A mid-century classic on Kauna’oa Bay, a spa under palms on Pauoa Bay or a beach resort on Hapuna Beach: tell us what your Hawaii vacation should look like, and our travel advisors will choose the right one among the luxury hotels in Waimea with you. Through suitespot you also get, depending on the hotel, breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – worth around €500 on average over two nights.
Mauna Kea Beach HotelFans of architecture and history stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, which Laurance Rockefeller opened on Kauna’oa Bay in 1965. For spa lovers and snorkelers we recommend the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii, with open-air treatment huts and sea turtles in Pauoa Bay. The Mauna Lani holds a Michelin Key, and if you collect Marriott Bonvoy points and want a long sandy beach on your doorstep, book The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.Waimea's luxury resorts lie down on the Kohala Coast, so the bay and the resort area are worth a look. Here you see the best hotels in Waimea at a glance, with location, suitespot score and price per night. Our tip: spa lovers stay at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii on Pauoa Bay, architecture fans at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Kauna’oa Bay.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Orchid Hawaii | – | ★ 4.6/5 | 668 € |
| Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | – | ★ 4.6/5 | 1087 € |
| Mauna Lani | – | ★ 4.7/5 | 737 € |
| The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort | – | ★ 4.4/5 | 599 € |
Hand-picked by our travel experts: every hotel in Waimea with the benefits that are included when you book through suitespot, its nightly rate and our Score.
4.6ALL (Accor)One North Kaniku Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743, United States
4.6Marriott Bonvoy62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743, United States
4.768-1400 Mauna Lani Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743, United States
4.4Marriott Bonvoy62-100 Kauna'oa Dr, Waimea, HI 96743, United States
Alongside the standing suitespot benefits, limited-time offers run in Waimea: sometimes a free night, sometimes a reduction from the third night, each with its own deadline. The best offer in this selection: Fourth night free at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii.
| Hotel | Offer | Bookable until |
|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Orchid Hawaii | Fourth night free | May 25, 2027 |
A classic, fully refreshed: At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, a multi-phase renovation completed in 2026 redesigned all 252 rooms and suites in the Main Tower and the Beachfront Wing. What that means for you: a new spa with eleven treatment rooms, an oceanfront fitness center, an adults-only infinity pool and a refreshed lobby.
Fairmont Orchid HawaiiBeach dining and a new take on the greens: Also new are the Hau Tree Cantina, serving regional Mexican cuisine in the evening, and the Mauna Kea Market. The golf course by Robert Trent Jones Sr. has been reimagined by his son, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Fresh on Pauoa Bay: In 2025 the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii renewed its guest rooms, the Fairmont Gold floor and lounge, the lobby and its event spaces. Book Fairmont Gold and you check in privately, have breakfast in the lounge and enjoy canapés on the lanai at golden hour.
Mid-century on Kauna’oa Bay: Laurance S. Rockefeller built the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on land leased from Parker Ranch; it opened in July 1965 with 154 rooms. It was designed by Edward Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and in 1967 the building received an Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects. An art collection from Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia is part of the hotel.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel · WaimeaRebuilt after the earthquake: After damage from a 2006 earthquake, the hotel was restored for around 150 million US dollars and reopened in December 2008; since 2015 it has belonged to Marriott's Autograph Collection.
Royal land on Pauoa Bay: The grounds of the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii were once called Kalāhuipua’a. In 1936 Francis I’i Brown turned them into a fishing retreat, in 1972 they passed to the Mauna Lani Resort, and in 1990 today's 540-room resort opened here. Royal fishponds, ancient footpaths and petroglyphs survive on the property.
Under the palms: The pool at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii sits right by the ocean and has around 10,000 square feet of water. From the edge it is only a few steps into sheltered Pauoa Bay, where you snorkel with honu, the green sea turtles.
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii · WaimeaTwo pools facing the Pacific: The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has an adults-only infinity pool, long enough for laps, with its own lanai. Families use the refreshed family pool with an oceanfront hot tub and five private cabanas.
No booking fee: the benefits simply come on top of the rate you book.
If you want a 5-star hotel in Waimea mainly for pool and beach days, tell us right away whether children are coming; our recommendation depends on it.
A spa without walls: At the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii, the Spa Without Walls treats guests in eight open, thatched hales among orchids, lily ponds and streams, plus six private oceanfront cabanas and three indoor rooms. Treatments use passion fruit, coconut oil, Kona coffee, Hawaiian sea salt and lava stones; the signature Hiwa Hiwa pairs a lomilomi massage with a wrap of volcanic māmaki mud. Seaside and sunset yoga and Pilates round it off.
New on Kauna’oa Bay: The spa at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has eleven treatment rooms, including open-air and indoor-outdoor couples' suites. Add purification gardens, steam room and sauna, a movement pavilion and a vitality pool; massages use lomilomi techniques and warm lava stones. If the spa decides your 5-star hotel in Waimea, book treatments along with your stay.
A few steps from the water: Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii cooks dinner with simple, fresh ingredients from Hawaii Island; AAA has awarded it Four Diamonds. Binchotan Bar & Grill serves sushi rolls, grilled dishes with Asia-Pacific flavors, sake and house-made desserts.
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii · WaimeaFor sunset: Under the thatched roof of the Kahakai Bar on the beach, you look out at Mauna Kea and the Pacific over tropical drinks and pupu, Hawaiian bites. In the morning, Orchid Court sets out a buffet with an omelet station and cappuccino bar.
From garden to plate: At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Manta cooks by the ocean with local, seasonal ingredients, for breakfast and dinner. On the beach, Hau Tree serves salads, burgers and Baja-style fish tacos at lunch, and in the evening it becomes the Hau Tree Cantina. Once per vacation, the Mauna Kea Luau with a Hawaiian dinner and show is worth it.
Up in Waimea, order a burger made from ranch-raised beef; on the coast, poke made with fresh ahi; and with your coffee, a cup of Kona from the slopes farther south. For something sweet, try macadamia nuts grown on the island.
The hotels lie on the Kohala Coast below the town, in two resort areas a few miles apart. From Kona airport, the drive to Pauoa Bay takes just under half an hour.
Personal luxury travel adviceOur travel advisors personally accompany your booking – 365 days a year, from the first offer to late check-out. Reach the suitespot VIP service via email or WhatsApp.Phone: +49 30 81452346 · hotel@suitespot.comMauna Kea Resort to the north: The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel sits on the white-sand cove of Kauna’oa, our pick for architecture fans, golfers and tennis players: the Seaside Racquet Club has nine tennis and eight pickleball courts. Right next door, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort stands on Hapuna Beach, our pick for Marriott Bonvoy members who want to be first on the sand in the morning.
Mauna Lani to the south: The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii spreads over 32 acres on Pauoa Bay, our pick for spa guests, snorkelers and travelers with a dog. Just a few minutes away, the Mauna Lani stands on Mauna Lani Drive, our pick for anyone who values a Michelin Guide distinction.
No booking fee: the benefits simply come on top of the rate you book.
Award: The Mauna Lani holds one Michelin Key, the Guide's distinction for a hotel as a whole, and is listed as “Recommended” in the Forbes Travel Guide. That places it among the best hotels in Waimea.
The Westin Hapuna Beach ResortUp in Waimea: The town itself is worth a trip: ranch land between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea, small shops, cafés and farmers markets on weekends.
At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, set aside an evening for the manta rays that appear off the coast after dark, then stay for a drink at the Copper Bar. In winter, humpback whales also pass along the Kohala Coast.
On the Kohala Coast, rates start high: The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort from 598 €, the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii from 667 €, the Mauna Lani from 736 € and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel from 1,086 €. The rate for your travel dates appears in the hotel list below.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauna Kea Resort | |||
| Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | 1,086 € | 1st night | ★ 4.6/5 |
| The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort | 598 € | 1st night | ★ 4.4/5 |
| Mauna Lani | |||
| Mauna Lani | 736 € | 1st night | ★ 4.7/5 |
| Fairmont Orchid Hawaii | 667 € | 1st night | ★ 4.6/5 |
Breakfast and credit: At all four, two people have a daily buffet breakfast – at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii in Orchid Court, at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Manta and at the Mauna Lani in Ha Lani. The hotel credit there is 100 US dollars each, at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii for food and beverages, and 200 in suites at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
Mauna LaniExtras for suites: The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort adds 50 US dollars, or 100 in suites. At the Mauna Lani, Ocean View Suites and above receive another 100 US dollars for the spa, from two nights and not combinable with promotions. An upgrade when available, early check-in and late check-out apply everywhere from the first night.
Points and status: Marriott Bonvoy counts at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, ALL (Accor) at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii. The Mauna Lani belongs to none of these programs; there you benefit from breakfast and credit.
Personal luxury travel adviceOur travel advisors personally accompany your booking – 365 days a year, from the first offer to late check-out. Reach the suitespot VIP service via email or WhatsApp.Phone: +49 30 81452346 · hotel@suitespot.comWaimea through the year: The Kohala Coast is warm and mostly sunny all year, while the uplands around Waimea stay pleasantly fresh. In winter humpback whales pass by, and summer invites long snorkeling sessions. Over Christmas and New Year's, reserve early.
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort · WaimeaHow long to stay: For a 5-star hotel in Waimea we recommend five to seven nights: time for beach and spa, an evening with the manta rays, an afternoon in the uplands and a drive up Mauna Kea.
Marriott Bonvoy applies at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, ALL (Accor) at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii. Because suitespot books at the hotel rate, points and elite nights are credited there and your status benefits apply. At the Mauna Lani you receive breakfast, hotel credit and, from the Ocean View Suite, additional spa credit instead of points.
3 of the 4 hotels in Waimea belong to a hotel loyalty program, spread across two programs. One hotel is independently run – there you receive the suitespot benefits without a loyalty program.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Waimea |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 2 hotels | Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort |
| ALL (Accor) | 1 hotel | Fairmont Orchid Hawaii |
Which hotel in Waimea suits you often comes down to a few questions: is there a pool or a spa, how old is the building, when was it last renovated, and has the hotel received an award? The overview answers them for all four hotels at a glance.
One of the 4 hotels is housed in a historic building. 4 hotels have a spa, 4 a pool. One hotel holds a Michelin Key, and one is listed in the Forbes Travel Guide.
✓ = available, – = not available, blank = no information.
| Hotel | Opened | Renovated | Pool | Spa | Michelin Keys | Forbes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauna Lani | 1983 | 2020 | ✓ | ✓ | 1 Key | Recommended |
| Fairmont Orchid Hawaii | 1990 | 2025 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | 1965 | 2026 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort | 1994 | 2018 | ✓ | ✓ |
Explore all luxury hotels in the United States or browse nearby destinations:
Carolin, Valentina, Madeleine and Andrea and our team know these hotels from the inside – and will help you find the right room, the right location and the right rate. 365 days a year, by phone, email or WhatsApp.
Meet our team →The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort starts at 598 €, the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii at 667 €, the Mauna Lani at 736 € and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel at 1,086 €. Breakfast for two is included at all four when you book with suitespot.
It depends on your trip: for architecture and golf we recommend the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, for spa and snorkeling the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii. The Mauna Lani holds a Michelin Key, and The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort suits Marriott Bonvoy members.
In the north, in the Mauna Kea Resort: the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Kauna’oa Bay or The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort on Hapuna Beach. Farther south, in the Mauna Lani area, you will find the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii and the Mauna Lani.
No. Waimea lies in the uplands; the resorts are down on the Kohala Coast, such as the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii. You drive up to town for an outing.
The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii has a large pool under palms by the ocean, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel an adults-only infinity pool and a family pool with cabanas.
The Mauna Lani holds one Michelin Key and is listed as “Recommended” in the Forbes Travel Guide.
The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii with the Spa Without Walls in open huts and oceanfront cabanas, and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with a spa offering eleven treatment rooms and a vitality pool.
Yes: with Marriott Bonvoy at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, with ALL (Accor) at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii. The Mauna Lani belongs to none of these programs.
The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii welcomes pets. Tell us which animal is traveling with you, and we will clarify the conditions in advance.
At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Kauna’oa Bay, where the mantas appear off the coast after dark.
From the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii it is about 22 miles, just under half an hour by car.
The Kohala Coast is warm all year. In winter you can see humpback whales, and summer is great for long snorkeling sessions. Over the year-end holidays, book early.
