CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE, GOLF AND COMFORT IN PARADISE

I cannot tell you how special the welcome at this hotel was when my buddy and I arrived for a 5 day vacation to do some snorkeling and play a few rounds of golf.

Before we even set foot in this iconic 60's award winning building we were festooned with flower leis by beautiful young women and served potent fruity cocktails. These guys know how to get the guests on side.

If you can image the most extensive private art collection displayed as if you were in someones home, the collection of Rockefeller who commissioned the hotel, an open air building that is quite old style but in a very good way, sitting in it's own private tropical cove with turtle pools at each end of the beach, this is the Mauna Kea. Oh not forgetting the world renowned first class golf course. See why I said it was paradise.

We checked out a few other hotels as we toured the big island which is a complete contrast of bland volcanic landscape on one side and lush green tropical natural arboretums on the other. (The waterfalls and flora were totally memorable.) The couple of other hotels we ate at were typical 5 star resorts, could have been anywhere in the world, so we felt privileged to return and experience something so unique at Mauna Kea. I've have NEVER been anywhere like it in my life.

We paid about $800 for 5 nights which I thought was incredibly reasonable for the level of service and comfort we received. Couldn't fault it not one little bit.