Most family vacations require little more than a swimming pool to please the kids. But add dreamy sunsets, dolphin encounters, unlimited shopping, long stretches of white-sand beach, golf and a warm ocean, and you get a vacation the entire family will thoroughly enjoy.
Waikoloa Beach Resort was designed with the family in mind.
“My favorite things to do were hanging out at the pool, walking on the beach with my brother and taking a boat out to snorkel,” says Perrin Kendall, who visited the resort recently with her family.
A wide variety of family activities are available every day of the week at the hotels and shopping centers, all within walking distance.
Hotels
At Hilton Waikoloa Village, the Saltwater Lagoon is an ideal spot for kayaking, paddle boarding and pedal boating through four acres of protected waters that colorful reef fish and honu (green sea turtles) call home.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, guests can watch the Dolphin Sunrise Splash in the Lagoon in front of ashowering waterfall. At a nearby lagoon, Dolphin Quest offers a variety of encounters to meet, touch and play with dolphins throughout the day.
At Kona Pool, children alternate between waterslides and a sandy pool, while younger kids play in the junior slides at Kohala Pool. On land, kids gravitate to the giant checkers and Jenga games.
A wide range of keiki cultural activities include fish feeding, postcard making, kukui nut bracelet making, watercolor art classes, activity hour and ‘ukulele jam sessions. If you aren’t staying at Hilton Waikoloa, day passes are available for the pools and lagoons.
Three nights a week, your family can delight in hula dancers, torch runners and coconut huskersat the Legends of Hawaii Lū`au.
Next door at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, families can gather for the day at three swimming pools, including a children’s pool with a sandy bottom. Or stroll down to `Anaeho`omalu Bay and the half mile-long swimming beach that fronts the hotel. On this protected beach, older kids can snorkel or ride boogie boards; or the whole family can sign up for glass-bottom boat rides, hydro-biking or kayak adventures.
To learn more about the ancient culture, Marriott Waikoloa’s knowledgeable staff leads guided tours and cultural walks to bring the area’s story to life for guests.
On Monday and Wednesday evening, families can gather at the Sunset Lū`au for classic Polynesian entertainment featuring live music, traditional dances of the South Pacific and Hawaiian fare.
Shopping Centers
While the parents are shopping at Queens’ Marketplace, kids can play Connect 6 and cornhole on the lawn.
In the evening, the Coronation Pavilion hosts free hula performances on Mondays and free ‘ukulele lessons on Tuesdays. The third Saturday of the month, Hawai`i Island’s best musical talents perform at the same location as part of the Kanikapila Monthly Concert Series.
A big draw at the Kings’ Shops is The Hawai`i Keiki Museum, where kids can explore hands-on, interactive exhibits that bring science, technology, engineering, art and math to life. There’s a play area too. Summer camp activities include carving musical instruments, breakdancing, learning about 3D printing, volcanos and molten metal, and more.
On Center State at the shopping center, a free Fires of Polynesia Show features the dances of Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa, a fire show and a Tahitian dance lesson at 8 pm on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Other Activities
If you’re ready to hit the greens, the 9-Hole Family Golf Program awaits you at the Kings’ Course every day after 3 pm. Juniors six to 17 years old who golf with adults are just $25 and receive com- plimentary rental clubs.
At Lava Lava Beach Club you can unwind on the Lava Lawn to play ping pong, cornhole or Jenga while waiting for a table.
Those wanting to learn more about significant preservation sites can take a historic Waikoloa Cultural Walking Tour anytime using a free app. Guides narrate the walk along the ancient trail, sharing stories and insights about the sacred temples, petroglyph field, lava caves, royal fishponds, `Anaehoo`malu Bay and more.
“Waikoloa is a special place,” says Scott Head, Vice President of Resort Operations. “Our primary goal is to provide families a retreat, a safe place where they can enjoy one another, enjoy the environment and create memories that last forever.”
GECKO GIRLZ
A COOL NEW ADDITION TO QUEENS’ MARKETPLACE
On a warm summer day in Hawai`i, nothing quite hits the spot like a mountainous heaping of cool, colorful, refreshing shave ice.
It has been a popular treat ever since Japanese immigrants brought shave ice to the islands in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here on Hawai`i Island, Gecko Girlz (originally known as Big Island Sweet Treats) has been serving
up shave ice at their Ali`i Drive store in Kona since 1997. Recently, they expanded to Waikoloa with a new store at Queens’ Marketplace.
“Waikoloa is one of our favorite parts of the Big Island, and Queens Marketplace specifically is a top destination for both locals and visitors,” says Store Manager Spencer Teerlink. “We thought it was the perfect fit.”
Gecko Girlz uses homemade recipes and healthy, locally sourced products. Mochi, strawberry and lilikoi purees are made in-house from scratch. Same for lychee syrups. A Big Island ice cream source is Tropical Dreams in Waimea, and mac nuts to top shave ice come from a local farmer in Captain Cook. Instead of corn syrup, they use only pure cane sugar.
Over the years the Gecko Girlz menu has evolved from just shave ice to gourmet ice cream, mochi and teas – or a combination.
“The Lava Flow and Kona Sunset (think vanilla ice cream, Waialua lilikoi and lychee syrups, lilikoi puree, coconut cream snow cap and mochi) are our customers’ favorites,” says Teerlink. “Both are part of our Artisanal Creations line of shave ice that uses 100 percent natural flavors and whole fruit purees.”
New creations pop up regularly.
“We have added a secret menu item called Ube Surfer Girl. One of our employees created this,” Teerlink says. “It’s house-made lychee and coconut shave ice with coconut cream snow cap and toasted coconut flakes with ube ice cream.”
In addition, customers can mix and match to create their own perfect combination.
Gecko Girls at Queens’ Marketplace is open daily 11 am to 8:45 pm
SUNSET LŪ`AU
Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort
Mondays and Wednesdays | Starting at 5 pm
Executive Chef Jayson Kanekoa presents an authentic menu for the popular Sunset Lū`au with fresh ingredients sourced from Hawai`i Island purveyors. Experience slow roasted kalua pig and savor lū`au favorites including Waipi`o Valley poi, ‘ahi tuna poke, hō`i`o fern shoot salad, pulehu steaks and grilled chicken with Hamakua Ali`i mushrooms.
Following dinner take a journey through the South Pacific with song and dance from Tahiti, New Zealand, Hawai`i and Sāmoa. The spellbinding Samoan fire knife dance is a spec- tacular sight to see!
For reservations visit TheSunsetLuau.com
LEGENDS OF HAWAI`I LŪ`AU — OUR BIG ISLAND STORY
WAIKOLOA VILLAGE
Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays | 5 pm | Kamehameha Court
Treat yourself to the once-in-a-lifetime cultural immersion
of our lū`au at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Brought to you by Tihati Productions, the Legends of Hawai`i Lū`au dinner and show brings to life the ancestral songs and dances that retell the epic stories of Hawai`i Island and her remarkable people, culminating in the spectacular and thrilling fire knife dance. You will have the opportunity to capture photo memories with our lū`au performers. The meal includes island favorites such as hulihuli chicken, seared island catch-of-the-day, traditional imu roasted kālua pork and fresh Hawaiian style desserts including coconut haupia and guava cheesecake. Tropical drink favorites include mai tais, blue Hawaiis and lava flows.
Make reservations in advance at LegendsLuau.com. Book early to get your spot.