Big Island Beach Wedding
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Plan a Big Island beach wedding at Waikoloa Beach Resort's Anaehoomalu Bay... take a South Kohala sunset cruise... enjoy an intimate meal for two at one of the fine Kings Shops or Queens MarketPlace restaurants... and book a Waikoloa Realty vacation rental at the Shores or the Vista for a cozy retreat with that special someone. See more on how Waikoloa Beach Resort is the Place for Romance at waikoloarentalreport.blogspot.com,
Margaret Barnaby Woodblock Print Exhibition
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Margaret Barnaby Woodblock Print Exhibition. Location: Fairmont Orchid Hotel, Mauna Lani Resort. Swing by the Orchid before June 23 to see a display of Margaret Barnaby's fine art. This famous Volcano, Hawaii resident creates pictures of little animals, birds and island scenes through an intricate process of etching on plywood plates. The resulting hand-printed blockprints are alive with realistic images of nature presented in unique colors. Barnaby's award-winning prints and paintings are displayed in galleries across the country. She also features a line of hand-sculpted jewelry. Contact Leslie Lang at (808) 985-9022, leslie@leslielang.com for more information.
Hawaii's Hotel Occupancy
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Statistics show a slight increase in Hawaii's hotel occupancy for the week ending April 25, 2009, compared with the same week last year, according to yesterday's Pacific Business News ("Hawaii Hotel Occupancy Edges Upward"). The Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors report says the state's occupancy grew 2.5 percent to 70.8%, in the first positive movement we've seen in hotel guest figures for several months. Contributing to the overall gain was a large meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine at the Hawaii Convention Center in Oahu, which brought in 6,000 visitors. Hawaii's room rates, however, continue to decline, the weekly hotel industry report shows. The Big Island experienced a 2.6 percent drop in rates to an average $166, compared with a sharp 12 percent drop on Kauai, a 16.6 percent drop on Maui and a 7.7 percent drop on Oahu. (Read article click here).
Easter Fashion and Musical Revue
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Location: Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant, Kawaihae Road, Waimea. Daniel Thiebaut’s hosts a fashion show and musical presentation during a luncheon called Lavender Blue. The fashions of popular Honolulu designer Nakeu Awai will be featured. Call (808) 887-2200 to make a reservation for this special event that celebrates the romance of spring with a paniolo theme, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $45-$55.
Easter Bunny Visit and Egg Hunt
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Location: Queens Marketplace. Join Pekelo Cottontail and Koloa Duck from 9:00 to noon on Saturday as they make their Waikoloa Beach Resort appearance and sit for free picture taking sessions with the kids. The egg hunts begin at 10:00 at the Coronation Pavilion for children 4 and under, followed by two egg hunts at the Waikoloa Bowl for children 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Entertainment will be featured from 9:00 to 1:00.
Kokua Kailua Hulihee Palace Concert & Village Stroll
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Location: Alii Drive, Kona. Alii Drive, the main tourist artery that runs along the Kona shoreline, becomes a pedestrian-only strip on Sunday, April 26, as part of a popular monthly celebration to promote more business for local merchants and restaurants. Artist and merchant display booths will be set up along Alii Drive, and the Hulihee Palace historical museum (across from Basil’s) will present a free concert on the lawn at 4 p.m. Bring your own chair or mat and check it in at no charge while you stroll Alii Drive.
Mauna Kea Grand Opening
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Mauna Kea Grand Opening Celebration Events, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Choose from one of two evening event packages to salute the vastly restored Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and receive a special souvenir. Friday, March 27 begins with a Cuisine of the World dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Hiroshima concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28 features a traditional luau spread and a performance by popular Hawaiian artists Cecilio & Kapono. Please contact the concierge for tickets and details at maunaconcierge@maunakeabeachhotel.com, (808) 882-5707; or click here for more information
March 28, 2009:Location: Waikoloa Bowl Amphitheater at Queens Marketplace, Waikoloa Beach Resort. The legendary 1980s rock band comes to town on Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m., minus Steve Perry. Arnel Pineda will perform instead as new vocalist. Tickets are dwindling. Try TicketsNow.com. Ticketmaster can be reached at www.ticketmaster.com , (808) 745-3000. Tickets may also still be available at Big Island Surf in Waimea, Aama Surf and Sport in Kona, and Persimmon at Queens Marketplace. Journey is a presentation of the Waikoloa Nights 2009 Concert Series produced by TC Entertainment, Tom Moffatt Productions, Waikoloa Entertainment and Waikoloa Development Co.
February 27-March 8, 2009: HamletLocation: Parker Theater, 65-1224 Lindsey Road, Waimea. Local actors and actresses of the Waimea Community Theater present the classic Shakespeare drama Hamlet: Get Thee to a Nunnery! The play is featured on the weekends of February 27, 28 and March 1; and March 6, 7 and 8. Call 808-885-5818 for tickets, or go to http://www.waimeacommunitytheatre.org. The Waimea Community Theater has presented outstanding theatrical dramas, musicals, comedies, and concerts since 1964.
Leokane Pryor and Friends
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Location: Blue Dragon Global Coastal Cuisine and Musiquarium, Kawaihae. Reserve some time Sunday, February 15 to hear the pure voice of top falsetto singer Leokane Pryor. Hawaii Magazine and the Honolulu Advertiser voted his CD Home Malanai one of the top ten Hawaiian music CDs of 2008. The event helps provide benefits for young artists to attend the annual summer Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in Waimea. Pryor performs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the Olliphonics from 7:30 to 9:30. Donations are suggested. Call 303-221-0399 for a seat or send an email to genette.freeman@msn.com.
Hawaiian Quilt Show
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Location: Thelma Parker Gymnasium, Waimea. Various wall hangings, patterns, pillows, and quilts hand crafted by local residents will be for sale and on display in the Thelma Parker Gym, corner of Mamalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The show includes some educational sessions such as pillow making. Call 808-775-0726 for more information on this free annual event.
Mauna Kea Golf Course
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The Mauna Kea Golf Course has officially reopened and is accepting reservations. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Web site (http://maunakeapreview.com>) and HawaiiMagazine.com describe the makeover of the award-winning 18-hole course, which was led by Rees Jones Inc. A more environmentally efficient, modernized design meets USGA standards while leaving in tact the original layout of its architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. New features include an increase in yardage, upgrades in the drainage and irrigation systems, the planting of various specialized Bermuda grasses, and a reconstructed pro shop. The clubhouse restaurant also got a whole new look including top interior-designer furnishings. The restaurant will now have extended evening hours to offer dinner choices, pizza and a children’s menu. Call 882-5400 to schedule tee times. Find a course map at http://princeresortshawaii.com/big-island-golf.php.
Waikoloa Village Art Show
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The Waikoloa Art Circle hosts a display of works created by local residents. The public is invited to attend the free event. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 in the Community Room at the Waikoloa Village Golf Club, 68-1792 Melia Street (refer to map: www.tinyurl.com/WVACommunityRoomMap). For information call 937-2309, or send an e-mail to waikoloaaloha@gmail.com.
Community Sing with Kate Munger
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Spend an evening of beautiful song sponsored by the Big Island Thershold Choir. The California-based Threshold Choirs (www.thresholdchoir.org) is a charity organization that visits the bedsides of people who are suffering and consoles them through singing, including choral hymns, lullabies, rounds, and chants. Threshold Choir founder Kate Munger leads this relaxing public event from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31 at the Anna Ranch Tea House. Donations will be accepted. Call 885-3855 to learn more, or e-mail catrinkah@gmai.com.
November 20, 2008; New Flights to Kona International AirportSeveral new flights to Kona International Airport will boost the Big Island's airline seat capacity significantly, according to West Hawaii Today reports dated November 15 and 20. Alaska Airlines' new year-round, daily direct flight from Seattle that started November 17 is expected to bring 57,000 seats per year by current schedule estimates. Air Canada resumes its weekly winter flight from Vancouver beginning on December 13. And WestJet, the other airline flying direct from Vancouver, has added a second flight to its weekly schedule, carrying up to 1,400 additional passengers. WestJet's twice-weekly seasonal service begins on December 18. Atlanta-based Delta, which returned to the Big Island in June with a midway Los Angeles stop, recently added a fifth flight per week into Kona. Also introduced this week is a new interisland jet service by Mokulele Airlines, the local air commuter, tour and cargo company. Mokulele's five daily Wednesday-to-Sunday flights from Honolulu will add up to 350 air seats-helping to offset a portion of the huge loss in seats with the closure of Aloha Airlines in April 2008.
November 20, 2008; Canadian Tourism Shows PromiseExperts see a continuing growth trend in the Canadian visitor market. The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism reports a 7.7 percent increase in Canadian arrivals in the first three quarters of 2008. The 6 percent decline in September 2008 was one of only three months of decreased Canadian arrivals out of the past 33 months. DBEDT statistics also show that the number of Canadian visitors who stayed in condominiums and timeshares was up 20 percent compared to the first nine months of 2007, with a slight drop in the number who stayed in hotels. In addition, there were more repeat Canadian visitors in September 2008 as compared to the same month last year.
Kawaihae Canoe Club Fundraiser Luau
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Join an annual night of festivities presented by the Kawaihae Canoe Club to promote the ancient sport of outrigger canoe paddling, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy great Hawaiian food and entertainment including a fire knife dance, and watch a golden sunset. Cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children. For more information call 937-4700, or e-mail kawaihaecanoec@yahoo.com.
Passport to International Cultures
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Sample international culinary treats prepared by chefs from the resort’s finest restaurants in this popular resort event.
Live entertainment will be featured. For information call 886-8811, or visit www.waikoloabeachresort.com
Breakfast with Santa.
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Be sure and bring your child to the Coronation Pavilion from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. for a hearty breakfast and to get his/her picture taken with Santa. Enjoy live entertainment plus lots of fun stuff to do such as face painting. Call the Queens Marketplace at 886-8822 to ask about possible fees and other details.