Currently, phase one is opened with limited activities available to its guest. But not to worry, once completed visitors can fully indulge in championship golf courses, pools, barbeques, water activities and outdoor exercise classes, all while experiencing a truly lavish home away from home stay. With choice one-and-two bedroom suites, we each received the royal treatment and stayed in our own brand new two-bedroom suite. I don’t think I have ever been the first to stay at a hotel before.

Upon entering, beautiful dark wood floors lead you though the fully-equipped kitchen affixed with stainless steel appliances to the living room and out to a fully furnished lanai. The master suite, located just off the living area, has a plush king size bed and bathroom that ladies—we all need. Well, the tub for sure. The second bedroom offers plenty of sleeping with two double beds and a much deserving second bath. No need to share a bed with you sibling on this vacay. The kicker, all rooms are affixed with flat panel televisions. Yup, I thought that would win over the kids.
As I gear up for our final full day on the island, I realize it involves an 11 hour excursion to the Volcano National Park. Not bad knowing we will walk on lava. With our naturalist Danny behind the wheel, we were on our way. Roughly three hours in, and a few stops, we reached the park and wow was it breathtaking–green, lush and cooler in temp. (Hawaii has several different climatic zones, all of which we eventually traveled through during this trip) And it really didn’t feel like three hours with Danny telling stories about Hawaii and its culture along the way. We spent the next several hours touring the park, walking through lava tubes, checking out Hawaii’s rain forest and overlooking a volcanoes culver. I found it fascinating to actually witness plumes of white smoke billowing out of an inferno more than 2,100 degrees two miles deep in the earth. And to know one day that volcano will erupt again and possible take out the landscape we once walked on.

With the clock striking noon we decided to break for lunch and set a plan for the afternoon. We agreed to load into the van and drive towards the parks shoreline. As we winded down the mountainside we saw just what Mother Nature is capable of doing—miles and miles of black lava now covering a once green landscape. At the edge of the park, along the shore, the road ends in part due to an active lava spill that’s flowing into the ocean and causing scolding steam to rise hundreds of feet in the air. If you are daring, you can walk a little ways down the road for a closer view but park officials eventually stop everyone at a certain point.

As we load into the van for what we think is the final time, one can only assume the car ride home was quiet, (and you are correct) until we pulled up to small donut shop only known by natives. There we enjoyed warm sugary doughnuts called malasades. Wow, were they yummy. Now back to the resort for our final dinner.

Written by Christine Whitton

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At 6 a.m. I shuffled downstairs to Kimo Bean, located on the Hilton Waikoloa’s main level to meet my team. Yup, we all looked a little sleepy. Nothing some home grown, fresh brewing Kona coffee couldn’t fix. First stop breakfast on the lanai at Dolphin Quest. As we grabbed coffee and croissants—watching the sun rise over Hawaii—we began to hear the playful sounds of dolphins greeting us from their paralleling blue lagoon. Our first adventure on the Big Island was to swim with dolphins. No need for coffee to kick us into high gear, the idea alone led us to our feet.

Suited up and divided into two teams we met our marine mammal experts eager to have us interact with one of the oceans most delicate, amazing and intelligent creators. Waist high in water we were able to assist the trainers in feeding, commanding and playing with the dolphins. An experience I have to say is unlike anything I have ever done in my life.

After an amazing hour with the dolphins, we were off to the black sandy shorelines of Kona to catch a ride on the Glass Bottom boat tour. Drifting between the shoreline and the oceans sandbar, we peered into the center of the boat catching glimpse of indigenous fishes, somber sea turtles and colorful coral reef dubbed Hawaii’s “tropical rain forests of the sea.”

As we played bumper boats with our private charter awaiting us offshore, we efficiently jumped from one boat to another without any hiccups. Kudos to us! (Although if really wasn’t as hard as it sounds.) As we made our way to the front of the vessel, we were introduced to the captain and his second in command. Within moments the wind was in our hair and we were cuddling the coastline off the black sandy beaches known to Kona for an afternoon of snorkeling.

After endless afternoon of fun in the sun it was back aboard the boat for lunch and a leisurely sail home. Once upon shore we headed back to the resort for an hour of pampering at the Kohala Spa before breaking for a little r-and-r before dinner.

As the sun set and the tiki torches lit the way, we loaded into our shuttle bus for an evening at Sansei restaurant, located in the Queens’ Marketplace. There we enjoy a pre-fix tasting of delish soup, sushi rolls, and meat—traditional island cuisine. For desert we found ourselves at Macaroni Grill. There oh-so-yummy tiramisu, chocolate and lemon cakes paired well with the evening’s dessert drinks. After eating so much good food everyone became sleepy and rightfully so, for many we were nearing the wee hours of the morning. The only thing on everyone’s mind was sleep.

Stay tuned for day three tomorrow.

Written by Christine Whitton

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It began with an e-mail confirmation and an all day travel itinerary that would eventually land me on an island far, far away better known as The Big Island, yup Hawaii. I was thrilled as this would be my first time going to Hawaii.

After landing at Kona International Airport, a small rustic-looking airport, we quickly began de-boarding the plane on the tarmac. I have to be honest in all my travels I have never done that. In fact, I only thought that happened in the movies. How’s that for novelty. After a quick introduction to my five fellow journalists joining me on this adventure, we were quickly whisked to a nearby waiting limo.

Piled in and ready to go we exited the airport and were quickly awe-struck by our current surroundings—miles upon miles of black lava fields. After a short 20 minute drive we arrived at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and greeted by our “storytellers,” as they are referred to. Over the next few days, these ladies would direct us where to go and when to be there by. Something we all agreed, we loved.

After settling in to our very posh rooms, each offering picturesque ocean views, we would regroup for dinner. And, like any great gathering, one must begin with a toast—in our case that was Mai Tai’s, Hawaii’s drink of choice.

After a few laughs, our night began in true Hawaiian style—by the sound of a horn created using a cong shell. A talent none of us dared to try.

With Mai Tai’s in hand, we step inside the boat that would soon begin our “Dine Around” tour. (This boat would be our only transportation to and from each dinning destination)

Stop one: appetizers at Kirin Chinese Restaurant. Overlooking the resort and its water canal we enjoy shrimp, crab cakes and assorted rolls while meeting with the many people who help create the fun, vibrant vacay destination it is today. I must say they are all very passionate about their line of work. Next on the dinning tour was Imari, an authentic Japanese steakhouse. Greeted with warm towels to refresh our hands, we enjoyed soup and salad, several assorted rolls and tender steak for dinner. Just superb. Our final stop was Kamuela Provision Company, better known as KPC for dessert. But just as the boat docked you began to feel the steady beat of a drum. As we made our way around the corner we were front and center of our own personal Luau, which was just about to start. What they didn’t tell us was some of us would be part of the luau. And yes I was one. At first, fear came over me, and then I realized how much fun it could be, so I did it. It was well worth it.

As we made our way to our final dinning destination, Kamuela Provision Company, better known as KPC, we say outside overlook the Pacific Ocean. Here we enjoy three of the restaurants most highly regarded desserts and watched a true Hawaiian flame thrower perform before calling it a night. Remember its now midnight and for those of us based on the West Coast it’s 3 a.m., but for those based out of New York it’s 6 a.m. Needless to say, we were all a little tired.

Stay tune tomorrow to read about day two in Hawaii.

Written by Christine Whitton

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