worse drinks ever. Went back to the bartender to tell him there was absolutely no mango in the drinks. Apparently he forgot to add it? Didn’t admit the error. The prices are nutty so you expect the best. Sorry no photos as I already threw both drinks away. Make sure you get what you pay for…

Overall it is a nice hotel, except they didn't tell us there was loud major construction going on, 7 days a week, from 7:30 am into the evening. For $1,700 a night one would expect a much better experience. Management responded that this was on their website - but that was not the case when I booked the hotel and I don't think I should have to constantly be returning to their website to see if they've decided to substantially degrade my experience without any compensation for it. Essentially it is a form of theft, selling one thing but delivering another.

Our stay so far at Mauna kea hotel has been amazing! We had a pretty late check in, and Lauae was so helpful and accommodating!! Her great personality truly took away the tiredness from traveling and made us feel instantly welcomed. I also want to mention Healani who helped us modify our checkout time, she was very helpful as well! Overall our stay has been wonderful, and we’re already looking forward to coming back again!

Although the hotel itself was nice, it was really the location that made it exceptional. The beach is fantastic, and kids can use all the boards and snorkels for free. The rooms are great—the AC works well, the large sliding doors let in plenty of fresh air, and the beds are very comfortable. Don’t miss the manta rays; the viewing area is conveniently located right below the Manta restaurant. Even though the hotel is adding new structures, there was no noticeable construction noise. KNBR doing their early morning show directly under the rooms was a definite “what the heck?” moment—why not set…

This resort truly is one of the rare 5-star experiences in Hawaii. There is an amazing sense of peace that comes over you as soon as you cross the threshold. The rooms are outstanding! But it's the people, it's always the people that make it very special!

Hotel is SUPER nice! Love the layout and accommodations. Not sure it is worth $1k per night as I’ve seen listed on some sites, but if you can find a decent rate I’d definitely recommend. A good 35+ minutes from the KOA airport and on the NW side of the big island so prepare for some decent drives if you want to see anything else.

If you’re expecting five-star sparkle, this hotel might turn your expectations into a plot twist 😅. We found bonus hair on the towels, a coffee machine that clearly skipped its spa day, cups with mysterious stains, and a spoon that looked like it had lived a full life already. For a hotel charging over $1,000 a night, this felt less “luxury retreat” and more “surprise scavenger hunt.” ✨🧽

Under renovation right now so some construction noise during the day, but not too distracting. The Resort is wonderful, as are the employees, but the beach is the best! We had a fantastic time and will definitely go back and check out the new Spa that's being built. Watching the Manta Rays feed at night was an added bonus!

My wife and I just finished an 8-day stay at the residences at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and like previous trips, the location, views, golf course, and the beach are absolutely amazing. What was not amazing was the service. When you go to a resort of this caliber and price point in Hawaii, you expect top level service, unfortunately, it was the farthest thing from excellent. The staff was inattentive, the food at Manta was just ok, the food and drinks at Copper Bar were NOT good and the service at Meridia, Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, was among the worst we have ever experienced, anywhere. The bea…