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Holiday movies often transport viewers to ideal locales, and there are usually two kinds of backdrops: sand or snow. For the snowbirds looking to get away from all of the inconveniences that unfortunately come with snow (the real truth left out of those films), Hawaii is one of the idyllic locations that always lives up to the promise of these pictures. And one of the most popular Hawaiian hotels gearing up for a major holiday season is Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore.
Recently renovated, the Hollywood favorite (perhaps most famous for being the setting of 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, among other films and television shows) is a dreamlike oasis tucked within Turtle Bay with the waves of the Pacific Ocean lapping up on Kuilima Cove. But the luxury resort has its mind on the future with sustainable upgrades and access to its own local farm.
This past summer, Turtle Bay Resort completed a multi-million dollar renovation from top to bottom, elevating the suites and public spaces that meet modern luxury standards while retaining the charm that has made the resort a destination since the property first opened in 1972. The restoration was made possible in part thanks to a change of ownership; Blackstone Real Estate purchased the resort in 2018, which kickstarted the mega renovation. Blackstone invests in and owns numerous luxury properties, worldwide. Beyond Turtle Bay Resort, in North America, Blackstone owns the Hilton Grand Wailea in Maui; the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego; and Great Wolf Resorts.
“We are big believers in Hawaii and have invested more than $250 million to ensure the iconic Turtle Bay Resort delivers a best-in-class guest experience and remains a timeless destination for generations to come,” said Brian Kaufman, managing director for Blackstone, tells Fortune.
For example, the hotel became the first Oahu resort with a solar roof installation in 2013, saving 1,000 barrels of oil annually, diverting from extra production of electricity. And in 2021, the resort added more solar panel arrays to the private bungalows.
Additionally, being a consistently hot and tropical environment means excessive air conditioning, but the resort strives to cut back on excessive use with the installation of an energy management system that automates chillers and air conditioning systems in areas not in use. Each room also has a monitor installed that turns off air conditioning when the patio doors aren’t fully closed, and allows for room temperature settings to be updated upon check-in or the start of an event.
Spanning nearly 1,300 acres, the resort hosts 408 guest rooms and suites (each one having an ocean view) and 42 private waterfront bungalows. Tucked away from the main building, the bungalows are by reservation access only, with its own adult-only pool (and bartender) as well as complimentary self-parking and valet service. Each bungalow also has a fully furnished outdoor lānai that leads out to a grass lawn and the water’s edge.
If they choose to, guests could easily spend their entire stay in Hawaii at the resort itself with numerous activities and dining options available onsite, starting with the signature restaurant Alaia, daytime favorite Beach House (conveniently right on the beach), and the Ocean Club Lounge, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with some of the most breathtaking views in the area. (Access to the club is dependent on booking a room with Ocean Club concierge services.)
All of the dining options onsite source their fruit and vegetables from Kuilima Farm, which is located directly across the road from the resort with over 460 acres of dedicated agricultural land. Having launched only four years ago, Kuilima Farm is among one of the very few farms across the state of Hawaii that is a USDA food safety certified farm.
Managed by Pono Pacific, Hawaii’s first and largest natural resource conservation company, Kuilima Farm was founded upon the model of a public and private partnership to advance food sustainability and sovereignty in Hawaii. (Currently, more than 85% of Hawaii’s food is imported, a problem only illuminated during the early days of the pandemic, which elevated food insecurity and shortages in the state.)
While Kuilima Farm’s primary partnership is with Turtle Bay Resort, the farm also partners with local food producers, offering plots starting at five acres to food producers who are devoted to high-efficiency and sustainable farming techniques as well as those dedicated to obtaining food safety certification.
Kuilima Farm also includes the Laulima Gardens, a collective of 34 community garden plots available to North Shore organizations and community members. And soon, a garden dedicated to La‘au Lapa‘au, a Hawaiian medicinal plant, will also be available for cultural practitioners and guests alike.
Guests can schedule 45-minute tours (on select days of the week) of Kuilima Farm, where they will learn more about the history and culture of the property (including about the historical divisions of land among native Hawaiian communities and the cultural practice of farming from mountains to the ocean) and modern farming techniques with the enclosed hydroponic system, integrating techniques to produce more food in small, protected spaces while recycling more water. (Younger guests can even go on special scavenger hunts for their favorite fruits and veggies as well.) There is also a farm stand open daily where guests and locals can pick up a wide variety of fruits and sweets made by local sellers.
Back on the property, some of the most notable upgrades include the 11,000-square-foot Nalu Spa (which is moving toward primarily using Hawaiian skincare and wellness brands with locally sourced ingredients) and a state-of-the-art fitness center, the latter of which is open all hours—a bonus for anyone working odd hours with the time difference from the mainland or still getting over the jet lag.
Guests also have access to 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, four swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and full access to seven beaches. (Notably, all of the beaches in the state of Hawaii are open to the public.) And with the North Shore being one of the best spots for surfing in the entire world (not hyperbole), there is a surf school, too.
Being a family-friendly resort (as well as one quite popular with groups of friends as well as hosting wedding, banquets, and corporate meetings), Turtle Bay Resort has a full calendar for holiday programming, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve pre-fixe menus at fine dining establishment Alaia for dinner, a champagne breakfast as well as a brunch buffet on Christmas Day, and a fireworks display and soirée with a live show by Cirque du Soleil-style performers on New Year’s Eve.
Approximately an hour from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, the resort is easily accessible by car—either rental or the hotel’s preferred shuttle service, North Shore Connection.
Room rates start at approximately $708 per night for a resort guest room and $1,746 per night for a bungalow.