From Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Hilo to spotting sea turtles at Waikoloa Beach on the Kailua-Kona side, the Big Island has so many kid-friendly experiences to offer. Today, we asked Nancy Besharah of Luxe Family Travel to share her insider tips for where to stay on the Big Island.
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Big Island Resorts for Families
The Big Island of Hawaii is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined, which means ample opportunities and space for families to sightsee and explore. But only if you can tear yourself away from these unforgettable Big Island resorts for families stretching along the spectacular Kona-Kohala Coast.
Photo: Flytographer in Kona for Flytographer. Christina and family capture memories at the Four Seasons Hualalai with a family photoshoot.
1. Stay at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai for Luxury and Exclusive Experiences
Located 10 minutes by car from Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA), Four Seasons Hualalai is the only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort on the Big Island. Situated on 865 oceanfront acres, Four Seasons Hualalai is an unforgettable Big Island Resort for families, including mine.
With 7 resort pools (8 if you count the Ocean Pool, a reef-protected swimming space), there is a pool for every day of the week and for all stages and ages at Four Seasons Hualalai. The youngest guests splash about in the shallow, white-sand bottom Keiki (Children’s) Pool, families swim and play in the nearby Sea Shell Pool, and nature lovers explore King’s Pond, a 1.8-million-gallon “aquarium” home to more than 1,000 tropical fish, including Kainalu, the resident eagle ray.
Photos by Luxe Travel Family. Four Seasons Hualalai Kings Pond and the view from the Ocean Pool.
Design
Blending seamlessly into the natural environment, low-rise wooden guest accommodation fronts the ocean or clusters around the resort pools. Choose from villas for up to 12 guests, suites, or guest rooms set amongst lava rock and surrounded by tropical plantings.
Insider tip: Request a ground-floor room or suite for an orchid-filled outdoor shower. Guest rooms near the Sea Shell Pool are popular with families because of the close proximity to the family pool, sandy beach, ‘Ulu restaurant for breakfast, and the complimentary Kids For All Seasons (KFAS) program.
Kids Club
Four Seasons Hualalai’s fully supervised, complimentary KFAS program is available year-round for kids ages 5 to 12 and is a massive hit with travelling families. Seasonal programs with off-resort adventures and excursions are available for children ages 9 to 17. KFAS operates from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and offers swimming, arts and crafts, sports, and educational activities for kids, while parents enjoy Hualalai’s many experiences.
Apart from relaxing at the beach or numerous pools, guest activities include playing 18 holes on the championship Jack-Nicklaus-designed golf course, paddling a Hawaiian outrigger along the coast with the Alaka’i Nui water-sports team, soaking up a wellness treatment at the spa, working out at the outstanding indoor-outdoor fitness facility, or swinging a racket (or paddle) at the Hualalai Sports Club. Although the Big Island beaches, hiking trails, and volcanoes beckon, it is legitimately difficult to leave Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
Photo: Sej in Kona for Flytographer. Akhila and family capture memories at the Four Seasons Hualalai with a family photoshoot.
2. Mauna Lani Auberge Collection for Hawaiian History and Culture
Mauna Lani, located on the Kohala Coast, is about 25 minutes by car from KOA. Set on 34 oceanfront acres with almost a half-mile of coastline, as well as the ancient Kalahuipua’a site, Mauna Lani offers guests modern luxury along with an opportunity to learn about Hawaiian culture and glimpse Hawaii’s past.
Mauna Lani’s Hale ‘I’ike (“House of Knowledge”), the resort’s cultural center and museum, provides an immersive Hawaiian experience. Guests can make leis, listen to stories from local experts like Uncle Danny Akaka, and take a guided tour of the Kalahuipua’a site’s lava tubes, petroglyphs, and six major fishponds. The Kalahuipua’a Fishponds existed before the earliest contact, and Hawaiians used them to raise fish. This historic site is open to the public.
Insider tip: When you walk past the wooden grate system that separates the ponds from the ocean, take a look into the pond for tiny, vibrant yellow tangs, eels, and spotted puffer fish.
Photos by Luxe Travel Family. Mauna Lani Adult Infinity Pool during the day and at night.
Design
The six-story Mauna Lani hotel is designed around an open-air lobby, and guests can choose from a selection of rooms or suites, with 90% offering an ocean view. For an exclusive experience, stay in one of Mauna Lani’s two-bedroom residences with a gourmet kitchen and private outdoor pool.
In addition to three resort swimming pools – Resort, Adult, and the shallow Keiki “Sandy Bottom” kids’ pool, there is a swimmable cove fronting Mauna Lani. The Surf Shack at Mauna Lani Beach Club has snorkel equipment, SUPs, and more for all the fun in the Pacific Ocean. The Kainalu Watersports team is on hand for any assistance and lessons.
Kids Club
Holoholo Kids Crew, Mauna Lani’s complimentary kids club, is open to children ages 5 to 12, subject to availability, and reservations are required in advance. Activities with Holoholo Kids Crew focus on nature, adventure, art, and learning about Hawaiian culture.
While the kids are exploring Mauna Lani with new friends, parents can explore the extensive Mauna Lani Resort offerings, including 36 holes of championship golf at the Mauna Lani Golf Club, racquet sports at the nearby Tennis Garden, or treatments at Auberge Spa.
Photo: Flytographer in Kona for Flytographer. Danielle and family capture memories at the Auberge Mauna Lani with a family photoshoot.
3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Autograph Collection for the Best Beach Vacation
The first resort hotel on the island of Hawaii, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel by Marriott, is located on Kauna‘oa Bay, which is arguably the best beach on the Big Island. Located further up the Kohala Coast, the resort is about 30 minutes by car from KOA. The turquoise-coloured water, lava rock, ranchland, and expansive crescent-shaped beach inspired Laurance S. Rockefeller to build a hotel that blended with the natural surroundings. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in 1965 and continues to host multiple generations of the original guests to stay at this iconic, family-friendly property.
Photos by Luxe Travel Family.The gorgeous Mauna Kea Beach, perfect for little boogie boarders.
Design
Designed to incorporate Hawaii’s natural environment, the mid-century modern structure lets ocean breezes flow through, providing cooling, and sunlight filters through the openings, bringing the outside in.
An extensive $200 million revitalization of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is nearing completion, with only the new Wellness Spa remaining and scheduled for completion by mid-2026. Guest rooms and suites in the multi-story Main Tower and lower-rise Beach Wing have been redesigned and enhanced as part of the revitalization.
The original circular pool has been refreshed, and a new adults-only infinity-edge lap pool has been constructed adjacent to a new fitness center. Both pools at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel overlook gorgeous Kauna‘oa Bay.
The Mauna Kea Beach Club fronts Kauna’oa Bay and is the place to go for towels and chairs on the beach, as well as beach gear, including snorkels, fins, SUPs, ocean kayaks, and bodyboards (boogie boards). The expansive white sand beach and rolling waves make it a popular place for families, including mine, to bodyboard. It is recommended that guests check with the Beach Safety Team before entering the Pacific Ocean. After sunset, it is possible to view manta rays from the shore at Manta Ray Point, where spotlights attract plankton, and the manta rays come in to feed.
Insider tip: Book a guest room in the Beach Wing for the easiest access to the beach and pools, with ground-floor rooms offering direct access to the lawn, on-site pools, and beach.
Photo: Flytographer in Kona for Flytographer. Jane and family capture memories at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with a family photoshoot.
Kids Club
Mauna Kea Keiki Club Adventures is a daily, supervised program for children ages 5 to 12. Full and half-day rates are available, but reservations are required, and space is limited. Keiki Club Adventures includes swimming, shoreline explorations, sports, and art and cultural activities.
The beach is the main attraction at Mauna Kea Resort, but it’s not the only reason to visit. The welcoming, long-serving staff truly embody and practice aloha ‘aina – love of the land, the ocean, and the island’s people – which is why generations of families continue to return to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The award-winning 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course is stunning and recently underwent a major renovation led by Robert Trent Jones Jr., son of the original golf course designer. If you prefer to swing rackets or paddles, Mauna Kea Resort’s Seaside Racquet Club, recognized as one of the top tennis resorts in the world, boasts oceanfront tennis and pickleball courts. For something a bit more relaxing, explore the hundreds of museum-quality artworks collected by hotel founder Laurance S. Rockefeller and displayed throughout the property. With the opening of the Wellness Spa in 2026, guests will have even more to experience at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
Photo: Flytographer in Kona for Flytographer. Jane and family capture memories at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with a family photoshoot.
Luxury Resorts on the Big Island for Families
Each of the recommended luxury Big Island resorts for families offers something a little different. Still, they have a lot in common, including excellent locations, attentive service, and more than enough to keep the entire family entertained for an unforgettable family vacation on the island of Hawaii, even if you don’t leave the resort property.
Ready to capture your Big Island adventure? Book a Big Island photographer today and make sure everyone (including you!) is in the vacation photos. For island hoppers, we also have photographers on Maui, Oahu and Kauai. 🌴📸
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