The Resort Lifestyle NEIGHBORHOOD

Sixth in a series

When the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened on the shores of Kaunaoa Bay in 1965, it was recognized as Hawaii’s premier resort property. Developed by Laurance Rockefeller and originally managed by RockResorts, it established quality standards for ongoing implementation of the masterplan for former ranchlands of the vast Parker Ranch.

Over the years, the hotel, now managed by Prince Resorts, has been renovated and upgraded while preserving the original award-winning architectural design and continuing to showcase Rockefeller’s museum-quality art collection in public areas. With frontage on the approximately quarter-mile-long, white sand Mauna Kea Beach, the resort also encompasses the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed Mauna Kea golf course and clubhouse, the 11-court tennis club, a 2,500-square-foot fitness center, swimming pool, meeting facilities, restaurants, shops, and restaurants.

In 1992 a second golf course was added to the resort – the 18-hole Arnold Palmer/ Ed Seay-designed Hapuna Golf Course. Two years later, Prince Resorts opened the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel as the second phase of the Mauna Kea Resort, sharing 1,839 oceanfront acres with the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The property, located on the bluffs above a white sand beach, includes a swimming pool, function space, a business center, fi tness facilities, and restaurants. Just south of the hotel complex is the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area.

The fi rst residential properties were completed in the early 1980s adjacent to the Mauna Kea Golf Course. Today a total of 10 residential communities have been developed within the resort core and on mauka parcels extending up the lower slopes of Mauna Kea to an elevation of approximately 500 feet.

Homes in the various subdivisions, clustered within and around the fairways of both golf courses, include single family homes, condominium residences, and paired homes, many of which are available as both short and long term rentals. Mauna Kea Residential Services offers property management and housekeeping.

Eileen LaCerte, partner/owner of Hawaii Beach and Golf Properties, with an office at The Shops at Mauna Lani, is a long-time homeowner at the Mauna Kea Resort. She has been active in resort sales and development in Kona and Kohala for more than 20 years. Specializing in luxury homes and resort development properties, she is currently serving as project broker for the new D.R. Horton/Emerald Homes component of Waiulaula, a gated community comprising condominiums, single family homes, and paired homes.

“Emerald Homes’ 24 units in Phase 2 of Waiulaula include luxury single family and paired homes priced from $1.9 to $3 million,” LaCerte said. “Both of these home styles have proved to be very popular

since construction started and they were first made available this year. Close to half of the new homes are already under contract or sold, with the fi nal units estimated to be sold during the upcoming ‘peak resort season.’ The community is surrounded by the fairways of the Hapuna Golf Course and overlooks panoramic ocean and mountain views. Buyers are responding not only to the location, with just enough elevation to provide views of the spectacular, wide open countryside, but also to the meticulous craftsmanship in these new homes.”

The three and four bedroom homes feature an indoor/outdoor fl oor plan with glass walls that expose the expansive lanais and vaulted ceilings that enhance the sense of spaciousness. The open kitchen features top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops, while a second outdoor kitchen is located near the swimming pool and spa for outdoor entertaining. In addition, residents have access to numerous resort amenities, including golf, tennis, and water sports, with several levels of club memberships available.

“Waiulaula at the Mauna Kea resort is a perfect venue for buyers who like the ‘lock up and go’ lifestyle,” LaCerte added. “The owners’ association takes care of everything – landscaping, pool and spa service, internet service, and security. About ten percent of the owners are full-time residents, the others a mix of second home owners and investors from all parts of the world, but principally from the Mainland west coast.”

LaCerte noted that extensive improvements and a new masterplan for the resort were announced this year, coinciding with the Mauna Kea Resort’s 50th anniversary.