Golf in Hawaii is like nowhere else in the United States. And it’s not just the endless ocean and mountain views, perpetually perfect weather, the occasional rainbows, and, if you’re lucky, the spam musubi on the beverage cart.
Approximately one third of all golf facilities on the Hawaiian Islands are affiliated or inextricably tied to a resort property, among them the courses at Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Wailea on Maui; Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea on the Big Island; Turtle Bay and Ko Olina on Oahu; Princeville Makai and Poipu Bay on Kauai; and Manele on Lanai. Nevada—particularly the Las Vegas area—ranks second when it comes to golf courses with a resort component, at 25 percent, according to the National Golf Foundation.
With Hawaii’s economy heavily driven by tourism, it’s not surprising that golf is one of the many popular outdoor amenities at resorts across the islands (not to mention those at exclusive private clubs and private communities). But there are also dozens of Hawaii golf courses unaffiliated with resorts that are popular with locals and visitors alike. Ala Wai in Honolulu is one worth mentioning, for example, but it’s very much of a local course and tee times can be hard to come by on a layout once noted as the busiest in North America.
Here are 10 of the most noteworthy Hawaii public courses without resort ties.
The Dunes at Maui Lani—Maui
This inland course, designed by Robin Nelson and situated less than five miles from Maui’s Kahului Airport, claims to be the only golf course in Hawaii built on naturally occurring dune terrain. For many Maui visitors, chances are you’ll drive right past this imaginative layout with a links-style feel on your way to resorts on the east side of the island. Taking advantage of the land’s natural contours, with rumpled fairways and rugged bunkers, The Dunes has a raw, wind-shaped character and lots of mountain views.
Makani Golf Club—Big Island
Formerly Big Island Country Club, Makani sits at 2,700 feet above sea level on the lower slopes of Mount Hualalai, providing cooler air, light winds, and big views above the Kohala Coast. Designed by Perry Dye, it mixes generous fairways with bold, Dye-style bunkering and risk-reward choices, with water in play on nine of the 18 holes. Unlike the stark lava rock surrounds near many of the Big Island resorts, the terrain at Makani is rolling and lush, and the par-three holes are a highlight—particularly the island green 17th.
Makalei Golf Club—Big Island
Climbing along the western slopes of Mount Hualalai, Makalei has a rugged character that’s distinct from the Big Island’s coastal resort courses. A bit rough around the edges as it weaves through lush native forest and volcanic outcrops, this Dick Nugent design offers cooler temperatures and the rare opportunity to play golf alongside peacocks in a mountainside setting near Kona. Wild turkey, pheasants, and canaries are also abundant as golfers climb more than 1,000 feet on the front nine of the routing, offering not only views of Hawaii island but Mount Haleakala on nearby Maui.
Volcano Golf Course—Big Island
Set at an elevation of 4,000 feet inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park—just minutes from the active Kilauea volcano—this reborn public course is one of the more unique settings for golf anywhere. Originally laid out in 1921 and reopened in 2022 after being closed for nearly two years, Volcano is a simple, old-school course that feels wonderfully remote and quietly historic. With cool temperatures, ohia trees that bloom vibrant red, and Hawaii’s state bird (the nēnē) throughout the property, Volcano makes for an incredibly fun and different round.
Olomana Golf Links—Oahu
Located beneath the towering Ko‘olau Mountain Range and Olomana Peak itself, this Bob Baldock design that dates to the 1960s is a local favorite for its scenery and approachable price point. Olomana has somewhat of a split personality, with a wide-open front nine that’s more exposed to the elements, and a back nine that tightens as it winds through a large forest. Accuracy is rewarded over power at this course, where former President Barack Obama used to play and where Michelle Wie practiced frequently before turning pro.
Hawaii Kai—Oahu
On Oahu’s southeastern tip, 13 miles from Waikiki, this William Bell-designed championship course offers elevation changes, wide fairways, and panoramic ocean views with the island of Molokai in the distance. Trade winds will come into play. The facility also features a fun 18-hole executive length course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.—ideal for beginners, juniors, or those looking to hone their short game—in a casual setting overlooking the Makapuu lighthouse.
Royal Hawaiian Golf Club—Oahu
This lush layout deep within the Maunawili Valley, once known as Luana Hills, was the first course co-designed by Pete and Perry Dye. With a dense jungle setting between Mount Olomana and the Ko’Olau mountains just 20 minutes from Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian feels like playing golf in a rainforest cathedral, with royal palms, banana and koa trees, and flowing streams chock full of Hawaiian fish. It’s a visually distinctive experience, one that in true Dye style has several forced carries, bunkers bordered by railroad ties, and fairways that fall off into bunkers and ravines.
Puakea Golf Course—Kauai
One of at least seven public golf courses that Robin Nelson designed in the islands, Puakea is often referred to as Jurassic Park come to life. Built on a former sugar cane plantation, this course features lush tropical undergrowth and plays up, down, and around deep ravines. About three quarters of the holes have views of the surrounding mountains (the rest have ocean views), and parts of the Puakea property indeed served as the background in the original Jurassic Park movie. It’s easy to picture dinosaurs lumbering across this dramatic landscape.
Wailua Municipal Golf Course—Kauai
The western-most municipal golf course in the U.S., Wailua Municipal is one of the game’s greatest bargains. Wailua was first built as a 9-hole golf course in the 1930s, designed by Toyo Shirai, with the second nine added in 1961. With oceanfront holes, broad greens, and traditional parkland-style corridors, the course has hosted several USGA championships. Locals love Wailua’s accessibility, affordability, and walkability, while visitors appreciate its beauty, history, and simplicity.
Happy #AlohaFriday from Wailua Golf Course 😍
📸 Patrick Koenig pic.twitter.com/9GAoNbddvF— GoGolfKauai.com (@GoGolfKauai) April 19, 2024
Cavendish Golf Course—Lanai
Built in the 1940s for plantation workers, Cavendish is a charming, no-frills 9-hole course set among Cook pines in the uplands of Lanai City. The atmosphere feels wonderfully quiet and local, a pure and simplistic contrast to the luxurious Manele Course at the Four Seasons along the coast. There might be worm casings on the greens and deer footprints in the bunkers, but the narrow tree-lined fairways and small greens offer a wonderfully serene setting and fun old-school shot-making.
Have you played any of these Hawaii golf courses?
Wow, how could you miss waiehu municipal in Maui, it’s in great condition, fast true greens and spectacular oceanside location, beats the Kauai muni hands down, and the dunes in Maui is no match either