Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu - Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii - Luxurious Resort on the North Kona Coast

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu resides on the Big Island's North Kona Coast, where it is surrounded by lush vegetation, clear ocean waters and pristine white-sand beaches. Its accommodations are housed in intimate two-story bungalows, which have been positioned in crescents along the beachfront and golf course.

Among the resort's 243 guest rooms are 51 suites, each with a private lanai and ocean view. In total, there are 18 different guestroom configurations. The twenty brand-new Deluxe and Superior Suites are especially large and have either one or two bedrooms and private steam showers. Most of the lower-level guest rooms and suites have outdoor gardens and lava rock showers. The units with full bathrooms are finished in granite and offer deep soaking tubs in addition to glass-enclosed shower stalls.

All of the living areas have been designed for relaxation. They come with an entertainment center featuring an interactive flat-screen television, CD player, connection for MP3 players, a DVD player, and wireless Internet access. Other standard amenities include a hair dryer, an iHome alarm clock, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, multi-line telephone(s) with voicemail, a personal bar menu, a tea/coffee maker, thick terry bathrobes, and twice-daily housekeeping service. A complimentary newspaper is provided with breakfast.

For recreation, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai offers the heated Beach Tree Pool with its whirlpool, a natural white-sand beach with sheltered waters and for swimming, and the Hualalai Sports Club with state-of-the-art workout equipment. The resort's 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature Hualalai Golf Course covers 7,100 yards, and the finishing holes are among the finest in seaside golf. There is also the Hualalai Tennis Club with its eight Rebound Ace surface courts, two of which are lighted for evening play.

Recently renovated is the Hualalai Spa, with its tropical gardens, refreshing interiors and Hawaiian atmosphere. Services include personalized treatments with 20 natural ingredients found locally, such as Hawaiian sea salt and crushed macadamia nuts. The spa has its own lap pool, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and cold plunges, too. There is also a new couple's hale with dual outdoor showers, a hinoki (Japanese cedar) soaking tub and a private garden for dining.

Dining al fresco at the Beach Tree, noted for "barefoot elegance,'' is a treat for dinner or cocktails. The menu features California cuisine with Italian influences and an extensive wine list. At Pahu i'a, a giant aquarium captivates guests as they dine on Executive Chef James Babian's Hawaiian-influenced fare. The award-winning Naupaka Terrace, meanwhile, offers panoramic ocean views along with surf and turf specialties. And the Hualalai Grille, with its golf-course views, serves the best farm-to-table ingredients using the techniques and flavors of the Asia-Pacific.

Other not-to-be-missed aspects of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai include sunset cocktails at the Lava Lounge and poolside drinks at the Beach Tree bar. There is in-room dining available too, of course, with an extensive menu of items to choose from day or night.

For business travelers, the resort has 39,969 square feet of adaptable function space, indoors and out. Its five salons cover 10,644 square feet, and the resort grounds can be used for receptions, celebrations, weddings and social events - 29,325 square feet of landscaped lanais, lawns, beaches and gardens plus the lava-rock Hoku Theatre.

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu is located at 72-100 Ka'upulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740, just ten minutes from Keahole-Kona International Airport. When exiting the airport, turn left onto State Highway 19 (also called the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway). Travel north about 6.5 miles and you will see a lava rock wall with "Hualalai'' written upon it in white letters on the left side of the road. Turn left and follow the paved road to the greeter's station.