Hualalai Resort is an 865 acre master-planned resort community in northern Kona, anchored by the
Four Seasons Hualalai Resort property. It is the only
AAA 5 Diamond and Forbes 5 Star Resort on the Big Island.
The community first opened in 1996, with development ongoing to the present.
The resort’s territory slopes downward to the coast, starting from an elevation of 225 feet, which opens the sight lines for the entire span.
The single-family home subdivisions and the condominiums are located separately from each other, unlike other communities where they are often side-by-side.
Hualalai Resort Communities 8 of the 11 association communities were built in the 1st decade of the 2000s, the remaining 3 in the late 1990s.
All are low-rise residences, just 1 or 2-stories, but are a mix of freestanding residences, which are single family home structures organized under a CPR (condominium property regime), and buildings with just 3 – 4 units.
The Communities - Estate Villas at Hainoa – Built in 2003. 10 4BR, single-level duplex units. 4th bedroom is in a separate guest cottage. Community sits along fairway 1 of Keolu Golf Course. Each residence has its own private pool. Residences have golf course, mountain and/or ocean views. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Estate Villas at Hualalai - Built in 2000. 12 3 - 5BR units in 6 single-story buildings. Duplexes with ocean views that sit along the golf course fairway. Most have private yard areas as well. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Fairway Villas At Hualalai - Built in 1998. 16 2 - 3BR units 8 2-story buildings. Condos are single-level, taking either the upper or lower floor of the building. Community sits along the Hualalai Golf Course’s 15th fairway. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Golf Villas at Hualalai - Built in 1996. 20 3BR, single-level units in 5 2-story buildings. Large, roomy floor plans. All villas have both golf course and ocean views from them. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Hillside Villas at Hualalai – Built in 1997. 28 2 & 3BR, single-level units in 7 2-story buildings. Residences have garden, golf course views and/or ocean views. Amenities include pool, hot tub, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Kauhale Villas At Hualalai - Built in 2001 3 3BR standalone units in 3 single-story buildings. All have golf course and ocean views as well as private pools and other luxury features. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ.
- Palm Villas At Hualalai - Built in 1998. 10 3BR, 2-story units in 4 2-story buildings. Large (3K Sq Ft) duplex and triplex townhomes. All condos sit beside the Hualalai Golf Course’s 15th fairway and look out to the ocean beyond. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Villas At Ke Alaula - Built in 2002. 17 3BR, 2-story units in 6 2-story buildings. Community has fairways of the Keolu Golf Course on 2 sides. Some residences have ocean views from both levels. Amenities Include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Waiulu Villas - Built in 2001. 24 2 - 3BR, single-level units in 6 2-story buildings. Community sits beside the Keolu Golf Course’s 5th fairway. Upper floor units have views of the ocean. Community has its own private amenities including pool, hot tub, pavilion, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Na Hale at Kahikole - Built in 2006. 8 4BR standalone, single-level units. Each residence has its own separate guest house, private deck & pool. Lots have both golf course and ocean views from them. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Kaulu Villas - 20 3BR, 2-story units in 5 2-story buildings. Every condo also has a den. Residences located along the 4th fairway of the Hualalai Golf Course, looking out across it and out to the Pacific. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Haliipua Villas - Built in 2009. 12 3BR, 2-story units in 4 2-story buildings. All villas have ocean views from both levels, as well as a built-in BBQ on 2nd floor lanai and 2-car garages. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
- Hainoa Villas - Built in 2007. 20 2 - 3BR units in 5 2-story buildings. Each condo has a 2-car garage and built-in BBQ on the main lanai. Sunset & ocean views from both upper and lower level residences. Amenities include pool, hot tub, tennis court, BBQ. Vacation rentals allowed.
Hualalai Resort Homes Hualalai Resort’s subdivisions each have small numbers of lots that measure from 12K Sq Ft to just under 2 acres. The homes are 1 or 2-stories and 3 to 7BRs with features such as their own pool, spa and, in some cases, a separate guest cottage.
Single-family Neighborhoods Upper Resort (further inland) - Anea Estates – 7 lots.
- Hainoa Estates – 4 lots.
- Kaimupulehu Estates – 9 lots.
- Kanae Estates – 4 lots.
- Lipoa Estates – 10 lots.
- Noiulu Estates – 4 lots.
- Piiuka Estates – 12 lots.
- Pulehuula Estates – 6 lots.
Mid-Resort - Hale at Ke Alaula – 14 lots.
- Hokuloa Estates – 8 lots.
- Kahikole Estates – 3 lots.
- Laueki Estates – 15 lots.
- Laueki Place Estates – 6 lots.
- Puka Pa Estates – 12 lots.
- Puu Kole Estates – 9 lots.
Lower Resort (near ocean & oceanfront) - Kaulu Estates – 12 lots.
- Kai Malino Estates – 15 lots.
- Kumukehu Estates – 13 lots. Some oceanfront lots.
- Waiulu Estates – 13 lots. Some oceanfront lots.
Things to do in Hualalai - The biggest dates on the resort calendar starts with the PGA’s Mitsubishi Electric Tournament, played every January here, with many side events to enjoy as well.
- In September, the Run For Hope, benefiting cancer research, holds their 5K & 10K run/walk, as well as tennis, pickleball and golf tournaments on the same weekend. The kickoff for it all is the Friday ‘Taste of Hawaii Island’, featuring special chef creations, drinks and entertainment.
- Year round there is the Kaupulehu Cultural Center, where you can take free classes in lei making, lauhala weaving, hula and many other Hawaiian cultural practices.
- Owners can enjoy the restaurants and service businesses, like the Hualalai Spa, at the Four Seasons Hualalai, but there are amenities that are not available, or at least fully available, unless you are a member of the Hualalai Club (Membership Deposit & Annual Dues required).
The Hualalai Club gives you full access and insider privileges to:
- The Hualalai Golf Course.
- The Private Keolu Clubhouse and Golf Course.
- The Hualalai Sports Club & Spa.
- The Hualalai Tennis Club.
- The Hualalai Canoe Club.
- Hualalai Concierge Services.
Hikes Ala Kahakai National Historical Trail (sections) – The entire ancient trail of 175 miles follows the coastline from the south point of the Big Island, Ka Lae, to the northernmost tip at ‘Upolu Point, offering archaeological sites and beautiful scenery the whole way. However, you can pick it up at Hualalai and hike 4 miles north to Kiholo Bay, which is stunning even for Hawaii. Or follow it south for approx. 1 ½ miles to Kikaua Point Park, taking you right by Kukio Beach if you’d like to stop on the way there or back. Wear good shoes for the inevitable stretches of lava rock.
Golf - Keolu Course – Designed by Tom Weiskopf with a rippling landscape that resembles ocean waves. The natural arches, caves and even a collapsed lava tube set this course apart. Sand in the bunkers is a specially made blend that is imported from China. Members only.
- Hualalai Golf Course – Designed by Jack Nicklaus, it is the current home of the PGA Tour’s ‘Mitsubishi Electric Championship’ event. Known for the lava rock on the front 9 and the bunker in the center of the 12th green. Course only open to residents, registered rental guests & the Four Season’s guests.
Beaches - Kukio Beach – The best beach for swimming & snorkeling in Hualalai. The waves bring the surfers here sometimes, too. Head to the southern end for smoother conditions under Kikaua Point’s protection. Sea turtles often come on shore here, too.
- Kaupulehu Beach – ½ mile of sand with a walkway along its inland side. A lot of lava rock in areas, but there’s an inviting swim spot toward the beach’s midway. Lay out and take in the scenery.
- Kumukea Beach – Tidal pools for the kids to see underwater life up close. The waters are calmer here, so kayakers and SUPs are common sites in the morning. Wear wading shoes in case of rocky water beds.
Tennis Hualalai Tennis Club – 8 tennis courts, 2 of them lighted, and 2 pickleball courts. Daily clinics, plus regular tournaments, exhibitions and round robin social mixers. Junior clinics are also available.
Dining - Miller & Lux – Steakhouse/Hawaiian cuisine. Fine dining from celebrity chef Tyler Florence. Emphasis on steaks, selected from ranches across the US as well as seafood dishes. Ask about the seasonal cocktails as well. Restaurant overlooks the 18th green of Hualalai Golf Course.
- Ulu Ocean Grill – Local/Asian/Hawaiian cuisines. Oceanfront restaurant. Can’t go wrong with most menu items, but give special attention to their sushi selection and the poke, prepared table side. Excellent wine cellar with curated wine choices presented on iPad.
- Residents Beach House – Hawaiian/American cuisines. Serving lunch, dinner, pupus and drinks right against the sands. Casual dining, with popular items like fish tacos, the kanak attack pizza and the beach burger. The Big Daddy Mai Tai is a must try, too.
History of Hualalai The Hualalai Resort area was the site of an Ancient Hawaiian settlement called Kaupulehu, which was first established hundreds of years ago.
Several fishponds were built and tended continually here to sustain the residents, while they also harvested sea salt both for themselves and to use in trade with other villages.
Kaupulehu was decimated in the 1800 eruption of the Hualalai volcano. The lava flow came right through the village on its way to the ocean, destroying almost everything in its path, including some of the fishponds.
Due to this disaster these lands were sparsely populated for years afterward. The area was known primarily during this time as just part of the main route linking Kona and Kohala.
So forgotten was this place that it took until 1961, with the building of the Kona Village Resort at Kahuwai Bay, for perceptions to finally start to change.
It took time, but the true potential of Hualalai was eventually understood. The Four Seasons Hualalai Resort’s opening in 1996 finally reestablished this once abandoned coastline as a place to live and play.
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