The First Luxury Hotel Opens on the Hāmākua Coast on Hawaiʻi Island

Hawaiʻi Island is known for its active volcanoes, breathtaking sunsets and stunning black-sand beaches.

And its collection of luxe accommodations is growing, too.

This summer the adults-only, eight-room Hāmākua Hotel opened, perched on a 100-foot sea cliff along the rugged Hāmākua Coast. The hotel—formerly the Palms Cliff House Inn—sprawls across 25 beautiful acres located 11 miles north of Hilo.

The rooms boasts private oceanfront lānai (balcony), air conditioning, flat-screen smart TVs and free WiFi along with breakfast, happy-hour cocktails and multi-course dinners. Larger rooms feature oversize soaking tubs overlooking the ocean.

Larger rooms at the Hāmākua Hotel features oversize soaking tubs with ocean views.
Photo: Courtesy of the Hāmākua Hotel

“We are extremely excited to welcome visitors to the finest hotel experience on the Hāmākua Coast,” co-owner Eric Lochtefeld said in a news release. “We have assembled an incredibly talented and hospitable team whose priority is providing an exceptional stay for our guests filled with seamless services and aloha spirit.”

Part-time Hawaiʻi Island residents, Lochtefeld and his wife, Lori, bought the property—formerly the award-winning Palms Cliff House Inn—in 2020 and spent $1.5 million renovating it. They saw the need for luxury hotel accommodations in the area. They call the vibe “luxe meets laid back.”

And the hotel offers unique vacation experiences you won’t find along the Hāmākua Coast:

• Guests will be treated to a six-course seasonal menu created by chef-owner Edward Delling-Williams, one of France’s up-and-coming chefs and proprietor of the Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning pub The Presbytere in Heugueville-sur-Sienne on the Normandy Coast.
• Hāmākua Hotel is the first hotel to have award-winning Proto mini hologram units in every room and will beam in renowned coaches and experts from around the world. Guests also have exclusive access to a professional production studio where they can write, play music, or record podcasts.

The outdoor lānai lounge (left) and the Yurts Spa.
Photo: Courtesy of the Hāmākua Hotel

Hotel amenities include the Yurts Spa, which offers a variety of body and wellness treatments, and a 1-mile hiking trail that leads to the ocean. Later this year, the hotel plans to open an oceanfront infinity pool.

Nightly rates are from $599 and include fresh breakfast treats, high-end tequila tastings, sunset happy hour with craft cocktails and mocktails served by a mixologist, and six course gourmet dinners paired with wines.

To book or learn more, visit hamakuahotel.com.