The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

Beautiful open air property that beckons you in with great design and wonderful pool and beach areas. Staff was genuinely welcoming and friendly; made you feel important at every interaction. We had gorgeous 3rd floor ocean view room. Well thought out bathroom area with 2 vanities on opposite sides so 2 people can have sink and mirrors at same time. Comfortable beds. Loved the Surf Shack for lunch. Did the sunrise outrigger canoe trip and it was outstanding. The resort amenities package (was included with our Costco purchase) included unlimited use of rental clubs and driving range, which was fantastic morning activity (The greens fees were $275 for hotel guests) Several dining options; would pass on the HaLani casual restaurant (expensive fort what you get). Good snorkeling at the property's Beach Club which is short walk away. Overall, a great resort that makes it tough to leave the property but easy come home to.

I haven't found a beach resort that beats the Mauna Lani. I want to try some new places, but I know I can depend on this one to be excellent, so I keep going back every year. This is the most gorgeous lobby I've seen in Hawaii (maybe anywhere).

Overall, an excellent resort with beautiful beach and super amenities. Friendly and welcoming staff, excellent reservations assistance from Shirley on the reservations team. Beautiful golf courses and access to a great tennis facility!

This review is mostly based on the canoe and snorkel activity. The setting was beautiful, but we left disappointed given the way the experience was run. Our guide actually picked up a small octopus and passed it around to show guests, which felt really irresponsible. Octopuses are sensitive, intelligent creatures, and handling them causes stress and can harm them. It also goes against the “look but don’t touch” standard of responsible snorkeling and eco-tourism, and overall gave me a cheap / Sea World vibe that was super off putting. Afterward the person at the Surf Shack was like "wow, you got to see an octopus!?" in a way that made it seem like this is a party trick they do every time and seemed super patronizing (this is also confirmed by other reviews). For an activity marketed as premium and family-friendly, I expected more respect for the ocean and its wildlife. Instead, it felt like entertainment at the expense of the animals. For the cost of this excursion, I think the hotel should ensure its guides are trained in sustainable, hands-off practices that highlight marine life without disturbing it. Beautiful location, but definitely wouldn't recommend this experience as it’s currently run.

Mauna Lani is one of my favorite beach resorts in all of Hawaii! I can't wait to return. I love that there's a feeling of being removed from the hustle and bustle yet there are restaurants and shops nearby if you want to get off property. It's the staff at the resort that makes all the difference.