The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, located on the northwestern Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, has been inducted into the Historic Hotels of America, an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Opened in 1965 and founded by venture capitalist and conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is the only property in Hawaii created with a midcentury modern design aesthetic, according to property officials.
The luxury hotel, a member of Marriott's Autograph Collection, features 252 rooms, is home to the 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course and fronts a white-sand beach along Kaunaoa Bay.
The lobby of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
"As the first resort hotel built on the Kohala Coast, renowned for its timeless design and architectural excellence, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is honored to be selected for membership in this distinguished organization comprised of some of the most historically significant buildings in America," general manager Craig Anderson said in a statement.
Nominated hotels must be must be at least 50 years old and designated by the U.S. secretary of the interior as a National Historic Landmark or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Induction is based on the property's quality of accommodations, its historic significance and record of preserving authenticity, sense of place and architectural integrity.
Thus far in 2016, 34 hotels have been added to the Historic Hotels of America program, which was founded in 1989 and features more than 275 properties.
Hawaii is home to four other members of the Historic Hotels of America collection. Three are on Oahu: the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa; the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; and the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The fourth is the 11-guestroom Hotel Lanai, a Hawaiian Plantation-style property built in 1923 by James Dole.