SIZZLIN’ FALL NEWS FROM THE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI
SIZZLIN’ FALL NEWS FROM THE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI
Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau Media Contact:
Cheyenne Gomez, (808) 539-3409, [email protected]
Island of Hawaiʻi (August 1, 2022) — Travelers bound for the island of Hawaiʻi this fall will have their pick of dynamic ocean activities, memorable outdoor excursions, unique accommodations, and more to fill their days and nights on the island. With iconic sports events, delicious and decadent dining, popular cultural festivals, guided visits to Kīlauea volcano, and much more awaiting on arrival, they’ll be ecstatic they chose a stay on the island of Hawaiʻi this fall.
Read on for more fun fall ideas for your island of Hawaiʻi visit.
ACTIVITIES
Kailani Tours recently debuted its newest tour, the Volcano Express. Departing from central pick-up locations in Waikoloa and Kona on the island’s west side, with morning or evening departure options, the 8-hour tour offers guests a Kīlauea volcano experience that allows for time to enjoy other same-day activities. Every Volcano Express tour includes two additional stops to see other island points of interest in Hilo and Kaʻū. Check www.kailanitourshawaii.com for tour schedules, or call (808) 938-4057 for more information.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel recently launched complimentary outrigger canoe excursions for guests to accompany the resort’s beach activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, and more. Guests can book a morning outrigger excursion or plan a private group outrigger excursion by stopping by the hotel’s Mauna Kea Beach Shack. For more information, visit www.maunakearesort.com.
The Kalama Kai, a 42-foot Yellowfin powerboat operated by Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is an homage to the first landowner of the island of Hawai‘i’s Kalāhuipua‘a area, Queen Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili. Coming this August, a journey on Kalama Kai — a Hawaiian name meaning “light of the sea”— showcases seafaring traditions, tales of Hawaiʻi’s past, and perfect spots for fishing, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Captain Ikaika Vivas even shares personal accounts of his own trans-Pacific sails. For inquiries and bookings, contact the resort concierge by phone at (808) 885-6622 or by email at [email protected].
Join Hawaiian Adventures this fall for a Hawaiʻi Island adventure on its Ocean Safari tour. Whether you’re an accomplished free driver, prefer exploring inshore reefs, or are looking for a cruise with above-water views, Hawaiian Adventure guides are ready to put together a wildlife adventure you’ll never forget. Guests on board encounter marine life beneath the waves, including manta rays, oceanic white tip sharks, pilot whales, spinner dolphins, sperm whales, and whale sharks. For more information, call (808) 339-3604 or visit https://www.hawaiianadventureskona.com/.
King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel features adventures for guests of all ages this fall on its beachfront property. Kona Boys Beach Shack is a one-stop shop for ocean equipment and activities for folks looking to enjoy exploring beautiful coastline scenery and marine life. Adventure seekers can find all the equipment they need for stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), kayak and outrigger-canoe paddling, and snorkeling. The property also offers submarine tours with Atlantis Adventures diving 100 feet below the ocean surface to experience Kona’s marine mysteries. For more information, call (808) 329-2911.
The Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa is home to the viewing of majestic manta rays as they arrive to feed each night. You can catch it all from shore or participate in the unforgettable experience of snorkeling with the ocean giants. To further encourage manta ray research, education, and conservation, Outrigger Hospitality Group recently partnered with the Manta Pacific Research Foundation to celebrate the foundation’s 20th anniversary in September. World Manta Day will celebrate the manta ray and raise awareness of threats facing these highly intelligent creatures. For more information, visit https://www.outriggerkona.com/.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Ka'ū Coffee Trail Run offers a challenging course for everyone from keiki (children) to kūpuna (elders) as it winds about the unpaved trails of the island of Hawai‘i town of Pāhala. On September 17, participating runners will race through 1,900 acres of coffee fields and macadamia nut groves at the Kaʻū Coffee Mill on courses ranging from a 50K and a half marathon, to 10K and 5K distances. For more information, visit www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com.
As beloved a music genre and style of guitar musicianship in modern-day Hawai‘i as it ever was, slack-key guitar originated in the Islands in the 19th century with paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys). Founded in 1982, the 25th Annual Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival “Kona Style,'' happening on September 18 at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, celebrates and perpetuates the cultural importance of slack-key guitar, known locally by the Hawaiian name kī hōʻalu, which refers to the “loosened” or “slack” tuning of guitar strings. The festival also features Hawai‘i crafters, local food vendors and festival merchandise. For more information, visit slackkeyfestival.com.
Join Ka ‘Ulu Lauhala O Kona in celebrating the traditional art of lau hala (pandanus leaf) weaving at the 25th Annual Lauhala Conference, set for September 21-24 at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. Founded in 1995 by master lau hala weaver Elizabeth Maluihi Lee, Ka ‘Ulu Lauhala O Kona’s mission is immersing and perpetuating the traditions and preserving and ensuring the growth of traditional lau hala weaving. Highlights of the conference include weaving workshops, night weaving, a hōʻike (exhibit) featuring entertainment and a fashion show, a craft fair, and a silent auction. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/KULOKconference.
After a three-year hiatus, the IRONMAN World Championship races are once again set to take place on the island of Hawai‘i’s sunny west side in October. The race will also mark a historic moment for the event. For the first time in its 40-plus year history, the global premier triathlon will take place over two days: Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 8. The 2022 IRONMAN World Championship is expected to draw 5,000 athletes to its swimming, biking and running course over those two days, hosting an expanded women’s professional field at the Thursday race and a men’s professional field at Saturday’s race. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-2022.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival will again be an in-person event this year, with a full schedule of events set for November 4 through 13. Throughout the 10-day celebration of Kona coffee, art and culture, attendees are invited to enjoy a safe, entertaining and fun slate of events honoring Kona’s cultural heritage and the accomplishments of its regional coffee pioneers, farmers and artisans. The festival features coffee farm tours, a coffee cupping competition in search of the region’s best java, art exhibits, music performances, a parade, coffee recipe contests, and food and coffee tastings, all sharing the story of Kona’s rich history and world-famous coffee. For more information, visit www.konacoffeefest.com.
TASTY TIDBITS
Hilo’s only steakhouse, WSW Steakhouse at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, is featuring Surf and Turf combos through fall. On Mondays, diners can enjoy a 12-oz. ribeye, Kauaʻi shrimp, and loaded baked potato for $60. On Wednesdays, a 9-oz. filet with a lobster tail and sautéed baby carrots is featured for $75. For an additional fee, diners can add the bone marrow appetizer, a creamed spinach side or select from the restaurant’s roving Whisky Cart for a classic steakhouse experience. For reservations, call (808) 969-6470.
Celebrating Hawaiʻi Island sustainable cuisine, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa’s limited Thursday night dining experience showcases a carefully crafted four-course dinner paired with your choice of select wine or cocktail pairings. Dinners feature an all locally sourced seasonal menu and interactive experience sharing the table with the culinary team of the property’s Hawaiʻi Calls restaurant and our favorite local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and distilleries. For more information, call (808) 886-6789 or visit, https://www.opentable.com/hawaii-calls-marriott-waikoloa.
King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel recently welcomed its new executive chef, Michael Quanan. Born and raised on the island of Hawaiʻi, Chef Quanan brings his cultural expertise and creativity to the menus and culinary programming at Kona Beach Hotel, including its Billfish Poolside Bar and Grill and Honu’s on The Beach restaurant. He is also leading menu development for the property’s Island Breeze Lūʻau and catering department. Quanan’s impressive culinary career includes roles at well-known island of Hawai‘i restaurants, hotels, and food purveyors, including Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Charthouse, and Nanea Golf Club, Suisan, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort), and Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa (Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa). Most recently, Quanan served as director of operations for the Flying Food Group in Kailua-Kona. For more information, call (808) 329-2911.
Perched atop green fairways and surrounded by panoramic Pacific Ocean views, the Clubhouse Bar at Mauna Lani’s Golf Clubhouse offers a great spot for gathering after hitting the links to grab a frosty pint, talk story and cheering for your favorite sports teams screening on the bar’s TVs. Welcoming golfers and non-golfers, the Clubhouse Bar, open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is for anyone looking to relax and enjoy libations and light bites. For inquiries and bookings, contact Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection concierge at (808) 885-6622 or by email at [email protected].
ACCOMMODATIONS
For travelers who prioritize resort getaways supporting sustainability and regenerative tourism, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort recently has been named the island of Hawaiʻi’s first-ever carbon-neutral resort and one of just two resorts in the state to earn such recognition. Partnering with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI), The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort also recently launched a new tree-planting campaign with a goal of planting 100,000 native Hawai‘i milo Legacy Trees on property — the first endemic forest of its kind in the U.S. planted on resort grounds. Additionally, a charitable fee is included in the rates of all Mauna Kea Resort area guest stays in support of The Hawaiʻi Island Conservation Fund. The fund directly supports hardworking nonprofit organizations The Nature Conservancy and Hawaiʻi Trust Fund, with a focus on the Kohala district that is the resort’s home. To book a stay, visit www.maunakearesort.com.
Castle Resorts & Hotels is offering WanderFALL Specials with up to 25% off best available rates for hotel, condo, and vacation rental accommodations throughout the island of Hawaiʻi. Enjoy the famed Kona sunset from the Castle Kanaloa at Kona, gaze at the evening’s sparkling stars from the Castle Waimea Country Lodge, focus on your golf swing at the Castle Haliʻi Kai at Waikoloa, or take in stunning views of Hilo Bay and Maunakea volcano from the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. For information and reservations, visit https://www.castleresorts.com/big-island/ or call (877) 367-1912 toll-free from the U.S. and Canada.