Built in connection with the economic development of the Neighbor Islands, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is located on the North Kona Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. The hotel is set along the brow of a hill overlooking the beach at the foot of the highest point in the Hawaiian Island — Mauna Kea (the White Mountain), an extinct volcano measuring 13,680 feet.

Three guest floors, arranged in tiers, step inwardly above a series of interior garden courts. Cantilevered suite corridors surround these gardens, creating an environment that is both open and protected. Lower levels are located along a landscaped terrace molded into the side of the slope. These levels house the public spaces, including the lobby, lounges, an auditorium, and retail shops. A reception platform containing the hotel lobby and administration offices appears to hover above a sunken garden. The hotel is set in 23 acres of lavish landscaping and is surrounded by a championship 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones.