Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection will undergo a $180-million USD renovation in 2024.

The phased transformation of the resort, one of Hawai’i Island’s most iconic and historic, will commence in Q2 2024 and be completed in early 2025. It will encompass a redesign of all 252 guestrooms and suites and four dining venues as well as an expansion of the property’s destination spa and fitness facilities. In addition, new garden areas will include a chef’s garden providing fresh produce for the resort’s kitchens as well as a specialized botanical garden with indigenous and endemic plant species.

The interior design will be led by Dallas-based Looney & Associates with architectural design from Honolulu-based AHL (Architects Hawaii Ltd.). Additionally, Mauna Kea Golf Course will undergo an extensive makeover under the direction of Robert Trent Jones Jr., making this course the first ever to incorporate the visionary work of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and both sons Reese and Bobby Jr.

“Our approach for this renovation is very intentional, we have thoughtfully redesigned spaces for new amenities to breathe fresh life into the resort while still honoring the original legacy and traditions that Laurance S. Rockefeller put into place in the ’60s,” said Shigeki Yamane, president of Prince Resorts Hawaii. “We have a great responsibility to honor Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s significance to the history and cultural evolution of Hawai’i, while at the same time fulfilling our promise to provide guests with the unforgettable vacation experience they expect.”

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was developed by American venture capitalist and conservationist, Laurance S. Rockefeller. While swimming in the turquoise waters of Kaunaȑoa Bay with a clear view of the Mauna Kea summit, Rockefeller was inspired to build the Island of Hawai’i’s very first master-planned resort. His vision of a property that captured the spirit of aloha and conformed to the beautiful Kohala Coast came to fruition when the resort opened in 1965.  Situated on the sunny Kohala Coast, the resort is also home to a museum-worthy collection of Asian and Pacific art; the island’s first-ever golf course, the award-winning Mauna Kea Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.; and the award-winning Seaside Tennis Center featuring 9 oceanfront tennis courts and eight pickleball courts. The historic property shares 1,839 acres of oceanfront property with The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.