Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a historic oceanfront resort on Hawaii Island, built by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller as the island's first resort hotel, with its golf course opening in December 1964. The 1,700 acre Mauna Kea Resort property displays its art collection openly throughout the hotel's public spaces, alongside 21 ADA guest rooms and accessible restaurants and pools. It's one of several Hawaii stops for the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, where chefs showcase smoking, shucking and curing techniques with fresh local seafood.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: open-air art displays and grounds, plus indoor spa, fitness and dining
- Official site
- maunakearesort.com
- Next festival here
- Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, Oct 16 to Nov 8, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- The resort has 21 ADA rooms plus accessible public spaces, restaurants and pools.
- Mauna Kea Resort spans about 1,700 acres on the Island of Hawaii.
- The art collection is displayed in the open air throughout the hotel, without signage or barriers.
- A seasonal Keiki Club and complimentary beach gear are available for families.
Festivals here
Venue basics: 1,700 acre oceanfront resort · 21 ADA accessible guest rooms · Open-air art throughout public spaces.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a historic oceanfront resort with real wheelchair accessible rooms.
- You like the idea of an open-air art collection woven through the hotel.
- You're bringing kids who'd enjoy a seasonal Keiki Club and beach gear.
Think twice if
- You need confirmed parking or camping details first; the venue hasn't published them yet.
- You want a brand-new build rather than a hotel with a 1960s history.
Getting there and parking
We don't yet have confirmed information about parking at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The venue's own pages are the place to check: maunakearesort.com.
Accessibility
Mauna Kea Resort has 21 ADA guest rooms designed for guests who use a wheelchair or need extra space, plus accessible public spaces, restaurants and pools.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (maunakearesort.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The venue's own pages are the place to check: maunakearesort.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · Hawaii Food & Wine FestivalThe festival connects renowned chefs with local farmers, ranchers and fishermen to showcase Hawaii's agricultural heritage and culinary traditions across its events.
Recently at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Quick answers
Is Mauna Kea Beach Hotel wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The resort has 21 ADA guest rooms designed for guests who use a wheelchair or need extra space, plus accessible public spaces, restaurants and pools.
How old is Mauna Kea Beach Hotel?
It opened as Hawai'i Island's first resort hotel, with its golf course debuting in December 1964. It closed for renovation in 1994 and reopened in December 1995.
How big is Mauna Kea Resort?
About 1,700 acres on the Island of Hawaii, including the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.
Is there art on display at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel?
Yes. The resort's art collection is displayed throughout the hotel's public spaces in the open air, without signage or barriers.
Is Mauna Kea Beach Hotel family-friendly?
Yes. It runs a seasonal Keiki Club with activities like lei making and sandcastle building, plus complimentary beach gear such as body boards and kayaks.
What happens at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival here?
Ten chefs showcase smoking, shucking and curing techniques alongside fresh local seafood, and the festival connects chefs with local farmers, ranchers and fishermen.
Can I camp at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The venue's own pages at maunakearesort.com are the place to check.
Is there parking at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel?
We don't yet have confirmed information about parking at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The venue's own pages at maunakearesort.com are the place to check.
A little history
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, developed by Laurance S. Rockefeller, opened as Hawai'i Island's first resort hotel, with its golf course debuting in December 1964. It closed for renovation in 1994 and reopened in December 1995, later joining Marriott's Autograph Collection and the Historic Hotels of America program.
The festival brings ten chefs to the Island of Hawaii at this hotel to showcase smoking, shucking and curing techniques alongside fresh local seafood.