The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

We chose this hotel for its high rating and good location near the airport as well as several activities that we wanted to do while in Hawaii - like kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming with mantas. It fulfilled all expectations of a high-rated luxury hotel and then EXCEEDED them with its respect for the natural historic grounds (traditional fishponds, ancient petroglyphs) and its cultural events, info. sessions, and Hawaiian music/hula performances. Plus, the on-site restaurants and food were great. Fantastic combo of something for those who want to relax and those who want to discover.

I spent four nights at the delightful Mauna Lani as a guest of the inaugural Hawaiian Business exchange last week. This is a lovely property complete with the Aloha that Hawaii prides itself in. This a great option for both leisure and business guests, with great conference & meeting facilities as well as a lovely pool area, beachfront activities and restaurant & bar options. Accommodation rooms are well appointed and large, all with balconies, and very comfy beds. Staff are friendly and accommodating, ensuring that you get a real Hawaii welcoming experience. A massive thank you to the team at Mauna Lani for making my first visit to Kona a memorable one. Looking forward to returning.

From the moment you enter the hotel you are treated like a special guest. My husband and I had an ocean front room. The room was spacious and very clean. The bathroom had two separate sinks areas and was very large. The entire hotel is in excellent condition. The pool and spa areas were also very clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We got an outdoor couples massage at the spa and it was amazing. Can't say enough about the Mauna Lani. We will return and highly recommend.

Mauna Lani is built for rest and relaxation. Its lush surroundings and outdoors-in-the-indoors design are perfect for a Hawaiian retreat. Our room faced the Canoe House, and had a beautiful view of the mountains and the ocean. Our room was very nice, and the bathroom had Hawaiian inspired toiletries available for our use. We sat on the lanai every morning to drink coffee and watch the sunrise. When we walked out of our room, it opened up to the open-air lobby. The hotel shuttle was available within a matter of minutes, and we used it to get to and from the Shops at Mauna Lani, where we were able to pick up snacks, enjoy a cup of coffee, and do a little shopping. We dined at the Canoe House one night for a dinner that was amazing in both food and service. One of our strolls along the property led us to a seal sunning itself on the rocks. It was a safe distance away for observation, and eventually lowered itself back into the ocean and swam away. I enjoyed my stay, and would definitely return to Mauna Lani again.

We were pleasantly surprised by the feeling of understated Hawaiian elegance. A resort this nice usually comes with its fair amount of pretentiousness but there was none at the Mauna Lani. The staff was friendly and helpful; and seemed relaxed; like they genuinely enjoyed working there. Housekeeping kept everything clean and fresh. The grounds and scenery were beautiful. In case you're wondering about easy beach access which seems hard to come by on the Big Island, there is indeed a nice sized beach with soft sand. The wifi was fast for a hotel. The food, service and entertainment at the Canoehouse were outstanding. We rode bikes over to the Fairmont, which we were considering, but found that while their property was beautiful, it lacked an authentically Hawaiian personality. (They did have better loaner bikes though!). If you're looking for a relaxing resort property where you can feel the Aloha spirit as well as feel pampered, stay at the Mauna Lani. We are already planning a return trip!