January's been a month of a firsts for Hawaii hotels as Mauna Kea Beach Hotel recently became the Aloha State's first Autograph Collection member just weeks after Hotel Wailea on Maui was honored as the first Relais & Châteaux property in Hawaii.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, which Travel Agent recently had the opportunity to tour, is located on The Big Island and is a member of Prince Hotels. The Autograph Collection is Marriott International's portfolio of independent hotels.
During our stay at the property, we stayed in a Plumeria Beachfront Suite. There are one of these per floor. There are two bathrooms, a living room with dining area and a bedroom with a King bed. The best part of the room is the views from the terrace, which offers both garden and full ocean view.
Also, the big flat screen LG television in the living area rotates so clients can watch some shows while dining or while sitting on the couch. There are also ocean views from the King bed and the tub located in the bedroom's bathroom.
The best rooms for families, however, are located in the Beachfront Wing, which houses 90 rooms. These are the most requested rooms on the property along with the Deluxe Ocean Front rooms, which are better suited for couples. All even-numbered rooms in the main building have ocean views and all Beachfront rooms have ocean views.
Earlier this month, Hotel Wailea on Maui was honored as the first Relais & Châteaux property in Hawaii.
A former Japanese private members club previously unknown to leisure travelers, Hotel Wailea will undergo a $15 million makeover and offer ultra-private suites.
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