I'm researching hotels on the BI for our scuba/Anniversary trip in January 2004. I've narrowed it down to the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel or the Mauna Kea. But here is my concern - I've heard it is on the beach, but according to the maps it is a little far from the actual coast. Will we see the sunsets over the ocean from our hotel? And - we want to snorkel and practice our scuba diving in front of our hotel - is this possible? Any information would be appreciated. We have our flights, just need to have a place to stay. Thank you!

Oops - I mis-spelled - I meant Haupuna Beach - sorry.

My wife and I will be at the Hapuna Beach Prince 11/6-9. This is our first trip to Hawaii. The resort is on the beach. I suggest you do a Hapuna Beach topic search. You will find a number of messages about the resort. Also suggest you go to the resort web page www.princeresortshawaii.com. Check out their Hot Deals and other info about the resort.

It's off to one side of the beach. So you walk up from the beach then there is the pool and landscaping then the rooms. It's a great spot.

He stayed at the Hapuna Prince in September and it is beachfront. It is a gorgeous beach and hotel. I posted a review if you want to know more.

I meant to say "We" not "He".

Both hotels are directly on the beach. We just returned from the Prince. Beach is directly below the hotel's rooms wing. Nice beach, very nice sand. Beaches of the two hotels are separated by a rocky outcropping so not connected directly. The Prince is a wonderful place. We have stayed in many hotel all around the world and we rate this hotel as one of the very best we have ever used. Excellent rooms, grounds, staff, and meal service. Just overall an excellent and great place to stay.

To be specific so there is no confusion, Hapuna Prince is on the north end of Hapuna Beach (making it convienent for out and back strolls). The hotel is positioned so you look "down" south the length of the beach. Hapuna Beach does live up to the #1 ranking it got a few years back from the Travel Channel. It is pretty long as Hawaiian crescent shaped beaches go and the swimming/snorkeling is very good. I snorkeled several times with turtles along the rocks nearest the hotel. There's some local flavor on the far end of the beach (which I think is a plus) since there is a state park with manned life guard towers but the beach is so big, you won't even notice this looking down from the Hapuna Prince.

The Mauna Kea is on Kauna'oa Bay Beach. Also a classic crescent shape, it is about a 1/3 of the size of Hapuna Beach. The hotel sits similarly at the north end of this beach. If you were up for it and are strong swimmers, you could snorkel around the rocky bend from Hapuna Beach to this beach. It would probably take 45-60 min. one way.

While these two hotels are 'sister resorts' with full signing priviliges and facility usage at each (restaurants, golf, tennis etc.), they are not close enough that you'd just pop out of your room and decide which beach of the two to go to. There is a free shuttle available every 20 min. or so or you could walk it on golf course maintenence roads or the shoreline path (both about 10-15 minutes). The shoreline path is not paved or lighted and it is literally a foot path. That being said, this path runs another 2 miles north and it was one of the best trail run/hike I've ever had. Just be careful not to twist an ankle.

If I had to recommend one or the other, I'd say Hapuna Prince hands down. Better beach, in general larger rooms, friendly and helpful staff, and there was something about the way the trees framed the view of the beach from poolside that was so relaxing. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat. There are free birdseye views of the hotels at the www.wizardpub.com website. Note that the visible portion of Hapuna Beach in the photo is only a fraction of the whole beach. Enjoy.