Sixty years ago, Laurance S. Rockefeller looked out at the turquoise waters of Kaunaoa Bay on Hawaii Island and imagined something extraordinary, a resort where world-class hospitality met the raw beauty of the Hawaiian coast. That vision became the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii Island’s first resort and an instant icon of midcentury modern design. Fast forward to 2026, and the legend just got a serious glow-up.
After a $180+ million renovation, the most extensive in the property’s history, the reimagined Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is now fully open. And let’s just say, Rockefeller would be proud. This isn’t just a facelift; it’s a thoughtful transformation that honors the resort’s heritage while delivering a 21st-century luxury experience that feels fresh, sustainable, and utterly irresistible.
A Legacy Reimagined
When Mauna Kea Beach Hotel first opened its doors in 1965, it set the standard for Hawaiian hospitality. Rockefeller’s vision was clear: create a space where the architecture, art, and landscape worked in harmony. The resort became a cultural landmark, known for its striking design, curated art collection, and commitment to environmental stewardship.
The recent renovation stays true to that ethos. Every design decision was guided by the desire to preserve the original midcentury modern bones while elevating the guest experience with contemporary comforts. The result? A resort that feels both timeless and totally now.
Rooms That Whisper Quiet Luxury
All 252 guestrooms and suites have been completely reimagined, blending the resort’s signature midcentury aesthetic with warm, layered textures and handcrafted details inspired by Hawaiian weaving and quilting traditions. Original terrazzo flooring in the Beachfront Wing? Preserved. The iconic blue tile flooring in the Main Lobby? Untouched. Those expansive lanais? Better than ever, now fully furnished with dining setups and plush daybeds for lounging.
Step inside a room, and you’ll find rich woods, plantation shutters, ceiling fans, and bedside lighting control panels that feel surprisingly intuitive (goodbye, fumbling for switches at 2 a.m.). The bathrooms are a highlight: deep soaking tubs, clean lines, and a sense of calm that invites you to slow down. Curated artworks by local artists add soul to every space, making each room feel less like a hotel stay and more like a retreat.
For hospitality operators paying attention, there’s a lesson here: thoughtful design doesn’t have to sacrifice comfort. The Mauna Kea team nailed that balance by honoring the past while delivering amenities that today’s travelers expect: filtered water stations in every room, complimentary reusable water bottles, and a focus on reducing single-use plastics.
Two Pools, Two Vibes
The resort’s pool game got a major upgrade with two distinct offerings. The refreshed family resort pool features a new oceanfront hot tub and five private cabanas decked out with plush loveseats, mini-refrigerators, and privacy curtains: perfect for families who want a little luxury without straying too far from the kids.
Then there’s the adults-only infinity lap pool, part of the new oceanfront wellness retreat. This is where you go to reset. The pool stretches toward the horizon, the lanai is expansive, and the vibe is zen. Pair it with the new 2,500-square-foot fitness center: equipped with state-of-the-art cardio machines and sweeping ocean views: and you’ve got a wellness experience that rivals any standalone spa resort.
Dining That Celebrates Place
Mauna Kea’s dining transformation is where the food and beverage industry should take notes. The resort isn’t just serving good food: it’s creating culinary experiences rooted in place, sustainability, and storytelling.
Hau Tree Cantina: Baja Meets the Bay
Located just steps from Kaunaoa Bay, Hau Tree has been reimagined as Hau Tree Cantina by evening, serving contemporary regional Mexican dishes inspired by Sinaloa, Sonora, Campeche, Oaxaca, and Yucatan. Think Baja-style fish tacos, modern takes on Mexican classics, and a tequila and mezcal list that’s worth the trip alone. The setting: open-air, beachfront, casual: makes it the kind of spot where you lose track of time over drinks and small plates.
Legacy favorites like the Frederico and Ovaltine Froth remain on the menu, a nod to guests who’ve been returning for decades. It’s a smart move: innovation with respect for tradition.
Manta: Hyper Garden-to-Table
Manta, the resort’s signature restaurant, received a refresh and a new culinary philosophy centered on hyper-local, garden-to-table dining. The menu is built around ingredients sourced from Hawaii Island farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and the resort’s new 28,000-square-foot Ulu Garden. This isn’t just farm-to-table buzzword bingo: it’s a thoughtful approach to sourcing that shortens the supply chain, supports local producers, and delivers ingredients at peak freshness.
Perched above Kaunaoa Bay with sweeping coastal views, Manta embodies a Kohala Pacific Rim–inspired culinary approach. For restaurant operators, this is a case study in how to create a menu that’s both locally rooted and globally inspired.
Art, Culture, and a Million-Dollar Restoration
One of the most significant aspects of the renovation is the restoration of the Rockefeller Art Collection. Over 500 historically significant works: including Hawaiian kapa cloth, quilts, and antiques from the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia: have been professionally restored and are now displayed throughout the resort in what amounts to a curated million-dollar gallery.
This isn’t just decoration; it’s cultural preservation. The art tells the story of Hawaii’s heritage and the broader Pacific region, inviting guests to engage with the place they’re visiting on a deeper level. It’s a reminder that luxury hospitality isn’t just about thread count and square footage: it’s about creating environments that educate, inspire, and connect.
Sustainability by Design
Here’s where Mauna Kea Beach Hotel walks the walk. The resort installed photovoltaic solar panels that now supply approximately 45 percent of its overall electrical energy needs. That’s not a token gesture: it’s a significant commitment to reducing the property’s carbon footprint.
Add in the filtered water stations in every guestroom, complimentary reusable water bottles, and a resort-wide push to eliminate single-use plastics, and you’ve got a sustainability strategy that’s both ambitious and achievable. For other properties looking to green their operations, Mauna Kea offers a roadmap: start with infrastructure, empower guests to make better choices, and communicate your efforts transparently.
Play On: Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball
The Mauna Kea Golf Course, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., was redesigned by his son, Robert Trent Jones Jr., as part of the renovation. The course remains one of the island’s most stunning, with holes that play along dramatic ocean cliffs and lava fields.
The award-winning Seaside Tennis Center now features nine oceanfront tennis courts and eight new pickleball courts, catering to the sport’s exploding popularity. Whether you’re a serious player or just want to rally with friends, the facility delivers.
The Grand Reopening
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s 60th anniversary coincides with the completion of this multi-phased renovation, and the resort is celebrating with a grand reopening gala in June 2026. A limited Grand Reopening Package is now available, requiring a four-night stay that includes the night of June 5. The package includes daily breakfast for two at Manta and two tickets to the gala.
Guests booking pre- or post-package nights receive daily breakfast and a $100 resort credit per night: a nice touch that extends the celebration beyond the main event. For those looking to experience the new Mauna Kea in style, this is the moment.
The Spa is Coming
While the resort is fully open, one final piece is still to come: The Spa at Mauna Kea, opening in spring 2026. The 11-treatment-room sanctuary will feature both indoor and outdoor couples suites, separate male and female purification gardens, steam and sauna facilities, a movement pavilion, and a spa vitality pool.
Designed to be organically connected to the land and rooted in Hawaiian healing traditions, the spa experience will begin with an oli chant and extend beyond individual treatments to include plunge and soaking pools and a wellness deck for reflection. It’s the final chapter in this transformation: and it promises to be something special.
Final Thoughts
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel renovation is a masterclass in how to honor legacy while embracing evolution. From the reimagined guestrooms and elevated dining experiences to the commitment to sustainability and cultural preservation, every detail reflects a deep respect for place, people, and purpose.
For hospitality professionals, there’s plenty to learn here: invest in design that tells a story, source with intention, create experiences that go beyond transactions, and always: always: honor the land you’re building on.
For more information or to book your stay, visit Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. For industry insights on hospitality trends and restaurant innovation, explore more at Food & Beverage Magazine.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
