Ko Olina Beachfront Penthouse

Town Kaimuki, located in the heart of Honolulu just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, serves a range of local, organic foods that feature fresh ingredients and flavors.  The restaurant’s goal is to connect people to local ingredients.  Town was named one of the 2012 Hale Aina Restaurants of the Year.

The menu adapts daily according to seasonality and freshness of available ingredients.  The sample menu includes such items as mussels with a fennel and pastina broth, risotto with grilled eggplant, or shinsato pork loin with polenta.  The dessert menu features a milk and honey buttermilk pannacotta, as well as several options featuring fresh Hawaiian fruits, coffees, and nuts.

For more information or to check out a menu online, visit http://www.townkaimuki.com.

Hoku’s at the Kahala Resort and Spa will offer an extravagant Sunday brunch weekly between now and August 25.  The spread will play off its fusion menu inspired by Asian, European, and Hawaiian flavors and will include an array of freshly baked goods, fresh sushi, ahi musubi, and made-to-order omelets.  In addition to the brunch spread, Hoku’s offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from a multi-level dining room.

Hoku’s has won both the ‘Ilima Award and Hale Aina Award multiple times in recognition of its excellent food and customer service.

Brunch costs $65 for adults and $32.50 for children.  For more information or to make a reservation, check out http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/hoku.cfm.  Reservations are recommended.

Located on Oahu’s eastern coast about 45 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, Lanika Beach is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Lanikai can become quite crowded during the island’s high season, but it is also a great area to relax, spot the occasional sea turtle, and take advantage of the white sands and clear water.  The beach itself extends for just one half of a mile.

Lanikai is only accessible through public access beach paths, and there are no regular lifeguards or toilet facilities.  As a result, visitors are encouraged to take care in the water, and bring plenty of drinking water.

The Aloha Piano Festival will take place next week from June 15 through 22 at the Hawaii Convention Center, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Paradise Villas.  The festival is designed to celebrate concert pianists, host a piano competition, and showcase a variety of worldclass artists.  Additionally, top pianists including Nakamatsu, John Bayless, Bruce Brubaker, Thomas Sauer, Haewon Song, and Lisa Nakamichi will hold several workshops and courses for piano enthusiasts.

Furthermore, competition winners will perform in a concert during the festival itself.

For more information or a complete calendar, check out alohapianofestival.com.  Tickets may also be purchased online.

Shaka Kayaks is a North Shore based eco-kayak company, located just fifty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.  Shaka Kayaks offers ocean guided tours that provide visitors with the chance to get up close and personal with the coast’s wide variety of wildlife, including coral reefs, various tropical fish, and other interesting aquatic creatures.

The Turtle Bay tour begins with a 7:45 am pick up.  Guests then kayak to the middle of the bay, where they can observe sea turtles, the coral reef, and more.  Then, guests have the opportunity to take a short hike, bird watch, or otherwise enjoy the scenery.  The tour costs $100 total, and all kayak equipment as well as snacks and water are included.  For more information, check out http://www.shakakayaks.com.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, Kahala Spa is offering a month-long special.  The Kahala Spa and Resort is located just five minutes from Ko Olina, and the four-star spa has received many awards and recognition for its service.

This June, all men are eligible for a 15% discount a signature spa treatment.  This sports massage includes a t-shirt, sleeve of golf balls, and chance to win two free rounds of golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club.  The massage itself is designed to treat the lumbar region, loosen any tight muscles, and work through any kinks to increase flexibility and range of motion for golfers, tennis fans, and other sports enthusiasts.  Of course, the spa package is appropriate for non-golfers as well.

For more information, check out www.kahalaresort.com.  Reservations are recommended.

Diana Anjali Halford of Open Space Yoga will host the Yoga FUNdamentals four-week workshop during the month of June at the studio, located just thirty minutes from Ko Olina in downtown Honolulu.  The workshop is designed to explore the basics of asana yoga, including mental focus, posture, movement, and breathing techniques.

The course is appropriate for students of all levels, and each week will explore a new facet of yoga, beginning with basic standing poses and culminating in inversions, hip openers, and meditation.  The course will try to combine the physical merits of yoga practice with the spiritual and mental benefits of meditation and self-reflection.

The workshop costs $50 and takes place every Monday from 10:30 to 11:45 am.  For more information, check out mindbodyonline.com.

Sandy Beach is a popular destination for many visitors to Oahu, as well as local residents.  Located just 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort near Waimanalo Beach Park, Sandy Beach is aptly named for its expansive, sandy shoreline.  Notably, the area is prone to a massive shore break that can make surfing and swimming a bit dangerous, so water enthusiasts are encouraged to be extra careful.  However, many people still take advantage of the exhilarating body surfing afforded by the beach’s wave activity.

The beach itself is also very scenic for picnics, games, sun bathing, reading, or other low key activities.

Sandy Beach is open to visitors year round.

Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand, located near Kuhio Beach Park just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, will host yoga classes every Wednesday and Sunday between now and June 30.  Classes are led by master instructor David Sanders and his peers and are designed to share proper yoga technique, encourage relaxation and meditation, and enable students to connect with mind, body, and soul.

The practice of yoga traces its roots to the Indian subcontinent, but it has become a common practice in Hawaii, where several prominent yoga studios have cultivated a culture of meditation.  Hula’s yoga is less rigid; the instructors focus on encouraging students to reach the correct positions while improving flexibility and posture.

Classes cost $10 each.  Classes last for one hour and begin at 9 am.  Students should plan to bring their own yoga mat, towel, and water.  For more information, check out www.hulas.com.

Gyotaku is a classic Japanese restaurant with three locations on Oahu, including Pearl City, King Street, and Niu Valley, all easily accessible from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.  The restaurant was established by Tom Jones and Tony Saka after they discovered a mutual desire to create an artful cuisine in Oahu.

Several dishes at Gyotaku have received wide acclaim, including the miyosaki butterfish, the Nattochos, a range of sushi options, and several other classic Japanese dishes.  The green tea ice cream is also very popular.

A full menu is available online at gyotakuhawaii.com.  For more information or to make reservations, check out the website for contact details for each of the three locations.