by Christina Howell
| February, 27, 2024
Stepping foot onto the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort marks the beginning of an opulent experience; you are immediately immersed into the natural landscape of Hawaii’s Big Island while being swept instantly away into luxury by Four Seasons Hualalai’s signature VIP service. As you turn off the desert highway into the 865-acre property, you are suddenly surrounded by the island’s luscious native flora flourishing atop centuries-old hardened volcanic rock. Making your way towards check-in, you’ll pass a few of the Four Seasons Hualalai luxury residences, owned by tech billionaires and famous celebrities that overlook the famous 18-hole Hualalai Golf Course, the first of Jack Nicklaus’ Hawaiian Island designs. Upon arrival to the resort, all worries are left behind as you are whisked into spacious serenity, complimented by one-on-one attention and top of the line amenities throughout your stay.
The staff spares no time introducing the Aloha spirit to each guest, with a warm welcome and beautiful ocean view at “check-in.” Check-in being a standard term in hospitality, is quite a different experience here. Your invitation to sit on one of the comfy settees in the outdoor lobby comes with a wicker tray bearing passion fruit guava juice, a small cube of pineapple dusted with Li Hing Mui (salty dried Chinese plum) powder, an elegant purple orchid, and a chilled towel for a quick post-travel refresh. A staff member greets you with a fresh orchid lei and takes care of all formalities before you are set on your way to explore the sprawling resort.
The property takes pride in its very private style of resort vacationing with its “crescents” of bungalows – all of which are situated around a pool (one exception being on the 18th hole of the golf course) and so spread out that you rarely run into fellow guests. The feeling of having a separate condo-like space versus a hallway lined with hotel room doors, elevator banks, and vending machine nooks came in handy during the pandemic but today offers guests a feeling of spaciousness as well as seclusion. Fully renovated just two years ago, you enter each guest room through a sizeable foyer leading to an expansive bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a spacious bedroom with an indoor sitting area. As you ooh and aah over the in-room Keurig machine, touchscreen room-control panel, and enormous smart TV, you eventually find yourself face to face with stunning views of the pool (King’s Pool in my case), and just beyond that the palm tree lined white sandy oceanside and the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
There’s no time to waste getting into your bathing suit once your bellman has hand-delivered your bags. There are several swimming/sunbathing areas and the space between them is luxury in itself. Have you ever been on vacation and had to wake up at 7:00am to save your chair at the pool? Or rushed through breakfast just to find that by the time you make it poolside there’s nowhere to sit? Have no fear. You won’t have to worry about that here as you have a menu of swimming places to choose from: quiet pool, kid pool, lap pool, 24-hour pool, infinity pool, adult-only pool, swim-up bar pool, snorkeling pool, beach entry pool and even tidepool! And don’t forget that merely yards away you have the option of beachside lounging with shaded chaise lounges that don’t need to be reserved. The ocean “pool” has a manmade barrier to make swimming in earth’s natural waters as safe and comfortable as possible. The friendly Four Seasons staff will dress you up with fresh towels and a constant rotation of cold ice water among many other fun (and complimentary) poolside amenities as you soak up the island sun.
Poolside Amenities at Four Seasons Hualalai
Ube Colada with optional Rum Shot
Hibiscus Kombucha
Frozen Grape Kabobs
Ginger Margarita
Sunglass Cleaning
Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30 and 50)
After Sun Cooling Gel
Water Toys
Traveling with a family, especially young children, makes for a … different type of vacation. Convenience (or lack of) can make or break it. As a mom of three, my radar perked up when I heard about the amazing programming they have for children of all ages at the resort! 
While most of us parents spend pre-vacation time planning and packing (All. The. Things.), there are a few things you can leave behind – one of them being a nanny. Kids for all Seasons is a complimentary childcare service offered at all Four Seasons resorts, featuring customized experiences for kids ages 5-12, giving parents the wonderful gift of time to themselves – relax, enjoy a quiet meal together, get a workout in, or (if you’re like me), take a nap! At Four Seasons Hualalai, between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, and depending on the current seasonal schedule, you may have access to a Tween Program, the Hale Kula Game Room, Outdoor Movie Nights, Theme Nights, Eagle Ray Feeding, Arts & Crafts, Swimming, Hawaiian Music, Sculpting and even Canoe Lessons. For an additional hourly fee, you can pay for an on-site babysitter to watch your babes after hours. You might also like to know that kids 4 and under eat free at the Beach Tree and Ulu beachfront restaurants with a paying adult.
If together is more your flavor, there are many avenues to explore as a family with fun for all ages. For example, only at the Four Seasons Hualalai can you snorkel practically right outside your door! The King’s Pond and Kumu Kai Marine Center boasts a 1.8 million gallon “farmed” aquarium, where you can rent snorkels, goggles, and flippers for free, and between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm swim with over 1,000 species of native fish, including their resident Eagle Ray. There is also an Eagle Ray feeding each day at 1:00pm and twice daily sessions with Kumu Kai, a team of marine experts who share information about the fish and let you get up close and personal with the marine life. Use your snorkeling equipment to take a peek into the ocean as well – there are tidepools and more to explore just steps away!
Walking around the property is a treat in itself – there are preserved ponds and waterways throughout where you can find fish in their natural habitats, engulfed by native lush foliage. This stuck with me throughout my stay as I was able to appreciate the clear vision to honor the land and preserve it. As you walk on the beach, you’ll feel the fine sugary sand between your toes, but also notice that there are rocks, and again, the tidepools that have naturally formed in between the lava. But perhaps the most exciting part of your immersive Aloha experience, is the people that you’ll interact with around the resort.
Many of the 1,200 staff members on-site at Hualalai are locals, born and raised on the Big Island, so questions are almost always answered from a first-hand point of view. The programming that the resort offers at any given time creates a purely local island escapade – from lei making and hula lessons in the cultural center, to simply talking story with locals. But don’t think of their cultural offerings as massive banquet-style buffet meals with hired entertainment – the Four Seasons Hualalai once again stays true to the land and produces authentically curated programs to educate visitors about the Hawaiian culture and its people. This includes one-on-one programs with professional (and world champion) surfers, artists, musicians, triathletes, and more.
I had the ultimate privilege of experiencing this type of interaction in a unique and intimate setting during Four Seasons Hualalai’s very exclusive Winemaker in Residence Dinner series. Scheduled about four times each year, this one-of-a-kind educational and carefully curated dinner experience takes place with local celebrities and offers guests a chance to interact one-on-one and get hands-on with the local culture.
This installment of the dinner series invited each guest to an “open fire” outdoor cooking concept presented by island local Chef Flora Kamimura in collaboration with Four Seasons Hualalai executive chef Richard Polhemus and complemented by Napa Valley’s Harlan Family Wines, the current in-villa wine cellar selection at the resort. The icing on the cake (or crepe in my case) of this once-in-a-lifetime experience was meeting Neil Kamimura, a knifemaker who purportedly has a 2-3 year waiting list for his hand-crafted knives (and by the way is also a good friend of Jason Momoa and yes, is Chef Flora’s husband!). The third-generation craftsman has competed in and won the nationally televised knife-making competition, “Forge and Fire,” and during this special dinner, demonstrated his awe-inspiring steel working skills using bare hands over live fire, staying true to the open-fire dinner concept. The culmination of sights, sounds, and smells at this spectacular outdoor feast started the moment we entered the property’s luscious herb garden and continued as plate after plate of indulgent local cuisine was presented.
Our outdoor dinner with ingredients sourced from the island and even farmed on property, was served over four courses, and delightfully paired with The Mascot’s array of red wines, all vintage cabernet sauvignon varieties ranging from 2011 to 2018. We started off with banana leaf charred Hawaiian snapper alongside Waimea potato and sunchoke salad. We moved on to a savory and smoky paella loaded with a variety of proteins: sausage, prawns, chicken. Third course brought us perhaps the largest roasted rib of local beef you could ever imagine, slow cooked over kiawe wood. It was the star of the show as vegetables, mushrooms, and a bright chimichurri sauce were all served family style as shareable sides. We finished off with a dulce de leche crepe with wood roasted bananas and local pineapple, complimented by our last sips of vintage 2018 and great conversation.
Harlan Family WinesThe partnership between Four Seasons Hualalai and Harlan Estate Winery adds just another little touch of detail and class to your stay. Harlan is a Napa Valley-based family-owned winery consisting of four brands including Harlan Estate, BOND, The Mascot, and Promontory, each grown in separate vineyards and separate micro-climates, producing a strong series of reds that excites every palate. Harlan was selected for the resort’s in-villa cellars and each of their brands have been featured in a Winemaker in Residence Dinner. The Mascot, in particular, is harvested from the younger vines of the Harlan family domain, and grown in a forest environment, bringing a different kind of grape to bear.
While there is no doubt the Four Seasons Hualalai experience itself is palpable, the complimentary surprises along the way never seem to end. Reef-safe mineral sunblock (SPF 30 and 50) at every pool? Check. Live music at sunset with a tiki torch lighting ceremony? Check. Complimentary beach bag? Check. (It’s hand painted and beautiful, and you can take it home for $100). Umbrellas? Check. Reuseable water bottles for your stay? Check. Sprawling fitness compound with endless cardio machines including Peloton, lap pool with fins and goggles, basketball court, boxing gym, free weights, weight machines, group exercise classes, lawn yoga … check, check, check.
Take a long stroll or jog along the paved beach walkway or get a lift by one of the staff-driven golf carts. Indulge in luxury at the sprawling spa, complete with a private garden and served by Eminence Organics skin care products. Do some shopping at the on-property boutique and grab fresh coffee, pressed juices, smoothies, ice cream, souvenirs, and other local finds – even fill up your gas tank! – at the Trading Company.
With Four Seasons Hualalai just minutes away from the Kona Airport, you will find yourself wanting to hop over the pond again and again to enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind luxury vacation experience. Follow @fshualalai on Instagram to stay connected to their events, including the Winemaker in Residence dinner series, programs, and even giveaways throughout the year.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
72-100 Ka’upulehu Drive
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
