Fairways at Mauna Lani Review: Great Value for Families

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In a nutshell: Great value vacation rentals perfect for families looking for a laid back vacation.

Why We Love Mauna Lani

Mauna Lani is a planned development on the Kohala Coast. It’s sunny and wonderful. It’s just north of another development, Waikoloa, but it’s significantly less busy as there is only one large resort: the Mauna Lani Auberge.

There are a number of vacation rental communities in the Mauna Lani development, with this, the Mauna Lani Point being one of them. We’ve also listed other vacation rental options within Mauna Lani at the end of this review!

There is a shopping center and a handful of restaurants to enjoy. Our favorite perk of staying in Mauna Lani is access to the Mauna Lani Beach Club. We spend days on the sweet little beach, where there is a restaurant and beach chairs available on a first come first serve basis. Your vacation rental should come with Mauna Lani Beach Club access, but check the listing the confirm.

Fairways at Mauna Lani Review: an overview

Nestled in the Mauna Lani resort community on the Kohala Coast, these units are walking distance to golfing, tennis, dining, shopping, and the beach. Makaiwa Bay Beach, located in front of the Fairmont Orchid, is a protected cove that is great for snorkeling and a safer option for families with young children. Here are some more beginner-friendly snorkel spots on the Big Island.

Plus, all units boast 2 to 3 bedrooms, an in-unit washer and dryer, air conditioning, and outdoor grills on the lanai, making them ideal for larger groups and families with children of all ages.

You may notice that some listings claim to give you access to a private beach, but this is a miscommunication. The beach itself is not private as there are NO private beaches in the state of Hawaii. There is, however, access to cabanas, a private parking lot close to the beach, and a restaurant and bar that are part of the Mauna Lani Private Beach Club which you are a part of as a guest staying in the resort.

The Fairways at Mauna Lani Key Facts

The Fairways at Mauna Lani Location:

These vacation rentals are located 40 minutes from Kailua-Kona and 30 minutes from Kona International Airport. They’re just a 15 minute walk from the Shops at Mauna Lani and a 10 minute walk from restaurants and Makaiwa Bay, a great snorkeling spot.

The Fairways at Mauna Lani Pool:

There is one pool and hot tub that has a really nice waterfall feature on the property.

The Fairways at Mauna Lani Unit Sizes:

All units have either 2 or 3 bedrooms, making this a fantastic and affordable option for larger families or groups. All are equipped with in unit washer/dryer, air conditioning, and outdoor grills on the lanai.

Mauna Lani Luau: Hale Hoaloha Luau

As the Fairways at Mauna Lani are near the Mauna Lani Resort, you are close to an epic luau! It is an Island Breeze Production, so you know you will get a world-class performer, delicious food, and fire-knife dancing.

Book before you arrive, as the luau is only available on Fridays. Seasonally, they open availability on Mondays.

Highlights include:

• All-you-can-eat buffet
• Lei greeting with all the tickets
• Complimentary drinks with an Ohana Package (standard)
• Open bar with the Ali’i Package (premium)
• Traditional hula dancing and fire knife dancing
• Traditional Hawaiian food plus local favorites

Details for Hale Hoaloha Luau at the Mauna Lani:

• Location: Mauna Lani Resort (click for directions)
• Length: 3.5 hours
  • 5:30 pm – Check-In Begins
  • 5:45 pm – Preliminary Activities
  • 6:00 pm – Dinner Service
  • 7:00 pm Hale Hoaloha Performance Begins
• Days Available: Friday and seasonally on Mondays
• Price: $220 for the Ohana Package and $270 for the Ali’i Package

Explore all the Best Big Island Luaus here!

The Fairways at Mauna Lani Review: Why We Love It

• Great for families: multi-bedroom units with 2+ bathrooms and more than one place to prepare a meal makes this a fantastic option for families. Not to mention the in-unit washer and dryer for those days the kids get extra dirty.
• Exclusivity: while the beach itself is not private, you will get access to the Mauna Lani Private Beach Club. This status comes with parking passes to a private parking lot right next to the beach, complimentary cabanas, and access to the beach club’s restaurant and bar.
• Location: this is a great place if you’re looking for a bit of a quieter vacation away from the crowds of Kona while being walking distance from the beach, shopping, and a handful of great restaurants.
• Activities: on top of being able to rent surfboards, stand up paddle boards, and snorkel equipment, the resort area also has golfing, tennis, and shopping.
• Excellent sunsets: the sunset views from this property are phenomenal.

Things to Know Before Booking The Fairways at Mauna Lani

• Accessibility: Most units have upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, so if you have accessibility needs, be sure to filter and double check in the listings that the unit will be accessible for your party.
• Rental fees: All accommodations in Hawaii can come with some (rather large) fees. Whether you’re in a hotel paying resort fees or you’re getting a vacation rental and paying service fees, factor these into your equation. We usually go with VRBO because we’ve found that these fees are usually lower than what you’ll find on other similar platforms. 
• No unit consistency: all of these vacation rentals are individually owned, so there’s a lack of consistency. Some have excellent views and others come with a less impressive view or fewer helpful in-unit amenities. Reading reviews of individual units can always give you a better sense of what to expect before booking. 

Want to check out other options in the Mauna Lani resort area? Read our reviews:

The Best Big Island Itinerary

Ready to plan the rest of your vacation? We have you covered with our Big Island itinerary. This download-and-go itinerary takes you on a planned out route around the island, seeing the best sights and eating at the best restaurants.

Hi, just want to say thank you for the great itinerary! We just got back from the Big Island and we used 3 different itinerary days from your guide. You helped us use our limited time well, and we’re grateful!  We hope we can visit Hawaii again sometime and explore a different island. 

Thanks again!

Amber Medel