Hapuna Golf Course

Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay opened Hapuna in 1992 as the second course at the Mauna Kea Resort, complementing the marquee Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout next door. Hapuna has dramatic elevation changes from sea level to 750 feet with Kohala Coast ocean views from every hole, measuring just under 6,900 yards. When it opened, Golf Magazine named it the most environmentally sensitive course and the U.S. Golf Association called it 'Course of the Future' — both meaningful at a time when desert-and-lava resort builds were getting heavy environmental scrutiny. Golf Digest currently has it 19th in Hawaii (2023-24), with a peak inside the top 15 in 1997. Golf Advisor has had it as high as #5 in the state. Resort-tier pricing in the $$$ band, slightly below the marquee Mauna Kea course rate. Pairs naturally as the second round of any Big Island Mauna Kea stay.