Ocean Course Hokuala

The Ocean Course at Hokuala, formerly known as Kauai Lagoons, features two distinct nines designed by Jack Nicklaus that opened in the late 1980s. The Kiele nine represents the more dramatic half of the property, routed along coastal bluffs with several holes playing directly beside the Pacific Ocean. The Mokihana nine occupies slightly more inland terrain, incorporating tropical vegetation and water features throughout its layout. Together they form an eighteen-hole experience that showcases both oceanfront drama and lush Hawaiian landscape. Nicklaus shaped the routing to take advantage of the property's natural elevation changes and coastal exposure on Kauai's eastern shore, near Nawiliwili Bay. The Kiele holes include memorable stretches where the ocean serves as both hazard and backdrop, with trade winds adding strategic complexity to club selection and shot shape. The Mokihana nine threads through more protected ground, where lagoons and native plantings frame the corridors. The course sits on land with historical significance to the island, and the surrounding resort development has evolved over the decades under different ownership and branding. The layout has hosted professional events and remains a notable destination for visitors to Kauai seeking a Nicklaus design in a tropical setting. The combination of ocean views, varied terrain, and the architect's signature bunkering style gives the course its character within Hawaii's competitive golf market.