Mauna Kea Resort
Kohala & Kona Coast
Laurance Rockefeller’s 1965 legacy — understated luxury on the Kohala Coast’s most beautiful bay.
Mauna Kea Resort is the Big Island’s original luxury enclave, founded in 1965 when Laurance Rockefeller built the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel above Kauna‘oa Bay — a crescent of white sand and turquoise water consistently ranked among the best beaches in the United States. The resort spans roughly 1,800 acres on the Kohala Coast, anchored by two iconic hotels, two championship golf courses, and a tightly held collection of custom estate homes. The aesthetic is deliberately quieter and more traditional than neighboring Mauna Lani — mid-century pedigree, curated Asian and Hawaiian art, and old-money restraint.
Real estate at Mauna Kea is defined by scarcity and generational ownership. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with newly renovated hotel rooms and a new spa facility. Homesites sit along the Robert Trent Jones Sr. fairways, on the bluffs above Hapuna Beach, and on a handful of oceanfront parcels that rarely trade. The community attracts UHNW buyers building multigenerational family compounds, serious golfers seeking private-club access, and collectors of true ocean-view real estate. Homeowners gain access to the Mauna Kea Club, with privileges at both Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort — pools, beaches, fitness, spa, and preferred tee times on two of Hawaii’s top-rated courses.
Market Snapshot
Mauna Kea Resort — 2026
Median Price
Condo YTD $3,400,000 (small sample, treat with care)
Price Range
Fairways South homes needing updates start ~$5M; oceanfront estates $15M–$40M+
Price / Sq Ft
See KE Team Big Island market update
Avg Days on Market
See KE Team Big Island market update
YoY Change
-30% condo median YoY (sample-size caveat: last year influenced by new Amaui Villas sales)
Inventory Trend
Balanced-to-slower — ~9.4 months of supply; only 9 condo closings YTD
Property Types
Mauna Kea Villas on the Robert Trent Jones Sr. Course, Fairways North/South custom homes, Hapuna Estates, oceanfront estates in The Bluffs and Kauna‘oa
Based on 2025–2026 Hawaii Information Service data
Lifestyle
What it's like to live in Mauna Kea Resort
Dining
- Manta at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
- Meridia
- Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel dining
- Copper Bar at Mauna Kea Resort
- Islander Sake Brewery — Kai Ioh is an investor
Outdoors
- Hapuna Beach — one of the best in the US
- Kauna‘oa Bay (Mauna Kea Beach)
- Mauna Kea Golf (Robert Trent Jones Sr.)
- Kings’ Trail coastal hike
Culture & Heritage
- 1965 Laurance Rockefeller legacy
- Curated Hawaiian + Asian art collection
Shopping & Transit
On-resort boutiques at both hotels plus a short drive south to the Shops at Mauna Lani and Queens’ Marketplace for everyday retail, grocery, and galleries.
About 40 minutes north of Kona International Airport via Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, with Waimea town 20 minutes inland.
Housing Stock
What you can buy in Mauna Kea Resort
Iconic Mauna Kea Villas along the Robert Trent Jones Sr. Course command a premium for their location. Fairways North and South feature magnificent custom homes with panoramic ocean and mountain views. The newly developed Hapuna Estates are establishing themselves as a modern luxury destination. Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is building his winter home and training facility in Mauna Kea Resort. The gated oceanfront communities of The Bluffs and Kauna‘oa, with direct beach access, are popular among UHNW buyers.
Entry Point
A Fairways South home that needs updating will cost at least about $5M in the current 2026 market.
Luxury Tier
Luxury oceanfront estates trade between $15M and $40M+, with the rarest Kauna‘oa-fronting parcels commanding generational-legacy pricing.
Typical buyer: Mauna Kea draws UHNW buyers building multigenerational family compounds and collectors who prize true ocean-view scarcity over resort flash. The community skews toward private-club golfers, repeat guests of the original 1965 hotel, and families who value the resort’s quieter, more traditional character versus its louder neighbors.
Your guide to Mauna Kea Resort
Explore Mauna Kea Resort with Kai & Emil
Kai Ioh and Emil Knysh have represented buyers and sellers across every corner of the Big Island since 2018 — ranked top 1.5% nationwide by Wall Street Journal Real Trends.
Nearby Areas
Explore the rest of the coast
Mauna Lani Resort
The larger, more contemporary neighbor to the south — two hotels, two golf courses, and a broader mix of estate and condo product.
View Area →Private Resorts
Exclusive members-only communities like Hualālai and Kūki‘o offering the Big Island’s most private luxury lifestyle.
View Area →Waikoloa Beach Resort
The Kohala Coast’s most accessible resort community, with Hilton and Marriott anchors plus a wider range of entry price points.
View Area →Oceanfront
The Big Island’s rarest inventory — true oceanfront estates across Kohala, Kona, and the private resorts.
View Area →
Frequently Asked
Mauna Kea Resort — questions we hear
- What do homes cost at Mauna Kea Resort in 2026?
- Mauna Kea is one of the hardest resort markets to read from data alone — only 9 condos closed year-to-date, so one or two sales move the median. The current condo median is $3,400,000, down about 30% YoY, but last year’s data was skewed higher by new Amaui Villas sales. A Fairways South home that needs updating starts around $5M. Fairways North estates run higher based on view and lot size. Hapuna Estates oceanfront bluff properties trade from $12M, and true Kauna‘oa-fronting parcels can reach $30M–$42M+. Months of supply sits around 9.4 — balanced to slower, with buyer loyalty to the Mauna Kea brand still very strong.
- What’s the difference between Mauna Kea Resort and Mauna Lani Resort?
- Mauna Kea is smaller, quieter, and more traditional — a 1965 Laurance Rockefeller original with mid-century pedigree, two golf courses, and tightly held residential inventory. Mauna Lani is larger and more contemporary, with a broader mix of condos, villas, and estates plus a more active retail footprint. Mauna Kea buyers tend to prioritize legacy, privacy, and Kauna‘oa Bay access over scale.
- Can I vacation rent at Mauna Kea Resort?
- Short-term rental rules vary by sub-community and HOA. Certain Fairways South properties historically allow vacation rentals with resort management, while many Fairways North and Hapuna Estates properties are owner-use or long-term lease only. Buyers planning rental income should confirm each property’s specific HOA rules and Hawaii County permitting status before writing an offer.
- What are Fairways North vs. Fairways South?
- Fairways North surrounds the original Robert Trent Jones Sr. course and holds the resort’s largest estate lots — often an acre or more with mountain and ocean views. Fairways South is the newer, tighter neighborhood around the Hapuna course, with smaller custom homes on more manageable lots. North skews older and more established; South offers newer construction at relatively lower entry points.
- How good is the Mauna Kea Golf Course?
- Mauna Kea Golf Course is a 1964 Robert Trent Jones Sr. design routinely ranked among the top courses in Hawaii and the United States. Its signature 3rd hole — a par-3 carry over a crashing ocean inlet — is one of the most photographed holes in golf. The newer Hapuna Course by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay complements it with a more resort-friendly layout above the coast.
- Is Hapuna Beach really one of the best in the US?
- Yes. Hapuna Beach has repeatedly been named America’s Best Beach by Dr. Beach and other national rankings. It’s a half-mile of wide white sand backed by the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, with gentle swimming in summer and lifeguards year-round. Combined with neighboring Kauna‘oa Bay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, the resort controls two of the most celebrated beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.
Browse Listings