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.
MAR 15
2013
The Bishop Museum, located just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort in Honolulu, will host the Nisei Congressional Gold Medal Exhibit now through April 14. The exhibit recognizes the contributions of Japanese-Americans (or “Nisei”) in combat during the Second World War. Seven museums throughout the United States will host the rotating exhibit.
While many of the recognized soldiers were engaged in combat, their friends and relatives were being held in internment camps, a testament to their commitment to the war’s cause. The exhibit is designed to increase awareness of Japanese Americans’ contributions to the American war effort.
Admission costs $19.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors, and $14.95 for children. The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm Wednesday to Monday. For more information, check out www.bishopmuseum.org.
MAR 11
2013
Dolphin Quest offers nine different packages for guests to swim with dolphins in Oahu. Based at the Kahala Hotel and Resort just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, each program is designed to provide an intimate experience with some of the ocean’s most beautiful, intelligent creatures.
Popular packages include the Family Swim Program, designed for a family of five, or the Dolphin Adventures, which includes an hour of swimming, feeding, and other interaction with the dolphins. Through their interactions, guests are often able to learn the distinct personalities of the dolphins. Programs vary in size and duration.
Dolphin Quest is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm daily. Reservations are recommended. For more information, check out www.dolphinquest.com or call (808) 739-8918.
MAR 7
2013
The Gallery of Hawaii Artists will host an exhibition featuring the work of Emily Sewell at the Waikiki Landmark Building in downtown Honolulu, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort. The exhibition, “Embodied”, incorporates ink, fabric, sewing needles, and thread to depict Sewell’s ideas of reality, emotion, and self awareness. Sewell also performs to add an interactive, live component to the exhibit.
The exhibit is designed to emphasize the human experience as told through both visual media and physical communication.
The exhibit runs on weekdays. For more information, check out http://www.galleryofhawaiiartists.com/ or call (808) 447-8908.
MAR 2
2013
The Foster Botanical Gardens was first established as the private garden of Hawaii resident and botanist, William Hillebrand, in the 1850s. It was later sold to the Foster family, who maintained the gardens. After the land was sold to the City and County of Honolulu in 1930, it was opened to the public.
The gardens are home to a wide range of exotic flora with entire terraces devoted to New and Old World orchids, palms and ginger plants, and herbs, dyes, and poisonous plants. A butterfly garden serves as an open air habitat for native butterfly species.
Today, the gardens are open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm daily. General admission costs $5 for adults, $3 for Hawaii residents, and $1 for children. The gardens are located just off Nuuanu Boulevard, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.
FEB 28
2013
A popular lunchtime destination for local Hawaiians, the Rainbow Drive-In is a casual eatery that features a hearty plate lunch. The typical plate lunch includes two scoops of rice and macaroni salad accompanied by any number of delectable options, including loco moco, barbecue ahi, a beef or curry stew, shoyu chicken, roast pork with gravy, and other classic dishes. The Rainbow Drive-In menu changes from day to day and season to season, so visitors never run out of options.
The establishment has proudly served the Oahu community for over fifty years.
Located in the heart of Honolulu just 30 minutes from Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, the Rainbow Drive-In is open every day except Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. For more information, check out http://rainbowdrivein.com/.
FEB 24
2013
The Pipeline is a quintessential destination for serious surfers. Located on Oahu’s North Shore, about 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, the Banzai Pipeline, typically shortened to just Pipeline or “the Pipe”, is infamous for its large, frequent, and potentially dangerous waves. Nearby is a shallow, table top reef that augments the danger and adrenaline rush of surfing in the area.
There are several small caves within the reef that catch and release pockets of air that surface as waves break overhead. Additionally, the reef contains a series of underwater lava spires that are a potential hazard to surfers. As a result, the Pipeline has gained a reputation based in infamy that has drawn surfers from around the world.
The Pipeline is open to visitors year round, but surfers are encouraged to monitor weather conditions carefully before venturing into the water. Visitors can also enjoy watching quality surfing from the shore. Parking is available at nearby Ehukai Beach Park.
FEB 21
2013
Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha, located in the Aina Haina Shopping Center in Honolulu, just thirty minutes from Ko Olina, is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Uncle Clay’s is most famous for its shaved ice, which features a dozen all natural, homemade syrups inspired by tropical Hawaiian flavors, such as mango, lychee, and North Shore coffee.
Uncle Clay’s is open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 6pm and Friday through Sunday from 10:30 am to 8 pm. For more information, check out http://www.houseofpurealoha.com/.
FEB 18
2013
The Spaulding House is hosting a unique exhibition to explore the relationship between mathematics and art entitled “Finding X”. The exhibit focuses on artists’ incorporation of mathematical principles, such as ratios and geometric shapes, as well as artistic depictions of abstract mathematical concepts, such as infinite.
The Spaulding house is associated with the Honolulu Museum of Art, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas. Admission costs $10 for adults and $5 for children. Admission is free for members of the museum. For more information, check out honolulumuseum.org.
