Tranquility Calls

Sometimes you simply yearn for complete decompression,  to rest the  mind without the  distraction of things to do and the temptation of sites to be seen.  You crave a place to simply be and allow internal quiet to be be restored.  This is that place.  

The Mauna Kea’s location was identified over 50 years ago by Laurence Rockefeller, who flew over all eighth Hawaiian Islands with the desire to find the epitome of Hawaiian tranquility. He selected this small crescent beach with its lava cliffs on the west coast of the Big Island (also known as the Island of Hawaii) as the location to conserve and build a small 125 room beach hotel that would disappear into the landscape at a time when  tall structures were the norm. When the Mauna Kea opened in 1965, the  remote location and rugged logistics of building on lava rock and sand contributed to its then being the most expensive resort ever built, bar none. 

The Rockefeller family bestowed an extensive 16,000 piece collection of Asian and Hawaiian sculpture and artifact. It is still on exhibit throughout the property.  Organized tours provide richly detailed explanations of the collection highlights or you can simply wander to your hearts content, finding pieces at every turn. 

The surrounding nature is strong competition the any art collection.  The richly colored, bold foliage punctuates light sand and dark larva rock. Bird of Paradise, spider lilies, towering tulip trees, plumeria flowers used in leis and red ginger are just the beginning of what surrounds you, silhouetted by intensely bold blue skies.  And then there are the wide variety of bird song and charming bright green geckos.  Nature simply abounds. 

The feeling here is completely casual and multigenerational; both which we love.  If you plan to stay put on the property and have brought more then a couple of bathing suits, shorts and tees, a coverup and okay a sundress to throw on and a shirt for dinner, you’ve probably overpacked.  (We did.) How relaxed were we? The 6.9 magnitude earthquake 70 miles away on the Big Island’s east coast, was felt by those sitting on Mauna Kea’s beach on the west coast, but we missed the entire event while lazily dozing through a massage.  Oops!

We hadn’t realized how much we craved the delight of “nothingness” and have vowed to take 5-days truly off every year.   Feel free to hold us to it. We’ll remind you to do the same!