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
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Are those Tradewinds or Kona Winds?
The Pacific Disaster Center says if they are coming from the northeast, then they are tradewinds which is about 90% of the time in Hawaii. However, if they are coming from the southwest, they are called Kona Winds and usually bring rain... But it hardly ever does in the Waikoloa Beach Resort where Kolea is! The only greenery here is man made using irrigation systems!
The Waikola Beach Resort area is very desert-like and only gets about 6 inches of rain a year, though it does get cloudy sometimes. And take drive in your convertible up the hill to Waikoloa Village and you're bound to get wet on those days.
Mick
The Waikola Beach Resort area is very desert-like and only gets about 6 inches of rain a year, though it does get cloudy sometimes. And take drive in your convertible up the hill to Waikoloa Village and you're bound to get wet on those days.
Mick
Want to surf on the Big Island?
There are a few great places to surf on the Big Island, mostly along the west shore south of Kona. I met a great guy several years ago who is extremely patient and a great teacher. Turns out he was 2 time Pipeline Grandmasters Champ on North Shore of Oahu! His name is Rory Russell.
If you need a good board, he can also get you a great deal on ones he's designed himself. He has also taught celebrities like Bill Murray and has a picture with him standing on Kahalu'u Beach just south of Kona to prove it! He's a GREAT GUY and a good friend.
When trying to decide where to go, you might want to consider the tide (low tide seems to be better for surfing, I'm told) so this link to the Big Island tide tables might be helpful.
Mick
If you need a good board, he can also get you a great deal on ones he's designed himself. He has also taught celebrities like Bill Murray and has a picture with him standing on Kahalu'u Beach just south of Kona to prove it! He's a GREAT GUY and a good friend.
When trying to decide where to go, you might want to consider the tide (low tide seems to be better for surfing, I'm told) so this link to the Big Island tide tables might be helpful.
Mick
Learning Hawaiian
It looks difficult... and it can be! A is pronounced JAE. E is pronounced as a long A like JAY. I is pronounced as a long E like GEE. O is the same... as in JOE. U is pronounced Ew like JEW.
We're always told to pronounce all the vowells, but that is not always the case. For example, Waikoloa is not Wa-i-ko-lo-a as my bookkeeper pronounces it. Sometimes 2 vowells togehter have their own sound. Wai is one Y sound as in Waikiki.
Anyway, I found a site that has Hawaiian to English translations. Sometimes long words must be broken down to be found. For example the state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a can not be found. But humuhumu, nukunuku and pua'a can be found separately.
Though it does have the translations sometimes the histories of words are not told. For example, the word haole (pronounced HOWLY) means white person, but a friend who took a course on Hawaiian history told me the word originates from when Captain Cook landed, the natives saw these white people for the first time. Their assumption was that they were shallow breathers and therefore, had white skin and would fall over and faint at any moment! So I am told the word haole translates roughly to "those without breath". Don't quote me on it though!
Mick
We're always told to pronounce all the vowells, but that is not always the case. For example, Waikoloa is not Wa-i-ko-lo-a as my bookkeeper pronounces it. Sometimes 2 vowells togehter have their own sound. Wai is one Y sound as in Waikiki.
Anyway, I found a site that has Hawaiian to English translations. Sometimes long words must be broken down to be found. For example the state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a can not be found. But humuhumu, nukunuku and pua'a can be found separately.
Though it does have the translations sometimes the histories of words are not told. For example, the word haole (pronounced HOWLY) means white person, but a friend who took a course on Hawaiian history told me the word originates from when Captain Cook landed, the natives saw these white people for the first time. Their assumption was that they were shallow breathers and therefore, had white skin and would fall over and faint at any moment! So I am told the word haole translates roughly to "those without breath". Don't quote me on it though!
Mick
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Have you stayed in Kolea 10E? Leave your comments here!
We would love to hear your comments and suggestions if you have used our unit 10E at Kolea. Just click the comments link below and post your thoughts. Please be patient as all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.
Mick
Mick
Alcoholics Anonymous on the Big Island
The Big Island is even bigger than you think. Head to Hilo from Kona and you will see what we mean! It's not a short trip no matter which route you take.
That is why Alcoholics Anonymous is divided into East Hawaii and West Hawaii schedules. If you're staying at Kolea or in Kona and want to hit a meeting, the West Side is where you want to look. Here is the West Hawaii AA Website.
And remember when traveling the 2 lane highways... easy does it!
- Mick
That is why Alcoholics Anonymous is divided into East Hawaii and West Hawaii schedules. If you're staying at Kolea or in Kona and want to hit a meeting, the West Side is where you want to look. Here is the West Hawaii AA Website.
And remember when traveling the 2 lane highways... easy does it!
- Mick
Welcome to Hawaii!!!
As owners of Vacation Rental By Owner #147665, we are starting this blog the week of Thanksgiving, 2007 to give people an idea of what can be found in our tropical paradise!
Kolea is a truly unique place on the Big Island on Hawaii, located only steps from one of the few white sand beaches available here. The warm water of Anaeho'omalu Bay (called A Bay by the locals) is a fantastic place to sunbathe, watch turtles, swim, snorkel, kayak or sometimes even surf.
We devised this site to add our experiences of what we've found here as well as to give others a chance to submit ideas and questions. Please address all e-mail to info@sfresidence.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Kolea is a truly unique place on the Big Island on Hawaii, located only steps from one of the few white sand beaches available here. The warm water of Anaeho'omalu Bay (called A Bay by the locals) is a fantastic place to sunbathe, watch turtles, swim, snorkel, kayak or sometimes even surf.
We devised this site to add our experiences of what we've found here as well as to give others a chance to submit ideas and questions. Please address all e-mail to info@sfresidence.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
