The owners of Hawaii Island’s Hamakua Hotel are hoping to offer visitors something brand new: luxurious accommodations and a top-notch culinary experience on the destination’s eastern coast.
"One of the most common things I hear from guests is, ‘We love the idea of experiencing this side of the island but still staying in luxury,’” said Eric Lochtefeld, who purchased the eight-room boutique property with his wife, Lori, in 2020. “And I just don't think that has been available in the past.”
Located on Hawaii Island’s stunning Hamakua Coast — about 11 miles north of Hilo by car — Hamakua Hotel celebrated its grand opening last July after wrapping up work on a $2.5 million renovation.
Although Hawaii Island offers a range of luxury properties on the western Kona coast, there aren’t many high-end options on the island’s lush eastern Hilo side. Lochtefeld told me the adults-only Hamakua Hotel appeals to luxury-minded couples who want to dedicate a few days to visiting east side highlights such as Akaka Falls, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, the town of Hilo and, of course, the must-see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
“If they're coming to the Big Island for seven nights, they're staying maybe four nights over at one of the resorts on the Kohala coast, such as the Four Seasons or Mauna Lani,” Lochtefeld said. “Then, they're giving us a try, and we're getting them with our three-night minimum to come here, and we seem to be a really good fit.”
Transformed Accommodations
Longtime Hawaii Island aficionados may remember when Hamakua Hotel was The Palms Cliff House Inn, an award-winning bed-and-breakfast that operated for 25 years. I spent a couple terrific nights at Palms Cliff House more than a decade ago, so my stay earlier this spring at the now elegantly transformed Hamakua Hotel did jar loose a few long-forgotten memories.
New owners spent $1.5 million renovating Hamakua Hotel, including dramatic overhauls to each of the luxury boutique’s eight guestrooms.
Credit: 2025 Hamakua HotelFor example, the 25-acre property is still home for the same easygoing brand of calm and jaw-dropping ocean vistas I remembered loving so much on my visit all those years ago. But this trip, I was definitely impressed by my dramatically overhauled guestroom, which featured a sprawling oceanfront lanai and an oversize interior soaking tub with an ocean view. All the new guestrooms have also been outfitted with Nespresso coffee machines, personal fridges, oversize walk-in stone and glass showers, air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi and flat screen smart televisions.
"We didn't replace any electrical or plumbing,” Lochtefeld told me about the property-wide renovation. “But ‘completely redesigned’ would be the expression I would use.”
Work also included the addition of a brand-new infinity pool and large hot tub along with a new spa facility that features room for massage treatments, a cold plunge pool and an infrared sauna.
Lochtfeld says the property’s four, 375-square-foot Oceanfront Standard rooms start at $699 a night, while the property’s four, 500-square-foot Oceanfront Suites cost $799 a night. All the rates are commissionable to travel advisors at 10%, and the hotel requires guests to stay a minimum of three nights.
One-of-a-Kind Dining
While the property’s multimillion-dollar refurbishment has certainly been a standout success, the most noteworthy enhancement at Hamakua Hotel may well be its reimagined culinary experience, which now features a complimentary six-course tasting menu dinner Tuesday and Friday nights offered exclusively to hotel guests.
"We're the only ones on this island — I can't speak for the other islands — doing French-style cuisine with Hawaiian ingredients,” Lochtefeld said of the boutique’s marvelous new dinner experiences. “And then, I'm not aware of any other hotel or restaurant here that has brought in a chef from Europe that has Michelin mentions to actually create their meals and their menus.”
Hamakua Hotel guests can enjoy an exclusive six-course dining experience Tuesday and Friday nights at the property.
Credit: 2025 Hamakua HotelAccording to Lochtefeld, acclaimed English chef Edward Delling-Williams — who has enjoyed success at his Parisian eateries, Le Grand Bain and Le Petit Grain — flies into Hawaii Island quarterly to develop menus for the Tuesday and Friday night dinners, making use of as many island-produced ingredients as possible.
Guests can also sample handcrafted island-infused cocktails Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings during the property’s popular happy hour from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday nights are also a chance for guests to enjoy a gourmet cookout experience, where executive chef Joseph Martinez gets creative with the outdoor grill. The hotel’s room rate also includes complimentary coffee, specialty teas, tropical fruits and fresh baked pastries starting at 6 a.m. daily in the dining room.
"We include our happy hours and our meals in the price of the room, so if you come for three nights and you happen to come on a Friday and Saturday, you are getting two pretty incredible meals and happy hours those nights,” Lochtefeld said. “So it's about as close to an all-inclusive luxury experience as you can get on the island.”
