Four Seasons Hualalai: you had me at Aloha
- akhilapamula
- Oct 23
- 6 min read
We are fully embracing our resort era.
Our trip to Paris was truly amazing, but let's be real: exploring a big city with a toddler is exhausting. We really needed a vacation from our vacation. Hawaii just made sense.
Why Hawaii
Growing up in California, Hawaii was always the easiest and most accessible tropical vacation spot. It's a 5-hour flight, you don't need a passport, everyone speaks English, and there are resorts in every price point. There are five major islands to choose from, each with their own flavor: Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. Oahu, home to the state's capital city of Honolulu and the world famous Waikiki Beach, and Maui, the second biggest island in the chain known for its beaches, ritzy resorts, and the Haleakalā volcano, are arguably the most popular and easy to get to. Kauai, the Garden Isle, is known for its lush greenery, rugged peaks, gorgeous beaches, and dramatic landscapes; there's a reason Jurassic Park was filmed here. Lanai is the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island, with few paved roads and even fewer accommodations, a true island escape from reality. The Big Island, the largest and youngest island, is known for its extreme diversity of landscapes. It has rainforests, deserts, lava fields, beaches of every color, and some of the most dramatic volcanic activity. Neal and I had been to Oahu and Maui numerous times, and wanted to try something different. We chose to stay on the Big Island for two reasons: Southwest Airlines had a direct flight to Kona, and, being a Four Seasons lover, I finally would be able to check out the Four Seasons Hualalai.
Checking in for your luxury experience
In the short 15-minute drive from the airport, the landscape changes from ebony lava fields and desert shrubs into a lush, tropical paradise. The moment you make your way through the resort's private drive, there is just a sense of calm and peace. In Hawaii, it is almost too easy to overwhelm the senses; Haulalai stands out with its tranquility and simplicity. There are no high-rise towers here, and the buildings maximize indoor-outdoor living and are modeled after traditional Polynesian architecture without being gimmicky. The first taste of this is the expansive lobby, whose open walls lead to lanais that overlook the resort and the beach beyond.
The rooms at Hualalai are spread out in 2-story crescent-shaped buildings, making the resort feel spacious and airy even when at full capacity. There are four different areas:
King's Pond, whose rooms are closest to the beach with arguably the best sea views
Sea Shell, which in addition to being closest to the largest pool on property, has a large lush lawn directly in front of it
Beach Tree, which surrounds a pool with one of the best sunset views
Palm Grove, which gives direct access to the resort's only adults-only pool.
We booked a Prime Ocean View Room, and after debating which crescent we wanted to stay in, chose to stay around Sea Shell, primarily because of the large lawn. While pools and beaches are great, kids need somewhere to just run around. When Jai is a bit older, however, I would probably try to reserve a room by King's Pond. The room itself felt like it belonged in Hawaii. Think lots of teak and bamboo, with textured grasscloth on the walls, exposed eaves, and a seamless flow from your indoor space onto your private lanai. It would be quite easy to make it gimmicky, but the neutral tones and subtle patterns gave it a sense of place without being obvious. Because we were on the second floor, we had a spacious lanai that overlooked the lawn below with the ocean glimmering in the horizon. The ground-level rooms, though without as expansive of a view, have outdoor showers made of lava stone.
Amenities
The property has seven pools, each with its own vibe. Perhaps the most unique one is the King's Pond. It is essentially a swimmable aquarium, carved from lava rock and filled thousands of tropical fish. You can get some amazing snorkeling in without even leaving the resort. I love this idea also for beginners; while Jai cannot really swim yet, I can see us bringing him here to learn to snorkel without the perils of the ocean. Because it is home to aquatic animals, it is cold; luckily, there is an infinity pool just above it where you can still spot fish in a balmy heated setting.
There are five distinct restaurants on site: Beach Tree, 'Ulu, NOIO, Miller & Lux, and the Resident's Beach House. Miller & Lux is currently closed for renovation, but we did get to try the others. Beach Tree is in an open-air, casual restaurant that serves California cuisine with an Italian flare that is complemented with the most amazing sunset views. 'Ulu embraces local catch and bounty with a pan-Asian flare. Breakfast is also served here, with traditional breakfasty a la carte options or, if you're really hungry, a great buffet. Kids under 4 are free at the buffet, so Jai was totally living his best life. NOIO is the sushi lounge just upstairs from 'Ulu, and while it serves some amazing sushi, it is also home to a pretty special Omakase experience if you're up for it. It is an intimate experience with a set menu served up personally by the talented executive chef Nuri Piccio. The Resident's Beach House, on the beach just beyond the 18th hole of the Hualalai Golf Course, is a place where they make you feel like family, with casual lanai dining celebrating fresh seafood and beautiful sunset views. If you're not in the mood to have a sit-down meal, the Hualalai Trading Company has snacks, sandwiches, salads, pastries, coffee, and (my favorite) breakfast burritos.
Now, I'm not someone who works out on vacation, but this gym inspired me. I didn't partake in the spa this trip because they were renovating (though apparently still offering some amazing services), but the gym was right next door; if I had access to this every day, I would be in such amazing shape. There are multiple spaces, both indoor and outdoor, with every possible activity you could think of doing. There is indoor fully decked out cardio room and separate weight room; a pilates and yoga studio; an outdoor space with all the things for you to yoke out if you're in a CrossFit or Hydrox state-of-mind; a beautiful lap pool; multiple tennis courts and basketball courts; this place would turn anyone into a fitness fanatic.
Ohana
I'll be the first to admit that sometimes, I get a little self-conscious taking Jai to really nice places. It's not that I feel like he doesn't have the right to be there, but I don't want to ruin someone else's experience if he's being loud or cranky or crazy, especially when they're also spending a lot of money to have a good time. At Haulalai, these thoughts evaporated immediately. It was a totally common site to see parents sitting in their private lanais or on loungers in the common areas watching their kids running around the lawns or jumping into any of the multiple pools or swimming in the protected sandy beach. Even the staff would partake, entertaining kids with hula and music. They provided so many amenities, from swim diapers to sand toys. I cannot wait for Jai to be old enough to partake in the Kids For All Seasons, the Four Seasons complimentary kids’ club. There is a full schedule of activities for kids ages 5 and up, including how to make leis, lessons from the resort marine biologist, feeding the fish in King's Pond, and going on beach hikes.
Capturing the memories
My parents joined us on this trip last minute, and I am so glad that they did. They got to spend quality time with their grandson, and Neal and I got to have some time alone. I wanted to make sure that we had family photos from this trip. Finding a photographer can be a little daunting; everyone has different ideas of what they want their photos to look like, so finding an artist with the same viewpoint is important. There are plenty of photographers in Hawaii, but I didn't want a full-on photoshoot; I just wanted a short session to capture the memories. I used the website Flytographer to find a local artist. Photographers who book their services through Flytographer can upload their portfolios to their site so you can peruse and see if anything fits your style. People can also write reviews. Booking is easy, and photos are available within a week. I found Jess through this website, and she is just amazing. She is the living embodiment of the Aloha spirit, and that truly made all of us feel so comfortable and just trust her. I am not a fan of posed photos; I just wanted to capture the moment. She totally met the assignment. When we return, I cannot wait to have her capture our memories again.
Our five days at the Four Seasons Hualalai were exactly what we needed. We recharged our batteries and spent quality time together as a family. A hui hou: Until we meet again.
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