Hamakua Hotel

11/29/2024

Hey Hamakua Hotel fans. We have a very special Black Friday offer to vacation at our sister property, the famed Waterfalling Estate. It is for this coming April only. We invite you to check it out.

11/11/2024

We got written up in the Fall/Winter addition of Luxury Magazine. Just a small blurb but quite an honor as a brand new hotel. Luxury Magazine is direct mailed in print to Mastercard’s top cardholders.

09/03/2024

Hosted our very first wedding at Hamakua Hotel this Labor Day weekend. So fun!

07/26/2024

Hot off the Press! The Hamakua Hotel makes the news!!! Enjoy

Hamakua Hotel, a unique luxury adults-only retreat on Hawaii's Hāmākua Coast, offers exclusive amenities, culinary excellence, and innovative features like in-room holograms for a distinguished guest experience.

07/10/2024

Sunset Happy Hour is an institution at Hamakua Hotel. Mixologist Stacey Breainkg’s Mocktails & Cocktails are inspiration in a glass.

07/10/2024

Meet George Owen. This is his happy place, fifty feet up in the air doing something he loves that few get to experience. George takes care our 200+ palm trees and overall landscaping at Hamakua Hotel. Thanks to George, our trees are healthy and our guest’s views are nearly as unobstructed as his are. 😎

07/09/2024

Nice of Mayor of Hawai’i Mitch Roth and his wife Noriko to be two of our very first guests on our opening weekend. What a lovely couple. So excited to be open. www.HamakuaHotel.com

07/05/2024

Now that we are officially open, it is time to introduce you to our General Manager Valerie Mendoza. This is her story.

“Fresh out of high school, I came to Hawaii to learn organic farming. I volunteered on a goat farm, sleeping in a tent for nine months. Life led me to the Palms Cliff House, where I made breakfast and did odd jobs in exchange for a better tent and shower. Humble beginnings for sure!

Over the years, I’d quit, but always end up coming back. The property seems to be my kuleana, the Hawaiian word that roughly translates as “responsibility and privilege.”

When Eric purchased the property in 2020, he asked the seller if they had any outstanding employees they could recommend. They said, “There was this one girl…..” Eric called and made me an offer to become part of his dream. He took me under his wing and inspired me to grow, dream and step fully into my potential.

When he named me General Manager of Hamakua Hotel and offered me his home, it felt surreal considering I began on the property in a tent. I feel deeply grateful for the incredible journey that brought me here.”

07/05/2024

We just checked in our very first guests to our brand new Hamakua Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii. We are so excited that we took a short walk over to our Story Studio to make sure that the rest of the world knows that we are in fact, open. Click below to see what we discovered!

P.S. - We are the first hotel in the world to have a Hologram machine in every room.

Book today at www.HamakuaHotel.com

07/03/2024

Aloha! We officially open as a brand new boutique luxury hotel this weekend. We are so excited to finally begin operating after eight months of renovations. Until today, we had to use AI generated renderings to showcase what our rooms were going to look like after they were completed. Not any more! We are excited to finally share real photos for the very first time with you. Thank you to our wonderful local Hawaii resident photographer Demian Barrios for capturing their essence and beauty. We hope to host you soon in one of our oceanfront rooms.

https://www.hamakuahotel.com/our-rooms/

06/08/2024

Introducing our Executive Chef, Joseph Martinez

"My story is a bit different than the rest of our team, cause my journey to this incredible oasis actually started in early 2020 when Eric first had the property in escrow. Covid had just struck, and I was stuck in a place I did not want to be, clamoring to return to my beloved Hawaii. Then my prayers were answered. An unexpected phone call came. “Hey Joseph” Eric said, “Do you want to move to the Big Island with me and build a retreat center that inspires people?” It felt like the Universe heard my prayers.

Four years, and about seventy-five joyous retreats later, I chose to leave Hawaii again. But this time, it wasn’t due to a virus, it was due to love. My fiancé and I are about to have a child together. We bought our dream house in Oregon to get married and grow our family. But, part of my heart will always remain in Hawaii, so when Eric made another call, this time asking me if I could return to Hawaii from time to time, my answer was the same as before."

06/07/2024

Meet our Resident Chef Abby Jane Wiltse.

"My passion for cooking began in my mother’s South Louisiana kitchen. I am inspired to create unique recipes by studying traditional techniques and experimenting our tropical ingredients. My Big Island culinary adventure started over a decade ago while volunteering in the kitchen at Kalani, an internationally-known retreat center.

From there, I formed my own private chef service, specializing in catering wellness retreats. Eric experienced my eclectic cooking style when I prepared dinners for his guests at his nearby Waterfalling Estate. This led to him offering me the Resident Chef position. I look forward to collaborating with Chef Edward to create memorable dining experiences for you."

Abby

06/07/2024

Introducing our Chief Marketing Officer Lori Lochtefeld.

“Love brought me to Hamakua Hotel. Love of Hawaii, love of beauty, love of new things, love of adventure, and most of all, love of my husband Eric.

You see, he watched a movie called “Field of Dreams” when he was a teenager, and in our eighteen years of marriage, never stopped quoting a line from the movie “IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!” As Chief Marking Officer, I look forward to making his dream a reality while doing what I love to do too!”

Lori

05/13/2024

At Hamakua Hotel we believe that everyone has a story to share. By investing in the construction of a Story Production Studio complete with dozens of instruments, podcast equipment, a Hologram machine, and video studio kit, we would like to help you bring yours to life. It's all part of the experience when you treat yourself to a vacation at Hamakua Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii.

05/13/2024

Introducing Chef-Owner Edward Delling-Williams. This is his story.

"At 12, in an English village where the only jobs were packing charcoal or working at the pub, I discovered my calling in the kitchen. Crafting simple yet extraordinary meals with local ingredients, I fell deeply in love with cooking. Later, working in celebrated London restaurants made me realize how fantastic our pub food truly was. My passion led me to open renowned restaurants in Paris and Normandy, where I live today. When Eric asked me to join the Hamakua Hotel, I got goosebumps—a sign it was meant to be. I'm excited to discover Hawaii's local land-to-sea ingredients and create unforgettable dining experiences for our guests."

05/12/2024

Happy Mother's Day from the staff at the Hamakua Hotel! May you have a great day!

05/12/2024

Introducing Patrick Combs, our Director of Storytelling. This is his story.

“When my friend Eric called to ask, “Patrick, what is the most special experience we could offer guests at our Hamakua Hotel?” At first, I drew a blank. An hour passed before a mysterious force whispered the idea like a bolt of truth from the sky: “The world’s first story hotel. Because everyone has a story. Give people an experience that helps them share their stories.” The speaker, writer and actor in me instantly loved the idea. When I called Eric overflowing with enthusiasm, he replied, “I love it, on the condition that you’ll be the Director of Storytelling.” And so, my path led me to Hamakua.”

05/12/2024

Introducing our Director of Hydration, Mixologist Stacey Breining. This is her story.

“When Eric first bought the Palms Cliff House, I was bartending in Hilo and doing roller derby. I was excited when a friend said Eric was looking for a mixologist and she’d recommend me. When nothing materialized, I was disappointed. Then, magically, a year later, a friend got the job and invited me to join! It felt destined. I discovered a passion for creating ‘tropical meets seasonal drinks’ using local ingredients. I love my job and the ocean views are bonus pay! As Director of Hydration, I pour my passion into every drink, crafting memorable experiences for our guests.”