Thursday, April 29, 2010

"High on a hill lived a lonely goatherd. Lay-ee ode lay-ee ode lay-hee hoo ….”

Ever thought about being a goatherd?  Or, at least just to see what it’s all about?

Surfing Goat Dairy (on Maui) is offering the Grand Dairy Tour – which includes a two-hour hands on visit and tasting experience that is fun for the entire family.

Be a goat herder and lead a herd from the pasture to the dairy, feed them, you can even try to milk a goat, play with goat kids, learn about the process of cheese making (our cheese masters even know the answer to the age-old question of where the holes in cheese come from), and finally the grand cheese experience, dig into over 20 of the many different varieties of our Maui Gourmet Goat Cheeses served with crackers, olives, pickles, grapes and nuts.

$25.00 per person.. includes a soft drink and the cheese tasting.

When: May 1, 15, & 29; June 12 & 26; July 10 & 24; August 7 & 21
Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

For more information or reservations, www.surfinggoatdairy.com, (808) 878-2870.



Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Kapalua Villas Takes Kamaaina the Extra Mile with New HawaiianMiles Promotion

Kamaaina staying at The Kapalua Villas can now earn 150 Hawaiian Airline miles while they sleep. This new promotion provides guests of The Kapalua Villas with 150 Hawaiian Airline miles for each night at the resort, for one person, per paid room; but kamaaina staying three nights or longer will receive 2,000 bonus miles in addition to the 150 per night, totaling 2,450 miles for one long, three-day weekend getaway.

Guests looking for an elevated experience will want to plan a stay in The Kapalua Gold Villas, the company’s new brand standard. With kamaaina rates starting at $189 per night for a one-bedroom Villa, residents will enjoy Gold Villa guest-amenities and services including, a welcome amenity upon arrival, nightly turndown service, daily newspaper Monday through Friday, as well as robes and slippers.

The Kapalua Villas are part of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts’ deluxe condominium collection, which offers hotel-style hospitality with all the comforts of home. The Kapalua Villas recently joined the Outrigger family of hotels and resorts and offers daily maid service, full kitchens, laundry services, as well as air conditioning for total comfort. Rooms are available in one-, two-, or three-bedroom Villas, offering grand views of the ocean and fairways.

For reservations or information, call your preferred travel professional or The Kapalua Villas at 1-800-545-0018 within the U.S., Guam and Canada. Elsewhere call (808) 665-9137 (long distance charges apply). For online information or reservations, log on at www.kapaluavillas.com or email reservations@kapaluavillas.com.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Organic amenities on Kauai

Here's something interesting that came across my desk recently ...


Organic Amenities Arrive at Waipouli Beach Resort
A new garden-inspired restaurant plus a new day spa feature ingredients made from Hawaii’s natural resources
The Garden Isle lives up to its name with a new island-inspired restaurant, and plantation-style spa, which have opened under new management at the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort. Locally grown produce and freshly caught fish swathe the mouthwatering menu at the new Oasis on the Beach restaurant, while Spa by the Sea boasts an organic product-line. Both amenities aim to complement the resort’s naturally pristine atmosphere by incorporating Hawaii’s incredible natural resources.

Oasis on the Beach Restaurant
Its name implies a place of refuge and relief, and the new Oasis on the Beach restaurant delivers just that. The casual and tasteful culinary retreat, located just steps from the beach at Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort, is the product of owner-operator Stefan Mandel with talented local chef Zack Sato bringing his expertise with local ingredients to the menu. Organic ingredients, over 80 percent of which are locally grown, are incorporated into a delightful, island-inspired menu. Examples of the delicious local fare include locally-caught fresh fish glazed in miso-butter and topped with crispy onion strings, or a local grass-fed rib-eye steak with a red wine sweet onion butter, over a taro mash and braised greens. 

“We are extremely proud to add Oasis on the Beach restaurant to our property,” said Gregg Enright, general manager of Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort. “The fusion of fresh, island-grown produce and mouthwatering entrees, creates a dining experience unique to our property, that guests will surely remember.”

At the 5 p.m. happy hour, guests can watch the spectacular sunset and sip on refreshing ginger-lime infused Mojitos or classic Mai Tais. The entrees featuring the catch-of-the-day have never seen the freezer, as a newly caught batch is brought in each morning to be served. Nowhere else on Kauai can guests dine on fresher local produce from such a stunning ocean vantage point. Oasis on the Beach is open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays, with dinner service beginning at 5 p.m. Watch for lunch service to begin at a later date. For more information or reservations, call direct to (808) 822-9332.

Spa by the Sea

Spa by the Sea offers guests a full-service spa, including an extensive menu of facials, massages and other pampering treatments. Nestled on the beachfront property of Kauai’s eastern shore, the 4,000 square-foot spa boasts services that are unique to Hawaii, while using only pure organic ingredients in its treatments.

“Spa by the Sea tops-off our assortment of luxurious amenities here at the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort,” said Enright. “Now guests can treat themselves to the restorative vacation they deserve by booking an appointment for an organic Hawaiian massage or facial.”

Revitalize with a volcanic clay facial or lomi lomi massage, and repair sunburned skin with a Noni Body Wrap. Known for its legendary healing powers, the Hawaiian people use the juice of this tropical fruit to heal burns, soothe and tighten the skin. In this cooling and healing treatment, the body is soothed with Noni Gel then gently massaged with warm coconut milk for a healthy tropical glow. Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, the plantation-style spa is a must-visit when vacationing at the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort.  For more information, log on to www.spabytheseakauai.com .

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Hawai'i's Big Island Erupts with Big Savings for Kama'āina!

Kama'āina Specials Launched on www.bigisland.org/getaway

The Big Island Visitors Bureau woos kama'āina travelers with irresistible lodging, activity, dining and other offers that last through much of 2010 on www.bigisland.org/getaway.

There are places here that you will not find on any other island:

  • Four national parks and more marine life conservation districts than any other Hawaiian Island.
  • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is Hawai'i's only World Heritage Site and active Kīlauea volcano is putting on quite a show at Halema'uma'u Crater (right - photo by HTJ), and the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area is heating up again with new flows oozing towards the sea.  
    • To witness the recent activity at Kīlauea, both at the summit and at sea level, you can set out on your own or compare locals-only deals by KapohoKine Adventures, BikeVolcano.com and Hawaii Forest and Trail.
    • Or soar above it with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters' Circle Fire Waterfall tour.

Always wanted to be eco-friendly when traveling?  Plan a free visit to Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historical Site, and stay at the new, eco-friendly Hawai'i Island Retreat, which just completed its spa, for only $250/night for a two-night minimum. Includes a sumptuous breakfast, free upgrade, 15 percent off spa services and a complimentary Legends and Lore hike through the 50-acre coastal property.

If you’re a water person, discover the pristine underwater world of Kealakekua Bay aboard a Captain Zodiac rafting adventure, more than $20 off charters for Hawai'i residents, or plunge 100 feet beneath the surface of Kailua Bay, aboard Atlantis Submarines, for only $35 for adults, $15 for keiki.

There are lots of lodging options too starting from as little as $85/night at the Bougainvillea B&B in Ka'u to unprecedented specials at the luxury resorts along the sun-soaked Kohala Coast or from $89/night at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

Nearly 45 spectacular Big Island offers await residents on its kama'āina website, check it out at www.bigisland.org/getaway.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Birthday Honolulu Academy of Arts



Celebrate the 83rd birthday of the Honolulu Academy of Arts on April 8 during their aloHAA event … the second Thursday of the month when the Academy stays open until 9 pm.
 
All of the galleries be open.  Stop to take a tour of the Anna Rice Cooke collection and enjoy a slice of birthday cake!

Starting at 5 p.m., the Pavilion Café (right) will open to sell small-plate snacks, beer and wine.

The evening also features music—live and recorded. Playing will be the Chris Yeh Quartet.
 
Docents will give three exhibition zip tours, at 6, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Regular museum admission—$10 for adults, $5 for seniors, military and students—applies during aloHAA. 

Members get in free.