Opened in 1983, Mauna Lani Resort is a master-planned oceanfront community, covering 3,200 acres and 3 miles of Kohala coastline.
Residences were part of the property from the beginning, with more single-family homes and condominiums added in the decades following.
Short term rentals are allowed for Mauna Lani residences, though some communities require a 7-day minimum stay.
Mauna Lani Resort Communities - Fairways at Mauna Lani – Built in 2005. 126 2 & 3BR, 2-story townhome units in 21 2-story buildings. Some of the 2BRs have a den as well. The North Course’s 4th & 12th fairways line 3 sides of the community. Residences have garden, golf course and/or mountain views. Amenities include pool, spa, fitness center, event pavilion, BBQs. Gated community.
- Golf Villas at Mauna Lani – Built in 2005. 87 2 & 3BR, 1 & 2-story units in 16 2-story buildings. Some have an additional loft area. Community has fairways lining 3-sides. Villas have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Amenities include pool, hot tub, fitness center, BBQs.
- The Islands at Mauna Lani – Built in 1991. 46 2 & 3BR, 2-story townhome units in 15 2-story buildings. Residences all have a 2-car garage and golf course and/or mountain views. Fairways sit on 3 sides of the community. Amenities include pool, hot tub, BBQs.
- Ka Milo at Mauna Lani – Built in 2007. 137 3 & 4BR units. 100 are duplexes, the other 37 single family homes, all under a Condominium Property Regime (CPR). Golf course fairways line 2 sides of the community. Residences have golf course and/or mountain views. Recreation center, shared with the Kulalani community, includes lagoon pool, lap pool, 2 spas, fitness center, event pavilion, BBQs. Gated community.
- Ke Kailani (also called One Ocean) – Oceanfront. Built in 2007. Made up of 2 different communities – One consists of 39 lots of 15.8K Sq Ft – 1.36 acres with 4 – 6BR, 1 & 2-story single-family homes. Vacant lots are also available. The other is made up of 3BR, 2-story duplex townhome units. Most homes are along South Course fairways, the oceanfront lots at the end of Ke Kailani Drive. Residences have ocean, mountain and/or golf course views. There are 2 recreation areas - Hana Pono Park, which has a pool, kid’s pool, fitness center, event pavilion & BBQs and The Grotto, an oceanfront facility with a pool, 2 spas, 2 event pavilions, BBQs.
- Kulalani at Mauna Lani – Built in phases between 2006 & 2016. 126 2 & 3BR, 2-story townhome units in 24 2-story buildings. Residences have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Recreation center is shared with the Ka Milo community and has a lagoon pool, lap pool, 2 spas, fitness center, event pavilion, BBQs. Gated community.
- Mauna Lani Point – Oceanfront. Built in 1986. 116 1 – 3BR units in 9 2 & 3-story buildings. Community lies along fairways of the Mauna Lani Golf Course. Partly oceanfront, most buildings having a fairway between them and the water. Residences have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Amenities include pool, event pavilion, BBQs. Gated community.
- Mauna Lani Terrace – Oceanfront. Built in 1983. 80 1 – 3BR units in 11 3-story buildings. Some buildings sit against the lagoon at the center of the property. Ancient Hawaiian fishponds line the property’s west side, with the beach just beyond them. Most have ocean views from their home. Amenities include pool, kid’s pool, spa, event pavilion, BBQs. Gated community.
- Na Hale at Pauoa Beach – Built in 2004. 9 2 & 3BR, single-level homes governed under a Condo Property Regime (CPR). Part of Pauoa Beach beachfront community. Residences have golf course & mountain views. Pauoa Beach Club has a pool, kid’s pool, sauna, steam room, fitness center, & massage pavilions. Gated community.
- Palm Villas at Mauna Lani – Built in 2005. 44 2 & 3BR units in 9 2-story buildings. Some 2BRs have a loft, while all 3BRs include a den. Property fronts onto golf course fairways and backs onto Kalahuipuaa Historic Park. Villas have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Amenities include pool, jacuzzi, fitness center, BBQs. Gated community.
- Residences of Laulea – Built in 2017 – 2019. 17 3 & 4BR units in 11 1 & 2-story buildings. Mix of single-level standalone homes & 2-story duplexes, all governed as a condominium. Residences have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Community surrounded by fairways on 3 sides. Every home has its own pool and spa. Gated community.
- Villages at Mauna Lani – Built 2003 – 2006. 130 3BR, 2-story townhome units and single-story homes. Community has 92 duplex townhomes and 38 golf villa homes. Some have an additional den in their layout. Homes have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Amenities include pool, hot tub, fitness center, event pavilion, BBQs.
Mauna Lani Single-Family Home Subdivisions - The Cape – Oceanfront. 14 lots of 35K Sq Ft – 1.1 acres with 4 & 5BR, single-level homes. All have their own pool and ocean views. 6 front the golf course, 5 are oceanfront & 3 beachfront. Community has its own private path to the Beach Club, bypassing the gates. Gated community with 24-hour security.
- Champion Ridge – Built in 1992. 33 lots of 20.2K – 32K Sq Ft with 3 – 7BR, 1 & 2-story homes. Houses here are required to have a minimum 2.5K Sq Ft of living space. Homes look out on North Course fairways, most with view of the ocean. Neighborhood has its own private herb, fruit & vegetable garden. Gated community.
- 49 Black Sand Beach – Oceanfront. Built in 2000. 49 lots of 25.5K Sq Ft – 2.2 acres with 3 – 7BR, 1 & 2-story homes. 18 lots are on bluffs over the beach, the rest front the South Golf Course. Residences have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Amenities include community clubhouse with pool, fitness center, tennis court & concierge services.
- Mauna Lani Point Estates – Built in 1991. 19 lots of 15.4K – 25.6K Sq Ft with 3 – 5BR, 1 & 2-story homes, all with ocean & mountain views. Many homes front the South Golf Course & almost all have their own pool.
- Nohea – Built in 2011. 30 lots of 9.7K – 26.6K Sq Ft with 3 – 5BR, single-level homes. Homesites might still be available. North Course fairways line 2 sides of the triangle-shaped neighborhood. Every home has its own pool. Lots have mountain & golf course views. Amenities include recreation center with pool, fitness center, event room, BBQs.
- Pauoa Beach – Oceanfront. 37 lots of 25K Sq Ft – 1.64 acres with 3 – 5BR, 1 & 2-story homes. Houses have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Private Pauoa Beach Club features a pool, kid’s pool, sauna, steam room, fitness center, & massage pavilions. Gated community.
Things to Do at Mauna Lani Resort - Mauna Lani Resort prides itself on showcasing Hawaiian culture throughout the property and the calendar.
- Monthly Hawaiian music concerts are held at the CanoeHouse on the Saturday nearest to the full moon. Featuring some of the best talent of the Islands, it runs from 5 – 8PM.
- Another regular stop is The Shops at Mauna Lani, where a Polynesian Hula & Fire Show every Monday & Thursday. Entertainment starts at 7PM, with activities like coconut weaving & lei-making beginning at 5:30PM.
- The Shops at Mauna Lani is your local shopping center, with 23 shops, eateries and services. Most importantly, a Foodland Farms is here, so grocery shopping can be done without leaving the resort.
- Make sure to reserve Labor Day weekend for the Mauna Lani Culinary Classic. It’s 4 days of celebrity chefs & expert mixologists teaching classes, holding tastings by the beach, and presenting evening dining & festivities that usually go very late.
- A free shuttle service is available to take you almost anywhere within the resort, including the beach.
- Owners are automatically members of the Mauna Lani Advantage Club, which includes:
1. Sports & Fitness Center – tennis courts, lap pool, jacuzzi, men’s and women’s steam rooms and fully staffed fitness center
2. South & North Golf Courses – Use of, as well as special rates
3. Discounts at restaurants inside the resort and on treatments at Mauna Lani Spa
4. Mauna Lani Beach Club – Use of the club and beach services
Beaches - 49 Black Sand Beach – The Kohala Coast’s only black sand beach. More than just a curiosity, many are drawn here equally for the snorkeling and the sea turtles that frequently warm themselves on the beach.
- Mauna Lani Beach – Different from the Mauna Lani Beach Club, this is the stretch in front of the Auberge Hotel. Not a snorkeling spot, but the swimming is good here, with safer, calmer waters. Can be crowded due to hotel proximity, but there’s usually ample space to put your towel down.
- Pauoa Beach – Along with the on-shore sands and scenery, the man-made lagoon is a favorite for many swimmers and snorkelers. Beyond there, you’re in a more active ocean, so be aware. On the extreme west there’s a smaller, shallower lagoon that is good for the keiki.
Golf - Mauna Lani Resort South Course – Famous for 2 signature oceanfront holes, including the 15th, played over the water. Gold Advisor consistently rates it in Top 5 Best Hawaii Courses, sometimes in the #1 spot.
- Mauna Lani Resort North Course - 17th hole is in a natural lava amphitheater. Differentiated from the South Course by Kiawe tree groves lining the fairways, increased water hazards, and other features.
Hikes - Kalahuipuaa Historical Park – 1 mile paved path. This trail takes you by a lava tube, Ancient Hawaiian fishponds as well as carved petroglyphs, with signs along the way to guide & inform you. You can even stop and check out the lava tube.
- Mauna Lani Resort to Waikoloa Beach – Approx. 8 miles round trip. A segment of the 175 mile Ala Kahakai Historic Trail, it runs right along the coast. The scenery is beautiful, but it often gets rocky so wear solid shoes.
Tennis - Island Slice Tennis – Located at Fairmont Orchid, but open to the public. 8 tennis & 4 pickleball courts. Group & private lessons, clinics for tennis & pickleball.
- Mauna Lani Sports & Fitness Club – 6 tennis courts with staff pro, holding clinics and both group & private lessons.
Dining - CanoeHouse – Steakhouse with Japanese influenced dishes. The 24 oz ribeye is a go-to here for a lot of diners, but the salads get high praise as well, especially the ahi tatar kale salad. High end dining and a great place to enjoy the sunset.
- Alebrije Hawaii – Mexican cuisine. Serving Mexican dishes for all 3 meals. For some, this is the best of its kind on the Big Island and the menu is drawn from different states of Mexico. The Salsa Sampler is a good start for any dinner here.
- Napua – Local, Hawaiian cuisines. Known for seafood dishes, like ahi tataki, and their fish of the day is rarely a let down. The ribs are an excellent alternative if seafood isn’t your thing. The calamari steak appetizer is guaranteed to get dinner started right.
History of Mauna Lani Resort The fishponds here are hundreds of years old, built by the Native Hawaiians who settled this area. They would eventually be passed to Kamehameha I, who is said to have learned here the skills of maintaining these ponds. These sources of food were the primary activity on these lands well into the 1800s, when most of the local population moved inland or to more populated villages primarily for better economic opportunities.
Much of Mauna Lani’s current property was bought in the late 1800s by James Frank Wood, a great-grandson of the founder of the Parker Ranch. He built a modest house here for his wife, also descended from the Parker family, shortly after they married. The lands would change hands again in 1936, purchased by Francis Hyde I’i Brown, a descendant of Hawaiian nobility, legislator and champion athlete.
During the entire time this area was owned by the Wood & Brown families, very little was altered or added. That is why the ponds, petroglyph sites and other features have remained and can still be seen today. Brown fatefully met businessman Noboru Gotoh at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, forming a deep friendship. Gotoh, Chairman of the Tokyu Corporation, visited Brown’s home and the two began to envision it becoming a resort.
The Tokyu Corporation would buy the lands in the early 1970s, beginning planning & building soon after. Francis’ nephew, Kenneth Brown, was made Chairman of the Mauna Lani Resort, seeing the project through the 1983 opening and beyond.
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