Timeless Magic, 1965 - 2015

75 MAUNA KEA BEACH HOTEL OPPOSITE Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel overlooking one of Hawai i Islands favorite beaches ABOVE An idyllic view across the lawns and pool to the Pacific BELOW LEFT Hapunas Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed golf course with ocean views from every hole circular skylight that graces the lobby echoed the contours of the land and shoreline beige walls and ceilings were reminiscent of sand at the beach the stained weathered brown of the wood doors and wall and ceiling panels and the sage green aluminum railings on lanai and walkways mirrored the colors of wild kiawe trees on nearby slopes Some 30 royal palms faced the porte cochere At the time there were a lot of developments going on and royal palms were in high demand but we wanted an elegant impressive landscaping feature at the entrance Kurokawa says Each tree cost more than 10000 Our design team used to think Gee how many Toyotas can you buy with that money Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel opened on August 24 1994 As it marked its 20th anniversary in 2014 Sidney Char the lead architect for the project recalls its much anticipated debut It was Mauna Kea Resorts second hotel but the owner didnt want it to be secondary in any way he said Although Hapuna is very different from Mauna Kea Beach Hotel he wanted it to be just as nice Some differences are immediately evident For example where Mauna Keas entry is understated Hapunas is Wow Char said The lobby is enormous and right in front of you is that spectacular ocean view Also Mauna Kea tends to be quiet after the sun sets We wanted Hapuna to be livelier so the level below the lobby is a bar and the level below the bar is a restaurant When you enter the hotel you sense the energy see activity people strolling eating having cocktails listening to live music Subtle features ensure guests comfort Rooms have solid concrete walls for sound insulation double front doors one with louvers to let in the breezes in lieu of using air conditioning and pipes wrapped with heat tape enabling hot water to be provided immediately to all rooms Mr Tsutsumi was literally hands on throughout the design and construction processes Char said We set up a model room for him to inspect knowing his reputation for being detail oriented He walked into the bathroom and pretended he was going to shave He leaned over the basin to see how the lighting hit his face and if the towel rack was in the right place He checked the placement of furniture and even sat on the toilet to make sure the toilet paper and phone could be reached easily He examined everything On June 16 1994 Mr Rockefeller hosted a dinner honoring Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan at Kykuit his familys estate in Westchester County New York During his remarks that evening Rockefeller said We are elated not only that Mr Tsutsumi continues to maintain the quality of Mauna Kea but is vastly expanding it with a second hotel opening this year on Hāpuna Beach a major step towards fulfilling all of the objectives that we had dreamed of for the future Today guests of Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel enjoy all the amenities expected of a world class resort a spa oceanview fitness center 18 hole championship golf course fine dining a ballroom and multiple meeting spaces 36 oceanfront suites and the Hapuna Villa an 8000 squarefoot freestanding hideaway with four bedrooms a multimedia room a private pool and jacuzzi butler service and a fully stocked gourmet kitchen and bar Mr Rockefeller once said Every great beach deserves a great hotel How delighted he was to see that greatness achieved at Mauna Kea and 30 years later at Hapuna