So it is with the famed Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island. The resort is along the West coast of Hawaii where the lava flows came down from Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. That means really lousy beaches. Like you’d find in North Carolina or New Jersey.

We’re talking big ugly rocks. Sharp, jagged, toe-cutting, flesh shredding lava rock. The kind of rock the super villain should fall upon while tumbling down a 2,000 foot cliff.

However, if you’re a famed resort builder and you own a piece of the rock, and everyone around you has pristine beaches, there’s only one thing you can do.

Charge more money.

So it is (again) with the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on the Kona side of the Big Island. $750 a night should get you a good beach. An excellent beach. A famed beach. A world class beach. In fact, $750 a night will get you such a beach. With about $500 a night left over for a big dinner and 59 mai tai drinks.

But not at the Hualalai.

$750 a night will get you a nice town house suite. With a fan. You might get the outdoor shower (very cool). You could be lucky and get the ocean view instead of the golf course view. The service will be very good and attentive—even if you don’t ask for anything.

But you won’t get a good beach.

The sand is crummy at Hualalai—some of it is trucked in to the beach because the natural sand is even more crummy than the trucked in sand. Warning and No Swimming signs are more abundant than Taco Bell wrappers and empty KFC boxes at Anna Nicole’s house.

The beach is rocky. Not ‘rocky’ as in Bullwinkle and Rocky. Rocky as in “don’t walk on this stuff if you know what’s good for you” rocky.

The beach is treacherous. It would appear as if the “No Swimming Allowed” sign is made of etched words in concrete and permanently embedded in the rock lining the beach.

Still, the service makes up for the beach’s shortcomings. Unless you really wanted a good beach.

Summary: Not all world class resorts have great beach front property in Hawaii. Of course, not everyone needs a great beach to enjoy the hotel’s great service. Not everyone is content with the lack of an in-suite microwave oven while the roast duck is getting cold in the refrigerator.

But I rant.

At $375 a night for Kamaaina rate, I deserve a little rant time.

Pros: Ask the resort about their beach. Is it on a Top 10 List? If so, which list? Worst or best?

Cons: Any postcard photograph can make a beach look great

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.

I have spent time on the east coast and find that if you know where to look you can find beautiful beaches in North Carolina, New Jersey and yes on our Big Island. Next time you should do more net surfing to find the right beach.

sandra