Tucked directly among the vines at Le Logis, two private pickleball courts sit within the private luxury estate in the heart of France’s Cognac region.
There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
Tucked directly among the vines at Le Logis, two private pickleball courts sit within the private luxury estate in the heart of France’s Cognac region.
There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has what even a local cab driver describes as “the best beach on the island.” Kauna’oa Bay is a long crescent of white sand, fringed with obligatory palm trees, and follows the outline of a shallow cove anchored by lava-rock promontories. The hotel sits atop one of those rocky outcrops in a garden of exotic flowers and trees, surrounded by Asian and Pacific sculptures from the Laurence S. Rockefeller collection. The facility is located off to one side of the terraced hillside and hosts 9 tennis and 8 pickle-ball courts, the lowest tennis court is so close to the sea that you can hear the sound of waves breaking on the black-lava rocks.
Tennis almost never snags such prime real estate, and several years ago previous tennis director committed the unthinkable act of taking a chainsaw to some of the tennis complex’s exuberant foliage, which goes wild in the tropical heat and fertile soil, in order to open up those sea views. If that requires coping with a bit more wind on some days, it seems like a reasonable trade off since it means being able to gaze at the ocean at changeovers and perhaps spot a whale sounding just offshore.
Though now owned and managed by Prince Resorts Hawaii, the hotel was an early foray by Laurance S. Rockefeller into luxury resort development. Prior to building the resort, he looked at a black lava rock desert 25 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona and envisaged a luxury golf and tennis resort. Everyone thought he was crazy; he proved them wrong by attracting a wealthy international clientele, who actually liked the fact that there were no telephones or televisions. As one of the first RockResorts, Mauna Kea became a synonym for the ultimate resort vacation.
Both the traveling public and the resort have changed over the intervening decades, and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel shares this coast with more than half a dozen resorts, all of them carved out of black lava rock. Few of them afford a more beautiful setting for tennis or have as much on-court activity, a fact reflected in its consistent Top 100 rating in the list we compile annually based on vacationer reviews.
Stroll through the glass doors of the pro shop, and you’ll be greeted by a team that lives and breathes customer service and who seem genuinely thrilled that you came and will ask, almost without fail, “Can we get you a game?” or otherwise find out about your tennis needs.
The weekly calendar is a blend of private instruction, clinics, and social and competitive round robins, along with kids’ programs during the summers and busy holiday periods, and a ball machine for the hardcore who just want to hone strokes. What brings avid players back year after year, however, is the tirelessly attentive tennis staff, who understand how important it can be just to play. They not only put together singles, doubles, or mixed doubles matches, often drawing on their own stable of active local members, but they also deliver a continual supply of towels and ice water throughout your time on court.
Over the years, the resort and tennis staff have beautified the complex and continue to make improvements. Courts are resurfaced regularly on a rotating basis, old furniture is replaced, and structures are painted. The tennis staff approaches court and facility care with a hands-on, detail-oriented mindset, believing that excellence is built through constant attention rather than occasional upgrades. Courts are maintained with exceptional care, including regular, personal cleaning to ensure optimal playing conditions and to identify any issues before they become problems. This same commitment extends across the entire facility, with a consistent focus on cleanliness, upkeep, and guest comfort, creating an environment where quality is evident in every aspect of the tennis experience.
With Mauna Kea leading the way, this entire stretch of the Kohala Coast - and the tennis resorts on the rest of the Hawaiian Islands for that matter - once again have a working model of superlative service.
Off Court
Beach: A perfect crescent of beach, generally regarded as one of the finest resort beaches in the Hawaii, lines the Kauna’oa Bay immediately below the hotel.
Golf Courses: Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed the 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course, which ranks among the finest in Hawaii. It is characterized by elevation changes, large undulating greens, and strategically situated bunkers. Its third hole, which borders an oceanfront inlet lined with lava rock, is so stunning that it’s often chosen as the site for weddings. Guests also have access to the nearby Hapuna Golf Course, which was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and won awards for its environmental sensitivity. It begins near the shore and climbs to 700 feet above sea level.
Mauna Kea’s fitness center consists of two rooms, one paneled with wood and filled with Cardio equipment and dumbbells, the other lined with mirrors and furnished with a dozen LifeFitness stations. The boutique spa is nearby, though rather than have your treatments in rooms there, you can just as easily book them for locations at the Tennis Garden, a spot beneath mesquite-like kiawe trees right along the ocean, or in your own room.
Children's programs: The resort’s children’s program entertains kids ages 5-12 year-round and focuses on outdoor activities as much as possible, utilizing both the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and nearby sister property, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. The staff at Seaside Tennis Club also expands junior tennis offerings during major holidays and summers.
Dining: Manta takes full advantage of its views of the gardens and sea on Manta Point for a menu that focuses on locally available seafood, beef, lamb, and vegetables prepared in an exhibition kitchen. Manta offers an extensive wine list that has won Wine Spectator Awards. Manta is complemented by the Copper Bar, now newly transformed with new art and a skylight but with the same views of the bay and a menu of craft beers, artisanal cocktails, tapas, entrées and sweets.
Accommodations
Lodging consists of 252 rooms and suites perched above a perfect crescent of beach. Rates vary with size and view.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round.
Travel Instructions: It is pretty much a straight shot north on Hwy. 19 from Kona Airport (which itself is north of town) until a left turn into Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, followed by a winding road along the golf course to the porte-cochere of the hotel, a distance of roughly 25 miles.
If you’re looking for the ultimate place to play, the Mauna Kea Seaside Tennis Club is it. Honestly, you just can’t beat the ocean setting—playing that close to the water is unreal.
The instruction here is truly top-notch. The pickleball crew is such a fun, welcoming group, and Andre is especially amazing; he makes every session a blast. Whether you’re there for tennis or pickleball, the coaching is elite and the energy is always high.
Between the stellar daily clinics and the social events, there’s always something going on. I couldn’t imagine playing in a more beautiful or well-run club. Period.
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353 Reviews on “Mauna Kea Resort”
If you’re looking for the ultimate place to play, the Mauna Kea Seaside Tennis Club is it. Honestly, you just can’t beat the ocean setting—playing that close to the water is unreal.
The instruction here is truly top-notch. The pickleball crew is such a fun, welcoming group, and Andre is especially amazing; he makes every session a blast. Whether you’re there for tennis or pickleball, the coaching is elite and the energy is always high.
Between the stellar daily clinics and the social events, there’s always something going on. I couldn’t imagine playing in a more beautiful or well-run club. Period.