Two years after being forced to close by extensive earthquake damage, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel welcomed its first guests back in "a soft opening" on Saturday on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

The Laurance Rockefeller-built beachfront hotel reopened with a traditional Hawaiian blessing after a $150 million dollar investment in redesigned, larger guest rooms, new restaurants, a new spa, and an extensive makeover of the legendary golf course, complete with a new clubhouse.

"The soft opening serves as a final staff dress rehearsal and an opportunity to ensure that everything is working before we really go out there and celebrate," said Donn Takahashi, president of Prince Resorts Hawaii.

Opened in 1965 and located on 60 acres overlooking Kauna'oa Bay, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was the first luxury hotel in the region. It prided itself on "understated elegance," but over the years had aged and faced competition from newer nearby resorts.

General Manager Jon Gersonde noted that 378 employees returned to work there in recent weeks. About 420 employees were laid off when the hotel closed.

"We are welcoming back many old friends who loved coming here each year," Gersonde said. "Many longtime employees jumped at the opportunity to come back to Mauna Kea, so the reopening has the feel of a family reunion."

The hotel's classic exterior architecture design remains the same as before with most changes in the rooms. The total room and suite count has been reduced from 310 to 258 becuase the rooms in the main building were enlarged.

The Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa suites are 1,610 square feet (including lanai), while the Junior suites measure just under 1,000 square feet. The regular guest rooms on the remodeled floors have been expanded to 550 square feet.

Gersonde said the bathrooms feature super-size baths, wall-less "rain showers," soaking tubs, and private lanai.

"The entire guestroom experience brings a level of comfort that will re-establish The Mauna Kea as the premier luxury hotel on the Big Island," he said.

Mauna Kea is the flagship property of the Prince Hotels and Resorts international portfolio and will have its "official" grand opening in March.

Also opening this week is the Mauna Kea Golf Course, which has been completely renovated from tee-to-green.

Overseen by Rees Jones, son of the original course designer, Robert Trent Jones Sr., the world-class Mauna Kea Golf Course has been upgraded and redesigned to USGA standards featuring new grass throughout the course layout, rebuilt bunkers, and a new irrigation system.