FEB 9
2015
Nakamoto’s is a weekly pop up restaurant at the Saturday Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Farmers’ Market, located in Waimea about 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
Run by Bobby and Joung Nakamoto, the mini-restaurant seats 50 eager breakfast enthusiasts every weekend. Specialties include omelettes with fried rice, eggs Benedict, bibimbap, curry and rice, and sushi. The specialty omelette changers each week with different seasonal flavors for extra freshness. Visitors often meet the Nakamoto’s themselves, who prefer to remain involved in day to day cooking.
Parking is available nearby with easy access to the highway. Other nearby vendors often offer samples as well to complement the Nakamoto breakfast.
FEB 6
2015
The Doris Duke Theater at the Honolulu Museum of Art, located in downtown Honolulu about thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, will host the fourth annual African American Film Festival from February 7-22.
The festival is designed to celebrate African American History Month. The festival begins with an opening “night on Broadway” reception with a delicious dinner spread and screening of “August Wilson: The Ground on which I Stand”. The month of film includes a number of thoughtful, uplifting, and moving films as well as workshops designed specifically for actors and screenwriters.
For more information or a full schedule of film screenings, check out http://honolulumuseum.org/14862-4th_annual_honolulu_african_american_film_festival or call (808) 532-8768.
FEB 3
2015
Pow! Wow! Hawaii is a week long showcase to celebrate artistic expression in Hawaii and the impact art has on its viewers. The festivities will take place February 9 through 14 at various locations across the state, many of which are easily accessible from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
Pow! Wow! explores a wide range of artistic expression, ranging from contemporary art to music to mural painting. The events are designed to be inclusive, connecting and integrating viewers and artists. Participating artists come from local Hawaii, as well as more distant corners of the world to join together to celebrate art.
For more information or to check out a full schedule, visit http://powwowhawaii.com/.
JAN 30
2015
ESPN 1420’s annual Jersey Fun Run will take place on January 31. The run begins at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, about thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.
Participants are encouraged to wear a sports jersey of their choice to support favorite teams. The run includes an interactive 3 km course that extends onto the Hawaiian Airlines Field. Furthermore, the event includes a number of engaging, family-friendly activities such as prizes, giveaways, a competitive obstacle course, and live entertainment. Entrants may also enter team uniform contests and a touchdown dance competition.
Proceeds benefit the Hawaii Special Olympics. For more information or to register, check out http://www.active.com/.
JAN 28
2015
The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Oahu Choral Society will perform the Legend of Zelda Symphony on January 30 as a tribute to the popular video game. The performance will take place in the Blaisdell Center in Waikiki, about thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
The performance will borrow classic musical undertones from the game, adapting them into an orchestral symphonic context. The orchestra itself features musicians from Hawaii. This master quest is designed to appeal to music enthusiasts as well as video game aficionados.
Ticket prices begin at $39. The show will start at 8:00 pm and last approximately two hours. For more information, check out http://www.blaisdellcenter.com/ or call (808) 768-5400.
JAN 14
2015
The Bishop Museum, located in downtown Honolulu just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, is hosting an exhibition dedicated to exploring 125 years of Hawaii’s change now through March 6.
The exhibit features over 1,000 photographs of Hawaiian history. The exhibit touches on fifteen distinct themes that have shaped present-day Hawaii, including food, entertainment, transportation, and more. A number of interactive displays add further depth to the photographs, enabling guests to envision life of the past.
Admission costs $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children. The museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, check out their website (http://bishopmuseum.org/) or call (808) 847-3511.
JAN 11
2015
Banzai Pipeline is located just off Sunset Beach Park along Oahu’s North Shore, about 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
The pipeline is a surf reef break point notorious for its enormous waves. Notably, the pipeline is a dangerous surfing destination because of its proximity to the reef, which creates a shallow pool of water. However, for experienced surfers, the thick curls of water offer an unbeatable surfing experience. The pipeline is famous for four iconic wave types: the left, peak, A-frame, and backdoor, each of which creates a uniquely challenging surfing experience.
While the beach is open to the public, novice surfers and casual swimmers are cautioned against exploring the waters.
JAN 8
2015
Island Vintage Coffee, a small cafe, is located near Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, about thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
Island Vintage Coffee specializes in coffee and tea but offers a range of quick eating options. Innovative coffees include the Hawaiian Honey Latte, Lava Mocha, and Vintage Kona Mocha, each of which features local, fresh ingredients. Popular breakfast items include the acai bowl and lychee streusel. Bagged coffee for later enjoyment is also available, featuring a number of real Hawaiian Kona varieties.
The store is open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm daily. For more information, check out their website https://www.islandvintagecoffee.com/ or call (808) 941-9300.
JAN 5
2015
The Ko Olina Lagoons, located just walking distance from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, are a popular family destination.
The lagoons offer a safe, easy swimming space appropriate for young children and weak swimmers. Protected from the current and larger waves, the lagoons are cut into Oahu’s southeastern coastline. The four beach coves themselves are pristine with clean sandy beaches and towering palm trees. The beaches are quite empty of vendors and other retail activity, lending themselves as the perfect quiet picnic destination.
The lagoons are free and open to the public year round. For more information, check out http://www.best-of-oahu.com/Ko-Olina-Oahu.html.
JAN 2
2015
The Honolulu Museum of Art, located in downtown Honolulu just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is hosting “The Nightscapes of Saito Kiyoshi and Kawase Hasui” exhibit now through January 18.
The exhibit features a number of intricate paintings of the night which seek to capture different emotions of the darkness, ranging from serenity to eeriness. The exhibit is comprised primarily of 20th Century Japanese works by Kiyoshi and Hasui which use two dichotomous artistic methods. The art remains timeless today.
Admission is open to the public for $10. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. For more information, check out http://honolulumuseum.org/.
