REJUVENATE AND RADIATE WELLNESS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI
REJUVENATE AND RADIATE WELLNESS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI
Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau Media Contact:
Cheyenne Gomez, (808) 539-3409, [email protected]
Island of Hawai‘i (October 7, 2024) — The island of Hawai‘i offers an abundance of wellness experiences, from rejuvenating spa treatments using locally sourced ingredients to serene outdoor yoga sessions in a cloud forest. Whether you're seeking to unwind with a deep-ocean cold-water foot soak, enjoy a massage or immerse yourself in nature with a hike, the island offers countless ways to restore your mind, body and spirit.
This fall, Hawai‘i Island is also alive with vibrant cultural and community events. Be sure to mark your calendar for the Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds, the VINFAST IRONMAN World Championship (Men’s Race), NELHA's 50th Anniversary Open House and more!
Read on to discover how you can rejuvenate through wellness experiences and enjoy other exciting fall happenings on the Island of Hawai‘i.
WELLNESS GUIDE
Join Kona Salt Farm for an invigorating Deep Ocean Cold Water Foot Soak at its ocean-view cabana. The unique soak uses flowing deep-ocean water direct from the ocean, naturally cold at 47 F. The water is rich in magnesium, providing numerous benefits such as reducing pain and swelling, easing muscle soreness and improving circulation. For more information or to book a tour, visit https://konaseasalt.com/pages/the-farm.
Located on Hawaiʻi Island, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort’s Asaya Spa offers a tranquil wellness retreat set against a backdrop of lava flows and majestic Hualālai volcano. Inspired by the resort’s location, the spa’s menu was tailored to honor local culture with an aim of providing a transformative wellness experience. Guests can indulge in massages and rejuvenating facials featuring Dr. Barbara Sturm and can unwind in the spa’s hot and cold plunge pools, sauna and steam room. Resort guests and the local community are invited to visit Asaya Spa. For more information and reservations, email [email protected].
Link to Images: https://picasso.rosewoodhotelgroup.com/share/EA2DAA92-7CD4-4C0C-A9E39BFF8F38BD73/?viewType=grid
Photo Credit: Douglas Friedman
Mindfulness and science intersect at Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary to create immersive nature experiences. The sanctuary’s guided tours, sound baths, yoga and nature-focused events offer a retreat into a tropical cloud forest, blending conservation and education with a mindful connection to the ‘āina (land). Whether you seek rejuvenation, education or exploration, the Kona Cloud Forest ‘ohana (family) aim to provide the perfect setting for holistic healing. For more information or to book a cloud forest experience, visit http://konacloudforest.com.
Link to Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/81u4vjb33z28hn63234d2/ADHPTd5m6AlCSWw6xvqJ1ow?rlkey=8okel9yapd8oh3zdkxhaozb3p&e=1&st=incld1qy&dl=0
Photo Credit: Dom Walczuk, Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary
Immerse yourself in Hawai‘i healing traditions with Imu Mea ‘Ai’s regenerative eco-tours. Experience the Hawaiian practice of cooking food in an imu (underground oven) as you learn about sustainable land practices and cultural preservation. Imu Mea ‘Ai’s tours aim to offer reconnection with nature and nourishment of body and soul. Tours are also open to groups looking to experience a hands-on connection to the ‘āina (land). For more information or to book a tour experience, visit https://imumeaai.com/.
Kona Salt Farm recently announced its new Bathing Salt Making Station allowing guests to craft their own personalized bathing salts by choosing from a variety of essential oils, dried flowers and Hawai‘i botanicals. The experience can be a gift or special treat and is a fun activity local residents, groups of friends, families and visitors to the island can enjoy. Kona Salt Farm’s salt is hand-harvested and sourced from deep ocean waters. Visit in-person to make your own bathing salts and enjoy the natural beauty of the farm or ask the farm team to come to your next event. For more information, visit https://konaseasalt.com/pages/the-farm.
Link to Images: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-Xl256KoofP8KMTmUGA_agGicGtCnpt/view
Photo Credit: Kona Sea Salt
UPCOMING EVENTS
For 50 years, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) has been at the forefront of sustainable development in Hawai‘i, overseeing the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park, the state’s only green tech park. To mark the occasion, NELHA is inviting the community to a special 50th Anniversary Open House event on October 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. NELHA will host an open house event, inviting visitors to check out participating park businesses, offering farm and nursery tours, robotics and drone demos, and live hula and music, including musician John Keawe. The open house will also have plenty of food and keiki (children) activities. For more details, visit https://nelha.hawaii.gov/.
In conjunction with the National Energy Lab Hawaii Authority (NELHA)'s 50th anniversary celebration, the Hawai'i Keiki Museum is excited to sponsor the 2024 Big Island Arts Summit on October 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The summit, to be held at NELHA’s ma uka (inland) research campus building, aims to encourage a flourishing arts economy on Hawai‘i Island under the theme, “An Ocean of Possibilities: Cultivating Knowledge, Fostering Collaboration.” The theme intertwines education, collaboration, diversity and economic vitality to illustrate how the fusion of diverse perspectives and shared knowledge can raise the tide of enrichment and prosperity. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/BigIslandArtsSummit.
The 17th annual Run for the Dry Forest is set for October 19, featuring a 10K run, 5K run/walk, and quarter-mile keiki (kids) run. The 10K starts at 7:45 a.m. with a challenging 1,200-ft. elevation gain in its first three miles. The 5K begins at 8 a.m, accommodating most participants — including joggers with strollers — while the keiki run kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The event includes educational booths and a silent auction. Proceeds support conservation of endangered species at Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve. For more information or to register, visit the Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests website at https://www.akakaforests.org/events/run-for-the-dry-forest-2024.
The Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds is set for October 26, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo. The family-friendly festival will include artists and crafters highlighting native birds in their work, conservation organizations, guest speakers, hālau hula (hula schools) and bird trivia and soundscapes. The festival’s goal is bringing the community together to celebrate Hawai‘i native bird species and fight tough conservation challenges. The Festival of Birds is presented by the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i. For more information, visit www.birdfesthawaii.org.
Link to Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b9kajcwekompvobkmsdtz/ADwXCSWPpAmV0bUVjkGZjMI?rlkey=9k74h2mjif8h4csg6d3hj9xf5&dl=0
Photo Credit: Joanna Maney
The 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona will host the best male professional and age-group triathletes from around the world on October 26 in a 140.6-mile/ 226km journey showcasing the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit. The race journey will take athletes into the waters of Kailua Bay for swimming, and alongside the sunny, windswept Kona and Kohala Coasts through barren lava fields for cycling and running challenges. Over its 40-plus years of emotional athletic performances and inspiring achievements, the IRONMAN World Championship has earned a reputation as the sport of triathlon’s pinnacle event and an iconic global sporting event. For more information, visit https://www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-kona.
On November 16, the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa will welcome kūmu hula (hula teachers) and students from across the Hawaiian Islands, Japan and Europe to present their dance styles and traditions in either hula kahiko (traditional) or hula ʻauana (modern) styles for the seventh E Mau Ana Ka Hula — A Tribute to King Kalākaua. Each hālau hula (hula school) will present hula steps, expressions, creativity and adornments. Admission is free for all hula presentations and the event will also feature a local craft fair and food for sale. For more information, visit www.nawaiiwiola.org/e-mau-ana-ka-hula.
The 44th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF) Fall Festival, presented by Halekūlani, will feature a full slate of screenings showcasing feature-length and short films from around the world, with a special focus on Asia, the Pacific and made-in-Hawaiʻi productions. HIFF is a destination for celebrated industry professionals, emerging artists and film enthusiasts from around the world. Screenings at the Palace Theater in Hilo will take place November 7 through 10. For more information on tickets, schedules and events, visit https://hiff.org/.
TASTY TIDBITS
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort’s newest curated dining offering, Island Roots, gathers guests around an outdoor communal table under kiawe trees, encouraging conversation and forging connections. This special dinner takes place next to Kona Village’s onsite farm, Kahiko Mala‘ai, spotlighting its produce as well as other fresh ingredients sourced entirely from Hawai`i Island. The dinner’s menu and flow was curated by the resort’s culinary team with an aim of honoring tradition, celebrating community and paying homage to the vibrant ingredients growing in the resort’s backyard. Dinners are available for resort guests only on Wednesday and Saturday nights at $185 per adult, beginning at 6 p.m. Reservations can be made at [email protected].
Mauna Kea Resort has unveiled a new Chef’s Garden providing fresh produce for the resort’s kitchens, as well as a specialized botanical garden with indigenous and endemic plant species. The botanical oasis offers benches for guests to sit and experience the bounty of Hawai‘i’s indigenous vegetation. Additionally, the resort has its own on-property apiaries, which produce fresh honey onsite and support the local environment by providing pollination for local farming, flowers and native plant production. Mauna Kea Resort invites island of Hawai‘i residents and visitors to experience its immersive apiary tour and honey-tasting excursion. For more information, visit https://www.maunakearesort.com/renewal/.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Fairmont Orchid is hosting and supporting the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program in a groundbreaking effort to protect, preserve and revitalize the coral reefs of West Hawaiʻi, including Pauoa Bay. In August, the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa dive team carefully collected corals from Pauoa Bay, transporting them to a state-of-the-art coral research and propagation facility. Once the corals have successfully spawned, their offspring will be reintroduced to a native habitat in Pauoa Bay. Guests are encouraged to connect with the property’s beach ambassadors to learn more about ongoing coral restoration efforts. To learn more, visit https://www.fairmontorchid.com/blog/fairmont-orchid-supports-%CA%BBako%CA%BBako%CA%BBa-reef-restoration-program-of-west-hawai%CA%BBi/.
Link to Images: https://fairmontorchid.pixieset.com/coralreefrestoration/
Photo Credit: Fairmont Orchid
Hawaiʻi Islandʻs iconic and historic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is excited to unveil a $180-million renovation in early 2025 aimed at evolving its offerings for modern travelers while preserving its remarkable heritage since Laurance S. Rockefeller opened the resort in 1965. The transformation will include a redesign of the resort’s 252 guest rooms and suites and four dining venues, including the resort’s signature restaurant Manta, which offers unobstructed views of Kaunaʻoa Bay. The renovation will also include an extensive destination spa and infinity pool experience with 11 indoor and al fresco treatment rooms, a full-service salon and an enlarged fitness center. For more information, visit https://www.maunakearesort.com/renewal/.