Ko Olina Beachfront Penthouse

The Veranda at the Kahala Hotel and Resort about 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas will host an afternoon tea every afternoon from now through December 31.  With classic and royal tea service options available, the Veranda will include scones, small sandwiches, and other treats with a selection of fine teas.  Tea parties can also be customized for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, and other events.

The classic tea costs $28 and royal tea costs $42.  For more information, call (808) 739-8760 or check out http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/veranda.cfm.

The Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, located at the University of Hawaii just thirty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, offers a quick immersion into Hawaii’s flora.  About 200 acres of tropical rainforest are open to visitors.  Additionally, the botanical education center offers a series of classes for adults and children, including Hawaiian ferns identification and make-your-own Kapa tools.

For a complete class schedule, check out http://www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum/.  The arboretum is open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm.  A $5 donation per person is requested for admission.

The East-West Center will host the Exhibition: Dancing in the Spirit: Korean Masks, Music, and Social Concerns until January 6.  The exhibition features characters and performance patterns from all over South Korea.  The styles include influences from shamanism and Buddhism, as well as various historical factors such as Japanese colonial rule.

The exhibition is open from 8 am to 5 pm Mondays through Fridays and noon to 4 pm on Sundays.  The East-West Center is located just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.  For more information, visit http://www.eastwestcenter.org/.

The classic musical Annie will be performed at the Diamond Head Theatre, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas and Resort, every weekend beginning Dec. 7.  The musical shares the story of the optimistic orphan, Annie, as she gets to know the wealthy businessman, Mr. Warbucks.

For more information about show times, visit www.diamondheadtheatre.com or call (808) 733-0274.  Tickets range in price from $15 to $50 each.

Opal Thai is a casual Thai eatery in Haleiwa, just forty minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.  In addition to standard Thai fare, the chef works with each guest’s individual tastes to craft a personalized Thai-inspired dish.  As a result, Opal Thai is a crowd favorite, and its restaurant experience can be a solid introduction to Thai cuisine.

The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm.  For more information, call (808) 381-8091.

‘Iolani Palace, the official home of Hawaii’s monarchy, was originally built in 1882 by King Kalakaua in downtown Honolulu, just 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort.  Known as the ‘merrie Monarch’, King Kalakaua’s cheerful, sociable lifestyle is evident through the palace’s many parlors used to host visitors and entertain guests.

The palace is open to visitors Mondays through Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm.  Visitors have two tour options:  self-guided ($14.75) or guided ($21.75).  Japanese language tours are also available.  For more information, check out http://www.iolanipalace.org/.

The Japanese Cultural Center will host tours of a Japanese Buddhist Temple and Exhibit every week day from now through February 2013.    The gallery exhibition will include temple furnishings, and tours will explain the cultural significance of architecture and religious practices.

Tours last from 9 am to 11 am with check in from 8:45 am and are followed by a one hour discussion.  Tours cost $25 for non-members and $20 for JCCH members and depart from the Japanese Cultural Center about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.  For more information, email info@jcch.com.

The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, a fleet attack submarine, is designed to preserve the memory of World War Two.  Bowfin was initially launched exactly one year following the attack on Pearl Harbor and is now open to visitors interested in exploring US naval history.

The museum is located on Arizona Memorial Drive in Honolulu, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort.  Admission for a submarine and museum tour costs $10 for adults and $4 for children, but admission for just the museum costs $3.  It is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm.  For more information, visit http://www.bowfin.org.

The Ko Olina Lagoons, located just minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas, are a generally crowd-free beach are consisting of several beautiful lagoons.  Unlike the popular Waikiki beaches, Ko Olina Lagoons offer visitors a simple experience, as even tents and umbrellas are not permitted.

Visitors should be aware that the Ko Olina Lagoons do not have active lifeguards or nearby food stands, so they should arrive prepared.  The lagoons are open to the public daily, and parking is available off Aliinui Drive.

Located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, about 40 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort, Byodo-In Temple is a testament to the significant Asian, particularly Japanese, influence throughout Hawaii.  The Byodo Temple, built in 1968, is a non-practicing Buddhist temple open to visitors of all religious affiliations.

The temple is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily.  Admission costs $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, and $1 for children.  For more information, check out http://www.byodo-in.com/.