APR 23
2013
The Valley of the Temples is a large memorial park located off Kahekili Highway, about forty minutes from the Ko Olina Paradise Villas and Resort. The park is dedicated to both remembrance and healing. In addition to traditional cemetery grounds, the park has a peaceful landscape with open grassy spaces, water fountains, and the Byodo-In Temple.
The Byodo-In Temple is dedicated to the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii who arrived in the 1860s. The non-practicing Buddhist temple is often used as a site for key celebrations and observances, including weddings, memorials, and general meditation.
The Valley of the Temples park also hosts periodic events designed to help visitors connect to nature and process grief. For more information or a schedule of events, check out http://www.valley-of-the-temples.com/.
APR 19
2013
The Honolulu Zoo Society will host a Senior Safari Workout every Friday through April 26 to promote health and wellness while celebrating the Honolulu Zoo. The zoo is located just off Kapahulu Avenue in Waikiki, about thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Paradise Villas.
Guides will lead the tours through the zoo while sharing facts and stories about resident animals, their natural habitats, their feeding and mating habits, and other interesting facts.
The walk is free, though a $5 donation is strongly encouraged to help fund the zoo and support ongoing educational programs. The program takes place every Friday from 9 to 10 am, and reservations are recommended. The program is aimed at adults over the age of fifty. For more information or to register online, visit www.honoluluzoo.org.
APR 16
2013
La Mer is a sophisticated Neoclassical French restaurant located at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. Although the cuisine is French inspired, all ingredients are locally grown in Hawaii, so the menu has a tropical flair.
Several of the dishes have received widespread acclaim, including the Marseille style lobster bisque, the steamed seabass with a spicy tomato chutney, and prime beef filet. A decadent dessert menu includes items such as a milk chocolate and Kona coffee sphere and chocolate mousse with yogurt ravioli. A tasting menu is also available for guests interested in a wide sampling of La Mer offerings.
For more information or to check out a menu, visit http://www.halekulani.com/living/dining/la_mer/. Guests are reminded that the restaurant requires formal attire during dinner hours. Reservations are recommended.
APR 12
2013
Kaena Point Natural Area is located within Kaena Point State Park on Oahu’s western coast, about 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas. The state park is often identified by its wide open spaces and sandy beach coves.
Hiking enthusiasts may find some appeal at Kaena Point Natural Area, where a three hour trek travels from Kaena Point to Yokohama Bay. The trail includes scenic coastal views and a moderate ascent. Hikers are encouraged to carry sufficient water, sunscreen, and snacks for the journey. Non-hikers may enjoy the peaceful setting to relax, enjoy a picnic, and absorb the scenery. Visitors may be able to see whales during peak season, from December through May.
Admission is free and open to the public year round. For more information, check out http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/index.cfm?park_id=19.
APR 8
2013
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, located about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, offers a fireworks display every Friday night. The display is visible from several view points along the Waikiki Coast all the way to the Diamond Head area. While visitors can watch the fireworks from the Hilton Resort itself, easy access to the display is also available from a number of seaside bars and restaurants.
The show lasts about 15 minutes total and begins around 7:45 pm every Friday. Visitors interested in watching from the Hilton have the option of purchasing tickets for $20 to the Rockin’ Hawaiian Rainbow Revue show, which includes a hula performance and live music before the fireworks display. The show begins at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the Super Pool. For more information, check out http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/resort_activities/entertainment_and_events.cfm.
APR 4
2013
The Gallery at Ward Center on Ala Moana Drive near the Ala Moana Shopping Center, about 30 minutes fom the Ko Olina Beach Villas, is hosting an exhibit entitled “Threads and Amorphous Dreams” until April 24. The exhibit features works by Doug Young, a gallery artist, Charles Valoroso, a photorealist painter, and Jon Vongvichai, a ceramic sculptor. Young and Valoroso have created the pieces that relate to “Threads”, while Vongvichai is responsible for the “Amorphous Dreams” component of the exhibit.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, check out http://www.gwcfineart.com/Home.html.
MAR 30
2013
Famous for their shortbread cookies, the Honolulu Cookie Company is located in the heart of Honolulu, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The Honolulu Cookie Company prepares charming pineapple-shaped cookies in a variety of flavors, including butter macadamia, dark chocolate coconut, Kona coffee, and other natural flavors from the Hawaiian islands.
Themed cookie packages are available for special occasions. Gift bags, boxes, and towers can also be purchased for a special somebody. The company has a cookie of the month option to ship an assortment of cookies to anywhere in the US on a regular basis.
For more information, check out www.honolulucookie.com or call (866) 333-5800.
MAR 25
2013
The East West Center in Honolulu, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is hosting an Ainu Treasures Exhibit to examine Northern Japanese traditions now though May 5. The exhibit celebrates the Ainu indigenous group by showcasing their art and culture. Featured works include handicrafts, ceremonial objects, and various other Ainu masterpieces. The exhibit will also have videos to demonstrate the Ainu artistic process and share more information about the greater culture.
The exhibit is part of a cultural revival spearheaded by Ainu artists designed to replicate existing artifacts and incite a greater curiosity and awareness of the culture. The term Ainu is derived from the word for “human” in the Ainu language.
For more information, check out www.arts.eastwestcenter.org.
MAR 22
2013
Dole Plantation, located in Wahiawa just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, offers a variety of family-friendly activities that are both educational and enjoyable. The Dole Plantation was established as a tourist venue in 1950 for visitors interested in learning more about the pineapple cultivation process. Today, it includes pineapples as well as bananas, papayas, and apples.
The Garden Tour also visits traditional herbal medicine plants and a range of tropical flowers. Aditionally, guests can enjoy the Pineapple Express, a train tour through the plantation that narrates the Dole family history, key milestones in Hawaii’s pineapple production, and other interesting facts. The plantation also boasts the world’s largest maze, a three acre masterpiece built from some 14,000 Hawaiian plants.
The Dole Plantation is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily. Admission is free, but there is a fee for key attractions. For more information, check out www.dole-plantation.com.
MAR 19
2013
Based at the Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, the Plumeria Beach House is a seaside, open air restaurant. Plumeria offers a large brunch spread that includes gluten free French toast with a homemade Kahala maple butter, decadent pancakes, and a wide assortment of fresh tropical fruits and juices, as well as award winning lunch and dinner options, such as the Kahala Burger or braised lamb shank cassoulet. Guests may also enjoy creative outdoor cocktails made from fresh ingredients.
A full breakfast buffet is offered daily for those with the heartiest of appetites. A seafood buffet is offered every Friday and Saturday evening. Full menus can be found on the Plumeria Beach House website, http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/plumeria-beach-house.cfm.
The restaurant is open from 6:30 am to 10 pm daily. To make a reservation, call (808) 739-8760.
