Relaxed luxury on the Kohala Coast
Newly renovated and thoughtfully designed, The Azure is a relaxed-luxury home in the Mauna Kea Resort uplands with panoramic ocean, golf course and palm views.
The name: “The Azure” comes from the blues of the Pacific and the Hawaiian sky that meet along the horizon beyond the home. When we redesigned the space, that view became our inspiration: layers of ocean blues, warm whites and natural textures bring the outdoors in. Rather than outfitting The Azure like a typical vacation rental, we chose each piece individually, from local island shops and a few of our favorite design houses, including Serena & Lily, Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel.
The lanai: The 400-square-foot covered lanai is an extension of the home and one of our favorite places to be. Morning coffee with a view. An afternoon with a book. Dinner around the table. A perfect place to reconnect and unwind. Trade winds often move gently through the home; open the lanai slider and the windows opposite for a natural cross breeze, or settle in with central air conditioning and ceiling fans throughout.
The space: Enjoy a fully renovated kitchen and brand-new appliances, plus everything from a Chemex and French press to a rice cooker. Both bedrooms and baths have been beautifully refreshed with coastal-inspired finishes. The primary bedroom has a king bed with a new Sealy Posturepedic mattress and its own full bath. The second bedroom has new Tempur-Pedic mattresses made up as a king or as two twin XL beds, whichever you prefer. The garage is stocked with beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, snorkel gear and boogie boards. Just take what you need and head down the hill.
Mauna Kea Beach and Hapuna Beach are ~5 minutes away. The Resort Pass is well worth it, but optional. Kona Airport is ~30 minutes away.
A few evenings from our own camera roll: the lanai, the lawn below it, the beach down the hill and the two resorts next door.
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Drive times are from The Azure. Mornings are most calm almost everywhere on this coast; plan the beach first and the rest of the day around it.
Famous for its crescent of white sand, calm turquoise water and a setting that looks like a postcard. Our favorite beach on the island, and the one you'll return to.
Grab a coffee and arrive early for a peaceful morning walk before the beach fills. Conditions are calmest before 10 a.m. Lunch or dinner right on the sand at Hau Tree.
One of Hawaiʻi's largest white-sand beaches, with wonderful swimming, boogie boarding and big sunsets.
Arrive before 9 a.m. for easy parking and calm water. Bring the snorkel gear from the garage; tropical fish gather near the rocky ends of the beach.
A local favorite with clear water, lava-rock formations, tropical fish and frequent green sea turtle sightings.
Go in the morning, when visibility is best, and around low tide for marine life and photographs.
An entirely different side of the Kohala Coast. At low tide in calm conditions, the lava pools are perfect for exploring, snorkeling or simply floating in naturally formed pools ringed by black rock.
Check the tide chart first; low tide is the whole experience. Water shoes make the lava rock easy going.
Float on the surface after sunset as Pacific manta rays glide beneath you, often within inches, feeding on plankton drawn to the lights. It's peaceful, a little surreal, and found in only a handful of places on Earth. If you book one excursion during your stay, make it this one.
Operators we trust: Sea Quest Hawaii, Kona Honu Divers, Eka Canoe Adventures, Fair Wind Cruises.
You can do a manta ray moonlight swim right at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, a few minutes away. Or choose a departure from Keauhou Harbor for the shortest boat ride and the best odds of sightings.
The Mauna Kea Golf Course is Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1964 original, carved out of lava rock and still one of the most photographed courses in the world; the par-3 third hole plays across an ocean cove. Next door, the Hapuna Golf Course climbs the slopes above the resort for wide views of the coast and, on clear days, Maui.
Tee times open 90 days out and can be booked online or through either golf shop at the public rate; winter and spring fill fast, so book early. Mauna Kea in the morning for the cove hole, Hapuna late afternoon for the light.
At nearly 14,000 feet, dry air and no light pollution make this one of the clearest night skies anywhere. Watch the sun set above the clouds from the Visitor Information Station, then stay as the Milky Way stretches horizon to horizon.
Arrive about an hour before sunset and dress warmly; it can drop into the 30s and 40s °F. Children under 13 are advised not to go to the summit, and the Visitor Station is the better spot for most people anyway.
Steaming craters, ancient lava fields and rainforest, all inside one park. When the volcano is active, glowing lava can sometimes be seen from designated viewing areas.
Leave early and make it a full day. Pack water, walking shoes and a light jacket; the weather changes quickly with elevation.
Sea cliffs, a black-sand beach and valleys carved by rain, from the northern tip of the coast. A short, steep trail drops to one of the island's most peaceful beaches. Continue to Hawi for a coffee at Hawi Coffee Company and a wander through the galleries, and stop at Motek Bakery in Kapaʻau on the way.
Sturdy shoes and water. The climb back is steep, and worth it.
Reserve the special-occasion places early, ideally weeks out. Drive times are from The Azure.
More than anything, we wanted The Azure to be a place where you can slow down, rest and reconnect with the people you came with.
Whether your days on the Big Island are filled with adventure, golf, tennis, time by the ocean, or a little of everything, we hope you find a peaceful and welcoming retreat to return to at the end of each day.
Come home from the beach, take your shoes off at the door, open the doors to the coastal breeze, and settle in.–Josh & Arlene
Booking directly means no platform service fees, a real conversation with your hosts before you arrive, and a copy of our Azure Travel Journal, our coffee-table guide to the beaches, tables and drives we love, sent ahead of your stay.
Check-in 4:00 p.m. · Check-out 11:00 a.m. · 3-night minimum · Sleeps four, five by arrangement · No pets, parties or smoking. Seasonal rates apply.
The Mauna Kea Resort Pass is optional. It's billed by the resort per home, for the whole party, for each full day of your stay. It opens both the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort: beaches, pools, fitness centers, charging privileges, and the daily activity calendar at both resorts. Ask us when you book and we'll handle the registration.