AUG 22
2013
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Makapu’u Meadows, located at Sea Life Park about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, hosts a grand Chief’s Luau every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The luau lasts for 4.5 hours and includes a full buffet dinner service, two drinks, and a series of hands-on family-friendly activities, including coconut husking, fire making, and even traditional tattoos. Additionally, all guests can participate in an opening lei ceremony as well as an imu and ava ceremony. The dinner menu includes traditional Hawaiian foods, including seasonal fruit, grilled island fish topped with a papaya marmalade, chicken yakitori, and pineapple cake.
Tickets cost $102 for adults, $92 for teenagers, and $75 for children. Admission is free for children ages four and under. Guests also have the option of purchasing transportation from their Waikiki hotel to the luau for an additional $13. Tickets may be purchased from a number of different tour operators online.
AUG 18
2013
The Pearlridge Farmer’s Market, located at Pearlridge Shopping Center just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, will continue to operate once a week on Saturdays through the end of September. The market provides shoppers with an opportunity to purchase fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables, as well as house and garden plants, baked bread, and other assorted goodies. Many farmers present will share and exchange recipes as well as gardening tips or other relevant advice.
Live music featuring notable Hawaiian influences is played each morning to add an additional element of local culture.
The market opens at 8 am each Saturday and closes around noon, though popular items tend to sell out quickly.
AUG 14
2013
Sunset Lanai Lounge is located at Camp Smith, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. Sunset Lanai serves evening cocktails from 5 pm to 8 pm every night and 3:30 pm to 9 pm on Fridays and is located adjacent to the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.
From Sunset Lanai, guests have a view overlooking Pearl Harbor. Typically, musical guests perform during prime cocktail hours on weekends.
The most popular cocktail is the Mai Tai, but the lounge also serves $2 Pilsner drafts and free pupus on the last Friday of each month. For more information, check out http://mccshawaii.com/sunsetlanai/.
AUG 11
2013
The Hawaii Museum of Art will host an exhibit titled “Our World, Our Place” now through the end of October. The exhibit is based at the First Hawaiian Center in Honolulu, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The exhibition includes scenes photographed around Hawaii, emphasizing nature, culture, and people. Several shots highlight typical day-to-day neighborhood life. Several photographers contributed, including Paul Chesley, Eric Yanagi, James Cave, Elisa Chang and Ivan Wentland.
The center is open from 8:30 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, except for bank holidays. For more information, check out http://honolulumuseum.org/12002-contemporary_museum_first_hawaiian_center.
AUG 7
2013
Orchids Restaurant, located at the Halekulani Resort, offers an elegant Sunday brunch every week. The restaurant is located just half an hour from the Ko Olina Beach Villas. It was named best brunch by Honolulu Magazine.
The brunch spread includes Hawaiian, American, and Japanese flavors, with a range of traditional dishes catering to each culinary background. The menu also includes several specialty teas and locally produced coffees, as well as fresh juices and smoothies featuring tropical fruits native to the island. An a la carte menu is available.
Brunch is served every Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. For more information, to check out a menu, or to make a reservation, visit http://www.halekulani.com/living/dining/orchids/.
AUG 3
2013
Visitors to Honolulu have the option of several walking tours around historic Honolulu. Typically, visitors will begin at ‘Iolani Palace, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The palace was first built in the 1880s and has served as the official residence location for Hawaii’s last two monarchs.
Other top landmarks that are easily accessible in Honolulu include the Aloha Tower, Hawaii Maritime Center, Chinatown, the State Capitol Building, the King Kamehameha Statue, and the Mission House Museum. There are several resources available with history, context, and maps of top walking routes, such as http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/oahu/honolulu/.
JUL 30
2013
The Banyan Court beach bar is located at the Moana Surfrider Hotel and Resort, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Villas and Resort. The bar sits atop the white sands of Waikiki Beach, providing guests with easy access to the rhythmic movement of ocean waves.
The bar is known for its grilled pupus and tapas menu, in addition to a selection of colorful, tropical drinks. The beachside cocktail selection includes Sangria Rojo, Acai Berry Punch, Bianco Beach Sangria, and a Lilikoi and Coconut Mojito.
Appetizers are served from 10:30 am to 10 pm daily. Reservations are recommended for parties of ten or more people and can be made online or by phone. For more information or to make a reservation, check out http://www.moana-surfrider.com/dining/beachbar/ or call (808) 921-4600.
JUL 26
2013
The Pegge Hopper Gallery, located near Hawaii Pacific University about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, presents Global Caravan now through August 3. The exhibit features museum-quality carpets from Persia, Turkey, and the Middle East. The displayed carpets have been gathered by Hakan Ucarer, a collector of rare carpets.
Carpet weaving has a long history in Persia, and carpets have historically been used both for functional and decorative purposes. Traditional Persian carpets include detailed geometric designs and a rich color palette.
The display is open to the public. The gallery is open from 11 am to 4 pm on Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. For more information, check out peggehopper.com or call (808) 524-1160.
JUL 21
2013
Duke Kahanamoku Beach is located just off the coast of Waikiki, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The beach is named after Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, a renowned swimmer and surfer who represented Hawaii in national and international swimming competitions. Duke went on to win Olympic medals in 1912, 1920, and 1924. Today, a memorial statue of the Hawaiian athlete sits on his namesake beach.
The beach itself hugs the coast of Waikiki. It is a popular destination for surfers and sunbathers alike, and the wide sand offers visitors plenty of space to relax for the day. Several hotels that line the shore have bars or restaurants that offer a clear view to the water.
The beach is open to the public year round.
JUL 18
2013
The Honolulu Museum of Art, located just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, will host an exhibit titled “The Hawaii Pictures” through January 2014. The exhibit features the works of artists Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams, who both visited Hawaii during their formidable artistic years. Their works showcase Hawaii’s natural beauty through painting and photography. Their images capture scenes from around Hawaii, including Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island from 1939 (O’Keeffe) and 1948 and 1957 (Adams).
The museum is open 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 both children and museum members. For more information, check out honolulumuseum.org.
