Hapuna Golf Course

Overview: Hapuna Golf Course sits on the dry Kohala Coast above the Pacific, where lava outcrops, open grassland and ocean wind define the setting. The Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design uses the volcanic ground as a playing feature, with elevation changes and exposed approaches that make the course feel different from the lush resort layouts elsewhere on the island.

History: The course opened in 1992 as part of the Mauna Kea Resort development. Hawaii State Golf Association ratings list the championship layout at 6,895 yards and par 72, with additional regular and tournament tee measurements. The routing remains associated with Palmer and Seay’s work on the resort property.

Did You Know? Hapuna’s name refers to the nearby white-sand beach, but the golf course itself is built in the much darker, younger volcanic landscape above the coast. The contrast between pale beach sand, black lava and dry grass is visible from the fairways.