Hawaii Island, HawaiiMauna Lani
Fairmont Orchid
Lava-fringed oceanfront resort
Mauna Lani Hawaii Island, Hawaii
Renovated
2025
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Resort Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
AccorLava-fringed oceanfront resort
Thirty-two coastal acres balance raw volcanic black rock with sheltered waters where sea turtles regularly bask on the sand.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A 10,000-square-foot lagoon pool and oceanfront cabanas set along Pauoa Bay's calm waters.
Notable
Outdoor thatched hales perched over running waterfalls and koi ponds for open-air massage.
Notable
Beach ambassadors lead outrigger canoe voyages and traditional frond weaving beside ancient petroglyphs.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
This stucco resort on the Big Island's Kohala Coast is fronted by a white sand beach.
“Its big, elegant lobby is blooming with purple orchids and birds of paradise, its enormous, 24-hour swimming pool wends its way around black rock islands, and its 32 lush acres include tropical gardens and a white-sand beach that frames an aquamarine cove.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Puako Petroglyph Preserve sits directly next door, where a trail through kiawe trees reveals thousands of ancient rock carvings.
1 of 4
The rooms
Rooms open onto private lanais, with custom carved wood and muted tones echoing driftwood and volcanic rock.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated lagoon pool winds past planted rock islands, flanked by thatched cabanas overlooking Pauoa Bay.
The spa
Open-air cabanas sit right beside the surf, hosting traditional lomilomi massages and māmaki volcanic mud wraps.
The gym
Technogym machines fill the indoor studio, and daily outdoor classes include garden Pilates and oceanfront sound baths.
At the table
Brown's Beach House serves island seafood above Pauoa Bay, and Kahakai Bar mixes tropical drinks right on the sand.
How it began
Hawaiian sportsman Francis Hyde Ii Brown once hosted storied gatherings on this parcel before its 1972 development into Mauna Lani.
Hawaii Island
More like this
Mauna Lani
“Modernist Kohala estate”
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.