1 North Kaniku Drive, Puako, Island of Hawaii, HI 96743-9731
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Room & Suite (878)
Pool & Beach (875)
Travel safe during COVID-19
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for guests in public areas
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Floors marked for social distancing
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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Updated 11/01/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Fairmont Orchid
Updated 11/01/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#2 of 7 hotels in Puako
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
GreenLeaders Silver level
Inspired by culture, well-being and genuine aloha, Fairmont Orchid is a luxury Hawaii Island resort and spa beautifully located on the majestic Kohala Coast. Resort amenities feature our award-winning Spa Without Walls, a 10,000 square foot oceanfront pool, Hui Holokai Beach Club offering ocean and cultural activities, six restaurants, year-round children's program, golf, fitness center and tennis pavilion.
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Property amenities
Valet parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Diving
Babysitting
Wifi
Paid wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Fitness classes
Sauna
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Poolside bar
Golf course
Snorkeling
Tennis court
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Free shuttle or taxi services
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Car hire
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Convenience store
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
ATM on site
Doorperson
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private beach
Additional bathroom
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
On-demand movies
Room service
Safe
Iron
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Room types
Ocean view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, Japanese
Location
Full view
52Somewhat walkable
Grade: 52 out of 100
76Restaurantswithin 10 km
44Attractionswithin 10 km
Contact
1 North Kaniku Drive, Puako, Island of Hawaii, HI 96743-9731
Getting there
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5556Reviews186Q+A100Room tips
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+1
We all really enjoyed our 10 night stay at the Fairmont Orchid. The view when you enter the lobby is breathtaking. Our room was spacious and so comfortable for the 4 of us and we had the best view (we were lucky to get an upgrade through our travel agent). The pool is very large and the resort never felt overly crowded, which was nice. The entire staff from the front desk, to housekeeping, to the pool, beach shack, and the restaurants were so kind and accommodating. The luau at the Fairmont is spectacular and the food was so good. We loved our first trip to the Big Island and would definitely return!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This Hawaii vacation was for my 50th birthday. The Fairmont Orchid is a beautiful resort. We stayed for 4 nights and did not have time to take advantage of all the things the Fairmont offered but we did attend the luau on Saturday which was wonderful. The buffet had a great assortment of food. My family loved the pork and beef. The desserts were also delicious. One of my two complaints about our stay was our room was very warm. We could not get the room to cool down below 76 but was normally 78 degrees. This was extremely warm and we were always sweating. We slept on top of the covers because of how warm it was. We did have someone come to look at the air conditioner but the person just replaced the filter and blamed it on the small a/c. The second complaint was after the luau at 8:15, it was very dark walking back to our room in the North Tower. All the lights along the path were off and I was not able to see the steps. I missed the bottom step and fell. Luckily I just skinned my knee and scrapped my foot. I was so disappointed to end my birthday like this.…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Loved the free parking.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
From start to finish my experience at the Fairmont Orchid was incredible. I’ve stayed at the Mauna Kea, and the Four Seasons on the big island but my experience at the Fairmont beat them both, and at a much more reasonable price point. Food: 10/10 I ate at every restaurant on the property and everything was delicious. Aside from that, the staff was so friendly and accommodating and the ambiance was so romantic. I could not have asked for a better dining experience. Unreal. Accommodations: 10/10 We were upgraded through American Express to an ocean front room and all I can say is WOW. The view was breathtaking. The room was flawless. The balcony was lovely. There was not a single issue. Truly amazing! Staff: 10/10 As mentioned before, I’ve stayed at luxury properties across the big island with my family. I thought I knew was the highest level of service was like. I was wrong. Somehow, the staff at the Fairmont Orchid managed to raise the bar of “quality service” to unheard of heights. Despite being completely sold out, they managed to make us feel like we were the only ones there. I don’t know what kind of sorcery they use to pull something like that off but WOW! It blew my mind. I wish I could personally thank each and every member of the staff…at all levels. From valet workers to the management, the staff went above and beyond for us. Location: 10/10 While the beach was smaller than others on the big island, I believe this was a benefit to our stay. It makes the experience more intimate, almost like it’s your private beach. Moreover, at properties with larger beaches, staff is stretched too thin or non-existent and no service is offered at all due to the size of the beach and the volume of guests they would have to cater to. Here, however, you have a consistent flow of service from the moment you arrive at the beach until sunset. It’s the best! Additionally, the beach never feels crowded because of its size. Somehow they struck the perfect ratio between size and volume of beach users. Overall: 10/10 I cannot wait to return to the Fairmont Orchid and would highly recommend you give it a try. You will not be let down, you will be blown away.…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
We had a great experience staying here with our toddler. Nicely appointed and awesome beach side restaurant options. Wish they had room service during the day but it’s only offered at breakfast and dinner. Brown’s Beach House was our favorite restaurant!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 3 days ago
Paradise found! Thank-you for sharing your experience and leaving such a great rating! It is wonderful to know what a great stay you had with us and hope you will return one day! I appreciate the feedback regarding In Room Dining. I will share you review with our Director of Food and Beverage. With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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We just spent 4 days on the Gold Floor of this stunning hotel. Our experience started with a seamless and efficient check in, complete with champagne toast and welcome leis. Our room was spectacular and extremely clean. We had an ocean view room that also overlooked the pool. The room was very spacious and elegant. We enjoyed breakfast in the Gold Lounge as well as light appetizers before dinner. We rented a cabana by the lagoon one day. Very reasonable cost and they give you a nice cooler with snacks and drinks. A shout out to Juliana and Samuel, the wonderful staff on the gold floor. Also to the amazing housekeeping staff. We enjoyed nightly turndown service and daily housekeeping. Not all hotels are offering these services. Everyone we encountered was kind, helpful and genuinely friendly. We enjoyed the lagoon for snorkeling, cabana and Browns Beach house for dinner. The hotel shuttle is very convenient to go shopping at the nearby marketplace. We stayed the first 3 days of our trip at another resort on the island. After spending the last 4 days at the Fairmont, I’d never stay anywhere else. Can’t wait to go back next year.…
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Fairmont Gold ocean view
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 3 days ago
The Fairmont Gold experience is so special. I am thrilled to see what a wonderful stay you had with us. Mahalo for taking the time to recognize Juliana and Samuel. I know they will be so encouraged to see your review! I will also be sure to share your review with Housekeeping as well. We strive daily to deliver a wonderful experience and happy to know you are ready to return next year. We look forward to welcoming you back! With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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We were kind of disappointed with this hotel. The hotel seems to be understaffed and keeping up with increase amount of tourists seems to be a struggle! U need to be very patient to order sushi or drinks at the bar while watching the magnificent sunset! Rooms need to be cleaned… our bathroom was dusty, there is a hole in the wall of the powder room…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 3 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your review regarding your most recent visit to our resort. I appreciate your honest feedback and will be sure to share with our team. Should your future travels bring you back to the island, we do hope to have the opportunity to welcome you for an exceptional stay in the future. With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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+1
Amazing family week long vacation. This place is fantastic for families. We loved the private beach for our young boys, the amazing views from the property, the friendliness of the staff and overall location of this fantastic hotel. We would come back.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Ask for a shaded place in the restaurants so flies don’t overtake your dining experience
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 3 days ago
Thank-you for the great rating and taking the time to share about your experience. I am happy to see you would come back! Our team strive to deliver amazing memories for all our guests and wonderful to know your family had such a great stay. With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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+1
Surrounded by black volcanic lava, the resort is nestled against a "beach" with small snorkeling area. Lots of trees surround the pools and cabanas, with tiki torches at night. This creates a beautiful outdoor setting, but alas, the indoor setting is not quite as nice, and certainly not at the prices charged. The paint is old, the furniture scratched, the coffee and tea service unkept, the shower curtain torn and not attached correctly; there are limited plugs, although a few USB charging ports; windows are not sound abating; restaurants have very limited hours. While the staff are friendly, including offering a nightly turndown service, I had to ask for coffee pods, soap, and shampoo each day (even though I was leaving a tip). The line at 6:30 in the morning to go into the restaurant is ridiculously long with an arduous "check-in" process that should be handled at the time of service at your table. Overall, this was not the finest selection when COVID is on-going and the prices are outrageous for so many things (see drink menu!).…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Avoid the left side of the hotel, as the continuously running water feature cannot be drowned out...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 1 week ago
Aloha, Thank you for choosing Fairmont Orchid for your Hawaii Island vacation! We are glad you thought the resort was beautiful outside. The snorkeling and in our bay is outstanding and a favorite of so many. Happy to know you were able to enjoy that while staying with us. I appreciate you taking the time to share your honest feedback regarding our accommodations and dining experience. As we are always looking for opportunities to grow and provide an exceptional experience for each guest, we would like to assure you that your comments have been heard and will be share with our team for review. We do hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future. With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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+1
We booked 2 queen-queen rooms for 10 nights on a Garden View with Breakfast Buffet package. Without asking, the hotel upgraded our rooms ahead of arrival to a better category that overlooked the neighboring golf course. It also had a decent view of the ocean. The room location was very peaceful except for a limited amount of disruption due to 3 private evening events that were held on the lawn between the north building and the ocean. The events only lasted a few hours and ended before 10 PM. The rooms at this hotel do not have blackout drapes. They have sliding shutter doors and light definitely seeps through and around. In the summer, plan on waking up early every day unless you are not affected by light. Since our rooms faced the golf course, the light woke me up around 6 AM. But this was actually a good thing... I'll explain at the bottom of my review. Our rooms had standard furnishings: 2 queen beds, a nightstand with 2 electrical outlets and 2 USB charging ports, and a 3 drawer dresser combo unit (refrigerator and coffee compartments). The refrigerator didn't get very cold (it had electronic cooling instead of compressor w/ refrigerant) but I turned the cold to max and was able to cool my drinks to a reasonable temperature. The side of the dresser combo had HDMI ports but I noticed they hadn't been properly cabled to the TV. There's also a room safe in the closet. The bathrooms were pretty nice. They had marble tile floors, double sinks, a separate door for the toilet area, a bathtub, and a shower stall. There was also a nightlight in the bathroom which made it easy to find the way to the bathroom in the dark. The toiletries were plentiful and pretty good quality. The bath towels were big and absorbent and there were 2 robes hanging on the back of the main door to the bathroom. The Orchid Court breakfast buffet included in our packages was delicious. Plenty of fresh papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and watermelon. There was an omelet station. They always had self serve scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, and either pancakes or french toast. The french toast was outstanding! The bread/pastry/bagel section had a mix of items but my favorite item by far were the malasadas - super fresh square shape sugared donuts! The Brown Deli food was mostly really good. We enjoyed the turkey sandwich, ham sandwich, and chinese chicken salad which were pricey but tasted great. The four cheese pizza was horrible and a waste of money. The Brown's Beach House was very good but some menu items were overcooked. For example, I had five spice duck breast on two different nights and the first night it was super tender and had great mango flavor but the second night it was a little overcooked and lacked flavor. One of the special of the day fish entrees we ordered was a bit overcooked. However, the purple yam bread and honey butter is delicious! The ahi poke is delicious! The big island ka'u coffee venison was great! And one of the two duck entrees was delicious! The hotel has its own beach. It's a small protected cove with good sand. There are plenty of chairs on the beach. They have a hut at the beach to rent snorkeling equipment. Each person is entitled to one hour of rental free per day (I don't think Costco mentions this anywhere). You can also rent paddleboards but you aren't allowed to leave the cove so it's pretty lame. When you snorkel you will see many beautiful varieties of fish as well and you may even encounter some endangered turtles. They have a shower station to rinse off the sand but the one on the far side of the pool by the towel hut is much better. The pool is fine for swimming. I think it's around 4 feet deep everywhere. It's oddly shaped so you cannot do lap swimming if that's your thing. The pool also has a roped off section for adults. The jacuzzi was very hot. The bubbles are normally always on but they didn't work for the first 5 days. The temperature in the jacuzzi was supposedly 105 degrees. The staff at this hotel is absolutely amazing! The front desk staff, the managers and night managers, everyone working at the Orchid Court restaurant, and the extensive housekeeping crew... they really went out of their way with friendliness and excellent service that made our trip awesome. Now, the final comment I want to make is that there are some very interesting places off the property that you can explore on foot. If you wake up at 6 AM, I highly suggest that you follow the beach path south towards and past the Mauna Lani Auberge Hotel. On the walk towards the Auberge you will most likely see a one or two turtles that crawled up onto the sandy beach areas to sleep. Most will slip back into the ocean by 8 AM. Just past the Auberge, there is a narrow walkway between the ocean and a fish pond. From there you will see quite a few different types of fish including pufferfish. And if you keep on walking another couple tenths of a mile towards the dock where they launch scuba boats, you can see many more fun sea creatures like eels. The eels often hide under concrete ledges but stick their snouts out. Wander slowly around the fish ponds and you just might see fish that jump out of the water. Another interesting walk from the Fairmont Orchid is to see the petroglyphs. Walk north by the ocean along the edge of the golf course until you reach the neighboring park. In the parking lot area there is a short paved path that leads you to the petroglyph area. Use your imagination to guess what the carvings represent. There's not much else to do here so it'll be a quick visit. Hope you enjoy your stay at Fairmont Orchid. We loved ours!…
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Rooms in the north building facing the golf course are very quiet. The morning sun might wake you...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 1 week ago
I was so happy to see your review! It is wonderful to know what a wonderful time you had on our property and all the many activities you were able to enjoy. I truly appreciate your feedback about your stay and be assured will share you ideas and experience with our leaders. I am thrilled to mention we are making changes daily and many amazing changes starting very soon into 2023. I love the hike you described at well. Early morning along the ocean is mesmerizing. I hope you can return one day and repeat your amazing stay. Would love for you to meet our Director of Hawaiian Culture and have you join the hike with her to the petroglyph park. The history and stories are so great to hear. We do hope you can return to our beautiful island and all it has to offer some day! We look forward to welcoming you back! With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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Our family has visited the Fairmont Orchid multiple times. And every time, it’s wonderful! But our most recent trip was exceptional. Traveling post-C19 has been challenging due to low staffing and a general decrease in customer care. But not at The Orchid! Every bit of our stay was top notch. The staff have a comfortable professionalism that perfectly reflects Hawaii. The rooms were updated and spotlessly clean. The food was better than we remember and service was excellent. The entire trip we were asked “Is there anything we can do to make your stay better?” And though it seemed impossible anything could make it better, they offered us an upgrade at a reasonable rate so we took it! To our surprise it was an ocean view suite! Our expectations are often high, but the Fairmont Orchid exceeded them in every way! We can’t wait to be back!!…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Barbara Nakamura, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont Orchid
Responded 1 week ago
Top notch and making family memories! That is outstanding! Mahalo for continuing to return and trusting us with your special trip! It is wonderful to see how well our team took care of you! We can't wait to welcome you back! With warm aloha, Barbie Nakamura Director of Quality
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PRICE RANGE
US$604 - US$1,044 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the fairmont orchid, hawaii hotel waimea, fairmont hotel kamuela, fairmont orchid hawaii, fairmont kamuela, kamuela fairmont
LOCATION
United StatesHawaiiIsland of HawaiiKohala CoastPuako
NUMBER OF ROOMS
540
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Fairmont Orchid
Which popular attractions are close to Fairmont Orchid?
Nearby attractions include Kona Kozy's Comedy & Magic Show (1.1 km), The Shops At Mauna Lani (1.1 km), and Te 'E'a O Te Turama Hula Halau (1.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Fairmont Orchid?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Fairmont Orchid?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Fairmont Orchid?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Fairmont Orchid?
Conveniently located restaurants include CanoeHouse, Brown's Beach House, and Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Fairmont Orchid?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Fairmont Orchid have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Fairmont Orchid offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Fairmont Orchid have airport transportation?
Yes, Fairmont Orchid offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Fairmont Orchid?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Fairmont Orchid offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.