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Fairmont Orchid
Kohala Coast, Hawaii, United States · Fairmont · High Luxury
Fairmont Orchid opened in 1990 on 32 Kohala Coast acres inside the Mauna Lani community, where lava fields, footpaths, and burial caves still mark older Hawaiian use of the shore. Brown's Beach House and a private outdoor function lawn arrived with a mid-1990s rebuild, and the beachfront saltwater lagoon remains the resort's daily postcard for Big Island guests who want archaeology underfoot and ocean at the path's end.
- 540 rooms
- Opened 1990
- Neighborhood: Waimea
About Fairmont Orchid
- Sits among lava formations and archaeological footpaths that lead to burial sites and cave complexes from earlier Hawaiian use of the coast.
- A mid-1990s renovation added Brown's Beach House and a private outdoor function area after a reported $13 million investment.
- Joined the Fairmont portfolio in 2002; South Korean ownership arrived in a later sale while the Fairmont flag stayed on the door.
- Guest rooms and public spaces were fully refurnished by the end of 2006 after a multi-year refresh cycle.
History
Fairmont Orchid opened in 1990 on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, set on 32 oceanfront acres within the Mauna Lani resort community — one of the most carefully planned luxury resort developments in the Hawaiian Islands, built around the dramatic landscape of ancient lava fields, fishpond preserves, and white sand coves on the island's northwestern shore. The Kohala Coast receives less rainfall than almost any other part of the Hawaiian archipelago, giving the resort a reliable sun and calm sea that have made it consistently attractive to visitors seeking the classic Hawaiian beach experience without the unpredictability of windward or wetter coastal settings.
The hotel was developed as the anchoring hospitality component of the Mauna Lani master plan, which preserved the historic Hawaiian ahupua'a land-management system in its design, incorporating fishponds, petroglyphs, and shoreline trails used by Native Hawaiians for centuries. The Fairmont's beachfront saltwater pool and protected natural lagoon sit alongside this preserved cultural landscape, giving guests access to exceptional snorkeling within the property's boundaries. Two championship golf courses — designed as part of the Mauna Lani complex — run through the surrounding lava fields, offering one of the most visually dramatic golf settings in the United States.
With ten tennis courts, a beachfront spa, six restaurants and bars, and 540 rooms and suites, the Orchid operates at a scale that supports both the family market and the incentive travel groups that have been a consistent part of its business since opening. The property holds the AAA Four Diamond designation and maintains its position as one of the most capable resort hotels on the Big Island — complementary to but distinct from the more intimate, higher-priced experiences offered by Hualalai and Mauna Lani further up the coast.
The setting
13-minute walk to Holoholokai Beach Park. Overlooks Pauoa Bay.
Restaurants and bars
- Fairmont Gold Lounge — Room service
- Hale Kai — Restaurant
Experiences
- Spa Without Walls — Open-air spa offering rejuvenation and wellness, described as award-winning.
- Hawaiʻi Island Spirit — Storytelling sessions, hula lessons and sunrise outrigger canoe trips with a hoʻokele (navigator) on Pauoa Bay.
- Torch Lighting — Nightly sunset ceremony in which torches are lit around the property.
- Oceanfront Dining — Oceanside dining, feasts and beach classics under Hawaiian skies.
- Golf at Mauna Lani Golf Club — 18 holes at the award-winning Mauna Lani Golf Club, with over-the-water holes and mountain views.
- Arrival of the Sun Canoe Experience — Hui Holokai Beach Ambassadors welcome the sunrise over Maunakea with the blowing of the conch.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Tennis
- Water sports
- Golf course
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
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