After 2 glorious days in Waikiki and about a twenty minute flight on
Hawaiian air (from Honolulu to Kona) we began a 7 day and
6 night adventure in bliss on Hawaii's Big Island. The Hilton Waikoloa Village & Kohala Spa was the most beautiful hotel
that we have ever stayed at. It is situated on 62 oceanfront acres and
includes the Dolphin Quest Learning Center, a waterfall, a four acre
lagoon, a complete service health & beauty spa, an 18-hole seaside putting
course, and the most lush landscape that you have ever seen. The
sheer size of this hotel makes it advisable to catch a monorail or to
float on a mahogany canal boat to your hotel room. If you do have
the time, walking through the museum walkway to your room is an unforgettable
experience. It contains millions of dollars of artifacts and specialized
art with a definite oriental flavor. We can't say enough about this hotel!
Island hopping takes only 20 to 30 minutes.
Paradise in the middle of a lava covered island.
Picture perfect from our balcony on the executive floor, and all this
was free after redeeming Doug's Hilton HHonors points.
But now we are hooked!
Dolphin Quest brings man and animal together. By reservation only,
children and adults may swim with these magnificent creatures under
the supervision of professional Dolphin trainers.
You can rock yourself to sleep in a comfy hammock and be kissed
by the aromatic island breezes. (Just be sure that you have sunscreen
on!)
The Monorail is the most efficient method of transportation on
the hotel grounds, but (if time permits) the boat is definitely
the most romantic.
There is nothing like a romantic boat ride at sunset with the one
you love!
Top left: A close up of the state-of-the-art monorail.
"Next stop the Magic Kingdom!"
Top right: But don't kid yourself, the water temperature will
jolt all you Floridians back to reality. It's COLD (relatively
speaking).
Left: For the kids (and big kids) the water slide is
a popular attraction. Almost every pool on the property is equipped
with one.
Right: A cabana used for a massage by the sea--a luxury
that we did not indulge in at that time.