Tori and I stayed here for a special anniversary. The nightly rate was more than we'd ever spent on a room — and the math worked. When a place is this well-run, the whole trip feels easier.
— John C. Derrick, Founder · Why trust these picks »
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
The HawaiiGuide Read: The highest guest rating of any Big Island resort we track — around 4.8 — and arguably the finest resort in the state. Hualalai is secluded at Kaʻūpūlehu north of the airport, built low and open to the shoreline, and operated with the kind of service that makes the rating look inevitable. The price matches the superlatives, and nobody who pays it seems to mind.
Best for: the once-in-a-decade splurge, celebration trips, and travelers for whom money is genuinely no object. Skip it if: you'll wince at the bill — the Fairmont Orchid and Westin Hāpuna deliver most of the coast's pleasures for materially less.
Our read: if one property in Hawaiʻi justifies its own legend, it's this one. The coast in full: our Kohala guide.
How we write these: we look at the performance data across the whole spectrum of Hawaii properties — guest ratings, review patterns, location, value — and tell you our honest findings. Some booking links earn us a commission at no cost to you; the read itself isn't for sale.
