Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

We just returned from a quick (four night) stay at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.
 
We were traveling with my brother and my 8-year old niece and go this hotel as a recommendation through this forum as a good hotel for traveling with kids.
 
(My husband and I make a practice of choosing hotels that do not cater to children - so I didn't have a clue where to go.)
 
It was simply wonderful.  We booked one of the Bungalows.  Initially I was disappointed that I couldn't get an ocean front, but got an ocean view.  Our bungalow had an partial ocean view and golf course view.  I'm really glad we didn't get an ocean view - virtually no privacy.  While we had the golf course infront of us, there was rarely anyone there.  And, when they were, it wasn't for long.  The bungalow was 2-bedroom and quite large (2,500 sq ft.)  Each bedroom was large, one with a king sized bed, one with two queens.  Each had it owns large TV.  Cotton sheets and blankets, tub and separate shower.  Huge center living area with large TV and dining table.  Kitchen with all the stuff you'd need.  Even a BBQ on the patio.  These were really quite lovely.
 
The "plunge" pool was larger than I thought it would be and after a day at the beach, our 8-year old niece was content as pie to spend the rest of the time playing in it.
 
We ate at the Canoe house for dinner one night and it was quite good, ate at two other places for lunch liked them both and the breakfast buffet was above average.
 
The real magic here is the staff.  Are these happy people or what?  Nothing was too much trouble, the concierge staff was outstanding and everyone we encountered had a smile. 
 
The property has a series of ponds that are meticulously maintained with abundant fish in each.  One of the ponds had a baby hammer head and white tip reef shark - very cool.
 
They also have a program to support endangered sea turtles.  They said that they just had a big ceremony on July 4th to release a bunch of their hand raised to the ocean.
 
One of the beach ares has adult turtles grazing who could care less that you are inches away from them.  All I could think about was all of the places I've snorkled and scubad all over the world, chasing turtles and here they were - grazing like cows.
 
There was a children's program that other guests we spoke to raved about, but we didn't take advantage of it personally.
 
The highlight of the trip was a private snorkle/swim with the dolphins trip that the concierge help arrange.  I was literally a foot away from swimming dolphins - amazing.
 
Some people commented (on TripAdvisor) that the hotel itself is old and dated.  The architecture is a bit dated, but the property is very well cared for and almost pristine.
 
If we go as a family, I will definitely go back.