Enjoy Some of the fine Big Island of Hawaii Beaches While Staying at Waikoloa Beach Resort
Sunday, February 21st, 2010The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most diverse places on the earth. Given this, there are a variety of unique beaches on the island that offer something for everyone. From green sand beaches to fun filled state parks, the Big Island has it all.
Green Sand Beach at South Point
The Green Sand Beach is located at the very south end of the Big Island. It is in a very remote location but worth the effort to see. To reach the beach, go down the South Point Road. Follow the road to the left and go to the boat ramp. If the soil is dry and you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can drive farther. However, we recommend you park near the ramp and walk the mile to the beach. You will have to descend the remains of a collapsed cinder cone to the beach. This is steep and somewhat precarious. The beach is the result of the front half of a cinder cone collapsing into the ocean, leaving a sandy beach. There are no public facilities in this area.A’Bay at Waikoloa Beach Resort
A’Bay is the only sandy beach in the Waikoloa Beach Resort, which is one of the top vacation destinations for families. This crescent moon shaped beach spans over a mile in length and sits just in front of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Kolea at Waikoloa Beach Resort giving these guests easy access. The Queens Shops are also a short walk away if you decide to take a break for lunch. Given that this beach sits on a bay, it is great for children and there is very little surf. Ocean Sports has a shack on the beach making beach toys, snorkel gear, and water sport equipment readily available. A’Bay is a five star beach for families with small children.
Black Sand Beach at Pololu Valley
Pololu Valley is one of the most beautiful places on the Big Island of Hawaii. Located at the bottom of the valley is a beautiful black sand beach, which offers a setting for amazing photographs and tranquility. Pololu Valley is a hikers dream. It is about a 30 minute hike down into the valley, which great aerial photographs available along the way. Once you reach the bottom of the trail you will find a beautiful beach along with a lot more landscape to hike. The water at Pololu Vally is typically very rough so you will want to be very cautious if you enter. The Black Sand Beach at Pololu Valley is an excellent beach for photographs and for the adventurous person.
View Directions to Pololu Valley From Waikoloa Beach Resort
Hapuna Beach State Park
Hapuna Beach is the most well known beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hapuna Beach features is one of the largest white sand beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii. The waters are also very friendly for families, with the exception of the winter months where you can find very rough surf. There are picnic tables, bar b que pits, as well as showers for use while spending the day there. Hapuna Beach State Park is a great beach for anyone.
View Directions to Hapuna Beach State Part From Waikoloa Beach Resort
Mauna Lani Bay
The beach at Mauna Lani Bay is a snorkelers dream. Mauna Lani Bay offers calm waters with a white sand beach just in front of the Mauna Lani Bay hotel. The Mauna Lani Bay hotel has a program where they raise sea turtles and then release them when they are ready. This happens on July 4, Turtle Independence Day. Due to this many sea turtles call the Mauna Lani Bay “home”. While spending a day at Mauna Lani Bay you are sure to see turtles swimming in the waters as well as resting on the beach. Mauna Lani Bay is great for families and snorkelers.
View Directions to Mauna Lani Bay From Waikoloa Beach Resort
Mauna Kea Star Gazing
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
The original Sunset and Stargazing tours started 25 years ago. Back then, Pat Wright conducted his tours from an old Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser has since been replaced with Deluxe Arctic Survival Parkas and Gloves. What has not changed is the passion with which this tour continues today.
The trip begines mid-afternoon. Depending on your pick up location (starbucks in the Waikoloa Kings Shops), an exclusive Van Terra vehicle will transport you. Your tour time will last 7 to 8.25 hours. Informative guides will teach you about geology, natural history, and the geography of the island, as they take you on your journey to Mauna Kea.
These spacious four wheel drive vans can easily hold 13 passengers. Oversized windows, heating and air conditioning systems, upgraded suspension, overhead storage, and an aisle height of 6′2″ are some of the luxurious features. The initial stop at the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center will allow you to acclimate to the 9,000′ elevation and enjoy a hearty supper.
Select in advance one of the following delicious meals to be served at the Onizuka Visitors Center Lanai:
KhoChu Jang Glazed Beef Ribs (spicy sweet), Jasmine Rice, Namasu (cucumber) Salad (Served Hot)
Teriyaki Glazed Chicken, Jasmine Rice and a Pineapple Relish (Served Hot)
Tofu Spinach Wrap with a Cream Sauce and a Cranberry Tabouleh Salad (Served cold) ** Can be made vegan
All choices are served with a scrumptuous, homemade chocolate brownie. Beverages with dinner are not provided, but may be purchased at the Visitors Center, or you may bring along a non-alcoholic drink.
Marvel at the telescope viewings, learn about the astronomers who work there, then snuggle into your parka and gloves for the steep 1/2 hour drive to the summit area. Here your guide will point out the observatories as they begin to open and rotate into position.
Grab a photo opportunity of a lifetime as the sun begins to set. When the sunset colors have passed, you will descend to mid mountain where the sky is equally clear, but the climate and air is more comfortable for stargazing. Hot drinks and cookies served halfway through the evening.
Tour Rate: $197
Please provide an approximate men’s parka size for each guest.
Restrictions: This tour is not for those with heart or respiratory conditions or who have/or will scube dive within 24 hours of the tour. No children under the age of 9 and no children under 13 allowed above 9000 ft.
Tips: Bring a sweater, a bottle of water, and a beverage to have with your dinner and snacks. Bring fresh camera batteries.
Cancellation Policy: 72 hours
This tour is very popular and you will need to reserve it weeks in advance. Contact us at (808) 987-4519 or waikoloavrm@aol.com to reserve your Mauna Kea Summit Adventures.
Christmas 2009 on the Big Island of Hawaii
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009Christmas is the busiest time of year on the Big Island of Hawaii so it is best to plan out your stay in order to get to do everything you want to. Many of the restaurants, rental car companies, and activities are sold out. Here is some information that you will find helpful for your stay this Christmas:
Rental Cars- It appears that most of the rental cars are sold out. They also have some extra vehicles that do not show available online so if you are having trouble finding a vehicle please contact us at waikoloavrm@aol.com.
Hilton Waikoloa Pool Pass- Many guests get day passes to use the Hilton pool for a day during their stay. During the holidays these are very limited so if you would like to take advantage of one of these passes you need to plan well in advance. If the hotel is full they do not sell pool passes. Contact us at waikoloavrm@aol.com so we can set it up for you.
Whale Watches/Sunset Sails/Luaus/Helicopter Tours- These are the three most popular activities during the holidays and typically are sold out a month in advance. Some are typically available down in Kailua-Kona, but if you are staying in the Waikoloa Beach Resort or Mauna Lani Resort you may not want to drive down there. Please contact us at waikoloavrm@aol.com if you have any questions regarding these activities.
Mauna Kea Christmas Day Brunch- Mauna Kea Hotel typically has the best Christmas Day brunch. It is about a 10 minute drive north from Waikoloa Beach Resort on Queen K Hwy. This is typically sold out two weeks prior to Christmas.
The Charity Trees at Mauna Lani- Each year the Mauna Lani Bay hotel hosts a Christmas tree contest for the local schools. Each class decorates a Christmas tree and it is placed in the Mauna Lani Bay hotel lobby for the contest. You can walk through the Mauna Lani Bay and see all the trees as well as the hotel being dressed with poinsettias. It is great to get you into the Christmas spirit and it’s FREE!
Restaurant Reservations- Most restaurants are sold out for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve two weeks in advance.
Recommend Churches- There are several churches on the Kohala Coast. Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea offers Christmas Eve masses at 5 pm and 10 pm. The 5 pm mass is a children’s mass. The Christmas Day mass is at 8 am. It is a beautiful church with windows throughout which allows you to see the mountainous terrain in Waimea. Please click here to view a map of how how to get to Annunciation Catholic Church. New Hope Waimea is a nondenominational church in Waimea and offers Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day services. The Christmas Eve service is typically a very kid friendly service. Click here to view a map of how to get to New Hope Waimea. Ascension Catholic Church is one of the closest churches to the Waikoloa Beach Resort. It offers a Christmas Eve mass at 7:30 pm and Christmas Day mass at 10 am and is just about a 10 minute drive. Click here to get directions. These times are tentative and will be updated as the holidays get closer.
Grocery Shopping- Many of the local stores are closed Christmas Eve and all of them are closed Christmas Day. If you would like to have your grocery shopping done for you please contact us with a list of desired items. The charge is 30% of the cost of the groceries and will be charged to your credit card on file.
Golf Tee Times- All of the desirable tee times are usually booked well in advance leaving open only afternoon tee times. Currently the Waikoloa Golf Courses offer the best rate if you reserve your tee time through them directly. They can be reached at (877) WAIKOLOA for Waikoloa Beach Courses and (808) 885-6622 for Mauna Lani Courses. If you want to play outside of the resort you are staying at, please contact us at waikoloavrm@aol.com and we can arrange discounted rates for you as long as you reserve your tee times two weeks in advance.
Late Check Outs- We are unable to offer late check outs or early check ins during this very busy season. If you have a late flight on your departure date we can arrange you a day room at the Marriott or Hilton at a good rate. It is very important to do this now as both hotels are typically sold out. Please let us know if you would like for us to make this reservation for you.
We hope you find this information helpful and please contact us at (808) 987-4519 or waikoloavrm@aol.com for help scheduling any of your activities while you are on the Big Island of Hawaii.
New Years Eve- There will be fireworks at the Waikoloa Beach Resort. The show more than likely will be at Queens Bowl, which is towards the front of the resort. They typically release where they will be shot off from a few days prior to New Years Eve. If it is clear, the best spot is to go to Kawaihae to the Seafood Bar and enjoy cocktails there and then to watch all the fireworks get shot off from the various resorts along the coast from where the road “y’s” going down into Kawaihae Harbor (this can only be done on a clear New Years).
Recommended Activities on the Big Island of Hawaii
Friday, September 4th, 2009Aloha,
Finding a place to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii is just one of the steps to assuring yourself a great Hawaiian vacation. A vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii typically is a “once in a lifetime vacation” so you want to assure yourself that you get the best experience possible.
The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands and offers a lot to see and do. You will want to get a rental car during your stay. Click here to get a deal on rental cars.
The Waikoloa Beach Resort has a lot of activities within the resort for you to enjoy if you do not want to get out and adventure too much. You can do some snorkeling at A’Bay or take a snorkel sail just off the bay.
The Waikoloa Beach Resort has two championship golf courses, The Kings Course and The Beach Course. Currently you can get the best rates by booking with them directly. They can be reached at (808) 886-7888.
You will not want to miss out on visiting either Pololu Valley or Waipio Valley on the north end of the Island. These two valleys are what you picture Hawaii to be. You can either hike into these valleys or get a tour.
Akaka Falls is the largest waterfall on the Big Island of Hawaii and you will want to see it while on the north end of the island.
You will also want to spend a day at Volcano National Park. Many people just walk around the area, but there are also tours available. You can view the Volcano Observatory web site to see how active the volcano is prior to your stay. If you have lung problems you may want to read information on the air quality around the volcano before going. If you are not into hiking, a helicopter tour is a great way to see the volcano along with the rest of the island. You can also take a lava boat, which will allow you to view the lava flowing into the ocean from the ocean. Guests that have gone on this tour have loved it!
Along the Kohala Coast you will find over a dozen luaus. I highly recommend the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Luau. Please contact us at WaikoloaVRM@aol.com for us to help you decide which luau would be best for you and your family.
One day you will want to spend a day out on the ocean on a snorkeling tour. There are over a dozen different vendors so we can help you find which one would work best for you. During the winter months you will want to go on the snorkel/whale watch tours. Ocean Sports departs right from A’Bay so it has the best location.
The most popular off-island tour is of Pearl Harbor. Although you can go and tour it yourself, I would highly recommend taking one of the tours. By the time you pay admission, etc at Pearl Harbor, the prices are pretty close. We can arrange a package for you of transportation to Pearl Harbor along with the tour.
These are just a few of the popular attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii. The newest that I highly recommend is the first zip line tour on the Big Island of Hawaii. Feel free to surf our Big Island Activities section of our blog to view other activities or just contact us at (808) 987-4519 to help us plan your activities on the Big Island of Hawaii.
You can also see our list of Trusted Hawaii Businesses. Anywhere you see the following badge you can be assured they are a “Trusted Hawaii Business”.
For guests staying on a property managed by Waikoloa Vacation Rentals, we also offer a grocery shopping service. Just send us a list of items you would like in your vacation rental prior to your arrival and we will have them there for you for a minimal fee. We also have pack n plays and high chairs for children available for $25/stay each.
One again, I hope this information was helpful to you and do not hesitate to contact us for any questions regarding your stay on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mahalo,
Rob Dalton
Waikoloa Vacation Rental Management
(808) 987-4519