Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

When we were young, Hawaii was somewhat out of fashion as a travel destination — cheap airfares had put farther-flung destinations within reach, and the mid-century style of many of the islands’ hotels had fallen into a sort of uncanny valley, too recent to be retro but definitively out of style. It’s hard to imagine now. Fresh off a huge interior renovation, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, is looking better than ever.

The building is nothing if not distinctive. Its arrow-like shape, combined with its location at the end of a pointed lava flow flanked by twin angled beaches, means that most rooms come equipped with some kind of ocean view or another. Every one of its 300-plus rooms has been thoroughly renovated, to handsome results — no design fireworks, just a clean, contemporary interpretation of high-end island life — and the brand-new bungalows, with their sprawling outdoor spaces and private pools, take things in an extremely lavish direction.

Boutique-hotel junkies, of course, will naturally find Mauna Lani (and just about every other Hawaiian hotel) a bit on the big side. But it’s time to come to terms with the benefits of large-scale hospitality. Here you’ll have access to no fewer than three golf courses, as well as a spa, a fitness center, a 25-meter lap pool, a tennis club, and no end of water sports, from stand-up paddleboards to sailing, diving and snorkeling. Add a small handful of restaurants and bars and you’ll quickly gather what it is that’s so appealing about Hawaiian resort life.

Booking Details: Mauna Lani requires additional information from guests to ensure the best stay possible. As such, reservations can only be confirmed through our customer service team. Contact us for assistance. Rates begin at 900 USD per night.