Kaunaoa Bay
Encyclopedia
Kaunaoa Bay has one of the few white sand beaches of the Kohala Coast, the western side of the island of Hawaii
. A historic hotel is located on the bay, which has given it the name Mauna Kea Beach.
can be hiked north to Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park or south to Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
. Although public restrooms and showers are available, a limited number of parking passes are available at the resort gate.
The beach was named "America's Best Beach" in 2000 by Florida International University
professor Stephen Leatherman
.
. In 1960 the area was a remote, barren, hot lava field unsuitable for cattle grazing. William F. Quinn
, the governor of the new state of Hawaii
, invited Laurance Rockefeller
to visit the islands as part of a study for a federal commission that Rockefeller chaired. After visiting the ranch, Rockefeller was taken for a swim in the bay. Plans for a resort began in January 1961. The state agreed to pave the Hawaii Belt Road (called the Queen Kaahumanu highway for this section) to the site and build a new Kona International Airport
. Rockefeller bought the land of the nearby Puukoholā Heiau and donated it for a National Historic Park. Original plans were to use architect John Carl Warnecke
and build a series of small cottages, but those plans were abandoned. Instead firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
was hired to use a modern style.
The open-air design allowed natural ventilation from the trade winds, although rooms had air conditioning available. The hotel finally opened in July 1965, one of the most expensive at the time. Hotels with similar designs would be built along the Kohala coast over the next decades.
Ranch owner Richard Smart
negotiated a long term lease of the land. The hotel was named Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
for the mountain Mauna Kea
which is visible above the bay when not obscured by clouds.
Before development hawksbill turtle
s nested on the beach. In 1973 a lawsuit was filed to allow public access to the beach. An agreement was finally reached after seven years of litigation. A small number of parking spaces were made available starting in 1981, and trails opened up along the shoreline.
The bay was only a few miles from the 2006 Hawaii earthquake
which damaged the hotel. The hotel reopened in early 2009.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. A historic hotel is located on the bay, which has given it the name Mauna Kea Beach.
Description
The bay is accessed via Mauna Kea Beach Drive, just west of state Route 19, Hawaii Belt Road, at 20°0′16"N 155°49′30"W, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) south of Kawaihae, Hawaii. A part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic TrailAla Kahakai National Historic Trail
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a long trail located on the island of Hawaii. It is not yet a continuous "trail", but can be accessed at several broken segments along the coastline of the Big Island. The trail was established to access the traditional Ancient Hawaiian culture along with...
can be hiked north to Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park or south to Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area is a large park and sandy beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is also located adjacent to the beach. Hāpuna is popular with residents and visitors....
. Although public restrooms and showers are available, a limited number of parking passes are available at the resort gate.
The beach was named "America's Best Beach" in 2000 by Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
professor Stephen Leatherman
Stephen Leatherman
Stephen P. Leatherman is the director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.In addition to his educational duties, Dr. Leatherman is known for his annual rankings of American beaches, thus earning him the nickname "Dr. Beach".-Education:Leatherman earned his...
.
History
The land above the bay is part of the Parker RanchParker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
. In 1960 the area was a remote, barren, hot lava field unsuitable for cattle grazing. William F. Quinn
William F. Quinn
William Francis Quinn was the Governor of the Territory of Hawai'i from 1957 to 1959 and the Governor of the State of Hawai'i from 1959 to 1962. Originally appointed to the office by President Dwight D...
, the governor of the new state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, invited Laurance Rockefeller
Laurance Rockefeller
Laurance Spelman Rockefeller was a venture capitalist, financier, philanthropist, a major conservationist and a prominent third-generation member of the Rockefeller family. He was the fourth child of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and brother to John D...
to visit the islands as part of a study for a federal commission that Rockefeller chaired. After visiting the ranch, Rockefeller was taken for a swim in the bay. Plans for a resort began in January 1961. The state agreed to pave the Hawaii Belt Road (called the Queen Kaahumanu highway for this section) to the site and build a new Kona International Airport
Kona International Airport
Kona International Airport at Keāhole is an airport on the Island of Hawaii, in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. The airport serves leeward, or Western Hawaii island, including the town of Kailua-Kona and the major resorts of the North Kona and South Kohala districts.- History...
. Rockefeller bought the land of the nearby Puukoholā Heiau and donated it for a National Historic Park. Original plans were to use architect John Carl Warnecke
John Carl Warnecke
John Carl Warnecke was an architect based in San Francisco, California, who designed numerous notable monuments and structures in the Modernist, Bauhaus, and other similar styles. He was an early proponent of contextual architecture. Among his more notable buildings and projects are the Hawaii...
and build a series of small cottages, but those plans were abandoned. Instead firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
was hired to use a modern style.
The open-air design allowed natural ventilation from the trade winds, although rooms had air conditioning available. The hotel finally opened in July 1965, one of the most expensive at the time. Hotels with similar designs would be built along the Kohala coast over the next decades.
Ranch owner Richard Smart
Richard Smart (actor)
Richard Palmer Kaleioku Smart was a musical theatre actor and singer who became owner of the largest private ranch in Hawaii.-Early life:...
negotiated a long term lease of the land. The hotel was named Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a hotel property on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii. It sits at Kaunaoa Bay. The American Institute of Architects awarded the hotel an Honor Award in 1967 citing its "restrained detailing and fine spacial sequences." In 2007, the hotel received honors...
for the mountain Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
which is visible above the bay when not obscured by clouds.
Before development hawksbill turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
s nested on the beach. In 1973 a lawsuit was filed to allow public access to the beach. An agreement was finally reached after seven years of litigation. A small number of parking spaces were made available starting in 1981, and trails opened up along the shoreline.
The bay was only a few miles from the 2006 Hawaii earthquake
2006 Hawaii earthquake
The 2006 Hawaii earthquake was an offshore earthquake occurring southwest from Puakō and north of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, just offshore of the Kona Airport, on Sunday October 15, 2006 at 7:07:49 AM local time . It measured 6.7 on the moment magnitude scale, and was located at , at a depth of...
which damaged the hotel. The hotel reopened in early 2009.