NOV 27
2013
The Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden is a small but detailed botanical garden located on the Kapiolani Community College campus near Diamond Head Crater, about 45 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas. The garden specializes in various varieties of cacti.
The garden was founded in 1988 by Moriso Teraoka, a long-time supporter of the community college, botanical endeavors, and natural flora. The cacti on site were collected over a period of several years.
The garden is free and open to the public year round, and a great way to support local agriculture, student education, and the strong community effort involved in collecting, cultivating, and maintaining the garden.
NOV 24
2013
Sanju Pagoda is the iconic, three-tiered pagoda located in the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park, about forty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The gardens are also home to the Kinkaku-ji Temple and Mirror gardens.
Sanju Pagoda, the largest pagoda of its kind in the world, was built in the style of traditional Japanese architecture and modeled after the Minami Hoke-ji Temple in Japan. Now, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Kyoto Gardens are open year round to the public. Admission is free, and all visitors are encouraged to enjoy the gardens respectfully, as they embody traditional Japanese culture while also serving as a cemetery.
NOV 21
2013
Known as the “Pride of the Pacific”, the Historic Hawaii Theatre has been operational for over ninety years. Located on Bethel Street in Honolulu, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, the theatre has a rolling list of plays and performances. Upcoming performances include an evening of Mythology and Storytelling on December 8 and A Cazimero Christmas from December 13-15. A full list of upcoming and previous shows is available on the theatre’s website.
Ticket prices are subject to change according to the performance and can be purchased online.
The theatre also sponsors a series of educational programs for youth and adults, including a student acting and apprenticeship program and a student matinee program.
For more information, check out www.hawaiitheatre.com.
NOV 17
2013
Sea Life Park – Hawaii is an educational park with reefs, lagoons, and pools filled with aquatic life. Located in Waimanalo just off Kalanianaole Highway, about 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, Sea Life Park has a range of activities that appeal to the whole family.
Popular attractions include Sea Life Park’s new shark tank, dolphin cove, sea bird sanctuary, and ocean theatre. The park also offers several participatory activities, including swimming with dolphins, sharks, or sea lions, and a ray encounter.
General park admission costs $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for children, and tickets can be purchased online. Pricing details for additional activities can be found on the park’s website, www.sealifeparkhawaii.com. The park is open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
NOV 13
2013
The Honolulu Zoo, located between Diamond Head and Waikiki just 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is home to 905 different animals. Spread over 42 acres, the zoo’s grounds also include extensive, colorful gardens featuring native and exotic flora. The zoo hosts a series of family friendly educational programs and events, including an animal photography contest, twilight tours to observe animal behaviors after zoo hours, and a dinner safari.
The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission costs $14 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 to 12. Parking is available on Kapahulu Avenue. For more information or to plan your visit, check out www.honoluluzoo.org or call (808) 971-7171.
NOV 9
2013
The Honolulu Museum of Art, located just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, is currently hosting an exhibit featuring the works of 11 native Hawaiian artists. The art covers a wide range of media, including sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, and other artistic variations.
This exhibit is designed to showcase the best of Hawaii, featuring artists such as John Ferdico, Drew Broderick, and Yumiko Glover. All works presented were created specifically for the exhibit were created. Artists were selected through a competitive process, and finalists were chosen by a panel of contemporary art curators and other museum officials.
The museum is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4:30 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Admission costs $10 for adults and is free for children 17 and under. For more information, check out honolulumuseum.org or call (808) 532-8700.
NOV 5
2013
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, located in Waikiki just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is hosting an exibit about the Waikiki Beach Boys through December 31. The exhibit presents a collection of rare photographs taken of Oahu’s surfing community from 1920 – 1940 and a series of vintage posters of the surfers. The collection includes several photographs of renowned surfer and Hawaiian legend, Duke Kahanamoku, as well as other iconic beach boys including Tom Blake, Panama Dave, and Curly Cornwell.
The exhibit is free and open to the public every Monday and Tuesday through the end of the year. For more information, check out http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/resort/waikiki-beach-boys-photo-exhibit or call (808) 923-7311.
SEP 2
2013
The Andrew Rose Gallery, located in Bishop Square in Honolulu, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is currently hosting an exhibition titled “On Paper II”. This exhibition features the work of several Andrew Rose Gallery artists, including (but not limited to) Wayne Levin, Russell Lowrey, and Debbie Young, who have prepared contemporary works on paper rather than through other media.
The gallery aims to highlight discerning works of both contemporary and vintage art within the Honolulu community and connect individual artists to art enthusiasts, relevant institutions, and a wide network.
The exhibition is free and open to the public on Mondays through Fridays from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit andrewrosegallery.com or call (808) 559-4400.
AUG 30
2013
Rainbow Watersports Adventures offers group and individual paddle boarding lessons on Oahu’s North Shore, just fifty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.
Paddle boarding lessons include all necessary equipment and begin in stable water. The qualified instructors teach each participant to control their movements and maintain balance while standing atop the paddle board.
Lessons cost $79 per participant for groups of three or more, $89 per participant for couples, and $99 for individuals. For more information or to make reservations, check out http://www.rainbowwatersports.com/ or call (808) 372-9304. Participants must be at least 7 years old and are requested to bring a swimsuit and sunscreen.
AUG 26
2013
Located just off Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa, about 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, Blue Water Shrimp and Seafood Co. is one of Oahu’s most acclaimed food trucks. This food truck serves a range of seafood and non-seafood dishes, including shrimp of course, as well as sirloin steak and pork chops. Blue Water can also be accessed through back roads leading directly to Waikiki.
Dishes typically cost about $10. Blue Water is open from 7 am to 10 pm. Blue Water also offers catering services upon request. For more information, call (808) 688-8891.
