Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

It is difficult to fully convey how wonderful this place is. Every aspect of this resort is perfectly, thoughtfully managed and staffed by big-hearted, engaging people. The grounds are stunning, the rooms large and fantastically well appointed. The housekeeping is somehow invisible yet swiftly makes up your room the second you leave, restoring everything to order by your return. The lounge chairs and umbrellas are abundant and comfortable, the beach lovely. The canoe house is a perfect restaurant — spectacular setting, interesting and delicious menu, truly fine dining with not a note of stuffiness. Charlie at concierge desk planned two excellent outings — a manta ray night snorkeling adventure and a canoe snorkel outing (overseen by Jade and Mikaela, who were terrific). The design throughout is understated yet gorgeous. The breakfast buffet has a magnificent assortment of local and international offerings, including Kona coffee and fresh papaya along with ube pancakes. Service is exceptional. I have never been so sad to leave a place. What a memorable experience! If the rest of life were this impeccably run.

This has to be one the most beautiful and exciting resorts I've ever been to. The resort is phenomenal. The staff is superb. The ambiance is simply stunning. From the details in the room to the restaurants and bars, this place will leave you breathless. Thank you for a magnificent stay. Unbelievably and undeniably one of the top three places I've stayed. Well done!!!

We had an incredible stay at Auberge Kona! Excellent service throughout — Pete and his team took great care of us, and every department, from housekeeping to the restaurants to the daily activities staff, was kind and friendly. This resort is incredible for families. We visited as a family of five, including a newborn, and had a wonderful time. The food across the property was fantastic — the Canoe House was the cherry on top, with stunning sunset views and delicious food. The Surf Shack also hit the spot, and the breakfast buffet was a highlight every single day. The experiences offered were top notch. Kids club, s’mores, sunrise canoe, pickleball, golf, and paddleboarding all made for awesome memories with my family. And of course, the swimming and beach made for a wonderfully relaxing stay. We also loved the clothes at the shops on property! This was a wonderful first trip to the Big Island, and we can’t wait to come back!

Second stay at this property; returned because they offer extremely accessible casual and guided snorkeling options as well as beautiful grounds and historic fish ponds to explore. We stayed for 7 days. We spent the majority of our stay in an ocean front suite which was perfect, with a soaking tub overlooking the beach and soothing sounds of the ocean. I didn’t want ever want to leave! The resort grounds and design are gorgeous. Extremely dreamy and thoughtful atmosphere. The food is executed very well at HaLani, the Surf Shack, and of course at the adjacent Canoe House. The pools are beautifully designed. The addition of the swim up bar at the adults pool is fantastic. Drinks are creative and delicious. The price point is elevated which is reflected everywhere at this resort except in the consistency and disposition of the staff. We had some less than stellar interactions. That being said, there are plenty of extremely helpful and joyful individuals. I need to note that I deeply enjoyed my conversations with Kaz and Angel at the front desk, Jason in the spa, and Jingle and Rio at HaLani, among countless others whose names I am disappointed to not remember. This can be a truly special place to enjoy a special occasion or vacation, but we are unsure whether or not to continue including it in our travel rotation based on our experience this year.