Celebrate 50 Years of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

In an era when many hotels and resorts are rebranding themselves or converting hotel rooms into condominiums, it's a real pleasure to see a resort hotel that has been able to keep up with the needs of today's travelers while at the same time honor the history and traditions that have made it one of the top properties in Hawaii.

Honoring that history and those traditions, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2015.

In 1960, conservationist and venture capitalist Laurance S. Rockefeller was invited to Hawaii by then Governor William Quinn to tour potential development properties in the islands. It is said that when he visited the Kauna'oa area of the Big Island of Hawaii and saw the beautiful crescent shaped beach, he exclaimed “Every great beach deserves a great hotel.”

Rockefeller signed a 99-year lease with property owner Parker Ranch to develop 1,800 acres. He then established the `Olohana Company to evaluate development potential for the adjacent lease lands which he later acquired.

Laurance S. Rockefeller's Vision

The hotel that Rockefeller envisioned would blend into the natural environment and be open to elements of sun and fresh air.

The hotel must not allow what he considered the distractions of civilization: air-conditioning, radios and televisions but be a luxury “camp” with the comforts of fine food and first-class amenities.

$1.5-million man hours later and at a cost of $15-million dollars (the most expensive hotel ever built at that time), the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in June 1965.

A lot has changed since then. Back in 1965 smoking was permitted in the hotel rooms, double beds were thought to be inappropriate so all rooms came with two twin beds. The room rates were $43-$48 and included breakfast and dinner daily.

Tradition and Modern Technology Find a Way to Co-exist

Recently I had lunch with Vicky Kometani, the Public Relations Manager for Mauna Kea Resort, home to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, the Mauna Kea Golf Course,  Hapuna Golf Course and the Mauna Kea Seaside Tennis Club.

Vicky and I have known each other for many years, but her knowledge of the history of the properties that she has represented over the years always amazes me.

Vicky explained that the issue over televisions has been one example of how the resort has adjusted to the needs of guests over the years.

While Laurance S. Rockefeller disliked televisions, many guests did not feel the same.

Eventually televisions were allowed, but only at the specific request of guests when they checked into the hotel. A full-time staffer was hired just to manage these requests. Eventually, as more and more guests requested TVs, it became more time and cost effective to place them in each room and then remove them upon request.

Even to this day, many long-time visitors do not want televisions, so the most recent renovation has placed the new large flat screen TVs within a wall unit where they can be hidden if so desired by the guest.

I thought this was a wonderful story and an example of how tradition and modern technology can find a way to co-exist.

Today, five decades later, following a $150 million repair and renovation (in 2009 & 2013), the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel still stands as a landmark of luxury on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

December 2014 - March 2015: Golf and Tennis

In celebration of their 50th anniversary the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has a number of exciting events and specials scheduled between December 2014 and the end of 2015.

The first quarter celebration is dedicated to the hotel's great golf and tennis options which will include the 41st Annual Mauna Kea Pro-Am Golf Tournament from December 3-8, 2014 and special room packages with value-add components themed to golf and tennis.

During the first quarter of 2015, the hotel will unveil their 50th anniversary timeline display, their 5 decades of golf and tennis display, debut their special Mauna Kea 50th anniversary logo wear and amenities and offer for sale Timeless Magic - Celebrating 50 Years, a hardcover and softcover book sold exclusively at the hotel.

In addition the special 50 Acts of Aloha giving campaign will be launched.

April- June 2015: Beach and Ocean

The second quarter of 2015 will focus on the hotel's great beach and ocean location and will encourage guest engagement in special activities to build ocean awareness.

There will be special room package value-add components themed to the beach and the ocean, special fundraising initiatives benefiting marine life and the indigenous Palila bird, a team member beach cleanup, and the unveiling of the anniversary Beach & Ocean Display.

The third quarter of 2015 will highlight the hotel's unique culinary specialties with a special room package offering components themed to food and beverage, special dinners, and the unveiling of the anniversary Food & Beverage Display.

The highlight of the anniversary year will take place on July 24, 2015 with the hotel's huge 50th Birthday Gala, 50 years to the day of the hotel's opening.

Finally, the fourth quarter of 2015 will be all about the hotel's art, architecture and design with special room packages with components themed to art, architecture and design including special presentations, architectural tours hosted by Skidmore Owings Merrill of San Francisco (the original building architect firm), art collection tours and, of course the unveiling of the anniversary Art, Architecture and Design Display.

In honor of their 50th year, the hotel has launched a unique website devoted to their anniversary celebration.

Needless to say, 2015 will be a very exciting year for the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and I'm sure many longtime as well as first time visitors are already planning their vacations to this iconic resort on Hawaii, the Big Island.