The Newest Luxury May be Connection

The Mauna Lani, part of The Auberge Collection on the Big Island, is one of my favorite hotels, and I have favorite places on the property that I go back to again and again. Like what I call the 'nursery,' a spreading tree on the path to the beach club that must host dozens of white egrets on their nests. The turtle pond, where I can spy the little guys, sunning themselves. The Talk Story corner in the soaring lobby, lined with cool books about Hawaii and steeped in cultural heritage.

Long before luxury resorts arrived on the Kohala Coast, this landscape was known as Kalāhuipua‘a, a place of immense cultural and ecological significance. The region's royal fishponds remain among the most remarkable examples of Hawaiian aquaculture anywhere in the islands. Ancient trails still cross the lava fields. Petroglyphs, tide pools and archaeological sites remind guests that the story of this coastline stretches back centuries.

The design of the hotel subtly leans into this history with headboards of nautical knots, Hawaiian textiles and colorful murals in the lobby. There's all the bells and whistles as well with a Goop store in the lobby, a beautiful spa, and a store where you can get Kona coffee lattes (my favorite) whenever you want. The Mauna Lani is nothing if not deeply rooted, with many of the staff having worked there for years, a strong sense of place, and a beautiful connection with the local community.

Its newest venture, the Francis H. I‘i Brown Club, may be the clearest expression yet of that philosophy, and turned out to be something I really enjoyed. Named after Francis Hyde I‘i Brown, a larger-than-life businessman, politician, athlete, outdoorsman and host, it also represents a style of hospitality that's distinctly Hawaiian - all about generosity, curiosity and the joy of bringing people together.

When you check in at a luxury property, there's often extra charges that appear on your bill. With the Frances Brown Club, that's bundled into one daily room-wide fee, which turned out to be relaxing. It also made the Mauna Lani feel so much more residential -- day or night, you could pop down to the club and get a snack, watch a movie, do some work, or just hang.

Perched above the Great Lawn with sweeping views of the Pacific, the club offers dedicated concierge services, private spaces, chef-driven dining experiences, and preferred access throughout the resort.

Mornings begin with island-inspired breakfasts prepared in the club's open kitchen. Throughout the day, guests can gather in the Lounge, on the ocean-view Lānai. Evenings revolve around Pau Hana, Hawai‘i's beloved tradition of gathering at day's end, where chef-prepared bites are paired with cocktails, wine and cultural storytelling.

The crown jewel however may be Winnie's Pantry, a Willy Wonka room with every candy you can imagine. There's also wine and liquor, fixings for cocktails, salads and sandwiches to outfit your picnic, and these dried mango slices that I unfortunately became obsessed with.

Another cool perk is you can take out the Mercedes-Benz of the day, a top-of-the-line fancy car, that was so much fun to cruise through the lava fields all the way to Waimea (check out the poke bar at Foodland and the epic mocha at Surf Camp). It's also fun to venture off property to spectacular beaches like Hapuna and Beach 69.

Don't miss the CanoeHouse for dinner though. A restaurant with deep history, it shaped the Hawaiian Regional Cuisine movement decades ago and is still one of the most compelling dining destinations in the state.

I've met Chef Rhoda Magbitang before, and I've always been impressed with her outreach to local farms and her commitment to showcasing Hawai‘i's extraordinary ingredients. She's lovely, kind, and extremely talented, and now also a celebrity coming off Bravo's Top Chef.

At CanoeHouse, try her Sugar Snap Peas with Big Island Goat Cheese, Wasabi, and Pine Nuts -- the sugar snap peas taste green and bright, contrasted with creamy cheese. This trip I also splurged on the A5 Wagyu Ribeye -the tenderest hunk of meat with roasted Kekela Farms veggies, and macadamia nut ponzu - and with it, of course, the Garlic Fried Rice with sous vide egg, crispy garlic and scallions. The Warm Coconut Sticky Rice with pineapple mint salsa deliciously topped it all off as the palm trees swayed, the star shone, and the resident gray kitten wandered around.

On my final morning, I wandered back to the club for one last coffee and, yes, another handful of those dried mango slices. Guests drifted in and out on their way to the beach. Nobody seemed in a hurry.

Maybe that's the real luxury of the Mauna Lani. Not exclusivity, but the opportunity to settle into the rhythm of Hawai‘i Island for a few days.

At a time when luxury often means insulation from a destination, Mauna Lani is making a different argument: that the greatest privilege is not being separated from a place but being invited further into it. The Francis Brown Club isn't about exclusivity. It's about feeling like you belong.