Visit Hawaii: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

1. Location

Location is what makes Hapuna Prince Hotel really stand out. It is set on the broad white sands of Hapuna Beach, rated one of the best beaches in America by Conde Nast. You will be surrounded by palm trees, black-rock cliffs and clear-blue water. The bottom of the ocean is pure, soft white sand that you can rarely find anywhere. The beach is rather private and excellent for sun bathing, running around, wading, swimming, or body surfing.

The hotel entrance looks like a scene from a Hollywood movie - it is graced by 20 giant royal palms (each cost $20,000 to purchase and transplant). Semi-circular lobby has a marvelous view of rolling slopes, azure swimming pool and the waves gently running up to the sandy beach. Open-air atrium lets you feel fresh, warm, clean ocean breeze on your face as soon as you enter the lobby.

The grounds at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel are beautifully landscaped, like walking through a botanical garden. Plumeria trees that drop fragrant flowers are everywhere. A lot of geckos run around. Meandering pathways run through the property down to the restaurants, beach facilities, and a spectacular golf course.

Hapuna Prince Hotel has 2 buildings: 5-story main building and 4-story oceanfront building. The showpiece of the hotel is the stand-alone 8,000-sq-ft, 4-bedroom Hapuna Suite. For about $8,000 per night, you can enjoy your own swimmming pool, 24-hour butler service and other rich-and-famous kind of luxuries.

When you first arrive, you will be impressed by the hotel's friendly valet service and refreshing check-in procedure. The hostess will offer you cool towels and a glass of Passion Orange juice while you wait for your room key. The entire process will feel very relaxing after your long trip.

Kona town is 40 miles away. Waimea town, an old ranching settlement with a few shops and restaurants, is 15 miles away. Small town of Kawaihae is even closer, only 3 miles. It is easy to get to if you want to grab something to eat outside of the hotel - Kawaihae has a couple of nice local eateries, such as Cafe Pesto.

2. Rooms

Rooms and marble bathrooms at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel are luxurious but not glitzy. You will find all first-class amenities, including bathrobes and slippers, tropical mementos placed on your pillow nightly, and continuously replenished mini-bar.

You can see the ocean from every room! Private lanai overlooks the pristine white-sand beach below. If you want the best view, we highly recommend booking an oceanfront room. These rooms are located in a separate 4-story building right on the beach, with little foot traffic in front of it.

There are 350 rooms. Each room has:

Beds: 1 king or 2 doubles
Air-conditioning
Private lanai
Mini-bar
Coffee maker with Kona coffee supply
TV with first-run movies
Cotton-weaverobes
Indoor slippers
Hair dryer
In-room safe
Nightly turndown service

3. Restaurants

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has 6 great restaurants and 4 lounges, including:

1) The Coast Grille
The hotel's signature restaurant features an Oyster Bar and the freshest Pacific Rim cuisine in an indoor or outdoor setting. Try their New England lobster that is raised locally!

2) Hakone Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in a tranquil setting. Entrees include island-raised Kobe beef, chops, fresh island fish, lobster and chicken. Experience shabu shabu and sukiyaki dining that pairs East and West, or relax at the sushi bar with a tasty "saketini".

3) Ocean Terrace
Casual open-air breakfast restaurant with a mix of healthy, creative items and American favorites. Features daily breakfast buffet and extensive à la carte menu. Relaxed atmosphere and great view of the beach!

4) Arnie's Clubhouse
Light spa luncheons and hearty American fare.

5) Beach Bat Bar
Cute poolside place where you can get a salad, sandwich or fresh island fish. In the evening, sit down with your favorite cocktail and watch the sun slip into the horizon.

6) Reef Lounge
Spectacular ocean views of Hapuna Beach and the Kohala coastline. Another great spot to watch the sunset, enjoy tropical drinks to the sounds of nightly musical entertainment.

7) Winter Wine Escape Festival
Each November, people that are serious about food and wine gather for the spectacular three days of the Winter Wine Escape. Celebrity guest chefs team up with premium wineries from the world over and local food producers to bring you a true experience in tastes. This extravaganza used to be hosted by the Hapuna Prince's sister resort, the Mauna Kea, but is now almost entirely at Hapuna.

4. Things to do

Beach activities
The beach is what really sells Hapuna Prince Hotel. Conde Nast rated Hapuna Beach #1 beach in the US. It is a far better beach than any other beach on the Big Island. Hapuna Beach has a little cove where waters are sheltered and clear. It is a perfect place where you can swim and snorkel next to giant sea turtles and maybe even a large manta ray. Other water activities include scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing and whale watching (Dec-Apr).
There are lounge chairs and umbrellas around. Attentive beach staff will help you get towels, rent boogie boards or anything else you need.
Pool
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has a nice big freshwater pool that faces the ocean. It is edgeless, so the water laps into drains that surround the pool. This isn't a fancy waterpark-style pool, just a new classic-looking pool. Plenty of lounge chairs sit in the shade, and 2 hot tubs are nearby. If you get hot or hungry, you can always get a refreshing drink, tasty snack or burger from the poolside restaurant.
Golf
18-hole championship Hapuna Golf Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. This links-style course features spectacular views of the Kohala Coast and the Pacific, with snow-capped Mauna Kea volcano as a backdrop. It is interesting to know that Hapuna Golf Course is famous as the most environmentally sensitive course in the Western region.
You can easily walk to the course from the hotel. On-site facilities include driving range, fitness center and spa, locker rooms, pro shop, putting and chipping greens, and Arnie's Clubhouse Restaurant.
Spa
You can choose from many treatments, including massage, body and facials, depilation and make-up services. On-site fitness center has aerobic classes, steam and sauna rooms.
If you are looking for something special, they offer 3 great spa packages:
- Paul Brown Hapuna Special (2 hours)
The best in relaxation and rejuvenation. Start with Seaweed Wrap or Body Polish and finish with a Swedish or Reflexology Massage. You will feel like Hawaiian royalty!
- Island Escape (3 hours)
First, you can heal, balance and regenerate your skin with plant-based Facial with Eyelift Massage, then get a Manicure or Pedicure, and Shampoo/Blow Dry. Perfect for an unforgettable night out!
- Kohala Magic (3 1/2 hrs)
Includes Massage, Facial and Manicure/Pedicure.
Shopping
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel features 7 on-site shops that offer sundries, resort clothes, interesting jewelry and art. Additional shopping is available at the King's Shops at Waikoloa Village, about 7 miles south of the resort. It's a mall with about 50 shops and a handful of restaurants and cafes, including Starbucks.