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A Heavenly Experience

A stay at the Mauna Lani Resort provides the perfect opportunity to get away, relax, and enjoy all the island has to offer.

By Greg FloresPublished: September, 2007

Whether it’s the commitments of work or the obligations of family life, everyone deserves the opportunity to disappear once in a while. When you decide to retreat from the fast-paced world of cell phones, Blackberries, e-mail and deadlines, there’s no better place to recharge your batteries than the sun-soaked beaches of the Hawaiian islands.

GETTING STARTED

The drive from the airport to the Mauna Lani Resort on the northwest side of the Big Island offers stunning views in all directions. Lava rock stretches as far as the eye can see from the mountaintops and flows to the sea, providing a living example of how the islands were created and continue to grow.

Along the road, tourists and locals use white coral to spell out names and commemorate events in bold fashion. The Big Island is home to several active volcanoes, including Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Kilauea. The only things that break up the barren landscape are the resort havens that dot the coastline.

HEAVENLY

Roughly translated, Mauna Lani means “mountains reaching heaven,” and the resort is heavenly in every sense.
The guest rooms and lobby are positioned to create an open atrium, and performers dance and sing in the area each evening. The atrium is also home to several connected ponds and waterways filled with tropical fish and sea turtles. Located just outside the atrium behind the Canoe House restaurant is an impressive shark pond, where ominous fins circle the water.
The standard guest rooms are spacious and comfortable. Sliding doors open to small patios where the ocean views are spectacular and the peaceful trade winds cool your room at night.

FORE FUN

The Mauna Lani Resort has two golf courses, each with its own feel and personality.

The North Course is more target-oriented with many of the holes playing between expanses of lava rock. Among the most memorable holes is No. 17, a par 3 of 132 yards that plays in a natural lava amphitheater with an imposing rock outcropping guarding the front of the green.

The two most spectacular views on the South Course also are par 3s. The 214-yard seventh hole stretches along a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean, and the 196-yard 15th hole plays over an ocean inlet where waves crash against the shore and whales can be spotted from December through April.

FAMILY FUN

The resort has a beautiful pool area with plenty of seating, but more impressive is the private beach complete with cabanas and lounge chairs. The ocean on this side of the island is calm, and marine life is abundant as colorful fish move freely around people who wade into the water.

Resort guests get complementary water gear, such as surf boards and snorkel equipment, and small children have access to sand toys.

A 10-minute stroll to Maka’iwa Bay offers views of more colorful fish, and docked in the bay is The Winona, a ship that takes daily excursions along the coast for snorkeling and seasonal whale watching. The crew includes an oceanographer who swims along and describes the sea life while taking underwater pictures and video documentation of the experience.
For parents traveling with small children, the resort offers Camp Mauna Lani, where fun activities range from feeding the local marine life to exploring ancient petroglyphs.

The resort also has a spa, salon and fitness club, and the concierge can arrange helicopter trips to Volcano National Park on the other side of the island for those who want an adventurous escape.

If you would like to experience the flavor of another resort, the Hilton Waikoloa is 15 minutes away and features water activities such as giant pools, water slides and a natural lagoon. It’s also home to Dolphin Quest, which allows visitors to interact and swim with dolphins.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The resort has numerous dining options, and the recently opened Mauna Lani Shops are minutes away and accessible by resort shuttle. Nestled among the many shops, art galleries and boutiques are the Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

If you’re looking for ocean-view dining, drive 40 minutes down the coast to Kona, where shopping and dining options include Huggo’s and the historic Kona Inn.

ALOHA

An island vacation is an amazing experience, and the Mauna Lani Resort delivers everything you could ever want. From its world-class service to its “heavenly” location and amenities, you’ll leave Mauna Lani with only one desire — to return very soon.

For more information on the Mauna Lani resort, visit maunalani.com.