Driving along the Mamalahoa Highway, you come around a bend and the Pacific opens up before you, its immensity highlighted by the hotel’s artfully perched position atop the cliff. A palpable stillness settles as you turn onto the gravel road, surrounded by swaying palms and verdant gardens. Hamakua feels like an isolated mountain hideaway, yet the mountain is the ocean.
Accommodations: Oceanfront Elegance
Each of the eight beautifully themed apartments features its own ocean-front porch for personal rituals like sunrise coffee and sunset drinks. The room descriptions seem ample, but the true surprise is the suppleness of the Tempur-Pedic beds, pristine linens, and a thoughtfully curated pillow menu.
Some rooms have enormous soaking tubs with views of the surf, as advertised in promotional brochures.
Espresso makers, built-in safes, soft bathrobes, slippers, a minibar, and individual décor are among the thoughtful touches in the rooms. Everything whispers luxury while maintaining the coziness of a home away from home.
Culinary Journey: Breakfast to Dinner
Your cost includes a fresh breakfast with local delicacies, such as tropical fruit, pastries, espresso beverages, and island-grown coffee samples.
It’s enjoyable, but dinner improves the experience to extraordinary. Every week, guests can enjoy a six-course chef’s tasting menu created by Edward Delling-Williams, a renowned chef from France’s Michelin-starred restaurants (hawaiimagazine.com). Each plate is a well-balanced blend of local seafood, island flavors, and French skill, combined with mindfully chosen wines or handcrafted drinks.
Sunset happy hour features handpicked tequila tastings and mocktails, while the bar service is personable, pleasant, and professional, distinguishing it from larger resorts. As a Booking guest shared:
“A dinner included in the price one evening was sensational including the cocktails and the service of a very nice and friendly bar…”
Dining here is more than just food. It’s a quiet delight to discover islands on a plate, complemented by cliff-side ambience.
Guest Experience and Wellness
It’s tough not to notice the deliberate emphasis on wellness and experience. The hotel offers a variety of spa services, including prenatal, Thai, hot-stone, deep-tissue, and foot massages, as well as the tranquil Yurts Spa, which features organic-inspired design. A one-mile hiking track leads through the land and cliffs to a tranquil ocean perspective, a reminder of nature’s omnipresence.
Hamakua is presenting hologram “Proto” mini-units in rooms for coaching, music production, or remote cooperation, highlighting cutting-edge technology integration.
Expect an oceanfront infinity pool to appear later this year, offering another layer of relaxation and views.
Amenities & convenience
Free high-speed Wi-Fi is perfect for streaming and distant work.
Complimentary self-parking is essential on a rural coastline.
Our 24-hour front desk offers concierge and tour assistance.
Premium linen, blackout curtains, and room amenities like safes, minibars, coffee, and toiletries.
The adults-only policy promotes tranquil, amorous, and introspective stays.
The property lacks an elevator and is not pet-friendly. Expect stairs and mobility issues, and plan appropriately.
Location and local surroundings
Honomu, a lovely coastal village, with a laid-back charm. The hotel is conveniently located about a 17-minute walk from Kolekole Beach Park and 6-10 kilometers from popular sites such as Hakalau Beach, World Botanical Gardens, and Akaka Falls.
The nearby Onomea Valley is home to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden hidden in a rainforest gully, ideal for a morning walk and rich in orchids, exotic palms, and waterfalls.
Honoka’ā (14 miles west) offers local eating, farmer’s markets, and real plantation-era culture.
Pro tip: schedule an excursion to Akaka Falls or the gardens in advance; your concierge will gladly coordinate everything.
Pros: Spectacular cliff-top ocean views
hawaiimagazine.com
Intimate boutique size (8 rooms)
Complimentary gourmet meals and local cocktails
Luxury bedding, spa, and soon, an infinity pool
Peaceful adults-only atmosphere
Considerations
Nightly rates start at ~$599 and are worth it for the immersive experience.
No children or pets are allowed
For side journeys to remote locations, four-wheel drive is required
There is no elevator, thus entrance to the room may require stairs
Hamakua Hotel is a beautiful hideaway where luxury, nature, and culinary skill come together. It is not for budget tourists, but if you are looking for a tranquil haven anchored in place, with superb service and breathtaking vistas, it delivers in spades.
Whether you’re sharing a dip in a spa tub overlooking the Pacific, drinking a specialty cocktail at sunset, or exploring secret waterfalls just minutes away, you’ll get the impression that this is a facility created for thoughtful travelers who prioritize quality over quantity.
Hamakua Hotel offers Hawaiʻi’s most attentive and transformative hospitality, offering cliff-top stillness, rainfall scent in the gardens, gourmet tasting dinners, and holistic experiences that speak to the spirit.