When you’re welcomed into the Four Seasons Hualalai, you know that you’re in a hotel like no other.
The Four Seasons Hualalai hosted us for a night during our most recent trip to the Big Island, and it was such a dream!
From its emphasis on cultural celebration to its impeccable decor and attention to detail, this hotel is truly unique.
For a peaceful, relaxing getaway in a tropical oasis, head to the Four Seasons Hualalai- trust me, you’ll love it!
Here are 20 things you’ll find at this truly impressive resort!
1. A fresh lei upon arrival
We received many leis during our two weeks in Hawaii but the Four Seasons’ colorful lei is unique- we never got another as colorful!
It’s just the first of many ways that the FS Hualalai stands out! Keep reading for more…
2. The ultimate relaxation and a beautiful spa
You’re in a tropical paradise- might as well relax while you’re here!
From their gorgeous spa with plunge pools and a reflexology pathway to hammocks facing the ocean view, there’s no shortage of relaxing spots here!
3. Poolside relaxation
And after you enjoy the spa, continue relaxing poolside at one of the many places to lounge by these gorgeous pools!
Let’s be honest- this is where you’ll spend plenty of time on your relaxing Hawaiian vacation!
4. Poolside cabanas you don’t need to rent
And did I mention that most of these poolside cabanas are free to use? It’s just a first come first serve basis, so if you’re in need of shade, just grab one of these cabanas!
There are specific cabanas that you’ll need to rent, but these gorgeous spots pictured above are yours to use!
5. Seven pools
Oh, and you have seven different pools to choose from!
That’s seven different options where you can jump in and cool off, from their adults-only pool to a snorkeling pond with a ray in it!
6. A spotted eagle ray at King’s Pond
Yep, you read that correctly!
One of their seven pools is King’s Pond, a truly remarkable brackish pond with free snorkeling!
There’s a Spotted Eagle Ray that calls King’s Pond his home!
With daily feedings and free snorkeling, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see him swimming around!
Note that this pool has limited hours to give the wildlife in it time away from humans- so visit it between 10am and 4pm.
7. Easy beach access
Once you’re done snorkeling, you can switch from brackish water to ocean water; it’s just a few steps away!
The Four Seasons Hualalai sits right on a beautiful beach with a designated sandy swimming area away from the lava rocks.
8. The chance to see a Hawaiian Monk Seal
And if you get lucky, while you’re at the beach you might spot a Hawaiian Monk Seal!
As we were touring the property, this big guy decided to call the Four Seasons his home for the day!
Whenever a seal decides to rest on the beach, there are protective barriers places around them to make sure they’re not disturbed.
So if you see one, grab your photos from a distance! (Here’s where our zoom lens really came in handy!)
9. Five crescent areas
As you head from the beach back to your room, you might notice that the resort is spread out along the coast with five main areas.
Each area is known as a Crescent, and each crescent is designed differently!
We stayed in the honeymooner’s crescent, which surrounds the adults-only pool.
10. Impeccable rooms
Our room had a gorgeous view over the pool, perfectly situated to watch the sunset!
Spacious and full of natural light, our room was such a fun place to return to for some down time after being out and about.
There are gorgeous touches throughout the room- from the scented oil rods in the bathroom to the welcome cookies waiting for us on our table!
11. The best room service
And if you want to enjoy more food in your room- definitely order in-room dining!
Since we were celebrating my husband’s birthday, we decided on room service for breakfast.
We ordered the most delicious spread and requested that it come at 9AM, and it came literally right at 9AM on the dot! Talk about great service!
12. Five different dining areas
If you’d prefer to have your meal outside of your room, there are five different dining areas to choose from!
- ‘Ulu is pictured above, and it’s open for a buffet-style breakfast and dinner. 75 percent of the food here comes from the ocean and local farms! Be sure to stop at the ‘Ulu Sushi Lounge for some delicious, fresh sushi, just steps away from the ocean!
- Beach Tree is open for lunch and dinner, and offers Californian cuisine with an Italian flair.
- Looking for a beachside cocktail? Sip on a delicious concoction from the Beach Tree Bar and Lounge! You can also grab smaller bites here throughout the day.
- The Hualalai Grille is a steakhouse (grass-fed steak, anyone? Yum!!) that overlooks the 18th hole at the golf course. It offers a more intimate, club-like setting.
- Grab a quicker bite from the Hualalai Trading Company– or even grab some food to-go!
13. Exquisite dishes
Regardless of which dining option you choose, you’re bound to have a delicious meal!
We at Beach Tree and opted for a pizza appetizer, their steak dish, and the catch of the day.
But even as tasty as that was- my favorite part was dessert!
The Build Your Own Banana Split Sundae is an absolute must! It comes with all sorts of toppings you can add, like banana fudge bites, Kona coffee macadamia nuts, and little snickerdoodle cookies.
Is your mouth watering yet?
14. An enriching cultural center
Another must when visiting the Four Seasons Hualalai is an activity at the cultural center!
This was one of the best experiences we had on the Big Island!
Most classes are in small, intimate settings where you can learn a skill or craft from an expert.
While you’re learning to play the ukelele, or weave together a lei, or any of the other many activities, you’ll also get to learn about Hawaiian culture!
Ali’i was our instructor as we learned how to make lei po’o (which translates to a lei for your head, otherwise known as a flower crown).
He was so kind and patient and shared so much knowledge about the history and culture in Hawaii.
Uncle Earl, who manages the cultural center, was also there with us as I crafted my lei po’o, sharing stories and knowledge and treating us like family!
Our whole time at the cultural center really was a remarkable experience- it truly embodied the meaning of aloha and that’s something we’ll remember forever!
15. Kind staff who care
This was a recurring theme throughout our stay.
From Ali’i and Uncle Earl, to the guys who brought us our room service and the gardeners around the property telling us “Aloha!”, the people we met here were genuine and kind.
16. Pristine landscaping
Speaking of the gardeners, there is a huge team of them and as you walk throughout the property, it’s clear why!
The resort is absolutely gorgeous with perfect landscaping and the smell of flowers wafting through the air.
It’s a tropical oasis filled with beauty!
17. Access to a 18 hole golf course
And it’s set right next to an 18 hole golf course, too!
I’m not a golfer and don’t know a whole lot about golf, so I’ll let the description from the Four Seasons Hualalai paint the picture for you:
“This 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-signature, championship course winds over 7,100 yards, beginning in a lush oasis, flowing across bright green fairways contoured against black lava, then returning to the ocean for the final holes.”
– Four Seasons Hualalai
I can assure you that it’s as beautiful as it sounds!
18. A fully equipped fitness center
If you’d rather a workout other than golfing, there is a fully equipped fitness center with multiple rooms and a variety of machines.
There’s also a pool where legendary Iron Man Dave Scott actually hosts triathlon trainings!
(Of course, if you’d rather just do laps in it, you don’t need to be a pro triathlete to do so!)
19. Boutiques and shops
As you continue exploring the Four Seasons Hualalai, you’ll notice several boutiques and shops around the resort.
They offer a variety of clothing styles, jewelry, hats, and more.
20. A front row seat to sunset
And at the end of the day, catch the sunset at the beach, at the pool, from your balcony, or over dinner!
The way the resort is set up, you can watch the gorgeous Hawaii sunset from pretty much anywhere!
Soak in the colors and enjoy your stay!
Safe travels!
Jasmine
