When the Mauna Lani Resort opened in 1983 (then known as the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows), it thoroughly revised the very definition of a great Hawaiian resort. Instead of the usual lobby, it has a soaring atrium with walls of windows on the Hawaiian coastalscape to the north and south. Shallow ponds filled with tropical fish begin outdoors near the swimming pool and extend into the atrium, passing through an indoor garden of swaybacked palms, flowering shrubs, and plashing waterfalls, before continuing out the other side.

At one point this was also the Big Island destination for avid tennis players. All that changed in 2004, when the hotel replaced its 10-court Tennis Garden with a conference center. As a guest, you can still play tennis but now must hop a shuttle to the six-court Mauna Lani Racquet and Sports Club adjacent the the Mauna Lani spa. The good news is that once there, you'll be well taken care of by the highly efficient manager Neal Ohata.

"It's user-friendly now," he rightly says of the atmosphere at the Racquet Club. He works to match hotel guests and the general public (you don't have to be staying there to play there) with local homeowners, community members and his own stable of preferred fill-ins. The stroke-of-the-day clinic draws four to six players. The courts, now painted in U.S. Open blue, are well spaced with oleander hedges serving as windbreaks and trellised patios providing courtside shade. Bikes can be rented there as well.

If you are a hotel guest, the well-equipped fitness center overlooking the sunken clubhouse court is accessible to you without charge. And the other reason to come is the Spa Without Walls, an eco-conscious retreat with thatched-roof hales (little huts) for massages, outdoor lava-rock saunas, and a Watsu pool, among other amenities.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Mauna Lani Resort.

• "I attend tennis clinics whenever I am at a resort. Nick Moxley's instruction is truly exceptional. His passion for teaching and ability to focus on individual needs in a group setting puts him in the "best ever" category. A great value for any player. Highly reccommend!"—M.K., Int., August 2008

• "Had a wonderful experience in May 2008 at the Mauna Lani Resort. The resort is breath taking, the courts are great, and the staff is awesome. I worked with two tennis pros while I was there - Tim DiDonato and Nick Moxley who were both superb and who I highly recommend. They both provided me great insights into improving my game, were very personable, and possess excellent teaching and motivational skills. They even followed up with me after I left to check on my tennis game. I'll be back!"—R.F., Adv. Int., May 2008

Other Recreation

Beach. The portion of the beach directly in front of the hotel is man-made, however a much better stretch of sand on Makaiwa Bay begins just to the south, a short walk beyond the outdoor swimming pool and historic fish ponds.

Golf Courses. The resort has the 36-hole Francis I'i Brown Golf Course, a spectacular course carved out of a black-lava flow and extending from the coast inland.

Restaurants

Once notable for its extraordinary chefs, the Mauna Lani has taken hits in print lately for the decline in the quality of its cuisine, a decline that has not been accompanied by lower prices. If you've dined there recently, please let me know about your sense of the current quality of the food.

See Also

If you like the sound of the Mauna Lani, check out the other resorts along this part of the Kona Coast (see Southwest & Hawaii Map) or the following resorts:

• Sea Island Resort, Georgia
• Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico
• Hyatt Regency Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
• JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, Oahu, Hawaii
• The Lodge at Pebble Beach, California
• The Phoenician, Arizona, which lacks a beach but was designed by the same architect

Travel Essentials

Mauna Lani Resort
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr.
Kohala Coast, HI 96743
808-885-6622
Toll-free: 800-367-2323
Fax: 808-885-1450
Web Link: Mauna Lani Resort

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General Tourist Information. Visit the Big Island Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 250 Keawe St., Hilo, HI 96743. Phone: 808-961-5797. Or for information about Hawaii as a whole, visit the Hawaii Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 2270 Kalakaua Ave. #801, Honolulu, HI 96815. Phone: 808-923-1811 or Fax: 808-924-0290.

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