Unplug, thrive, and discover the lush beauty of Hokulia.

BY MARK PAZDUR, PUBLISHER

KONA, BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII: Soil is perhaps the most significant aspect of a golf course that most players never think of. It impacts everything from construction costs, design character, and ongoing agronomy expenses. Each golf course architect has a differing thought on what makes for an outstanding routing. When asking Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, or Ben Crenshaw what makes a quality design, they will have three different opinions. One aspect all golf course architects agree: sandy soil is the best for maintaining pristine playing conditions. Its porous nature allows for quick drainage, room to establish roots, and retain nutrients deeper underground.

Golf Course Architecture 101

There are many soil types, with most golf courses resting either on sand, silt, or clay compositions.

Hokulia, with its stunning Jack Nicklaus Signature course, is unique. Its oceanfront design rests on crushed lava rock that is as porous, if not more so, than sand. The exclusive community is set in the heart of the Kona Coffee Belt, parallel to the shoreline on Hawaii Island’s famed “gold” coast. The zone, approximately 30 miles long and two to three miles wide, offers ideal coffee-growing conditions. Some say it’s the best natural growing conditions in the world for coffee—and golf.

The route off Highway 19 leading to the Hokulia bypass is called Kamehameha III Hwy. (the third king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854, who redistributed lands among the government, nobility, and commoners). “The Hawaiian thought Aloha Aina means ‘love of the land’ but it is more than that,” explained Carrie Nicholson, Director of Sales at Hokulia. “Fundamentally, it is the Hawaiian practice of stewardship: take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.”

The area surrounding Hokulia played an important part in Hawaiian history. “Our typography is vastly different than what you would find at other golf communities that dot the landscape on the island’s coastal plain,” continued Nicholson. “Since we are on the leeward side of several tall mountains, we are sheltered by prevailing winds. Thus, vegetation thrives versus being stunted by strong breezes. For centuries, Hawaiians would harvest nearby koa trees for their strength and beauty to build canoes for traveling from island to island, warfare, and fishing.”

Aloha Done Right

Hokulia is a large parcel of land that stretches quickly from the coast to an elevation of 1,250 feet. The temperature change can be noticeable. In addition to its Nicklaus course, members enjoy a three-mile-long, west-facing shoreline park; paddleboarding in Nawawa Bay; an ocean-view fitness center; an Olympic-length lap pool; an open-air yoga pavilion; and racquet sports including pickleball and tennis.

“We offer authentic Hawaii living as meant to be, away from the island’s densely populated resort bubbles,” said Nicholson. “It’s a special place with a great sense of community and views that seemingly stretch along the entire Kona Coast. With our recently completed golf course renovation and expanded amenities, our positive momentum yields more momentum.

“The Kona/Kohala Coast has long been known as a premier golf destination. Each of our competitors offers a slightly different niche on the ideal lifestyle,” advised Nicholson. “You need to determine what resonates for your family. If you are looking for a grand clubhouse, Hokulia probably isn’t for you. Our membership tends to be low-key and less pretentious. Each of our nine open aired pavilions with Polynesian-inspired accents is designed to capitalize on our tranquil climate and cooling breezes. The bottom line: There’s no place like our pavilion bar to enjoy a mango daiquiri at sunset.”

For more information, please visit Hokulia.com.