HONOLULU, Hawaii — Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection, is undergoing a $180-million renovation this year that will update the property while preserving its heritage and nearly 60-year history since Laurance S. Rockefeller opened the resort in 1965. The resort offers a range of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
A phased transformation, which began in April and is slated to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, will redesign the resort’s 252 guest rooms and suites and four dining venues, including the resort’s signature restaurant Manta, which offers unobstructed views of Kauna’oa Bay.
Additionally, Mauna Kea Golf Course will undergo an extensive makeover under the direction of Robert Trent Jones Jr., making this course the first ever to incorporate the work of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and both sons Reese and Bobby Jr., creating a golf experience curated by three of the sport’s pioneers.
The renovation will also feature an extensive destination spa and infinity pool experience with 11 indoor and al fresco treatment rooms, a full-service salon and an expanded fitness center. New garden areas will include a chef’s garden providing fresh produce for the resort’s kitchens as well as a specialized botanical garden with indigenous and endemic plant species.
“Our approach for this renovation is very intentional,” said Shigeki Yamane, president of Prince Resorts Hawaii. “We have thoughtfully redesigned spaces for new amenities to breathe fresh life into the resort while still honoring the original legacy and traditions that Laurance S. Rockefeller put into place in the ‘60s. We have a great responsibility to honor Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s significance to the history and cultural evolution of Hawai’i while at the same time fulfilling our promise to provide guests with the unforgettable vacation experience they expect.”
Honoring the resort’s significance and beauty is a unique undertaking with its historical legacy. “We have multi-generational guests returning year after year since our resort opened in 1965, and thanks in part to our relationships with these legacy guests, we are embarking on this renovation committed to elevating our offerings while protecting and preserving the charm and distinctive beauty that makes Mauna Kea Beach Hotel special,” said Craig Anderson, Mauna Kea Resort vice president of operations. “We look forward to creating Mauna Kea Memories with our guests for generations to come.”
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was developed by American venture capitalist and conservationist, Laurance S. Rockefeller. While swimming in the turquoise waters of Kauna’oa Bay with a clear view of the Mauna Kea summit, Rockefeller was inspired to build the Island of Hawai’i’s first master-planned resort. His vision of a property that captured the spirit of aloha and conformed to the beautiful Kohala Coast came to fruition when the resort opened in 1965. Situated on the Kohala Coast, the resort is also home to a museum-worthy collection of Asian and Pacific art; the island’s first-ever golf course; and an award-winning Seaside Tennis Center featuring nine oceanfront tennis courts and eight pickleball courts.
The resort offers a range of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for events ranging from 20 people to 800 guests. The 3,500-square-foot Kauna’oa Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling glass walls that deliver ocean views. The two-level Garden Room offers 1,350 square feet on the upper level and another 730 square feet on the lower level, with access to an adjoining garden terrace.
Together with the resort’s extensive repositioning, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is continuing its land and cultural preservation and sustainability initiatives. These efforts include partnering with Honolulu’s Bishop Museum and other key local partners to refurbish a million-dollar art collection personally commissioned by Rockefeller and to ensure the collection, consisting of hundreds of pieces, is preserved and thoughtfully displayed throughout the resort’s unrestricted public spaces. Further supporting the resort’s renewable initiatives is the in-house team of Cultural Ambassadors and a new cultural center featuring programming tailored for authenticity and education about Hawaiian culture and history.
The historic property shares 1,839 acres of oceanfront property with The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, and together comprise Rockefeller’s early vision of his Hawai’s Island portfolio, known today as Mauna Kea Resort.
For more information about Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, please visit maunakeabeachhotel.com.
