Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
A landmark luxury beach resort on Hawaii's Kohala Coast, known for its modernist architecture, curated Pacific and Asian art, golf course, and long association with major international hotel operators.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a luxury resort property at Kaunaʻoa Bay on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii. It was developed by Laurance S. Rockefeller after he visited Hawaii in 1960 and became interested in expanding tourism beyond Oahu. Rockefeller secured a 99-year lease on approximately 500 acres from Richard Smart, owner of Parker Ranch, in August 1961. The resort took its name from Mauna Kea, the prominent volcano visible above the bay when weather conditions permit. The property became one of the defining early resort developments on Hawaii's Kohala Coast. Its original concept called for a collection of small cottages designed by John Carl Warnecke, but the plan was replaced by a larger modern hotel designed by Edward Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The open-air architecture used Hawaii's trade winds for natural ventilation while still providing air conditioning in guest rooms. Davis Allen, also of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, developed the interiors with assistance from Margo Grant Walsh. The design incorporated textiles, carvings, metalwork, ceramics, paintings, and other objects from Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia, giving the resort an identity that combined international modernism with regional and cross-cultural art. Golf was central to the development. A Robert Trent Jones-designed course began construction in 1963 and opened in February 1965, several months before the hotel opened on July 2, 1965. The hotel was initially operated by Rockefeller's RockResorts organization. A 102-room addition was constructed between 1967 and 1968, increasing the scale of the resort. The property was also known for its deliberately restrained guest experience: notably, guest rooms did not have televisions until 1995. Ownership and operating affiliations changed repeatedly over the following decades. Rockefeller sold the hotel to United Airlines in 1978, after which it was placed within Western International Hotels, the group renamed Westin Hotels in 1981. During part of the early 1980s the property operated under the name The Westin Mauna Kea. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's Seibu Railway acquired the hotel in 1990, and Prince Hotels became its management connection. The property closed for a two-year renovation in 1994 and reopened in January 1996. From 1996 through 2001, Prince Hotels' Hawaii and Alaska properties were franchised to Westin, and the hotel again used the Westin name for that period. A 2006 earthquake near Kiholo Bay caused structural damage and forced another closure. Following a reported $150 million renovation, the hotel had a soft reopening in December 2008 and formally reopened in March 2009. In 2015 it joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels, a portfolio positioning the property as an individual hotel with a distinctive local design and history rather than as a standardized full-service brand. It was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016. A further renovation was reported for 2025–2026, with a stated cost of $180 million and reopening in February 2026. The resort's significance extends beyond accommodation. The American Institute of Architects gave it an Honor Award in 1967, recognizing its disciplined detailing and spatial organization. In 2007 it was included among the top 150 selections in the AIA's America's Favorite Architecture list. Its golf course, beach setting, architecture, art collection, dining, and event facilities support a luxury leisure proposition centered on destination travel, weddings, recreation, and Hawaiian resort experiences.
History
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel originated in Laurance S. Rockefeller's effort to encourage tourism development in Hawaii outside Oahu. After visiting the newly admitted state in July 1960, Rockefeller was asked by Governor William F. Quinn to consider projects that could broaden the islands' visitor economy. Rockefeller's visit to Kaunaʻoa Bay led him to select the site for a major resort. In August 1961 he obtained a 99-year lease covering roughly 500 acres from Richard Smart, whose Parker Ranch controlled extensive land on Hawaii Island. The first design concept, begun in 1961, envisioned small cottages by architect John Carl Warnecke. That scheme was abandoned in favor of a substantial modern hotel designed by Edward Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The resulting building used an open-air layout and the island's trade winds as part of its environmental strategy. Guest rooms had air conditioning available, but the architecture emphasized connection with the outdoor climate. Davis Allen designed the interiors with assistance from Margo Grant Walsh, assembling a collection of Hawaiian, Pacific Island, Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese textiles, carvings, paintings, ceramics, and metal objects. The resulting environment was described by a contemporary travel writer as resembling an open-air museum and art gallery. The resort's golf infrastructure preceded the hotel. Construction of Robert Trent Jones's course began on August 8, 1963, and the course opened on February 1, 1965. Hotel construction began on January 4, 1964, and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened on July 2, 1965. Rockefeller's RockResorts operated the property. The hotel quickly became an important architectural work in Hawaii, receiving an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 1967. A 102-room expansion designed by Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong and Goo, with interiors by Phyllis Brownlee, broke ground in August 1967 and opened in August 1968. The resort maintained a distinctive low-distraction identity for decades and did not provide televisions in guest rooms until 1995. In 1978 Rockefeller sold the property to United Airlines. United placed it within Western International Hotels, which changed its name to Westin Hotels in 1981. The property was called The Westin Mauna Kea for much of the early 1980s. In 1990 Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's Seibu Railway acquired the resort, and one of his companies, Prince Hotels, became associated with its management. The resort closed in 1994 for a two-year renovation. A sister property, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, opened on the same broader property in August of that year. Mauna Kea reopened in January 1996 and was again affiliated with Westin from 1996 to 2001, when Prince Hotels' Hawaii and Alaska properties were franchised to Westin. The 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake caused structural damage and forced the hotel to close. A renovation reported at $150 million led to a soft reopening on December 20, 2008, followed by a formal reopening in March 2009. In 2015 the resort joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels, whose model emphasizes distinctive independent-style properties within a larger reservation and loyalty network. In 2016 it was inducted into Historic Hotels of America. The hotel's architectural reputation was reinforced in 2007 when it appeared among the top 150 properties in the American Institute of Architects' America's Favorite Architecture list. A further renovation was reported for 2025–2026, with a stated investment of $180 million and a February 2026 reopening.
- 2026
Reported renovation completion
[1]A reported 2025–2026 renovation was scheduled to culminate in a February reopening.
- 2016
Historic Hotels of America induction
[1]The property entered Historic Hotels of America.
- 2015
Joins Autograph Collection Hotels
[1]The resort joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection.
- 2009
Post-earthquake reopening
[1]After a major renovation, the hotel formally reopened in March.
- 2006
Kiholo Bay earthquake damage
[1]Earthquake-related structural damage closed the resort.
- 1996
Reopens after renovation
[1]The hotel reopened after a two-year closure and renovation.
- 1990
Seibu Railway acquisition
[1]The hotel was purchased by Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's Seibu Railway.
- 1978
United Airlines acquisition
[1]Rockefeller sold the hotel to United Airlines.
- 1968
102-room addition opens
[1]A major addition designed by Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong and Goo opened.
- 1967
AIA Honor Award
[1]The American Institute of Architects honored the hotel's modernist design.
Products and positioning
A heritage luxury resort combining a high-end Hawaiian beach destination with modernist architecture, international art and design, championship golf, and the individualized positioning of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
Hotel lodging · 1965
Guest accommodations
The resort's core offering is luxury accommodation at Kaunaʻoa Bay, organized around a beachfront Hawaiian destination experience. Its architectural identity emphasizes open-air circulation, trade-wind ventilation, views, and a setting integrated with the beach and surrounding landscape. The property has expanded and been renovated several times since its 1965 opening.
Golf · 1965
Mauna Kea Golf Course
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the golf course was developed before the hotel and opened on February 1, 1965. It remains a major recreational component of the resort proposition and helped establish the property as a full destination resort rather than simply a beachfront lodging facility.
Food and beverage
Resort dining
Dining is part of the hotel's full-service resort offer. The available reference material identifies restaurant and food-service operations as part of the property's hospitality scope but does not provide a verified current list of outlets, cuisines, or signature dishes.
Events and hospitality
Weddings and private events
The beach setting, resort accommodations, dining infrastructure, and scenic environment support weddings, celebrations, and private events. Specific packages, capacities, and current service details are not established by the supplied sources.
Cultural amenity · 1965
Art and design experience
The interiors conceived by Davis Allen and Margo Grant Walsh incorporated Hawaiian, Pacific Island, Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese artistic and decorative materials. This collection gives the resort a cultural and architectural dimension beyond conventional beach lodging.
Brand decisions
2025
Conduct a further property renovationOtherBackground
The resort entered another renovation cycle more than a decade after its post-earthquake reopening.
Action taken
A 2025–2026 renovation was reported with a stated cost of $180 million.
Aftermath
The hotel was reported to reopen in February 2026.
Renovation cost. $180 million (2025–2026)
2015
Join Marriott's Autograph CollectionStrategyBackground
The resort had a long history of changing operating affiliations, including RockResorts, Westin, and Prince Hotels.
Action taken
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels.
Aftermath
The hotel retained an individual historic identity while gaining association with Marriott's broader collection platform.
2006
Undertake earthquake recovery and renovationOtherBackground
Structural damage caused by the Kiholo Bay earthquake made a major closure necessary.
Action taken
The hotel was closed and underwent a reported $150 million renovation and recovery program.
Aftermath
The property soft-reopened in December 2008 and formally reopened in March 2009.
Renovation cost. $150 million (2006–2009)
1990
Transfer to Seibu Railway and Prince Hotels managementM&ABackground
The resort changed ownership again after its period under United Airlines and Westin-related operations.
Action taken
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's Seibu Railway purchased the hotel, with management connected to Prince Hotels.
Aftermath
The property entered the Prince Hotels network and later participated in a Westin franchise arrangement from 1996 through 2001.
1978
Sell the hotel to United AirlinesM&ABackground
After developing and operating the property through RockResorts, Laurance Rockefeller sold the hotel.
Action taken
United Airlines acquired the property and placed it in its Western International Hotels division.
Aftermath
The property became associated with Western International Hotels and subsequently with Westin after the division's 1981 renaming.
1961
Replace the cottage concept with a modern hotelStrategyBackground
The initial plan called for a group of small cottages designed by John Carl Warnecke, but the development team changed direction after the project was initiated.
Action taken
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was engaged, with Edward Charles Bassett designing a larger modernist hotel building.
Aftermath
The resulting open-air design became a major architectural reference point for later resort development along the Kohala Coast.
Recent events
- 2026
Major renovation and reopening reported for Mauna Kea[1]
Other
A renovation reported for 2025–2026 was described as costing $180 million, with reopening in February 2026.
- 2016
Mauna Kea is inducted into Historic Hotels of America[1]
Other
The property joined Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's official program for historically significant hotels.
- 2015
Mauna Kea joins Marriott's Autograph Collection[1]
M&A
The hotel became part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels portfolio.
- 2006
Earthquake damage closes the resort[1]
Other
Structural damage from the Kiholo Bay earthquake led to the hotel's closure and a major reconstruction and renovation program.
- 1990
Prince Hotels acquires Mauna Kea Beach Hotel[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's Seibu Railway acquired the hotel, with management subsequently connected to Prince Hotels.
- 1978
Hotel changes ownership and adopts Westin identity[1]
M&A · Leadership change
After Laurance Rockefeller sold the property to United Airlines, it became associated with Western International Hotels and later operated under the Westin name.
- 1967
Mauna Kea receives American Institute of Architects Honor Award[1]
Other
The resort was recognized by the American Institute of Architects for its restrained detailing and spatial sequencing.
- 1965
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opens on Hawaii's Kohala Coast[1]
Other
The hotel opened on July 2, 1965, following the earlier opening of its Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course.
Sources1 sources
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