After visiting Hawaii’s Big Island a dozen times over the last decade, we’re convinced that Mauna Lani is the ultimate family vacation spot. In a few of our first visits, we stayed in the neighboring area of Waikoloa. But once we discovered Mauna Lani’s wonders, we never looked back.
In this post, we’ll delve into the various aspects that make Mauna Lani a paradise for families.
Mauna Lani Beach Club
The most important reason for that is the Mauna Lani Beach Club. While all beaches in Hawaii are public, parking isn’t, so consider Mauna Lani Beach Club as a semi-private oasis. Guests in the Mauna Lani area receive a keycard for the Beach Club’s parking lot. While the public can access the beach, the nearest public parking is a grueling 20-minute walk in the sun—especially tough if you’re lugging beach chairs or snorkeling gear. Nestled in a small cove, the beach is ideal for young kids due to its calm waters. Mauna Lani patrons can also use the loungers, eliminating the need to carry more stuff on your backs 🙂 This convenience alone keeps us coming back to Mauna Lani on every Big Island visit.
In addition to being kid-friendly, Mauna Lani Beach offers great snorkeling opportunities, SUP and kayak rentals, and a nice small (but a bit pricey) restaurant called Napua right above the beach. For snorkeling enthusiasts, the coral reefs here are teeming with colorful fish, providing an underwater spectacle that’s not to be missed. You can finish the day with a dinner at Napua, enjoying the sunset, or make quick runs there during the day to grab drinks or smoothies.
Where to stay in Mauna Lani?
There are a couple of hotels inside the area. Staying in the hotels doesn’t get you access to the private parking of the beach club but you can walk there from Auberge easily and Fairmont has a shuttle. We actually prefer staying in one of the many houses or townhomes within Mauna Lani. Houses offer much more convenience for a family stay: your parking is right next to the entrance, you have a kitchen if you want to cook for the kids or yourself, there’s usually a grill you can use, and most of the houses have a collection of snorkeling gear, boogie board, and beach chairs that you can use while staying.
Pro tip: once you find a house you like on AirBnb or VRBO – search for it on Google and you will likely find the website of a local management company renting that house. Their price will be about 10% smaller compared to what you see on AirBnb/VRBO.
Other attractions
There are few other attractions right in Mauna Lani besides the aforementioned beach. You can explore the petroglyph park, the ancient fish ponds, and a historic lava field. Or you can head to the “49 black sand beach” (right inside the Mauna Lani area) for a different beach experience. For those interested in history, the petroglyph park offers a fascinating glimpse into Hawaii’s ancient culture. We spent an afternoon there and were amazed by the intricate carvings.”
The main Mauna Lani plaza has a supermarket, and several restaurants —Tommy Bahamas is a must-visit — a coffee shop, and even a chiropractor. With all that you can easily spend a week on Big Island and never leave the resort area.
But if you’re interested in exploring (as you should), you’re a short drive away from:
- nearby resort area of Waikoloa with more restaurants and shopping
- 15 minute drive away from one of the best beaches in the USA – Hapuna Beach
- 20 minutes away (or 5 if you’re driving from Hapuna Beach) from the best bar on the island (Seafood Bar in Kawaihae) and the best poke joint on the island (Hale I’a Da Fish House)
- 30 min away from Kona where you can find more restaurants and shopping, and some other signature attractions of the Big Island (Atlantis Submarine, Manta Ray snorkeling)
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