Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

This was our second visit, first was in July 2022. We stayed 3 nights for my husband’s birthday celebration, combined with 6 nights at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. What we like about 4S Hualalai: the way the resort spreads along the shore and incorporates lava everywhere; the fact that at most of the restaurants and their bar areas you are mere steps from the water. We like the spaciousness of the rooms with the walk-in closet, the “foyer”, the large balcony and especially…the outdoor shower! My husband said the golf course was in exceptional condition. We liked the excellent beach service and I had an amazing massage by Kathy at the Spa. What needs to be improved: Communication between concierge/reservations and communication via the App. By far the biggest disappointment was that they messed up my husband’s birthday greetings and amenities…when we arrived at our room everything wished ME Happy Birthday. I had communicated very clearly about this. The app communication worked much better in 2022. This time around I’d get a response right away from app operator and then “okay I am looping in that department” and then all would fall silent and after repeated attempts we’d end up calling. Frustrating and not what you expect from 4S. There were also several other snafus that occurred…maybe we hit a bad patch of service. I will say I mentioned all of the issues on the survey and received a personal email from the manager so at least I felt heard. And while on site the asst manager did work hard to rectify the birthday situation but it should not have happened in the first place. 4S is expensive and some aspects left me feeling the value wasn’t there. The cocktails need to be improved and seriously, for a $21 mimosa at brunch you can’t offer an included refill? They had all this marketing in the room about a new Happy Hour at Beachtree with snacks and silly me, I thought maybe the snacks would be complimentary as is done at other high end resorts. Not. I know, I know, if you have to ask…you can’t afford it! But a few little extras might go a long way to making people like us (not rich) feel a little more willing to pay the high prices. Will we return? Probably, because my husband enjoys the golf course and there is quite a lot to like about the resort…but unfortunately it was not the service this time around. And Kona Village is right next door and at the same price point (in some room categories actually less) so 4S needs to keep their eye on the game.

From the moment you arrive at Hualālai, it feels less like checking into a resort and more like being welcomed into a private Hawaiian sanctuary. Every detail — from the scent of plumeria in the air to the way the staff greets you by name — reflects a level of care and authenticity that’s unmatched anywhere in Hawai‘i. The grounds are stunning: lush palms, lava rock pools blending into the ocean, and a perfect balance between natural beauty and refined design. The rooms feel like an extension of the island itself — spacious, elegant, and filled with light. Waking up to the sound of waves and stepping onto a lanai that opens to the Pacific is simply unforgettable. The service is extraordinary. Every team member embodies aloha in a way that feels genuine — thoughtful without being overbearing. Whether it’s the beach attendants remembering your favorite drink or the concierge crafting the perfect day trip, you feel seen and cared for. Dining is a highlight — from the incredible breakfast buffet at ‘ULU to cocktails under the stars at Beach Tree. The food celebrates local ingredients and island flavors, but with the polish of world-class cuisine. Hualālai has a special energy — serene yet vibrant, luxurious yet grounded in its place. It’s the rare kind of resort where time slows down, sunsets feel endless, and you leave feeling deeply restored. If there’s one place that captures the magic of Hawai‘i at its most refined, it’s here.

At check-in, I was informed that I had been upgraded to a “partial ocean view” room as part of my credit card benefits. However, there was no noticeable ocean view at all – the room mostly faced greenery with no visible ocean. At the same time, I was strongly encouraged to pay an additional $1,300 for a further upgrade, which felt uncomfortable. In addition, the building felt old, and it was quite difficult to open and close the door. The room also felt dusty overall, and I was particularly uncomfortable to find that a face mask left by the previous guest had been left inside the refrigerator. During the night, I repeatedly woke up due to the loud sound of the door being pulled open in the room above mine. This significantly affected my ability to rest. That said, the service at the restaurants and by the poolside was excellent, and I truly appreciated the hospitality in those areas. Overall, I was disappointed with the stay, as the experience did not meet the level of comfort and quality I had expected from a hotel of this caliber.

Superb in every respect! Closest major hotel to the airport, only 15 minutes away but utterly secluded on extensive manicured grounds. Wonderful long beachfront with sea turtles and snorkeling. Though the ocean was a bit rough for our stay, there is a large saltwater pond just inside the beach, stocked with 1,000 fish of all types (though no sea turtles), where even little kids can swim and snorkel in slightly warmer waters. The cultural center onsite is a unique gem. The staff there, including especially Micah, provided incredibly engaging and detailed, TED Talk quality lessons on native Hawaiian history, spiritual traditions and culture. Each staff person has a specialty, even to the point of being the kahuna or supreme expert in Hawaii on a topic (such as hula, where Kalumaheihei is the kahuna). This learning experience gave us a much deeper appreciation of Hawaii than any of the others in our many stays over 4 decades, really standing out as a lifetime takeaway. Breakfast buffet was very extensive, on a par with the finest hotels in Asia or Europe, overlooking the ocean 25 feet away. Several large pools which were never crowded because of the size of the facilities. Staff were incredibly friendly and nice. In short, worth every penny and very much making us want to return, to here and other Four Seasons!

Second visit and it was an amazing trip all around! This was our first trip with our 2.5 year old, and it was the perfect place! He had fun at the ocean pool, king’s pond, and the sea shell pool. They also have a play structure on-site, and an indoor play area. The resort grounds are beautiful, and everything is an easy walk. They also have golf carts that you can call to take you anywhere around the resort if you don’t feel like walking. We snorkeled at the ocean pool (saw turtles, flounder, an octopus, and all sorts of other sea life) and at Kukio Bay, and I took an outrigger canoe excursion and snorkeled at Kua Bay as well-amazing! Had some minor challenges with house keeping, but Anthony (the onsite manager) got everything cleared up for us-the way they handled it was excellent. Highly recommend a trip here! And we are looking forward to coming back.