Kona Coast, Big Island · United States
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Low bungalows on black lava at the edge of the Kona coast
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Hualalai occupies a stretch of black lava shoreline on the dry Kona side of Hawaii Island, named for the volcano rising behind it. Nothing is more than one storey: around two hundred and fifty bungalow-style rooms sit low among palms and lava rock, most within a short walk of the water.
The resort's signature is its eight pools, each with a different character — one carved into the lava and stocked with reef fish and rays, one adults-only, one a sand-bottomed lagoon for children. There is an eighteen-hole Nicklaus course that hosts a PGA Tour Champions event, five restaurants, and a spa and fitness complex that has drawn a following of its own.
The Kona coast is reliably sunny and the snorkelling straight off the property is genuinely good. Kona International Airport is fifteen minutes away, which makes this one of the easiest luxury arrivals in the Pacific.
At a glance
What to expect
- Eight swimming pools
- Oceanfront bungalow rooms
- Hualalai Spa
- Championship golf course
- Five restaurants
- Snorkelling and water sports
- Cultural centre
- Children's programme
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