Kohala Coast’s Historic Mauna Kea Resort—Comprised of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort—Named as One of the Top Resorts in the World, Again

Kohala Coast, Hawai’i – Mauna Kea Resort—the iconic destination on the Island of Hawaii comprised of the historic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, and Mauna Kea Residences—continues to build upon its five-decade history as one of Hawai’i Island’s leading luxury destinations, once again earning two separate spots within the top twenty properties in the Hawaiian Resort category in the 2023 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. This prestigious list is released annually, and decided by Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey results, celebrating the top hotels and resorts in the world that are continuously redefining hospitality and providing one of a kind experiences for travelers. 

“Mauna Kea Resort has welcomed generations of travelers and families since its opening, offering our guests an unrivaled, authentic Hawaiian experience alongside world-class hospitality,” said Diana Su, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “We are honored that both Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort have been chosen as two of Travel + Leisure’s top resorts in Hawai’i. Our staff works tirelessly to provide guests with intentional cultural programming that educates visitors and supports our local community and lands, best-in-class service across the properties, and award-winning dining experiences.”

Spanning 1,800-acres along the the idyllic and rugged Kohala Coastline, Mauna Kea Resort invites guests to embrace the Aloha spirit and explore the bounty of the Island of Hawaii in a luxurious resort setting. With access to both resorts during their stay, guests have a unique opportunity to reconnect with themselves and their surroundings with activities ranging from outrigger canoeing and Manta Night Swims to world-class oceanfront dining and luxury spas. This year, Mauna Kea Resort has unveiled expanded cultural programming and sustainability initiatives, further elevating the Mauna Kea Resort experience to reflect the rich history and : 

• Cultural Encounters: Mauna Kea Resort’s “Aloha Ambassadors” will lead guests through various educational activities such as lei making, basic Hula lessons, an E Ala E sunrise ceremony, Hawaiian Language classes, and more. Guests can also experience fresh Island cuisine at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s Manta restaurant and The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort’s Meridia—with many ingredients grown in the resort’s flourishing gardens

• Sustainability by Land + Sea: To support and foster awareness and respect for ‘āina (land), kaiāulu (community) and moʻomeheu (culture), Mauna Kea Resort has launched a number of sustainability initiatives across both resorts and their golf courses. By staying at Mauna Kea Resort, a charitable fee is included to support The Hawai’i Island Conservation Fund, which supports coral reef restoration through The Nature Conservancy; and the preservation of land at Māhukona and navigational cultural sites through the Hawaii Land Trust. The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort was also the first resort on the island to be named a carbon neutral resort, both golf courses have undergone sustainability analysis to improve water consumption and downward run-off fertilizer; and has an onsite apiary that supplies the resort’s culinary program with fresh local honey.

• Aloha to Art: On Saturdays, guests can participate in a guided tour of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s extensive art collection, including a treasured pink granite Buddha Shakyamuni, a Hawaiian quilt collection, and a historic Kapa cloth collection. In partnership with Bishop Museum, Mauna Kea Resort has undergone a massive restoration project to restore the resort’s significant art collection, including native Hawaiian quilts and Kapa Cloth. The resort acts as a living museum featuring thousands of original works of Southeast Asian and South Pacific Art, including original Hawaiian Kapa Cloths and Hawaiian Quilts. Mauna Kea Resort has worked closely with Honolulu’s Bishop Museum to preserve its Kapa cloth collection, which celebrates a native Hawaiian practice that dates back centuries.  

• Adventure Activities: With Mauna Kea Resort’s prime location on two of Hawai‘i Island’s most spectacular beaches, Kauna’oa Bay and Hāpuna, guests have the ease of experiencing beach and water activities just steps away from their rooms including outrigger canoeing, snorkeling, sailing and even a Manta Ray Night Swim with Manta Ray Advocates. Parents looking to enjoy the amenities can enjoy a round of golf or spa treatment while their little ones participate in activities like lei making, hiking, and more at Mauna Kea’s Keiki Club. In the afternoon, guests of all ages can venture to the oceanfront Seaside Tennis Club for a friendly tennis match, or casual play on one of the resort’s brand-new pickleball courts. Close out the day with a decadent meal and hula show at the Mauna Kea Luau. Guests can also rent one of Mauna Kea Resort’s house Tesla Model 3s for an off-property excursion such as guided hikes, birdwatching, and volcano tours with Hawaii Forest & Trail, or the Mauna Kea VIP Heli Experience helicopter tour.

• Close Out Summer with an Aloha Escape: Mauna Kea Resort is making it easier to book an escape, with its Free Night Promotion to turn a four-night visit into a five-night stay for families; the Life is Suite package for couples, inclusive of 30% off Westin Hapuna Beach Resort suites, two complimentary bathrobes, a bottle of wine, and chocolate-covered fresh seasonal fruit upon arrival; and the Mauna Kea + Westin Hapuna Experience Packages for golfers and adventurers, with 25% off room rates, 25% off green fees and beach activities, and a $50 resort credit.

The T+L World’s Best 2023 list will be featured in Travel + Leisure’s August edition and online at www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best-2023-7551723.