Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

Definately my favorite hotel on planet earth! Big Island is visually amazing and this hotel rivals the island itself for stunning beauty architecturally as well as its setting and location. I consider the Hapuna Prince a destination in itself. My poor travel companinon really had to coax to get me to leave to visit other island sites. Why leave? Arguably, the best white sand beach on big Island and in my opinion the very best snorkling on the island. What I like about snorkling is the super easy water entry from the little cove on property(ask staff where this is... many visitors overlook this almost private cove and enter the water from the beach which is ok but this cove with its white sand bottom is a little paradise with many varieties and small schools of colorful fish... we even saw a sea turtle and a 4ft Manta ray here. Again, for beginning snorklers this cove has a gentle slopping, silky, smooth sandy bottom that allows you to begin snorkling without even having to swim. It also allows divers to gradually and easily move out into deaper more challenging water and as you move out swimming close to the lava rock outcroppngs, which make up the shoreline here, it creates a spectacular underwater rock shelf/ cliff adorned with beautiful multi -colored corals and reef specimens( be aware of the pretty spiny sea urchins nestled all over the rock and among the coral... no nead for fear but very important to avoid, my friend, an experienced diver managed to bump into one and got about 5 little spikes broken off in his big toe! ... personally I do not touch, stand or sit on any of the submerged rock or coral... as I saw some people doing on this trip. ) Now for he architecture, the pictures do not do it justice... the first time I entered the lobby of this magnicent hotel it took my breath away. When a person enters the lobby from the private entance road you are treated to a spectacular surprise. What the first ime visitor cannot know before experiencing it, is that the hotel is built into the side of a cliff! You think you are entering a classy, stately, two story building but as you enter the lobby the visitor is treated to a spectacular surprise as they discover that they are walking into an open- air, manmade, architectural, coconut palm studded, dream world eight stories high looking diagonally out to a sea across a stunningly beautiful white sand beach! The lobby is at the rear of a spectacular "U" shaped, nine story tall, covered atrium larger than the size of a football field!... complete with a suspended semicircular lounge/bar seemming to float mid- air one floor below the lobby. Honestly, the architecture of this hotel blows me away, even made me a little emotional the first couple of times I visited here! I am a building designer/ Architect and can spend hours walking around inside and outside of this maginificent architectural work of art! A masterpiece in its own right! Anyway, I definately can recomend the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel! Awesome! Gregg

Luxury with an awesome beach! The view was beautiful and the staff was amazing. Cool towels and juice at check in was a luxurious touch!

Staff is on top of it! Room is spacious and comfortable. Location cannot be beat! Beautiful beaches and very remote which makes for a peaceful relaxing time. I'd only change one thing... for not serving alcohol (bloody mary and mimosas) till after 10am, I have to knock a star. Overall, I'm very happy with this hotel and will definitely be back!

We love the Hapuna. Great beach. Friendly and attentive staff. We've been coming to the Hapuna for over 15 years. Still love it, but the rooms and the facility are getting a bit dated.

Overall experience was good at this hotel. The service and staff were good. However, we arrived few hours earlier than check-in time. We had to wait almost 2 hours for room to be clean before checked in. The lady at the front desk was not pro-active with room update. I had to keep follow up with her to check if the room was ready.

I read a lot of reviews saying how dated the facility was and the staff wasn't very freindly. All untrue. This resort is only 18 years old, and we stayed in one of the original type rooms and it was beautiful. The staff was helpful, friendly and accomodating in every way. The location of this place is great. You are 1.5 hours from Hilo via Hwy 200 and 25 minutes from Kona. Hapuna has THE best beach on the whole island, you will not find a better white sand beach anywhere else. The beach is rated the best beach on any of the islands, and in the top 10 of the world. The only con of the resort is that it only has one restaurant on the premises. But, you can go next door to the Mauna Kea and have 3 more at your disposal. The price of what you get, it is hands down the best deal. I will go back to Hapuna if I visit the island in the future.

Loved it! The beach is awesome - we even got to swim with a turtle :) THe staff was firendly and nice. The only thing not wonderful where the pillows- my boyfriend had a pulled muscle in his neck which made it hard for him to sleep on them and ended up using the sham instead. Food was delicious, though we only ate breakfast there. All in all I absolutely loved our time :)

My husband got a great value for our money. The hotel is on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. However, the hotel is definitely dated! Staff is sometimes hard to find. Food at brunch was very expensive and good but not great. Hot tub (1) was not the correct temperature and too small for the hotel. Nevertheless, overall it was a good value and the hotel itself is very peaceful.

Overall is ok. Parking is expensive. Swimming pool is good. Beach is beautiful.

If you're looking for a quiet getaway, spacious accommodations, and a picture-perfect private beach with no one to crowd you, this is the place for you. We were surprised at exactly how quiet it was -- the resort is enormous, but relatively empty during our stay (a shame, really-- but all the better for us!). All staff were friendly, helpful, and courteous; the quality of the room far exceeded our expectations for the price paid (having never stayed at a Prince resort before). This beach was one of the major highlights of our trip-- scenic views, clear waters, helpful resort staff to lug out the beach chairs, tables, and umbrellas for you. The resort breakfast buffet offered a wide array of fresh, delicious options-- my favorites were the local fresh fruits and juices, but they offered everything from local granola and danishes to omelets and sausage cooked up on the spot. My only complaint was the number of mosquitos that seemed to get into our room-- we didn't get devoured but I would recommend you request a higher floor anyway. Fantastic experience overall.