May's trip report Re: Kona Village Resort
Sep 17th, 2009, 09:47 AM
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May's trip report Re: Kona Village Resort
This May, my wife and I spent sixteen days in the islands split between Kauai and Hawaii. After nine days in Kauai we were ready to be sequestered at Kona Village our favorite resort. We arrived at KOA at 10:00 a.m., got our luggage and into the taxi we went. The taxi cost $40.00. It seems the fare is going higher and higher.
We arrived at KVR at 10:30 a.m. and our hale was ready. We received or leis and hopped in the cart and were taken to our hale on the pond. A quick walk around and by 12:00p.m. we were ready for lunch. Lunch did not disappoint and the pastry chef surpassed herself with delectable cakes and pies.
After lunch we walked to Kukio Beach as is our daily habit. There was a lot of construction and building at the 4 Seasons. The poor resort felt vacant. The day was beautiful and the walk is always a pleasure.
Tuesday was the Paniolo Dinner night. We ate on the terrace listening to Hawaiian slack key and relaxed as the sunset.
Wednesday I got up at 5:30 a.m. and fly fished the bay. I caught and released a coronet fish. This was the morning that I met three black tip sharks each about 18 inches in length. It was an awesome start.
Wednesday was my first (of many) breakfast which consisted of smoked salmon, bagel and cream cheese and papaya and then an egg dish. My wife looked on in disgust, but there are no diets allowed at KVR. After breakfast a quick change and we hit the beach. The water by the beach shack was warm and inviting. It was much warmer than Kauai. After the morning snorkel, by wife paid for a lessons and use of the paddle board. The cost was $130 for the lesson and unlimited use. My wife loved it. Paddle boarding became her normal daily activity after the morning snorkel. I suspect this is now a KVR tradition. In the afternoon we walked to the petroglyph field and then to the shipwreck bar to say hello to Rusty or was it Sid?
Wednesday evening was the manager cocktail party. The village had become quite crowded during the day as this was the beginning of the Remembering When celebration. We connected with old friends and made new ones.
Thursday evening we ate early at the beautiful Hale Samoa with our new friend David since he was suffering from jet lag. He retired and my wife and I changed and went to soak in the hot tub. Another excellent evening.
Friday was more of the same. Best snorkeling day we had. We had lunch with a group of newly made friends inside the Hale Moana and had a wonderful time getting to know them. There was a 2:00 p.m. history walk and Kahea Beckley a long time KVR employee was present with auntie Lei. Kahea was also a docent of the Hulihee Palace. After the tour I sat and talked history with him for well over an hour. Just the two of us talking history of KVR, early Hawaiian history and Hawaiian culture. This was a real honor and treat.
Friday evening we ate dinner with David. We ate at Hale Moana and listened to the wonderful music of David Gomes. Mr. Gomes apprenticed in guitar making in Spain and the Spanish style of guitar is very evident in his playing. He has a wonderful fusion of Spanish guitar and slack key. After dinner we walked to the Luau to watch the show. Having seen this show three times in the last two years, I can say I do enjoy it. The ambiance of the stage, the lighting, the tiki torches reflecting on the pond makes for a magical time, not to mention the fact that the dancers are very skilled at their trade.
Saturday was the hukilau. This was another great event. We did our snorkeling and walking. I fished the black sand beach under billionaire bluff while my wife learned to make a flower lei and do some weaving. Saturday after dinner we walked to the manta viewing area and for the first time in five years or so, there were two large mantas circling the inlet.
Saturday night a 10:30 p.m. I fished with a young man named Dan. The village shuts down about 9:00 p.m. or so. So, it was very strange having the whole place to ourselves. We caught and released many Hawaiian Bigeye. It was a very surreal setting.
Sunday nothing too remarkable oh, except for mother‘s day. A wonderful Sunday brunch was consumed. The routines, time and the food becomes a blur. I hit my max relaxation zone on this day. While the wife was paddle boarding, I walked the ponds and the gardens. Afterwards, I sat on my lanai drinking a glass of Riesling looking at the pond. I saw five different birds but more remarkable I heard the calls of five addition different birds. It was stunningly peaceful.
In the afternoon an internet friend came to the resort and David and I gave him a tour. Peter was a great guy and we had loads of fun showing him around the compound. A quick beer at the shipwreck bar finished Peter’s education.
Monday was the trip to the new Kukio Housing Development Club (aka billionaires bluff) north of the Village. They also took us to the new historical interpretive center just north of the subdivision boundary. This area is still not open to the public yet but it should be fun once they open it. I hiked to this area before and there were many ruins. I asked if I could walk to the coast to see them but the docent refused. I had to wait until it was officially open.
Monday is always a sad night. You say your goodbyes and prepare to return to reality. The highlight was dinner and John Keawe. After pictures with John we returned our hale to pack.
Tuesday breakfast with David. Off to the staging area, one last handshake with David. Linda ran and placed our leis on the tiki and then collects our BooHoo beads. (1). Into the Taxi and adios.
Bill
1)The name Boo Hoo beads signify the tears you shed when you are given a string of beads before you leave. Everybody has there own name for them. The beads are a little shell leis that you get at the end of your stay. I’ve heard them call bummer bead, disappearing beads (because when you get them you disappear), aloha beads, prayer beads (because you pray you will to come back soon).
We arrived at KVR at 10:30 a.m. and our hale was ready. We received or leis and hopped in the cart and were taken to our hale on the pond. A quick walk around and by 12:00p.m. we were ready for lunch. Lunch did not disappoint and the pastry chef surpassed herself with delectable cakes and pies.
After lunch we walked to Kukio Beach as is our daily habit. There was a lot of construction and building at the 4 Seasons. The poor resort felt vacant. The day was beautiful and the walk is always a pleasure.
Tuesday was the Paniolo Dinner night. We ate on the terrace listening to Hawaiian slack key and relaxed as the sunset.
Wednesday I got up at 5:30 a.m. and fly fished the bay. I caught and released a coronet fish. This was the morning that I met three black tip sharks each about 18 inches in length. It was an awesome start.
Wednesday was my first (of many) breakfast which consisted of smoked salmon, bagel and cream cheese and papaya and then an egg dish. My wife looked on in disgust, but there are no diets allowed at KVR. After breakfast a quick change and we hit the beach. The water by the beach shack was warm and inviting. It was much warmer than Kauai. After the morning snorkel, by wife paid for a lessons and use of the paddle board. The cost was $130 for the lesson and unlimited use. My wife loved it. Paddle boarding became her normal daily activity after the morning snorkel. I suspect this is now a KVR tradition. In the afternoon we walked to the petroglyph field and then to the shipwreck bar to say hello to Rusty or was it Sid?
Wednesday evening was the manager cocktail party. The village had become quite crowded during the day as this was the beginning of the Remembering When celebration. We connected with old friends and made new ones.
Thursday evening we ate early at the beautiful Hale Samoa with our new friend David since he was suffering from jet lag. He retired and my wife and I changed and went to soak in the hot tub. Another excellent evening.
Friday was more of the same. Best snorkeling day we had. We had lunch with a group of newly made friends inside the Hale Moana and had a wonderful time getting to know them. There was a 2:00 p.m. history walk and Kahea Beckley a long time KVR employee was present with auntie Lei. Kahea was also a docent of the Hulihee Palace. After the tour I sat and talked history with him for well over an hour. Just the two of us talking history of KVR, early Hawaiian history and Hawaiian culture. This was a real honor and treat.
Friday evening we ate dinner with David. We ate at Hale Moana and listened to the wonderful music of David Gomes. Mr. Gomes apprenticed in guitar making in Spain and the Spanish style of guitar is very evident in his playing. He has a wonderful fusion of Spanish guitar and slack key. After dinner we walked to the Luau to watch the show. Having seen this show three times in the last two years, I can say I do enjoy it. The ambiance of the stage, the lighting, the tiki torches reflecting on the pond makes for a magical time, not to mention the fact that the dancers are very skilled at their trade.
Saturday was the hukilau. This was another great event. We did our snorkeling and walking. I fished the black sand beach under billionaire bluff while my wife learned to make a flower lei and do some weaving. Saturday after dinner we walked to the manta viewing area and for the first time in five years or so, there were two large mantas circling the inlet.
Saturday night a 10:30 p.m. I fished with a young man named Dan. The village shuts down about 9:00 p.m. or so. So, it was very strange having the whole place to ourselves. We caught and released many Hawaiian Bigeye. It was a very surreal setting.
Sunday nothing too remarkable oh, except for mother‘s day. A wonderful Sunday brunch was consumed. The routines, time and the food becomes a blur. I hit my max relaxation zone on this day. While the wife was paddle boarding, I walked the ponds and the gardens. Afterwards, I sat on my lanai drinking a glass of Riesling looking at the pond. I saw five different birds but more remarkable I heard the calls of five addition different birds. It was stunningly peaceful.
In the afternoon an internet friend came to the resort and David and I gave him a tour. Peter was a great guy and we had loads of fun showing him around the compound. A quick beer at the shipwreck bar finished Peter’s education.
Monday was the trip to the new Kukio Housing Development Club (aka billionaires bluff) north of the Village. They also took us to the new historical interpretive center just north of the subdivision boundary. This area is still not open to the public yet but it should be fun once they open it. I hiked to this area before and there were many ruins. I asked if I could walk to the coast to see them but the docent refused. I had to wait until it was officially open.
Monday is always a sad night. You say your goodbyes and prepare to return to reality. The highlight was dinner and John Keawe. After pictures with John we returned our hale to pack.
Tuesday breakfast with David. Off to the staging area, one last handshake with David. Linda ran and placed our leis on the tiki and then collects our BooHoo beads. (1). Into the Taxi and adios.
Bill
1)The name Boo Hoo beads signify the tears you shed when you are given a string of beads before you leave. Everybody has there own name for them. The beads are a little shell leis that you get at the end of your stay. I’ve heard them call bummer bead, disappearing beads (because when you get them you disappear), aloha beads, prayer beads (because you pray you will to come back soon).
Sep 17th, 2009, 01:11 PM
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wbpiii,
We went to Kona Village with our son probably 8 years ago (can't remember!!) And we loved it so thanks for rekindling memories. I remember the buffets were amazing. Our hale was one off the ocean/beach and so lovely. No a/c, only a ceiling fan and all windows and doors left open 24/7. The guys at the beach shack were so great with our son....he used to just hang out with them. We saw stingrays at night swimming near the rocks in a spot light. We saw sea turtles coming onto the little beach area. We took a big catamaran out and went snorkeling. It was my first time and I was enthralled. Such incredible beauty. "Sigh" is right!
Such a relaxing, beautiful place.
Thanks again.
P
We went to Kona Village with our son probably 8 years ago (can't remember!!) And we loved it so thanks for rekindling memories. I remember the buffets were amazing. Our hale was one off the ocean/beach and so lovely. No a/c, only a ceiling fan and all windows and doors left open 24/7. The guys at the beach shack were so great with our son....he used to just hang out with them. We saw stingrays at night swimming near the rocks in a spot light. We saw sea turtles coming onto the little beach area. We took a big catamaran out and went snorkeling. It was my first time and I was enthralled. Such incredible beauty. "Sigh" is right!
Such a relaxing, beautiful place.
Thanks again.
P
