Waikoloa Vacation Rental Management

The Seafood Bar offers a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy a fantastic mai tai.  The Seafood Bar has an indoor area with seats around the bar and a wrap around lanai to sit out on an enjoy a beautiful evening in Hawaii.  Their pupu (appetizer) menu is limited, but the food that is on there is great.  The Harbor Grill is conveniently located next door to give you a place to eat dinner if you would like.

You can often find live entertainment at night.  You can contact them at (808) 882-1368 to find out the schedule.

Cafe Pesto offers the quality of food you would receive in the resorts at a better rate.  The lunch menu is filled with delicious salads and pizzas made to your liking.  The dinner menu consists of some of the same items that the lunch menu offers, but also offers some other amazing dishes.  You can find amazing seafood dishes prepared with the catch of the day.  They also have a wonderful beef tenderloin with tiger shrimp.  Don’t miss out on the shrimp nachos for appetizer!

If you show up early you can enjoy a lounging area near the bar.  The Mango Colada is great for a tropical libation.

Cafe Pesto does not take reservations, but typically is not overwhelmingly busy.  Sometimes during the winter months there can be a rather long wait.

To get to Cafe Pesto, exit the resort and take a left traveling north.  When the road splits you will take a left and you will find Cafe Pesto just a few miles down on the left.

The Waikoloa Beach Resort golf courses offer a Gold Membership program to owners, which allows guests in their condos to enjoy golf at $50 and $75 at the Waikoloa Beach Course and Waikoloa Kings Course.  This is a feature of vacation rentals that has become desireable to potential rentals.

Just recently two vacations rentals in our program, Kolea 1F and Halii Kai 12H, has acquired this membership for their guests to enjoy.

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.

Ocean Sports provides the water activities in the Waikoloa Beach Resort.  With their boat at A’Bay, you will find them easily accessible from all locations and just a short walk from Kolea and the Marriott.  They offer all the main water activities throughout the day and at competitive rates giving you no reason to leave the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Children 6-12 are 1/2 of the adult rate on all ocean adventures.

Black Sand Snorkel Sail
Enjoy snorkeling with some of the amazing sea life Hawaii has to offer at a beautiful black sand beach.  On the way back you will enjoy a picnic lunch as well as an open bar.

Rate: $132.09
Inquire for availability

Champagne Sunset Sail
Enjoy an evening just off of the Kohala Coast.  Enjoy an open bar as you travel along the smooth waters until you reach to destination to stop and enjoy a beautiful Hawaiian sunset as you enjoy a wonderful buffet.  I hope you find the buffet as pleasant as I did.

Rate: $110
Departure time: 4:30

Whale Watch
Daily whale watch cruises operate December through April when the spectacular humpback whale sightings are in full swing.  These magnificent creatures migrate from Alaska an astonishing 3600 miles to Hawaii to mate and give birth in the warm tropical seas.  Their breaching activities create an exciting spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors each winter season.  While aboard the Alala, you will enjoy beverages and snacks on this two hour tour.
You are guaranteed to see whales or you get to go again for FREE!

Rate:  $93.32
Departure Times: 8 am, 10 am

Whales and Cocktails
If the morning whale watch does not work for you, there is an afternoon whale watch which offers everything the morning whale watch does plus more.  Enjoy an open bar  as well as dancers doing traditional Fiji whale dances.

Rate: $104
Please inquire for availability

Scuba Diving
2 Tank Dive: $176.66; w/intro $211.10

Private charters are available.  The Seasmoke holds up to 49 passengers and the Alala holds up to 76 passengers.
Seasmoke: 2 hours- $3499.65; 3 hours- $4666.20; 4 hours- $5832.75
Alala: 2 hours- $4444.00; 3 hours- $6110.50; 4 hours- $7777.00

Christmas 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).

Fujimamas offers a nice Asian inspired cuisine in Waimea.  Open daily from 5-9 pm Monday through Saturday.  Althought the menus is fairly limited some of the items are very good.  The Four Towers sushi roll is excellent.  A lot of the menu items as well as drinks contain ginger so a taste for that is needed to really enjoy a lot of the menu items.  Being a small restaurant, if they are busy the service is lacking.

Directions: As you exit the Waikoloa Beach Resort, take a left onto the highway.  As you reach the end of the highway it will split.  Take a right up the mountain to Waimea.  As you enter Waimea you will find Fujimamas on the right just past the gas station.  If you reach the red light, you have gone too far.

Fujimamas Phone: (808) 885-9299

Pakini Grillis one of the newest additions in Waimea taking place of the Ranch House.  With a new menu and atmosphere, Pakini Grill is a great place to enjoy your evening.  You will find a bar located in the center of the restaurant with an area for entertainment on the right as you enter.  Local Hawaiian bands play throughout the week.  On the left is a slightly more quiet dining  side and an open kitchen.  The menu has some favorite local items along with some great appetizers if you choose to just enjoy the music.  Pakini Grill is open until 10 or 11 nightly. 

Directions:  As you exit Waikoloa Beach Resort take a left onto the highway.  You will travel until the highway splits.  Take a right up the mountain to Waimea.  Once you enter the town of Waimea, take a left at the red light.  Find Pakini Grill on the left past the shopping center.

Pakini Grill Phone: (808) 885-3333

The Lava Boat Tour offers a great way to get to see lava without having to pay for a helicopter tour or having to take a hike.  Although those are the two most popular ways to view the lava, at times they do not suite peoples needs.

On the lava boat tour, you will take a “ferry style”  24 passenger boat from a town near Hilo called Pahoa along the volcanic coastline to Volcano National Park.

Along this tour you will have the opportunity to enjoy the waters off of the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii along with getting to see lava up close (as close as 20 yards).

My recommendations is spend the day enjoying Volcano National Park and then take the sunset tour.  The Big Island is well known for the volcano and you can easily spend a day taking everything in.

The tour is approximately 2-2.5 hours in duration.

Cost
Adult: $180
Children: $125

Please contact us at (808) 987-4519 or waikoloavrm@aol.com to book your Lava Tour.

Pololu Valley is my favorite of all the valleys on the north coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.  As you reach the outlook you will see a beautiful black sand beach down below and a stretch of dense tropical sea cliffs.  Although you can get some great pictures from the outlook, I would recommend hiking down into the valley to get the full experience.

There is a rocky trail that winds down the side of one of the cliffs that takes about 15 minutes to get down into the valley.  Taking a couple of bottles of water would not be a bad idea.  While walking down the trail you will come across a couple of spots that some of the most beautiful pictures of Pololu Valley are taken at.

Once you reach Pololu Valley, there is a beautiful black sand beach and a stream that runs back into the valley.  The left side of the beach is really sandy as far out as you can go, but the right side is rocky.  Pololu Valley is a great surf spot so typically you will see a lot of surfers.

After you spend time on the beach adventure out into the valley.  You will find several trails that travel through the lush landscaping and back into the valley.  You can get some amazing pictures of the valley along these trails.  Throughout the trails you will see lots of wildlife, man made swings, and much more.

Make sure to wait until later in the afternoon or when the clouds to come out to treck your way out of the valley.  The hike out is much tougher than the hike in.