I think the best luau we attended was at the big hotel in Kona (Royal Kona Resort, I think). It is on the north most end of Ali'i Drive. The ceremony includes coconut tree climbing exhibitions, the "King and Queen" come in by boat to start the festivities and FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!
Of course, many of the big hotels including the Waikoloa Beach Marriott have smaller versions. We often sit on our lanai and listen to the Hawaiian music from the luau 2 evenings a week.
Mick
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Spa experience on the Big Island, HI
The woman whose family is staying in our Kolea 10E unit over the Christmas/New Year asked this...
...Do you recommend a good spa? Massage place? I have tried the Walls orsomething in the Fairmont Orchid, and was unimpressed.....perhaps there is abetter one???? I am in soooo in need of a good stress reliever..ha ha ha
As for massages we go to a lady up in Waikoloa Village (we wrote about this earlier this year) but that is not really a spa experience. We have gone to the Hilton and had a good massage. And there is a hot tub and steam room so you can spend extra time relaxing before or after your massage. It is not co-ed, so suits are not required. Be sure to book early as that is a busy time of year. You could also try that or the Marriott which just had a renovation and they also say they have a spa which you can just walk to.
...As for our large grocery list, it is still best to get them in Kona on our way to the condo? Or is there somewhere better or closer....
Our first stop is usually Costco on our way home from the airport upon our arrival. We have a cooler that we check with our luggage and load up before we head back to the waikoloa Beach Resort. It is still best to go to Kona since the Queen's shops are not done yet (good ole' Hawaii construction), and they did not have a grocery open when we were there at Thanksgiving. There is also a pretty good grocery store in Waikoloa Village, about 20 minutes from the resort.
- Janis
...Do you recommend a good spa? Massage place? I have tried the Walls orsomething in the Fairmont Orchid, and was unimpressed.....perhaps there is abetter one???? I am in soooo in need of a good stress reliever..ha ha ha
As for massages we go to a lady up in Waikoloa Village (we wrote about this earlier this year) but that is not really a spa experience. We have gone to the Hilton and had a good massage. And there is a hot tub and steam room so you can spend extra time relaxing before or after your massage. It is not co-ed, so suits are not required. Be sure to book early as that is a busy time of year. You could also try that or the Marriott which just had a renovation and they also say they have a spa which you can just walk to.
...As for our large grocery list, it is still best to get them in Kona on our way to the condo? Or is there somewhere better or closer....
Our first stop is usually Costco on our way home from the airport upon our arrival. We have a cooler that we check with our luggage and load up before we head back to the waikoloa Beach Resort. It is still best to go to Kona since the Queen's shops are not done yet (good ole' Hawaii construction), and they did not have a grocery open when we were there at Thanksgiving. There is also a pretty good grocery store in Waikoloa Village, about 20 minutes from the resort.
- Janis
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Health care on the Big Island
I had a thought the other day. Not that I am inviting trouble, but as I lay on the massage table thinking about surfing and snorkeling, I wondered what I would do if I needed a doctor for some reason. I don't have one here on the Big Island, as often as we visit our Kolea 10E condominium. I have visited a dentist in Waimea/Kamuela who is a friend of my dentist at home when I had a crown fall off, but never a doctor.
From what I hear, if you have an emergency and have a choice of places to go, the
North Hawaii Community Hospital, 67-1125 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI, (808) 885-4444 is the one to choose versus other one in Kona. There is also the Keauhou Urgent Care Ctr., 78-6831 Alii Dr # K9, Kailua Kona, HI 96740, (808) 322-2544 for minor medical issues. I have never been to any of the above, but I'm told they are pretty good.
Mick
From what I hear, if you have an emergency and have a choice of places to go, the
North Hawaii Community Hospital, 67-1125 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI, (808) 885-4444 is the one to choose versus other one in Kona. There is also the Keauhou Urgent Care Ctr., 78-6831 Alii Dr # K9, Kailua Kona, HI 96740, (808) 322-2544 for minor medical issues. I have never been to any of the above, but I'm told they are pretty good.
Mick
Monday, November 26, 2007
Massage at Waikoloa
Of course the Marriott and the Hilton at the Waikoloa Beach Resort have spa facilities, but if you're like us, you want something more than the "spa" treatment.
After some experimentation, we finally found a great massage therapist who has a physical therapy background and has done wonders for our back problems. Her name is Anna Goss and she runs Waikoloa Massage Services just a short drive up the hill to Waikoloa Village.
From our place take a left a the highway as you leave the Waikoloa Beach Drive, then a right at the Blue Helicopters on Waikoloa Road. Anna's phone number is (808) 990-8492 or she can be e-mailed at waikoloamassage@hawaii.rr.com. It's good to book ahead if possible as she as a lot of loyal clientele, both locals and vacation travelers. As soon as you drive up, you will probably be greeted by her dog, Pua, who will wait with you until it's time for your appointment. The only charge? A few minutes of petting will do! That's for the dog.
Anna takes Visa and MasterCard. Also be aware that all services are taxed in Hawaii. Gratuities are also appreciated.
Mick
After some experimentation, we finally found a great massage therapist who has a physical therapy background and has done wonders for our back problems. Her name is Anna Goss and she runs Waikoloa Massage Services just a short drive up the hill to Waikoloa Village.
From our place take a left a the highway as you leave the Waikoloa Beach Drive, then a right at the Blue Helicopters on Waikoloa Road. Anna's phone number is (808) 990-8492 or she can be e-mailed at waikoloamassage@hawaii.rr.com. It's good to book ahead if possible as she as a lot of loyal clientele, both locals and vacation travelers. As soon as you drive up, you will probably be greeted by her dog, Pua, who will wait with you until it's time for your appointment. The only charge? A few minutes of petting will do! That's for the dog.
Anna takes Visa and MasterCard. Also be aware that all services are taxed in Hawaii. Gratuities are also appreciated.
Mick
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Kolea plans new pools and exercise facilities
Next week, the HOA at Kolea will vote on plans to enhance the pool areas and workout facilities. It is long overdue since the original pool design was built for fewer units. At the end of the project, the developers saw fit to add several more buildings to the site, buildings with 8 units each instead of the original design of 6 per building.
As a result there is too much traffic at the pool during high seasons. Those of you who visit at that time already know this. So there are plans in the works to make the following changes, pending home owner approval. The meeting is November 30th, 2007.
Plan 1 is to tear down the exercise hale and 2 guest hales which are located in back of the parking lot. In their place they will put in a second pool and a slightly larger exercise facility with a few more cardio machines and a multi-purpose weight machine.
Plan 2 is to tear down the 2 guest hales and put a second pool in the lava field closest to the Marriott along with a second exercise hale.
Plan 3 is to do a combination of both. We are leaning toward this approach which would result in 3 pools and 2 exercise hales. I will report back when the decision has been made.
Mick
As a result there is too much traffic at the pool during high seasons. Those of you who visit at that time already know this. So there are plans in the works to make the following changes, pending home owner approval. The meeting is November 30th, 2007.
Plan 1 is to tear down the exercise hale and 2 guest hales which are located in back of the parking lot. In their place they will put in a second pool and a slightly larger exercise facility with a few more cardio machines and a multi-purpose weight machine.
Plan 2 is to tear down the 2 guest hales and put a second pool in the lava field closest to the Marriott along with a second exercise hale.
Plan 3 is to do a combination of both. We are leaning toward this approach which would result in 3 pools and 2 exercise hales. I will report back when the decision has been made.
Mick
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Playing Music in Hawaii
I found a great music store in Waimea at the back of the Parker Center with tons of new and used instruments. It's called Waimea Music Exchange. Their phone numbers are 808-885-8900 or 808-883-0391.
The owner, Paul, was very helpful in showing me various ukeleles before I decided on one of the less expensive ones. With the gig bag, extra strings, chord book and chromatic tuner, it came to about $200. That's twice as much as the one I found at Costco, but this one stays in tune and the intonation is good all the way up the neck!
So last night I put on a couple of our Hawaii CDs and played along. Fortunately, I have a frame of reference because I play a little guitar and a lot of bass guitar. Even so, the chord patterns are much different. You'd think because a guitar has 6 strings and a ukelele has 4 that the uke would be easier to play... Not so fast. I found the D pattern on a guitar is a G on the ukelele, and so it goes!
Mick
The owner, Paul, was very helpful in showing me various ukeleles before I decided on one of the less expensive ones. With the gig bag, extra strings, chord book and chromatic tuner, it came to about $200. That's twice as much as the one I found at Costco, but this one stays in tune and the intonation is good all the way up the neck!
So last night I put on a couple of our Hawaii CDs and played along. Fortunately, I have a frame of reference because I play a little guitar and a lot of bass guitar. Even so, the chord patterns are much different. You'd think because a guitar has 6 strings and a ukelele has 4 that the uke would be easier to play... Not so fast. I found the D pattern on a guitar is a G on the ukelele, and so it goes!
Mick
Monday, November 19, 2007
Tell me about the lava
There are two types of lava fields in Hawaii. A'a is the broken lava and Pahoehoe is lava with the smoother surface. There is a third type of lava that is rarely seen, pillow lava, because it is found in the water at the base of a lava flow, and is caused when the hot lava hits the much cooler sea water.
Mick
Mick
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