It’s no secret that Four Seasons has the reputation of being of the best and most luxurious hotel chains in the world. Every Four Seasons Resort combines the luxury that the brand is known for with the essence of the location of the property. Recently (pre-pandemic), my husband and I made it our mission to stay at every Four Seasons property in the islands. We love the level of service that Four Seasons provides and we know that we can expect a high level of service at every property.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Hawai‘i Island)
For our first property, I’ll take you to the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, located in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. It first opened in September 1996 and includes over 240 rooms and 3 restaurants. The hotel is super private, so you feel like you’re the only one on the island. When we arrived, we were greeted in the lobby with welcome drinks and sat down with a front desk agent to go over a map of the property.
There are many different buildings that make up the property, with several different room types. We stayed in a prime ocean-view room with a view of King’s Pond. It was so tranquil and we even had a little bird greet us every morning on our balcony. The food was amazing, and we loved the musician who played at both restaurants while we were there. Many ingredients at both restaurants are locally sourced right from the Big Island, so you know you’re getting the absolute freshest food. Our stay was only a short one, but I would definitely love to stay here again!
Highlights:
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King’s Pond! It’s a manmade lagoon connected to the ocean and is filled with an array of sea life, including the resident spotted eagle ray, Kainalu.
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So many pool and beach options!
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The view from the breakfast restaurant is unmatched
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There is amazing local entertainment at dinner at both restaurants
Four Seasons Resort Lana‘i
The Four Seasons Resort Lana’i is my absolute favorite Four Seasons Resort in Hawai‘i, and my second favorite of all Four Seasons properties I’ve stayed at, only behind the Four Seasons Bora Bora. Lana’i is a very small island and is only accessible either via flight from O’ahu or ferry from nearby Maui. The Four Seasons is about a 30-minute shuttle ride from the airport, and on your way to the hotel you may be greeted by some local deer, only found on the island.
Once you arrive at the hotel, you are greeted with lei and a welcome drink. During check-in, you are given a wristband that unlocks your room and also allows you access to the pools and other amenities throughout the property. The entrance to the property is quite understated, but once you enter you will be blown away by the views of Hulopo’e Bay. Most rooms also have stunning views looking out onto the bay. We loved spending time on our lanai and also loved lounging by the pool all day. The pool and beach attendants are constantly giving you fresh, cold water to keep you hydrated throughout the day. Breakfast was honestly my favorite part of the day, order something ala carte (like the lemon ricotta pancakes) but don’t forget to check out the wide selection of the buffet, which includes Hawaiian poke and poi. If you’re not feeling like having a large dinner, check out the sports bar where they serve venison burgers made from local venison.
I can’t say enough good things about this property, you will just have to check it out for yourself!
Highlights:
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Each room feels like you are in your own little bubble, you forget that you are connected to other rooms!
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Jeeps are available to rent on-site to explore the rest of the island (most roads are off-road)
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Make a day out of visiting the Lanai Cat Sanctuary
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Lots of places to lounge spread out around the huge property
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The food at the bar is not what you would expect, it’s like you are at a fancy restaurant with the ambiance of a bar!
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The best breakfast buffet- ask for the bulgogi bowl! They also offer poke and poi. The lemon ricotta pancakes are also amazing!
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Kombucha on tap… amazing!!
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The adult pool feels like you are at a waterfall
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Being the only large hotel on the island, the beach also feels super private and provides some great snorkeling
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is the oldest Four Seasons property in Hawaii, it first opened its doors in February 1990. This resort property is huge and features four restaurants and two pools. The breakfast restaurant is outside-inside so you can have views of the ocean and pool area. The rooms come with the cutest Hawaiian-print robes, which were the softest robes I’ve ever worn! I thought about buying one but could not justify the price point, unfortunately.
We loved walking around this large property and it was great that there were so many cabanas and beach chairs surrounding the main pool. The one thing that was sort of a “complaint” for us was the lack of chairs and space at the adults-only pool. You’d have to get there extremely early, during breakfast, in order to snag a spot there. But the view from that pool is amazing, so don’t pass up the opportunity to take a quick dip there even if there are no seats available! The beach is gorgeous, and there are complimentary beach chairs available, but you will be sharing the beach with a few other hotel properties. We also loved having the lawn games to play while we were waiting for our dinner reservation.
Highlights:
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Great dinner! We were there on a Sunday where they had a Prime Rib Special at DUO and it was amazing!
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Gorgeous beach in front of the property complete with a shave ice stand!
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Free cabanas around the main pool available without reservation
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Fun lawn games scattered throughout the property like cornhole and ladder golf to keep you busy between other activities
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Free shuttle to the nearby shopping center (The Shops at Wailea)
Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina
The Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina is the newest Four Seasons property in Hawai’i, opening in June 2016. It is located in Ko Olina, which is a resort town located on the west side of O’ahu with several other hotel properties. The main feature of Ko Olina is its four man-made lagoons, which are perfect for swimming and family gatherings.
When you enter the Four Seasons O’ahu, you are greeted with a welcome drink. The property is much smaller than the other Four Seasons in the islands, so it’s quite easy to find your room. We stayed in an Oceanfront Room, with a beautiful view of the lagoon. The hotel is complete with two dinner restaurants, one breakfast restaurant, and a Starbucks-esque coffee shop. Don’t pass on Hokule’a, the coffee shop, the drinks are great (I get the matcha) and they have a beautiful deck with an ocean view. Since we were based on O’ahu at the time, we have gone back to their restaurants again and again. They are all amazing, but my favorite by far is Mina’s Fish House. Michael Mina is a world-renowned chef and he does not let us down at Mina’s Fish House. The restaurant also has an in-house fish sommelier to explain to you the catch of the day and even where it was caught (usually right off the coast)! I have celebrated my birthday at Mina’s fish house and at La Hiki, the breakfast restaurant and I highly recommend both!
Highlights:
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Mina’s Fish House – by far the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at on O’ahu. Most dishes include fresh, local ingredients. My favorite menu item is the lobster bisque with crab and truffle boba, seriously amazing!
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The adult pool has attendants who bring you complimentary, refreshing snacks every hour ranging from frozen grapes to cake pops!
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The hotel is located on the west side of the island, so you are able to catch the most breathtaking sunsets
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Weekend brunch is a must! There is a huge range of foods at La Hiki from Japanese to Hawaiian to American and everything in between. The lobster and prime rib stations are great. You won’t be disappointed!
What is your favorite hotel property? Let me know in the comments!
Britt Kehaulani 