The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel will reopen Dec. 20, more than two years after it was closed because of earthquake damage.

Prince Resorts Hawaii this week announced that the hotel will welcome back guests beginning Dec. 20 in a "soft" opening, and hold a formal grand opening in March.

The hotel closed indefinitely on Dec. 1, 2006, because of structural damage caused by a series of earthquakes on Oct. 15 of that year.

"The earthquake damage required us to close the hotel for a period of time, and we realized that it also presented an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive restoration fo the propery," said resort general manager Jon Gersonde.

The number of rooms and suites was reduced from 310 to 258 because some rooms in the main building were enlarged.

The renovations focused on improvements to guest rooms and suites, restaurants, the lobby and other common areas, the company said.