Big Island Hawaii Big Island Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Scattered across 81 acres of volcanic landscape along Kahuwai Bay, 150 thatched-roof bungalows designed by Nicole Hollis feature coconut husk sidings and basalt rock furnishings that anchor the property firmly in its Hawaiian surroundings. The Asaya spa offers lomi lomi massages in open-air rooms facing Hualālai volcano, while the Shipwreck Bar—built from a restored 1960s sailboat—serves drinks steps from the sand. Families gather for oceanfront cinema nights; adventurers head to Kahuwai Cookhouse for Hawaii's cowboy cuisine.

An arrow-shaped structure piercing a lava flow between twin crescent beaches, Mauna Lani places guests directly on the sand—a rarity along the Big Island's rugged Kohala Coast. Meyer Davis's $200 million redesign threads koa wood furniture and canoe-lashing motifs through 341 rooms, most commanding views of four volcanoes. The resident kahu hānai shares island mythology, while two golf courses wind through ancient lava fields and kiawe forest.

Lava rock formations punctuate the vast oceanfront grounds of this Polynesian-inspired retreat on Big Island's western coast. A full cultural museum and signposted ancient Hawaiian sites thread through tropical gardens, while an ocean-fed snorkelling pool hosts resident triggerfish, parrotfish, and a spotted eagle ray named Nalu. Exceptional sporting facilities and a protected swimming cove with breakwall complete the offering for active families and heritage-minded travelers.

A tram glides between three towers while boats cruise the moat circling this sprawling Big Island resort. Families gravitate toward the dolphin lagoon, where interactions unfold against a Pacific backdrop, then scatter across eight restaurants and three expansive pools. The sheer scale—part theme park, part tropical village—delivers an all-encompassing Hawaiian holiday where children and parents find equal footing.

Low-slung bungalows emerge from black lava rock along the Kona-Kohala coast, every room framing the Pacific. Guests drift between a saltwater pool teeming with eagle rays and tropical fish, the serene 28,000-square-foot spa, and Jack Nicklaus's championship course. Evening brings ULU's oceanfront tables and NOIO's intimate omakase counter—two of Hawaii's most romantic dining addresses. Ideal for families and couples seeking polished Hawaiian seclusion.

Spanning 28,000 square feet, this Hawaiian sanctuary weaves tropical gardens through cool interior spaces, with a quiet stream running through the open-air Waiea garden. The treatment menu runs deep—over fifty massage variations including traditional lomi lomi—while signature rituals like the hibiscus herbal wrap draw on island botanicals. Acupuncture, sleep therapy, and guided meditation sessions extend the wellness focus beyond bodywork.