The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

I stayed at Westin Hapuna Beach back in 1995 when I was living and working in Hawaii and the hotel had just opened. Finally returning this past month I found it the spectacular place I always remembered. The property seems in great shape 30 years later, and I would recommend the Westin as the quintessential Hawaii beach experience. Hapuna is likely your best beach option on the Big Island. We had a “partial ocean view" on 7th floor which provided an impressive view of gardens and the Pacific, and was spacious and well furnished. The parking staff was brilliant - enthusiastically providing me clear directions for running - suggesting a loop incorporating the gorgeous Ala Kahakai trail to Mauna Kea resort. Pools were crowded, but comfortable. Fitness center was excellent. The a la carte breakfast was a lovely setting – granted it was absurdly expensive at $70 for coffees, Acai bowl and some blueberry pancakes. Dinner at the poolside was delicious and casual and great service and great value for captive audience at an upscale resort. My only complaint was the arrival, check-in experience which really should be a magical moment. Instead we were brusquely handed a perfunctory welcome drink and defensively informed of resort fees and parking charges (which we were already aware of). I can appreciate that the reception staff might have become more defensive after dealing with argumentative, entitled guests demanding upgrades, but still, I was hoping for the welcoming arrival experience at Westin Hapuna I remembered from years ago.

Been coming here for years. Now it’s starting to look like the land threat time forgot. It’s also behaving like they’ve forgotten about the property. The staff is nice but there seem to be no process to ensure the hotel operates at a level one would expect for a minimum of $750 a night. They don’t check to make sure there is enough shampoo or body wash. They don’t have berries or sausage at the $60 a person buffet and the store doesn’t carry much of anything. So sad we used to come here each year now we will need to find another hotel.

We usually stay at Hyatt whenever we travel, but this was our first time trying out a Westin—and honestly, we had mixed feelings. The property in Hawaii is beautiful, the location is perfect, and most of the amenities were really nice. We loved the pool area and the overall vibe of the place. However, right from the moment we arrived, we didn’t feel very welcomed. It was a bit of an odd first impression—no warm greeting, which kind of threw us off. We were expecting a little more hospitality, especially for a hotel of this level. Another thing that stood out was the lack of vegetarian food options. As vegetarians, we found it tough to enjoy meals on-site. There wasn’t much to choose from, and the breakfast buffet was especially disappointing—aside from the fresh, hot omelette station (which was great), everything else looked a bit sad and limited. We really hope Westin considers improving the guest welcome experience and offering more inclusive food options. That would make a big difference. Still, we enjoyed parts of our stay and might consider coming back if those things are addressed.

I this place is amazing. The food is perfect just a little too expensive. The rooms are amazing. The service is amazing and don’t get me started on the beach. The sand is so soft the beach is clean. Will go again.

Nothing to complain about. Nothing worth raving about either. Everything was just Mid! Staff were friendly. Food was okay. Spa was not the full-service I’d expect from a resort. Not enough pool or beach chairs. Guest were claiming their spots before 6am! Weather gorgeous. Limited activities. Choose wisely