Mauna Kea Beach Hotel 60th Anniversary Festivities Draw Homeowners and Guests

I have this blog post tagged “Conservation” – which might seem a strange label for a blog about the 60th Anniversary Gala at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. It fit for two reasons.

First, because I was attending as a Board member of Hawai’i Land Trust (HILT). The resort management and a number of Mauna Kea homeowners were and are instrumental in our acquisition and stewardship of HILT’s Mahukona preserve just a few miles up the Kohala Coast.

And second, because the history of Laurance Rockefeller’s vision for Mauna Kea Resort makes it a precursor to the current strategy for the visitor industry in Hawai’i, in its call for tourism that regenerates the environment, local communities, and Hawaiian culture. That ethic was expressed through throughout the 60th Anniversary weekend.

Mauna Kea Resort’s VP of Operations, Craig Anderson, told the crowd assembled for the 60th Anniversary Gala that the most common reaction when he told long-time guests and homeowners of the plans for a $240 million renovation was “Don’t screw it up.”

As guests at the tables on the lawn looked back up at the iconic hotel, its classic mid-century architecture blending into the landscape, they heard about refreshed guest rooms and pools; the addition of a spa facility and an ocean view gym; and investment in sustainability features like photovoltaic panels and a farm-to-table garden on about a half-acre.

Throughout the evening, distinguished speakers referenced the contribution of employees to the success of the hotel, noting that many current employees are children and grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of the hotel’s original staff. The Lim family provided music as guests gathered, and chanted to bless the evening. The family has performed at the hotel since 1965.

Mauna Kea Hotel is also known for its extensive art collection, including Asia-Pacific painting and sculpture, fine examples of Hawaiian kapa and hand-stitched quilts. The cover of the evening’s program featured one of 23 quilts commissioned in the 1980s, this one titled “Pumehana ke aloha o Mauna Kea“.

The following day invited guests toured the new Spa at Mauna Kea with its 11 treatment rooms. Located where the famous ‘Ulu (breadfruit) tree stood, there was a moment of worry before we learned that the tree had been relocated.

Continuing in the tradition of commissioning Hawai’i-based artists, the hotel engaged young designer David Shepard to create murals in the men’s and women’s locker rooms. For me this was also a continuation of the conservation story, as Shepard’s designs highlight native Hawaiian plants and animals and the people and organizations that care for them.

The final component of Rockefeller’s vision for the Mauna Kea Resort was to include a residential element. Many of those dining and dancing at the 60th anniversary event were full time residents. Some of my clients who are snowbirds were eagerly awaiting my report on the weekend.

There is still an opportunity to become a homeowner at the resort – resale homes and condominiums, vacant land, and new homes under construction. Perhaps your children or grandchildren will be at the 80th anniversary celebration or watching the fireworks from your lanai!