Makani Golf Club

One of my favorites! The 17th and 18th hole are absolutely wonderful! The whole course is just fun!!

Decent locals course up in the mountains. Pretty good conditions. Worth a play.

After arriving to a tent for a clubhouse and mats on the range, Although it was a bit dry and lacking watering, I was pleasantly surprised with the layout and design. It was obviously a professionally designed course that rewarded good shots and punished bad ones. Lost 3 balls and made 5 birdies. Holes 17 & 18 were great finishing holes.

Makani Golf Club offers a truly memorable golfing experience, blending warm hospitality with a scenic layout that showcases the beauty of Hawai‘i. From the moment you arrive, the staff stands out for their friendliness and helpfulness, making you feel welcome and supported throughout your round.

The course itself is thoughtfully designed, with a layout that keeps play engaging and varied. The views are spectacular—rolling fairways framed by lush landscapes and sweeping vistas that remind you why golf in Hawai‘i is so special. The highlight comes at the finish: two outstanding closing holes crafted by Perry Dye that provide both challenge and drama, leaving a lasting impression as you walk off the 18th green.

While the overall experience is excellent, there are a couple of areas that could use improvement. Some fairways were inconsistent in quality, and a few greens showed spotty coverage. These minor issues didn’t overshadow the enjoyment of the round but are worth noting for future refinement.

Bottom line: Makani Golf Club is a welcoming, scenic course with standout design and staff. With a bit more attention to fairway and green conditions, it has the potential to be one of the premier courses on the big island.

Course played better than expected. A few challenging holes. Well worth the drive up to play

Great golf holes. Plenty of challenge. Loved all the variety of vegetation and scenery. Great views of both mountains. Would definitely return.

Course has a really nice layout, not too long, and challenging. Fairways and greens in great condition and the carts had good power/speed! Definitely would recommend to others and play again. The carts come with a couple of waters and ice, bring your own snacks.

For 30 years we have enjoyed this course as it has morphed over the years. We do miss the animals that used to roam freely….but it is a lovely golf experience….do your best to keep the ball in the short hair and you,ll finish with a big smile,

Truly enjoyed this course. The layout and the vegetation simply beautiful.

This is a great course layout (Dye Design) that just needs investors or a management team to operate and maintain the course properly.

There is no clubhouse. A lot of additional mowing and trimming are needed. The “pro shop” is in a tent that desperately needs repairs or replacement. The Driving range is funky as you have to hit down into a gully, so there’s no way to properly assess distance. There is no food service of any kind there.

The people working there were great. This course could be a real winner however, some serious investment and TLC is needed.

Being that everything is expensive in Hawaii, the cost of playing this course may seem a bit high, but it is a good value. There was hardly anybody there, the pace of play was relaxed, without stress and you could make it what you want. Everyone there was super friendly and welcoming. Being up in the mountains and away from the west Shoreline was a beautiful change for the day. The holes were definitely challenging, but super fun. My son and husband commented that whether you play from the blues or the blacks, it would challenge even the best golfer. The forward tees were extremely accommodating for any beginner or senior player.

Very nice layout….unfortunately, like most courses there, they are experiencing a four year drought.

Really fun track up in the country about 30 min from civilization. Tee boxes are chewed up at best and fairways patchy but fortunately the greens were very good. Cooler air than down at sea level but greater chance of showers too. Can be challenging for all levels depending on tees selected. Much better value than the overpriced ocean front tracks.