UPDATE: This resort is not yet open after a long closure for remodeling. Then 2020 came along and we have yet to get back there. The most expensive lodge you ever saw and certainly the ritziest. Located 1,700 feet up in the misty cool center of the island, the lodge is for those who want a formal, less Hawaiian experience. (Some Hawai‘i residents like it for this very reason. They consider it a getaway.) The place looks more like an English manor house than a Hawaiian hotel with its manicured lawns, formal gardens and green houses. Tea time is from 3–5 p.m. while sitting next to the fireplace reading Tennyson or Shelley. (OK, so we don’t really read those dudes, but dang, the tea sure is good. Unfortunately, the service is not attentive enough for a Four Seasons.) Food is the weak spot here. It’s worth nowhere near the $50–$125 you’ll spend in the formal dining room (with dress code—men are requested to wear long pants and collared shirts). Even the bar charges $7 for pineapple juice. (Though they say it’s fresh, it’s no bargain on the “pineapple island,” where no pineapple is grown anymore. It’s all imported! The resort’s colors are very fresh, bright and English with a hint of Asian influence. The rooms feel spacious, and the lanais are generously sized. The bathrooms are finished with gold-toned fixtures and deep soaking tubs. Many amenities are included in the room rate, such as valet parking, room safes, 18-hole putting green, fitness room, casabella chairs by the pool, croquet, kids’ day program, and a game room with computers, board games and billiards. Mini bars can be personalized to your tastes. Local calls are $1. The area shuttle is $48 per person per stay and will take you into town or down to the Manele Bay where have access to all the facilities. You can arrange a horseback ride, carriage ride, golf, archery or even clay-shooting near the property. Rooms (406–560 sq. ft.) are $345–$695, suites (693–1,170 sq. ft.) are $800–$1,550.
