Ko Olina Beachfront Penthouse

Frame Arts, located on South Street in Honolulu, just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, will host a phone camera photo exhibit until February 15.  The exhibit features a series of digital photographs taken by camera phones in celebration of the influence of modern technology on artistic expression.

Frame Arts is open to the public from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and 9:30 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.  For more information, check out www.frame-arts.com or call (808) 525-5212.

Located near Round Top Drive off Makiki Street, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, Puu Ualakaa State Park is an expansive forested area with an open view over the southern Oahu coastline.  From the park, visitors can see everything from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor.

The park is home to several picnic shelters and open lawns which make it a top destination for families seeking a leisurely outdoor picnic.  Visitors can also access the one mile Ualakaa Loop hiking trail from the park.  It is open year round, and admission is free.  For more information, check out http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/index.cfm?park_id=29.

Located in Manoa near Honolulu, just 30 minutes from Ko Olina, the Manoa Falls trail is an easy hike that includes views of the 100 foot Manoa waterfall.  The trail tends to be very muddy, so visitors are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes.  The trail itself is just 0.9 miles long and fairly flat.

Parking is available at the Manoa Falls parking lot for $5.  Visitors can also access the trail by taking the #5 bus to the Manoa Falls trailhead near the Arboretum.

The Royal Hawaiian will host a Boat Days photography exhibition through the end of January in their Coronet Lounge.  The Royal Hawaiian is located on Kalakaua Avenue, just 30 minutes from Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, and the exhibition will include a rare collection of photographs of visitors to the islands from the 1920s through 1940s.

Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public.  For more information, check out http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/resort/event-calendar/boat-days-exhibit/.

Wimea Bay, located in Haleiwa, about fifty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, is a popular destination for beachgoers.  The bay, named red water in Hawaiian, has a rounded beach for sun tanning, clear waters for scuba divers and snorkelers, and the famous jumping rock for adventure seekers.

The bay is open to the public year round, and parking is available at the Kamehameha Highway entrance.  The beach is least crowded in the mornings before larger crowds arrive at midday.

Hastsumode is a common Japanese custom to usher in the new year of the snake.  Over a three day period, many people will visit the Shinto shrine on Olomea Street, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, to pray for prosperity, good fortune, peace, and happiness and internalize positive energy.  Drummers and lion dancers will perform throughout the day, and mochi soup is complimentary for all visitors between midnight and 2 am or 10 am and 1 pm.

Admission is free and open to the public.  For more information, check out http://e-shrine.org/.

The Olomana Three Peaks Trail begins just off Auloa Road in Kailua, about 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.  The trail has three major peaks and is 5.4 miles long round trip.  It is very strenuous due to the rapid elevation climb, so all hikers should be prepared with proper hiking shoes, plenty of water, and trail snacks.

Each peak then offers spectacular views of Oahu, coupled with the rigor of an intense workout.  The trail is open daily, but be sure to check the weather forecast before setting out.

The Honolulu Museum of Art, located just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort in downtown Honolulu, boasts an extensive collection of visual art, as well as rotating exhibits featuring films, performances, and other interactive media.  The museum also includes a second location, the Spalding House, which holds more contemporary pieces and a sculpture garden.

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 $5 for children, and admission is free for members and active military.

The Makapuu Lighthouse Trail begins in Makapuu Point on Oahu’s eastern coast, about 50 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort.  The trail follows a paved incline until it reaches the red-capped lighthouse.  Since the trail is open, there are wide views throughout the hike of the coastline.  Visitors are recommended to carry binoculars between November and May in order to see the humpback whales migrating along the coast.

The Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is open year round for visitors interested in a quick 2 mile hike.