Hawaii Honolulu
Hotels Waikiki Beach
Beautiful Hawaiian Leis have long been a part
of the culture and tradition of the Polynesian People. Exotic, colorful
Leis were made from island flowers, leaves and other natural items
such as shells, feathers, twigs intertwined. Surviving the passage
of time Leis are still an important part of Polynesian Culture,
and many other cultures in society have embraced the spirit of Aloha
by continuing the tradition of wearing and giving Leis.
In the US and many other countries, you can see
bright, pretty, Hawaiian Leis at luaus, parties, weddings, and the
ever popular backyard BBQs. A growing trend in the United States
is the giving of Leis to High School and College Graduates to wear
with their cap and gowns to graduation ceremonies. Does the average
High School or College parent know about this new tradition? Am
I the only parent in the dark? My one and only daughter graduated
from high school this year and upon arriving to her graduation was
so surprised to see a colorful myriad of Hawaiian Leis gracefully
draping over the shoulders of the graduates. The graduation cap
and gowns were black so the leis stood out
and added such visual beauty to the outfit. I found my daughter
and breathed a sigh of relief to see her wearing 2 leis that I later
learned were given to her by a family friend. Yep here I am co-owner
of a company that sells absolutely beautiful Hawaiian Leis and I
didn’t know anything about the graduation lei tradition.
I was so grateful to my friend for giving my daughter
the leis. My daughter came up to me afterwards and asked why I didn’t
bring her some leis she was expecting lots of them from me and had
even told her friends that her Mom would be bringing lots of leis
and that she would share them with the few students whose parents
didn’t realize that getting leis at graduation was a symbol
of “future luck”. I decided there and then to reach
out to other parents, aunts, uncles, and family friends to be aware
of this tradition and prepared for it. SO whether you know someone
who is graduating or attending a luau, party or backyard BBQ be
sure to buy a lei for them and give them a little piece of aloha
and good luck at the same time.
Read more on Hawaiian flower leis on our Best
Hawaii Vacation Blog.
March is a month of transition in Waimea. The
brief, cold winter months have not yet finished stirring their skirts
and will kick up a fuss before heading back north to the arctic.
So far this month has been delightful with cold, clear nights under
a vast canopy of brilliant stars. Those lucky astronomers who have
drawn early March to use the giant telescopes on Mauna Kea must
be thrilled right down to the batteries of their calculators!
More and more the public is catching on to this
incredible buying opportunity as well. So far the new Parker Ranch
subdivision, Luala'i, is offering the best values in town, with
brand new housing in the $500K to $700K range. The neighborhood
is really cute, and has great appeal to those who want to walk around
town and leave their SUV's at home. Call me, and you will be glad
you did.
Wet-side properties are still coming on the market
at hopeful prices, but we aren't really seeing much demand, which
means aggressive offers can be successful in this market. Dry-side
properties aren't moving well either, as stubborn property owners
insist that it must be their Realtor that is the problem. I have
always been amazed at how quickly property owners adjust to higher
values and how truculent they are to accept lower values! Well,
we are greedy beasts, I suppose.
The relocation of the Ikua Purdy statue a few
months ago was a real success. Now the wonderful sculpture can be
easily seen by the folks driving by, and I notice lots of tourists
taking the time to stop and read the inscriptions. Hats off to all
the fine people who made that dream come true! For those of you
unfamiliar with the statue, it is a life-size depiction of Ikua
Purdy roping a big steer at full gallop!
Waimea had cowboys about 50 years before they
showed up in the Old West, but Hawaii never got any credit for her
fine Hawaiian cowboys until Ikua Purdy won the nationals at Cheyenne,
Wyoming, on borrowed horses. From then on the name Paniolo really
meant something.
As a young boy I remember well the handsome ranch
hands riding into town and hitching to the rails in front of the
old Hayashi Store, where the Bank of Hawaii now stands. We'd sit
on the flight of wide planks leading from the hitching posts up
to the veranda, and the cowboys would marched up the stairs with
their spurs ringing and broad smiles on their weathered faces. We
wanted to be like them -- what boy would not? When I think of March
and the fresh Waimea wind, I think of those old timers with their
faces in the sun, the promise of a wet Spring, good grass, and a
fine season ahead. Imua, Bill
Now, we know that we are too late with buying
a unit at the Donald
Trump Tower on Waikiki Beach Walk, we should ask ourselves why
is it that not only we regular people get attracted to Hawaii but
our so much admired celebrities as well.
Let’s start with the legend Elvis Presley.
Elvis loved Hawaii. From his first visit in the late 1950's till
his final vacation in March of 1977 he would visit Hawaii on many
occasions. In addition to his three movies in Hawaii (‘Blue
Hawaii’, ‘Girls Girls Girls’ and ‘Paradise
Hawaiian Style’), he also came to Hawaii for live performances,
the one most well known being the show "Elvis, Aloha from Hawaii"
on January 14, 1973.
Like many (first time) visitors Elvis fell in
love with the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and the hospitality
and aloha spirit of the people of Hawaii. The Islands are a true
paradise for people in search of sun, white sandy beaches, surfing
and beautiful nature scenes. Hawaii would become Elvis
Presley’s favorite vacation destination and he would enjoy
many vacations there.
Quite a number of modern celebrities own a second
(or third or forth?) home in Hawaii. It’s not always just
because they love Hawaii and like to spend their vacation there
but when one considers the $700million dollar, which Donald Trump
made in November 2006 with his Waikiki Trump Tower project - guys,
there is nothing there yet, but it still sold out!! - you know why
Oprah is investing big time in Hawaii property and real estate.
I won’t forget the moment (must be some
8 -10 years ago) when I was working out at the gym at Mauna Kea
Beach Hotel and was watching the Oprah Show to make time go by faster.
People in the audience asked Oprah what she thought was a good money
investment and where to buy real estate, she’d openly share
her belief that Hawaii, any piece of land or home or house, would
be the best investment. I don’t know how many people in the
audience had the money to follow Oprah’s perfect advice. Those
who did invest in Hawaii real estate, made a fortune over those
past years with real estate values in Hawaii going through the roof.
That’s just what Oprah did in the past
few years, following her own advice or the one of Bob Greene, her
personal trainer turned property manager who planted the idea that
she might buy land on one of the islands. A spokesperson for Winfrey's
production company, Harpo Productions, confirmed in 2002 that Oprah
made several acquisitions on Maui, among those were 102.09 acres
which she bought for $11.68 million.
Did you watch the Oprah show where Oprah shared
her new home on Maui with her audience or maybe you got a glimpse
of Oprah’s Maui Home in the O magazine?! Beautiful, magnificent,
everybody’s dream house!!! Once an ordinary little gray ranch,
Oprah's Hawaiian home has been transformed into the perfect 21st-century
farmhouse, with great pieces of folk art, beautifully embroidered
curtains, comfortable furniture, and inviting colors with very positive
energy. Visit
Oprah’s Hawaii Home in Maui.
Last but not least, Hawaii has become not just
the filming location of one of the most watched TV series ‘Lost’,
it has been and it is the ‘playground’ of modern celebrities
like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan. What else can
I say? The closest I ever came to meet a celebrity in Hawaii was
when I was on the set of filming the pilot for new Hawaii TV series
(sorry forgot the title) on a Kona Beach and I managed to squeeze
my cheap camera into somebody’s hand to have a photo taken
of Bo Derek and myself. Guys, I swear I can prove it! I still have
the photo, no digital image though. By the way, the series never
made it past the pilot. Too bad! I would still walk around proudly
showing the photo of Bo Derek and myself!
Feel free to share your encounters with celebrities in Hawaii, real
or not. Let’s have fun! Mahalo and aloha, Pua Vacation
in Hawaii like Donald Trump – but cheap
Are You Where You Belong In Life? Written
11/24/06 by Desiree Watson, Kamuela
Life Retreat, Big Island of Hawaii www.theclarityfactor.com
Many people come to the Big Island of Hawaii for
personal renewal and reflection. The first time I came to Hawaii
in 1974 I fell in love. Not with a person. I fell in love with this
warm, colorful, sensuous, smiling island. I somehow felt at home,
like I was where I belonged in life. However, belonging is not only
about location. It is about your life.
Now, this is what I do for a living with my husband,
Mark. We lead retreats on the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of
Hawaii helping other people get clear where they belong in life.
What dream do you have brewing? Are you at a crossroads or feeling
unsure about your next steps? Perhaps it is time to make a change
in your business or personal life and you don’t know where
to begin? The following quote by Philosopher, Harold Thurman Whitman
speaks volumes about the importance of igniting your own fire.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world
needs—ask yourself what makes you come alive,
and then go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have
come alive.”
Our Hawaii Retreat business opportunity came to
us after we hit this same turning point three years ago and became
clear what would make us come alive. We knew it was time for a change
and we each began asking ourselves the hard questions. Things like:
What do I want my life to be about? How can I create greater meaning
and fulfillment in my lives? How can I use my talents and skills
to make a difference to others?
The answers we found took us both by surprise.
“Move to the Big Island of Hawaii and teach others how to
find clarity of purpose and direction. Teach them how to navigate
transition with greater ease and effectiveness.” Hummm…
sounds good, but how could we possibly step into doing this. We
did not understand the changes we were about to make, yet stepping
toward this vision seemed like the only choice that would bring
resolution to our uneasiness. Move, start over and begin a new business.
Yikes! Oh, but our vision and the Big Island of Hawaii were both
powerful lures. So here we are living our dream near the beautiful
Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Running the Hawaii Retreat and Mentoring programs
is simply our way of bringing the healing, Aloha Spirit to the rest
of the world…one person, one group and one retreat at a time.
So combine your next visit to Hawaii with time for focused reflection
along the Kohala Coast. Simply take five days with us to redesign
your life around what holds real meaning for you so that where ever
you go… you are where you belong in life…for the rest
of your life!
Warm Aloha Blessings, Desirée
Watson Cofounder, Kamuela Life Retreats, Hawaii Big Island www.theclarityfactor.com
'Aloha from Waikoloa - We survived the
Earthquake' Written by Sharon 10/20/06
Sharon is a Big Island resident who lives in
Waikoloa. She also teaches a free stretch class for seniors each
Wednesday 10 - 11am at Tutu's
House. As there are so many people on the mainland wondering
what happened on the day of the earthquake and how Big Island residents
coped with it, Sharon agreed to share her email to her family and
friends with our visitors of the Kohala Coast Vacation Guide. Mahalo
Sharon!
Hi there, Warren, Mom, Einstein and I are just
fine!
First of all, thank you everyone for your concern
and support. We are truly blessed with sooooo many great friends
and family. I was so shocked that my buddy Carolyn called all the
way from Bahrain a couple hours after the earthquake hit. It was
on the news worldwide. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. We are
still cleaning up – almost done. People are still calling
and emailing to find out if we are okay, so I figured I better send
something to let you know we survived.
I was spared the horror of having to experience
the earthquake. I had been on Kauai for a few days hanging out with
my buddies Joey and Susan. I was leaving Sunday morning to return
to Kona. I felt the earthquake (probably the largest one). I tried
to call home but couldn’t get through on the land line and
cell. So after about 45 minutes, I finally got through to Warren
on his cell. When I heard his voice, I was so relieved. And that
no tsunami was generated was even more of a relief. Warren said
it was like a giant had picked up our house and just shook it from
side to side violently. There was no warning. It just started with
a growling sound and then the whole house just starting shaking.
He was upstairs with Einstein. So he grabbed Einstein and watched
as everything in the bathroom and bedroom started to flying out
of the cabinets and drawers. One of the mirrors from our bed wall
unit fell and good thing Warren had picked up Einstein or he would
have been hurt. After the first one, Warren ran downstairs to check
on Mom. She was a bit shaken, but okay. It was so violent that Warren
couldn’t get downstairs and good thing he didn’t try
or else he might have fallen down stairs and hurt himself. When
the next one hit, Warren grabbed my Mom and Einstein and stayed
under the door jam.
This is what Warren told me - The house was a
mess – not an empty space to walk. The kitchen was a mess
with cracked cups, dishes, spices, pantry items, etc. We have tile
floors in the kitchen and bathrooms. In the living room, Mom’s
TV fell down (it still works), one of the bookcases fell and shattered
a lamp and vase, some of the crystal glassware and figurines in
the wall unit shattered. The wine and liquor were okay. We had this
wedding centerpiece with sand that went all over carpet. Mom’s
dresser with mirror fell over, things flew out of her chest of drawers.
Our walk-in closet looked like someone just through everything on
the floor. Warren watched as the toilet cover flew off and water
was spilling on the floor. ( I heard that there is a run on toilets
at Lowes and Home Depot. Lots of broken toilets.) My office was
turned upside down with books, papers, folders, CD’s all over
the place. My TV had fallen. Thank goodness the computers and peripheral
equipment were intact. The garage and storage area was also a mess.
Most of the damages were in the kitchen and living room. We have
stress cracks in the drywall, but it is mostly superficial. Our
sidewalk that faces the hillside moved about an inch from the house.
So the ground along that side shifted and our fence on that side
is leaning a bit. There are crevasses and indentations in the yard
where the soil was loose. Most of Waikoloa is rock, so the land
is pretty solid. All in all, the structure of the house is intact.
No broken pipes. Whatever broke is replaceable, except can’t
remember all that broke. Well, if we don’t miss it, then it
wasn’t that important.
Our neighbors sustained some damages like the
garage door fell on their cars and rocks walls that just crumbled.
Some of the larger rocks on our hillside came rolling down, but
didn’t damage anything. If you drive around, you won’t
see too much damage on the outside – it is all inside the
house. I just found out today that the fencing contractor who installed
our fence lost his house. He lives in Kamuela (wet side) and his
and three other homes slid off their foundations. His house was
declared a total loss and will have to rebuild. Compared to this,
our damages are so minute.
As I was making my way back home, Warren and Mom
were cleaning up. The power came on about 2pm so they could finally
use the vacuum. Up to then, they were using the broom and dustpan
to sweep up the mess, fixing items that could be repaired, putting
things back. If someone had to be with mom, I was so happy it was
Warren. He is so cool and reacts quickly in serious situations.
I would have been freaking out!!! You definitely would want Warren
on your side. He takes charge. He set up a clean area and worked
from there. Poor Warren. He had been cleaning from Sunday to Wednesday.
Sunday was home – Monday thru Wednesday was their offices
and warehouse. Parts of the ceiling collapsed and it was a mess.
I spent 8 hours between Lihue and Honolulu airports.
Lihue airport had power. Honolulu did not. So having spent about
5 hours in Honolulu with very minimal AC was not fun. I was fortunate
that I bought water and food in Lihue because when I got to Honolulu,
all the shops and restaurants were closed. People were calling me
on the cell, and after a while I wasn’t answering. Sorry about
that. I was trying to conserve my battery so I could keep in contact
with Warren and let him know my status for I didn’t know how
long I would be waiting. I finally landed in Kona about 5:00pm and
arrived at home about 6:30pm. I was waiting for my bag and box,
but of course they didn’t make it because we have several
different flights on one plane. And this was the last flight to
Kona that day. Good thing Joey vacuum packed the Lawai zuke and
cucumber tsukemono and put them in a cool pack. Man, it would have
been so stink! Hawaiian Air delivered my stuffs Monday around noon.
Thanks again Sue and Joey for checking in on me from time to time.
So while I am doing my part in cleaning, mom is
in Las Vegas. She left Monday evening and is returning tomorrow
evening. Their flight was delayed on Monday – instead of leaving
at 1:00pm, they left at 6:30pm. The group that was suppose to leaving
on Sunday, left on Monday at 1:00pm. She had to fly into Honolulu
first which was at 10:30am. So she and her buddies spent the next
7 hours hanging around at Honolulu International. They didn’t
mind. They were so excited. She’s having a great time!
This earthquake was a wake-up call for our state
and all of us about how we handle this type of situation. Communication
is so important and being prepared. Living on the Big Island, you
have to be prepared. We get power outages more frequently than Oahu.
So we always have flashlights, batteries, propane lanterns and stove,
hibachi, charcoal, small AM/FM battery radio, phone that hooks up
to phone line (not the cordless type where you need electricity)
and all “the list of items to have in case of hurricane and
tsunamis”. We have a car battery charger that can power some
small appliances. We try to make sure it is always charged. Thinking
of getting a generator. We bought these crank type flashlights from
Brookstone. They are really great and very bright. You crank for
30 seconds, and the light lasts for couple hours. There’s
a couple different ones that cost between $25 to $50. Well worth
the money.
The other thing is that as I am cleaning and putting
things back, I am re-assessing how I am storing things. My large
platters that were in the overhead cabinets because I hardly use
them, are now in the bottom cabinets. Breakable pantry items are
now in the back of non-breakable items or arranged more securely.
Where I can arrange items more securely, I will.
So this is how we spent earthquake day –
Sunday, October 15, 2006.
Hope all is well you. I know everyone experienced
different levels of the quake and it was scary. This is something
you wouldn’t want anyone to have to experience. I cannot comprehend
the feeling. I know the ones I felt before are no where near what
happened on Sunday. They say we will continue to get aftershocks
for another month, and it should start to lessen. People here are
still edgy every time we feel one.
Well wishes to all of you and keep safe. Sharon,
Warren, Mom and Einstein
'August in Waimea' written by Bill Jardine,
long time Big Island resident & realtor
August seems to have the right name to those of
us lucky enough to live in Waimea, and I was reminded of that on
a recent morning walk through the rain forest with good friends.
The weather has been typical of the summer season this year, with
blowing mists at Puu Kapu and bright clear days over Lalamilo and
the sunny stretches of Ouli beyond. It is quite an experience to
travel up from the sun baked leeward slopes into the emerald pastures
above under a deep, blue sky. From a distance we could see puffy
white clouds struggling to top the Kohala sea cliffs and knew that
we'd better hurry before the forest filled with white mist.
Since Waimea lies in the saddle lands between
the ancient Kohala Mountains and the awesome slopes of Mauna Kea,
we get the most amazing weather extremes within a very short distance
it seems as though you can drive from the misty moors of Scotland
to the sun-baked mesa lands of New Mexico in ten minutes or less!
That has blessed us with a mixed up reputation. Are we rainy and
wet or sunny and dry? Of course the answer is "Yes take your
pick!"
As our old diesel truck crawled slowly up the
steep pasture lands above Waimea we were crossing the same lands
where Kamehameha I had sent his elite warriors to train in the stinging
kipuupuu mists to strengthened them as they practice their martial
arts and perfected their abilities in hand-to-hand combat. How the
hills must have echoed then with their bellowing! Now those same
hills echo with the bellowing of cattle, and the trodden mud bogs
are choked with kikuyu grass as pasture laps up against the rain
forest fence.
Passing through a gate has always been an metaphor
of sorts for the passages in our lives, and there is a moment of
pause as you leave one lovely experience and move into another.
A rain forest gate possesses a huge amount of relevance, standing
as it does at the entrance to a cathedral built of soaring trunks
and dappled shafts of sunlight falling through the forest canopy
far above. It is truly an entrance to another realm, and the rich,
fetid smell of the thin soil mixes with the tangy perfume of blooming
ginger and the fresh scents of wet bark and bright new leaves. We
pause. We are inspired and humbled. It is an august experience in
Waimea. A hui hou. This article is written by long time Kohala Coast
resident Bill Jardine who is the owner of Jardine
Investment Properties.
Moving to the Kohala Coast on
the Big Island written by Keoki
Are you tired of the long cold winter months?
Do you dream of warmer times, sunny beaches and a more casual lifestyle?
Maybe you are dreaming of the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of
Hawaii. Allow me to tell you a little about moving to and life on
the Kohala Coast from the prospective of someone who has lived there
for 20+ years. Please when reading this know that all places have
positive and negative aspects and that we all view life from our
own prospective.
Just moving from the continent to the Big Island
can be a challenge on its own, since you cannot just load up a moving
van and drive to your new home. Unless you are moving here as I
did 30 years ago with all my belongings in a backpack, you are going
to need to do some careful planning.
My first suggestion is take a vacation and stay
on the Kohala Coast in a vacation rental and explore the area you
are interested in locating too. Talk to realtors, business owners
and everyday people, get a feel for the area. Check out job opportunities
if you need to work to sustain your lifestyle. So after your vacation
you’ve decided that the Kohala Coast is your kind of place
and you are going back home to commence packing. At this point I’d
like to give you my views of life on the Kohala Coast.
The Kohala Coast is large area ranging from North
Kona to the south and the town of Hawi in the north and to the town
of Waimea to the east. The area along the coast line is referred
to as the Gold Coast for obvious reasons as the land and housing
prices are mostly out of reach but for the wealthiest people. One
exception may be the mauka (mountain side) of Puako Beach Drive
where a small house may still be had for under 1 million. What I’m
saying is to find somewhat affordable housing you must give up the
idea of living on the beach and move upcountry. Living upcountry
has other benefits, such as a cooler climate, supportive communities
and better access to shopping, health care and services. Access
to the 2 best white sands beaches is still less than a 20-minute
drive.
The Kohala Coast is also referred to as the Gold
Coast because of the amount of sunshine that bathes its shores each
and almost every day, this fact, the low rainfall and best beaches
have all conspired to bring about a boom in building. Condos have
sprouted up overnight bringing us more residents, tourists, and
increased traffic and as always the infrastructure has not kept
up. Traffic jams are everyday occurrences but if you can plan your
day around peak periods these can be largely avoided.
The high cost of living in Hawaii cannot be avoided.
Almost everything you will consume has to be shipped in, first to
Oahu, then to the Big Island and then around the island by truck.
.Some costs are less here because of the casual style of living,
no need for lots of “dress up” clothes or winter wear.
House heating can be kept to a minimum, although your electric bill
can be an real eye popper. I guess you can figure on paying 1/3
more than on the continent, depending on your lifestyle.
If I haven’t scared you off yet lets get
back to the actual move to the Kohala Coast. Planning is essential,
what can you absolutely not live without, should you sell the stuff
you haven’t used in two years, should you burn your bridges?
These are questions only you can answer. Unless you hire a moving
company, you must figure out how much stuff you are shipping and
how large of a container you will need. Then you will need to measure
everything and see that it fits in nice and tight since things can
and probably will shift during the ocean trip. Shipping can take
10 days or more depending how far you live from the west coast.
All I can say is plan, plan, plan or load up the backpack as I did
and take off for paradise.
Written by Keoki, one of KohalaCoastWeb.com
editors. To be continued maybe...
Day Dreaming of Hawaii
It’s not the ‘Call of the Wild’
but it’s the ‘Call of Hawaii’, which has finally
caught up with you. For one reason or another, you decided to spend
your first Hawaii vacation on the Big Island. Maybe you heard that
this is the only Hawaii Island where you can spend a day on a sunny
sandy white beach and go skiing or sledding on top of snow-covered
Mauna Kea later in the day or where one can experience the fireworks
of a live volcano…I could name quite a number more but this
is not the topic for this article.
Planning your Hawaii vacation
Well, here you are planning your first Hawaii
vacation on the Big Island and you just don’t know where to
stay on this literally ‘big’ island despite of all the
Big Island guidebooks you read and the many Big Island websites
you cruised. The purpose of this article is introduce you to the
unique beauty of the Kohala Coast and make you fall in love with
this beautiful coast and its wonderful people during your Hawaii
vacation, just as many visitors did before. Some even became residents
as we did. Many more will follow in the years to come.
Image of Hawaii
What are your associations with the word ‘Hawaii’?
With me it was white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, beautiful
weather all year round and the ‘obligatory’ hula dancer!
The typical image or cliché of Hawaii! Believe it or not,
the Kohala Coast on the Big Island has it all. Most first time visitors
to the Hawaiian Islands are not aware that climate and weather can
vary on each island tremendously depending on location (east or
west) and elevation. Located on the dry west coast of the Big Island,
north of the Kona Coast, the Kohala Coast provides the most stable
weather throughout the year thus guarantying the first major component
for your Hawaii vacation…sunshine! Well, now you could say
why not stay in Kona, as you heard from friends whose cruise ship
landed there that it’s beautiful and fun. Admittedly, it is
but…it’s a tourist town, traffic in and out of town
gets quite congested, beaches are smaller and more crowded and sometimes
the ‘vog’ from the volcano can be bothersome, especially
during hot summer months.
Where to stay on the Kohala Coast?
The price conscious vacationer can find affordable
Kohala Coast vacation rentals, vacation condos and luxury Kohala
Coast vacation homes at different Kohala Coast locations like Waikoloa
Village, Kawaihae, Kohala Ranch, Kohala Estate or Waimea. The only
non-resort but ocean front location is Puako with many different
ocean access spots. Puako has recently become one of the most desired
areas on the Kohala Coast. These Kohala Coast vacation rentals combine
many of the amenities of a Kohala Coast hotel with the comfort and
character of a beautiful Kohala Coast home to make your Hawaii vacation
experience memorable and affordable. Rates vary depending on location
and amenities.
What to do on the Kohala Coast?
There are no limits to your Kohala Coast activities.
Within short driving distances of your vacation home or hotel on
the Kohala Coast, you can play golf at 9 championship courses, play
tennis, go horseback riding, take a hike into spectacular valleys,
explore the Pacific waters snorkeling & meeting tropical fish,
rays, dolphins and turtles, go deep sea fishing or scuba diving
or go boogie boarding…the Kohala Coast has something for everybody!
So, what do you think of the Kohala Coast? Please,
come and see for yourself! Last but not least, don’t get taken
by surprise when landing at Kona International Airport in the middle
of barren moonscape lava fields. It does not seem to get any better
when driving Highway 19 north to your Kohala Coast destination.
We assure you palm trees, white sand beaches, blue green waves of
the Pacific, hula dancers and Mai Tai are awaiting you. Welcome
to the Kohala Coast of the Big Island!
Written by Pua, Kohala Coast resident
Big Island The Healing Island - How to
stay in shape on your vacation?
Written by Keoki, long time Big Island resident & massage therapist
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.
Another article written by Keoki, one of the editors of Kohala Coast
Vacation Guide
Hawaiian
Gifts from the Aloha State written by Pua
on 2/24/07
Surf
the Big Waves on Maui written by Pua
on 2/25/07
Listen
to Hawaiian Music written by Pua
on 3/12/07
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