The Big Island of Hawaii has become the favored luxury getaway in all the islands. It is arguably also the most convenient, served amply by direct flights from the western U.S. and Japan. Flight times are also the shortest, as Hawaii is the closest island to the mainland.

Once on the island it’s a short 30-minute jaunt to your lanai and a dip in the ocean. Owners also quickly come to appreciate the wisdom of Rockefeller’s choice here at the northern reach of the Kohala Coast. The temperatures, breezes, topography and views are unquestionably the best in Hawaii. And, as the coast has become more populated, the Mauna Kea retains the treasured privacy and natural flavor that is the very definition of island luxury.