Big Island / Hawaii

The take

The Big Island is the best golf decision in Hawaii when the group cares about course concentration, resort quality, and lower logistical friction. The Kohala Coast puts Mauna Kea, Hapuna, Mauna Lani North and South, Hualalai, and Waikoloa within a manageable resort corridor. You are not island-hopping. You are choosing a base and moving along the coast.

Mauna Kea is the historic anchor, opened in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. on black lava at Kauna'oa Bay, and now sharpened by a Robert Trent Jones Jr. renovation that added Platinum Paspalum and refreshed the course's playing surfaces. Mauna Lani South gives you the famous coastal par 3s and lava-rock routing. Hualalai is a Jack Nicklaus luxury play tied to Four Seasons access. Hapuna and Mauna Lani North are useful support rounds. Waikoloa is the more public/value-oriented piece.

Read the full take

The right version is a premium resort trip with golf as the spine, not a bargain chase. The wrong version stays far from the Kohala Coast to save on lodging, then spends the trip driving through lava fields wondering why the savings feel so tiring. This is the Hawaii trip for groups that want lava, ocean, trade winds, snorkeling, Kona coffee, and a real golf cluster. It is not the Hawaii trip for people trying to win a spreadsheet.

Best version

Luxury golf trips, Couples and mixed golf/non-golf groups, West Coast travelers who want winter sun, Golfers who want Hawaii scenery without island-hopping, Groups that want resort comfort, beaches, pools, and ocean-view golf

Skip if

Budget-only buddies trips
Groups that want nightlife or city energy
Players trying to maximize rounds per dollar
Anyone unwilling to accept resort pricing

Insider notes

Luxury golf trips
Couples and mixed golf/non-golf groups
West Coast travelers who want winter sun
Golfers who want Hawaii scenery without island-hopping
Groups that want resort comfort, beaches, pools, and ocean-view golf

The courses

6 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#43GD Public

4.5(251)

62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Dr, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

(808) 882-5400

Must play

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. / Robert Trent Jones Jr. renovation
Year: 1964 / renovated 2024
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,370
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium resort/public-access rate; confirm current Mauna Kea Resort pricing and seasonal aeration dates.

Mauna Kea is the round people remember before they remember the score. The third hole is famous for a reason, but the course is more than one carry over the Pacific. The renovation matters: firmer, cleaner surfaces make the old Rockefeller-era idea feel current again. It is the Big Island anchor, and it should be the first course you protect.

Strengths

Historic RTJ pedigree
Iconic 3rd hole
Renovated Platinum Paspalum surfaces
Ocean/lava setting
Strong resort identity

Weaknesses

Expensive
A few holes carry more fame than strategy
Wind can turn club selection into comedy

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 11, 13, 18

4.5(217)

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, 62-100 Kaunaʻoa Dr, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

(808) 880-3000

Strong play

Hapuna Golf Course

Designer: Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay
Year: 1992
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,875
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort/public-access rate; usually below Mauna Kea but still premium Hawaii pricing.

Hapuna is the sensible second course in the Mauna Kea orbit. It is not the headline, but it makes the resort stay feel like a golf trip rather than a one-round postcard.

Strengths

Big views
Resort convenience
Playable layout
Useful pairing with Mauna Kea

Weaknesses

Less iconic
Less oceanfront intensity
Can feel secondary

Strong supporting play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 7, 12, 18

4.8(411)

68-1050 Makaiwa Pl, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

(808) 885-6655

Must play

Mauna Lani South Course

Designer: Homer Flint / Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright work
Year: 1981
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,938
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium resort/public rate; confirm current Mauna Lani pricing.

Mauna Lani South is the other Big Island must-play for most groups. The 13th and 15th are the postcard moments, but the better reason to play it is the full lava-and-coast rhythm. It gives the trip coastal drama without requiring you to leave the Kohala Coast.

Strengths

Famous over-water/coastal holes
Lava-rock setting
Resort polish
Good vacation fit

Weaknesses

Premium cost
Not every hole has the same drama
Wind matters

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 7, 13, 15, 18

Strong play

Mauna Lani North Course

Designer: Homer Flint / Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright work
Year: 1989
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,913
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Premium resort/public rate; confirm current Mauna Lani pricing.

North is the quieter Mauna Lani round. That is useful on a Hawaii trip where not every golf day needs to be a cinematic event.

Strengths

Playable
Resort convenient
Good contrast to South
Visually interesting lava setting

Weaknesses

Less iconic
Less coastal drama
Not a standalone reason to travel

Strong supporting play

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 9, 11, 17

4.7(270)

72 100 Ka`upulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA

(808) 325-8000

Must play

Hualalai Golf Course

Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Year: 1996
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,100
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Four Seasons Hualalai guest-access rate; confirm availability, aeration, and closure dates before planning around it.

Hualalai is the luxury play. If the group is staying Four Seasons, it belongs at the center of the trip. If not, do not assume you can just slide it into the tee sheet. The final holes returning toward the ocean are exactly why people pay Four Seasons money and then pretend the golf was the practical part.

Strengths

Nicklaus design
Champions Tour identity
Luxury service
Black-lava/ocean finish
Impeccable resort feel

Weaknesses

Access-restricted
Expensive
Not practical for every Big Island itinerary

Must play if access works

0/5

Signature holes: 7, 12, 17, 18

4.3(440)

69-600 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA

(808) 886-7888

Strong play

Waikoloa Beach Resort Kings' / Beach Golf

Designer: Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish / Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Year: 1990 / 1981
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,074
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Public/resort rate; generally more accessible than the top luxury anchors.

Waikoloa is the utility piece. Kings' is the more architecture-literate choice; Beach is the easier resort round. Either can make the trip more affordable and flexible, but neither should displace the Big Island anchors unless budget demands it.

Strengths

More accessible
Useful location
Good extra-round fit
Lower pressure

Weaknesses

Not as premium as Mauna Kea/Mauna Lani/Hualalai
Course operations have changed over time

Depth play

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 7, 12, 18

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel / The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

This is the classic Big Island golf base. If Mauna Kea is the emotional anchor, start here. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is the heritage play; Westin Hapuna is the more practical group-inventory play with the same resort orbit.

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

Mauna Lani is the refined answer. It works beautifully for couples and high-end groups that want the resort to be as important as the golf.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Four Seasons is the splurge. It is worth it if the group wants the full luxury experience. Wasteful if the group only cares about tee times and beer.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

Manta at Mauna Kea

Use it when Mauna Kea is the base. This is exactly what resort dining is supposed to do.

CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani

This is the Big Island dinner with the most obvious "yes, this is why we came" energy.

Beach Tree / Ulu at Four Seasons Hualalai

If you are staying Hualalai, eat like you are staying Hualalai. If you are not, do not force the drive just to prove a point.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Beaches and resort pools

Core part of the trip. This is why non-golfers can be happy here.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Worth it on a longer trip, but it is a major drive from the Kohala Coast. Do not treat it like an afternoon errand.

Mauna Kea stargazing

Memorable, but altitude and timing matter. Plan it intentionally, and do not schedule it after 36 holes unless the group enjoys falling asleep in one of the best stargazing settings on earth.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Kona International Airport (KOA): the airport for Kohala Coast golf, roughly 25-45 minutes depending on resort. Hilo (ITO): usually not ideal for this golf trip unless pairing with Volcanoes or east-side travel. Private aviation: Kona supports private arrivals; coordinate handling and ground transport. Kona is the answer. Inter-island add-ons sound fun until they become luggage, rental cars, and a lost golf day.

Ground transportation

Rent cars or arrange resort transport. If playing multiple resorts, do not assume shuttles solve it.

Weather

When the trip works best

Best window

Year-round, with winter/holiday premium demand

Dry-side advantage

Kohala Coast is one of Hawaii's better golf-weather zones

Wind

Afternoon wind can matter

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Anchor golf

Premium Hawaii resort pricing - Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani South, and Hualalai drive the golf budget.

Supporting golf

Mid-high to premium - Hapuna, Mauna Lani North, and Waikoloa help balance the trip.

Lodging

High to ultra - Resort choice is the biggest cost driver.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

The resort base matters more here than almost anywhere. Stay on the Kohala Coast near the golf you actually want to play. Saving money in the wrong location can make Hawaii feel oddly tiring, which is quite an achievement.

Luxury resort / Mauna Kea Resort

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel / The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

0/5

Best for: Mauna Kea and Hapuna-focused trips

Cost: Premium Hawaii resort pricing; winter and holidays are expensive.

4.5(2,184)(808) 880-1111

62-100 Kaunaʻoa Dr, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

Pros

Best Mauna Kea/Hapuna access, beach, classic resort feel, strong golf identity

Cons

Expensive, quieter nightlife, not as broad a dining scene as larger resort zones

Luxury resort

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

0/5

Best for: Mauna Lani South/North access and polished luxury

Cost: Ultra-premium resort pricing.

4.6(1,699)(855) 201-3179

68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

Mauna Lani is the refined answer. It works beautifully for couples and high-end groups that want the resort to be as important as the golf.

Pros

Excellent luxury base, Mauna Lani golf access, strong dining/spa/beach appeal

Cons

Very expensive, not a budget buddy-trip setup

Ultra-luxury resort

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

0/5

Best for: Hualalai access and highest-end trips

Cost: Among the highest-cost options in the destination.

4.7(1,631)(808) 325-8000

72-100 Ka'upulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA

Four Seasons is the splurge. It is worth it if the group wants the full luxury experience. Wasteful if the group only cares about tee times and beer.

Pros

Best luxury/service ceiling, Hualalai golf, exceptional resort experience

Cons

Very expensive, access-driven, not a casual group answer

Large resort / condo / hotel zone

Waikoloa Beach resorts

0/5

Best for: Value control and broader lodging inventory

Cost: Wide range by resort, condo, and season.

Waikoloa is the practical base. It can be the right answer if the group wants Hawaii without lighting every wallet on ceremonial fire.

Pros

More options, easier budget control, good location, family-friendly

Cons

Less exclusive, weaker direct access to the top anchors

Condo / villa / private home

Vacation rentals / villas

0/5

Best for: Larger groups and longer stays

Cost: Wide range by resort zone, size, view, and season.

Rentals can work well, but make sure the golf access and resort privileges are real, not assumed.

Pros

Common space, kitchens, better for families, cost control

Cons

Resort access and golf access vary, quality varies, driving still required

DiningExpand

Dining is resort-led, with some strong local options if you are willing to drive. The best plan is resort convenience on golf days and one intentional off-resort meal if the group wants a little more island personality.

Resort dinner

Manta at Mauna Kea

0/5

Best for: Mauna Kea-based groups and one polished dinner

Use it when Mauna Kea is the base. This is exactly what resort dining is supposed to do.

Pros

Classic resort setting, easy if staying on property, oceanfront mood

Cons

Resort pricing and reservation needs

Upscale oceanfront

CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani

0/5

Best for: Premium dinner and couples trips

This is the Big Island dinner with the most obvious "yes, this is why we came" energy.

Pros

Strong setting, destination-dinner feel, excellent resort fit

Cons

Expensive and reservation-driven

Ultra-luxury resort dining

Beach Tree / Ulu at Four Seasons Hualalai

0/5

Best for: Hualalai-based groups

If you are staying Hualalai, eat like you are staying Hualalai. If you are not, do not force the drive just to prove a point.

Pros

Service, setting, luxury consistency

Cons

Very expensive and access/location dependent

Off-resort island dining

Merriman's Waimea

0/5

Best for: One local-driven dinner

4.7(2,058)(808) 885-6822

65-1227 Opelo Rd B, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

Monday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM

Merriman's is the move when the group wants a real island dinner that is not just resort convenience.

Pros

Big Island institution, stronger local character, good food credibility

Cons

Requires driving inland; plan timing

Casual beach dining

Lava Lava Beach Club

0/5

Best for: Easy sunset meal and mixed groups

4.4(6,340)

69-1081 Ku'uali'i Pl, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA

Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

This is the easy night. Every Hawaii trip needs one.

Pros

Casual, beachfront, broad appeal

Cons

Not fine dining, can be busy

Casual Kona town

Kona Brewing / Huggo's on the Rocks

0/5

Best for: One off-resort evening with less resort gloss

Use Kona town once if the group wants something beyond resort dining. Kona Brewing is the beer stop; Huggo's is the water-level casual dinner. Neither is trying to be CanoeHouse. That is the point.

Pros

Casual, local-ish energy, good post-arrival or off-night fit

Cons

Requires the drive toward Kailua-Kona; not worth forcing from the far north every night