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A Big Island resort with a calm swimmable beach, free kids club, sand-bottom toddler pool, and strong cultural programming for families.
Waimea, Hawaii, USA
2020
year opened
333
rooms
$
1000
starting rate
25 minutes
from airport
key features
Sleep
Kids club (age 5+)
Kids club is free
Babysitting
Baby/wading pool
Calm beach
Water sports
Bikes
Balcony/Patio
Dogs allowed
Grass to play on
Outdoor pool
Golf
Cabanas
Lake, river, or pond
2+ restaurants on site
Coffee shop
2-4 bedroom residences
Animal encounters
Door separating kid & adult sleeping areas
Food available before 7am
5+ bedroom residences
Kids eat free
Racket sports
Connecting rooms
Crib fits in closet or extra bathroom
Zero-entry pool
Eat
Kids club (age 5+)
Kids club is free
Babysitting
Baby/wading pool
Calm beach
Water sports
Bikes
Balcony/Patio
Dogs allowed
Grass to play on
Outdoor pool
Golf
Cabanas
Lake, river, or pond
2+ restaurants on site
Coffee shop
2-4 bedroom residences
Animal encounters
Door separating kid & adult sleeping areas
Food available before 7am
5+ bedroom residences
Kids eat free
Racket sports
Connecting rooms
Crib fits in closet or extra bathroom
Zero-entry pool
Play (on land)
Kids club (age 5+)
Kids club is free
Babysitting
Baby/wading pool
Calm beach
Water sports
Bikes
Balcony/Patio
Dogs allowed
Grass to play on
Outdoor pool
Golf
Cabanas
Lake, river, or pond
2+ restaurants on site
Coffee shop
2-4 bedroom residences
Animal encounters
Door separating kid & adult sleeping areas
Food available before 7am
5+ bedroom residences
Kids eat free
Racket sports
Connecting rooms
Crib fits in closet or extra bathroom
Zero-entry pool
Play (in the water)
Kids club (age 5+)
Kids club is free
Babysitting
Baby/wading pool
Calm beach
Water sports
Bikes
Balcony/Patio
Dogs allowed
Grass to play on
Outdoor pool
Golf
Cabanas
Lake, river, or pond
2+ restaurants on site
Coffee shop
2-4 bedroom residences
Animal encounters
Door separating kid & adult sleeping areas
Food available before 7am
5+ bedroom residences
Kids eat free
Racket sports
Connecting rooms
Crib fits in closet or extra bathroom
Zero-entry pool
Experience it
See what a stay really looks like with kids.
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sleep
- Standard rooms range from 510 - 670 sq feet. They all have lanais (balconies), but no bathtubs.
- Rooms come in five different view types. Mountain View rooms are slightly larger, but most overlook a parking lot. Garden view rooms open to the lawn and are convenient for families.
- King rooms have a small sofa that could sleep a young child.
- A large number of rooms connect, and connections can be guaranteed at booking.
- One-bedroom suites offer true separation and an extra full or half bath (helpful for stashing a pack ‘n play).
- The Ocean View Deluxe Suite does not have a door between the bedroom and living room (though it does have a walk-in closet that can fit a pack ’n play).
- Two-bedroom residences have full kitchens and private pools. They sit slightly away from the main resort but include golf carts.
- There is also a standalone five-bedroom Lani Estate about a 5-minute drive from the main resort. It comes with a golf cart.
- There’s a free guest laundry room.
- Auberge took over in 2018 and completed a major $200M renovation in 2020. Some guests feel rooms still seem a bit dated. Select suites are being renovated in 2026.
play
- The calm, protected beach is the highlight. One of the best on the Big Island for younger kids to safely get in the water.
- The lagoon-style setup is ideal for paddleboarding, snorkeling, and spotting turtles. Snorkel gear is included and can be kept for your stay.
- Three heated pools: family pool, shallow zero-entry sandy-bottom kids pool (~1.5 ft), and an adults-only pool.
- Kids club (ages 5–12, 9am–2pm) is free and outdoors-focused. Book ahead, because it can fill up.
- Large lawn, walking paths, and shoreline trails give kids space to play beyond the pool.
- Fishponds are a standout. Kids can feed fish, with daily talks on their history.
- Cultural programming includes lei making, storytelling, and nature-based activities.
- Sunrise canoe is worth booking.
- Free bikes and shuttle make it easy to get around.
- Three golf courses, including a kid-friendly 9-hole course (with free club rentals for kids 15 and under).
- There are tennis and paddleball courts, with lessons available from age 6.
- Guided water activities available (extra charge), or you can borrow equipment from the Surf Shack for free.
- Kainalu Junior Watermen program (ages 10–14) offers structured ocean activities (seasonal, additional cost).
- Pool and beach chairs fill up by late morning. Go early or reserve a cabana.
- Whale season runs November to April, with sightings from the beach or rooms.
eat
- Food is good, but if you’re staying for a week you’ll probably want to go off property some.
- CanoeHouse is the standout. One of the best restaurants on the island. Book ahead, especially if you want a table for sunset.
- Families love the breakfast.
- There’s an onsite market and coffee shop that opens at 5:30am - perfect for a quick breakfast or snacks.
- Poolside dining and the Surf Shack are easy for lunch and casual early dinners.
- Kids menus are available everywhere. They often run kids eat free promos (for 2026, kids 10 and under eat free from April 11 - September 7, 2026)
- Food and drinks are expensive across the board.
- There is a grocery store at the Shops at Mauna Lani, a short shuttle or bike ride away.
- Villas and residences have full kitchens and come stocked with drinks.
The details
What room setup does your family need, at minimum?
We're having you search by beds, rather than number and age of kids, because every family sleeps differently.
King/queen bed includes pullout sofas
Kid-size bed includes sofas (not pullout), twin beds, or rollaway beds
Results show rooms that meet or exceed your minimum.
If you move forward with booking, we'll make sure the hotel has an accurate guest count,
King/queen bed includes pullout sofas
Kid-size bed includes sofas (not pullout), twin beds, or rollaway beds
Results show rooms that meet or exceed your minimum.
If you move forward with booking, we'll make sure the hotel has an accurate guest count,
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Must haves
No items found.
Kids Club
Pools
Beach
Babysitting
Activities
Travel & transportation
- About 25 minutes from Kona International Airport (KOA).
- No airport shuttle — the hotel can arrange private transfers, but most families rent a car to explore the island.
- Rideshares are available, but wait times can be long.
- There’s a free shuttle within the Mauna Lani resort area.
- A fleet of Mercedes house cars is available first-come, first-served for local exploring (3 hours max, must be reserved in advance).
- Parking is valet only.
Leave it at home - they have it!
- Cribs and pack 'n plays
- Highchairs
- Baby bathtubs
- Baby toiletries
- Changing pads
- Diaper pails
- Diaper bags
- Beach toys
- Stuffed animals
Ready to Book Your Stay?
Book through us (no additional cost) for access to perks like resort credit, free breakfast, priority for upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, and price-drop tracking. Plus, we'll manage all the communication with the hotel, so all you have to do is show up.
Still have questions about this hotel?
If so, we bet other parents do too. Email amy@hotelswithkids.com and we'll get them answered!
If you're a hotel employee and would like us to update any information on this property, email help@hotelswithkids.com
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