Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals

How to stay in shape on your Big Island vacation?

Written by Keoki, one of Kohala Coast Vacation Guide editors

The Kohala Coast offers the perfect environment for outdoor activities and exercise. The clear fresh air and crystal clear blue ocean waters with soft white sand beaches invite you to an early morning beach walk or relaxing swim with the turtles. For warming up, start at a slow pace breathing the fresh oxygen right into your lungs. Be conscious about your posture and include your arms into your movement. Walk for about 30minutes building up your pace to a nice brisk walk.

Relax body and mind after your walk by cooling off in the gentle ocean waves of the Pacific. If you have trouble with walking because of joint problems, substitute the beach walk with an ocean swim. The ocean is mostly calm and clear early in the morning but has not warmed up yet. So be prepared for the cooler temperatures with a dive suit to keep your body temperature at a comfortable level.

After your morning exercise routine, have a healthy breakfast, which should include fresh fruits or fruit salad, most favorably freshly squeezed orange juice or any other fresh juices of the season or a Hawaiian fruit smoothie. Make use of all those wonderful local fruits, which grow on the Hawaiian islands like bananas, papayas, pine-apple, which are extremely rich in anti-oxidants. Try to indulge in those fruits throughout the day.

Spend the rest of the morning as you like – reading on a shaded area on the beach or leaning more about Hawaiian culture and traditions by joining Hawaiian activities like learning to hula or playing the ukulele or just inhaling the special Hawaiian atmosphere by doing nothing and reflecting on your body and soul. Be aware that our strong Hawaiian sun is the hottest and most dangerous for your skin between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Why not take a nap during those hours? Rest is important to calm the mind and allow the body to deal with fatigue.

When staying on at Kohala Coast vacation home or vacation apartment or at one of our luxury Kohala Coast hotels, your options for rejuvenation, recuperation are plentiful at all the Kohala Coast resorts. Spa treatments range from state of the art massages (Shiatsu, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Craniosacral therapy, Thai massage, Reiki and more) to rejuvenating body wraps and facials. Yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Kung classes are offered on a daily basis at all the Kohala Coast resorts.

Most relaxation and stretching classes are held outside during the cooler morning hours providing visitors with the most peaceful settings…swaying palm trees in a cooling ocean breeze with the calming sound of gentle ocean waves hitting the beaches. So attend the classes and choose what fits your needs most. Also take into consideration that you want to continue the routine at home.

Indulge in your special spa treatment at any time of the day, which fits your vacation plans or personal routine like after your work-out or exercise. Spend an hour or two in a balancing spa treatment relaxing tight muscles, letting go of tension of body and mind and embracing quiet, harmony and peace.

Dinner during your special healing vacation on the Kohala Coast should consist of steamed fresh vegetables - the greener the better - flavored with fresh herbs like rosemary, basil, parsley, sage or sesame seeds…just to name a few. Fresh island fish like Mahimahi and Ono, steamed, sautéed or grilled, are not delicious and healthy.

For bedtime, we recommend a relaxing bath with dried leaves and herbs of Rose, Neem Jasmine, Basil in a ‘tea bag’ or add favorite soothing essential oils like lavender, Melisse, Ylang Ylang directly to your bath water. You can buy the essential oils and herb bath bags at the spa at your Kohala Coast resort. If you like, use candles, fresh Hawaiian flowers and music to aid relaxation. As you soak in the bath, close your eyes and breathe deeply, releasing tension with each exhalation. Go to bed relaxed and at peace with yourself and the world. Have a wonderful healing vacation on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii Big Island.