For Fun Just Outside the Hotel
Shoppers and history buffs can explore just twenty minutes down the road and find Historic Kailua Village. This quaint town provides interesting museums and fun shopping. Don't miss both the Hulihee Palace and Mokuaikaua Church (the site of the first Christian church built in Hawaii).
Every age will be awestruck by the amazing sights within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On Hwy. 11, approximately 30 minutes from Hilo; follow road signs making a left into park entrance; (808) 985-6000
All About the Extras
Arrival!
Upon arrival, you'll be wreathed in a fresh-flower lei and offered a tropical punch. Your refrigerator hale will be stocked with juice, bottled water and soda. (Your preferences are welcomed, so if you'd rather not have a battle with your child over soda, the staff will be happy to exclude it.) Real cribs are available (rather than hotel-standard Pack 'n Plays), and extra fans will arrive in your hale, too, if you ask.
Historical, Botanical and Petroglyph Field Tours
Learn about the rich history of Ka'upulehu and Kona Village during complimentary tours to the resort's centuries-old petroglyph field. It's great for kids and adults.
Hualalai Golf Course
100 Ka'upulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii, HI (808) 325-8000
Located within the Four Seasons Resort, the Hualalai Golf Course sits, in all its splendor, next to Kona Village, and guests are afforded privileges. With immaculate greens set against black lava fields, this 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus signature course is beautifully maintained and a dream to play. Club rentals, golf lessons, a pro shop and a luxury club house are available. Fees start at $250 for all-day play.
Ka'upulehu Village Art Show
The Ka'upulehu Village Art Show is located on the patio at Hale Samoa on Thursdays only. Every Thursday, you'll find an informal art show with watercolors, depicting the scenes of Kona Village. Many of the artists paint while on the property.
Keiki Dinner
A special children's dinner service is available each evening at no extra charge when mom and dad are due for a quiet evening of their own. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the kids will enjoy a dinner with classic keiki food and later play games, including capture the minnow and, for younger kids, bead-stringing and coloring.
Kona Village Spa
The Kona Village spa brims with a plethora of treatments, from massages and facials to manicures, pedicures and waxing services. The one that caught our attention was the Double Decadence Ono-licious. This 75-minute massage includes being drizzled with warm virgin coconut oil, followed by a chocolate, sugar and coconut massage. Next come a wrap and a chocolate face mask. A foot-and-hands massage with an orange and vanilla lotion completes the treatment. Schedule appointments for the spa through the concierge.
The spa also offers pregnancy, couples, deep-tissue and Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi massages. All massages can be requested oceanside or within your hale.
Complimentary Activities
All-inclusive arrangement means that your hale and meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday Brunch, Paniolo BBQ and twice-weekly luau are included). Also included are tennis court usage, racquets, balls, round-robins and clinics; use of the fitness center and saunas; snorkel gear, kayaks, boogie boards and surfboards; arts and crafts, such as shell-hunting and lei-making; historical, botanical and petroglyph tours; Ping-Pong and shuffleboard; and the childrens' program for 5- to 12-year-olds.
Additional Charge Activities
Activities not included in the all-inclusive arrangement are spa treatments, deep-sea fishing, scuba dive excursions, scuba certification, underwater dive scooters, windsurfing, helicopter rides, paddle boards, outrigger canoes, sailing lessons, private tennis lessons, car rentals, golf, horseback-riding and personalized underwater picture CD's. Alcoholic beverages are also not included.
Airport Arrival
Kona International
73-200 Kupipi Street Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-2645 (808) 327-9520
Kona Village is just 10 minutes (about 6 miles) north of the Kona Airport. You have several options to get to the Kona Village. Rent a car, take a taxi, or use SpeediShuttle.
Car Rental
Unless you plan to spend your entire vacation at Kona Village, you absolutely need a rental car to see the amazing sights of the Big Island.
Concierge Car Rental (800) 325-4373.
If you know that most of your time will be spent at Kona Village but would like to take a day to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, have the meal of a lifetime at Brown's Beach House, or step onto some of the Big Island's spectacular red-, green- and black-sand beaches, talk with the Kona Village concierge. Kona Village enjoys an arrangement with Hertz rental car and, at your request, your chariot will arrive at Kona Village for your use. Now that's service.
Taxis
Taxis on the Big Island don't come cheap, but there are times in everyone's life where a taxi makes the journey so much smoother.
Aloha Taxi -- Kailua Kona (808) 325-0775
Alpha Star Taxi -- Kamuela (808) 885-4771
Elsa Taxi -- Kailua Kona (808) 937-8888
Hula Girl Taxi -- Kailua Kona (808) 937-9896
SpeediShuttle (877) 242-5777
This is an awesome option for those who don't have a rental car and have no interest in shelling out for a taxi. SpeediShuttles are comfortable and clean mini-buses that stop at the airport and resorts.
Babysitting Services
Baby-sitting can be arranged through Concierge Services for an extra charge.
Business Center
Seriously, you want to conduct business during your precious time at Kona Village? We're shaking our heads in sad disbelief, but if you must know, complimentary Internet access is available, but only in the concierge services department. You'll find internet connections for personal laptops, as well as two computers with printers for guest use. The front office is more than willing to make copies and assist with mailings for guests.
Fitness Center
This includes a large, open-air fitness room with Precor equipment, free weights, bicycles, treadmills -- everything you need to work off the calories from the resort's incredible meals.
Hotel Shops
Being in a land far, far away can downright rock until that moment when you need to scratch a shopping itch. At Kona Village, you'll find two small but very nice boutiques for beautiful perusing. The Hale Ho'omau carries almost anything you could possibly need in paradise, including resortwear, from aloha shirts and swimwear to fun outerwear, shoes, hats, soaps, lotions and more.
The Kona Village Goldsmith store offers an array of beautiful Hawaiian jewelry, including diamond plumeria rings and necklaces.
Laundry
Complimentary laundry facilities like washers, dryers and detergent are all available.
The Art of Smart Timing
Kona Village is proud to say that 65 percent of their guests are repeats. So, expect holidays and summertime to be very busy at Kona Village. Holidays include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Spring Break. Count on September and October to be peaceful with gorgeous weather.
Kona Village Weather
The Big Island enjoys many different climates, so depending on where you're at, it can be hot and sunny, rainy and cold or even freezing with snow on the summit of Mauankea (13,796 feet above sea level), depending on your plans. But, the beautiful Kona coast is on the sun-drenched side of the island and receives only about 10 inches of rain each year. All twelve months see temperatures ranging from nighttime lows in the high 60's to daytime highs in the high 80's. Ever-present tradewinds and sea breezes provide natural air-conditioning. Winds in the mornings are cool, making for prime snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding. As the sun rises, warming the sea breezes, ocean conditions become ideal for sailing and windsurfing.
What's The Damage?
Kona Village Resort Reservations (800) 367-5290
You can leisurely review the many hale floor plans on the Kona Village Web site. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call the reservation desk directly. The folks are extremely down-to-earth, knowledgeable and friendly.
To begin, room rates are based on the view and location of your hale. The gardenview is your least expensive option, followed by a partial oceanview and concluding with the dramatic oceanview.
A two-room hale for a family of three starts at $975 a night, including all meals and select activities. Each additional child is charged a rate that's based on age. Guests returning to Kona Village three or more times are automatically enrolled in the Coconut Club for discounted rates. Subscribe for e-mail exclusives on the Kona Village Web site, and receive Web-only deals, family travel opportunities and special promotions. Many specials and packages require a minimum five-night stay.
Haven't been away from the kids in forever? If you're planning a fantastic getaway to Kona Village for some cozy time a duex, the one-room, full oceanfront hale begins at $1200 a night. Some of these rooms even boast whirlpool lanais. (Now that's something to boast about.) More than you wanted to spend? Then consider the garden room for two that starts at $660 a night.
Call Kona Village directly, and ask, ask, ask to find the best deal.
Mom and Dad are Family Too!
At first glance, Kona Village can appear to be "all about the kids," but look closer. Parents will find an array of exciting activities just as great as anything the kids have. Kona Village boasts two bars, tennis, a spa, golf, water sports galore, scuba cruises and an evening dinner program for kids, giving adults time on their own.
Bora Bora Bar
Within an open-air, torch-lit environment, you'll groove to the live entertainment of Na Hoku Hano Hano award-winning (Hawaii's equivalent of the Grammys) slack-key guitar player John Keawe, renowned guitar maker and player David Gomes and the Clem Lo Trio for fantastic dance music.
Manager's Reception
Here's a chance to mingle with the other guests and meet the general manager of Kona Village. Light pupus and cocktails are served. Children are welcome and are offered virgin drinks.
Shipwreck Pool
You can guess by now that the Kona Village welcomes children into their fold every chance they get. However (and this is a wonderful "however"), they do discourage childrens' use of the Shipwreck pool so that parents can enjoy a lovely "time out."
Talk Story Bar
This is a fun spot to gather, take in the view and mingle with other guests. Order a light lunch in the afternoon and pupus in the early evening. Colorful tropical drinks are encouraged.
