We started staying within the Waikoloa Beach Resort area on the Big Island a little over 10 years ago. I had overheard a work colleague telling someone about this incredible place on the Big Island, that had boats and trams connecting this amazing hotel. I asked him for the name of the hotel and that is when I was introduced to the Waikoloa Hilton Hotel. Since I travel on business frequently and had plenty of Hilton points, I thought this might be a great place for us to enjoy Hawaii once again. We had primarily been going to the Caribbean for family vacations and it had been over 15 years since visiting Maui and Oahu.
Upon our arrival at the Kona airport I immediately felt relaxed. The airport is small when compared to major airports, and has this authentic island feel to it. To be totally honest, as we left the airport heading north to the resort, the landscape was not what I expected. It is primarily lava fields, broken up here and there by grass and small trees native to the Big Island. As we drove the 19 miles to the resort, I kept asking myself was this a wise thing to do? I can tell you, it was not only a wise thing to do, but the Waikoloa Beach Resort has turned into a second home, one that we visit two to three times a year.
The Waikoloa Beach Resort now consists of the Waikoloa Hilton, the Marriott Outrigger, two upscale shopping areas, two top rated golf courses, several fine dining options, and a number of top of the line condominium complexes, and in my opinion is the greatest place in the world. It is a lush green tropical oasis with just about everything you need right there. Beaches, golf courses, dolphin training, snorkeling, diving, whale watching, petro glyphs, and quiet relaxing walks in the morning, right at the resort area. Within a 20 minute drive you can see tropical forests, black sand beaches, tropical canyon zip lines, waterfalls and breath taking views of the North Kohala coast line. If you want to see country that receives over 200 inches of rainfall a year just drive an hour and the landscape is as lush and green as anywhere in Hawaii. If you want to see the top of one of the world’s largest volcanoes you can drive to the top of Mauna Kea at just under 14,000 ft, the view is amazing, and in the winter you can snow ski if you want to. The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian Islands put together, and has 10 of the world’s 15 climate zones, including a live volcano called Kilauea. It is an amazing place, and after spending almost 15 months there two weeks at a time for over 10 years, we still have yet to see many of the beautiful and exciting parts of the island.
Oh, sorry, I wanted to talk about the Waikoloa Beach Resort. It rains less than 10 inches a year. I can almost guarantee that every morning you wake-up, it will be perfect weather. Temperatures stay pretty much between 80 to 85 degrees during the day, and 75 to 80 degrees at night. It is difficult to describe how quiet and relaxing this resort really is, nothing like the exhausting Waikiki beach area of Oahu or even Maui for that matter. This area is what Hawaii is all about, perfect weather all the time, everything you need without the crowds, and genuine relaxation. Expensive spas are available, Louis Vitton, Cache, and Tiffanys if that is your bag. World famous Roy’s restaurant, Ruth’s Chris, and several local favorites are also available for fine dining.
Trust me, if perfect weather, quiet relaxation, and the beauty of the ocean are what you seek, the Waikoloa Beach Resort is the only place to visit, and if you fall in love like we did, you’ll be buying a place there so that you can go to paradise whenever you want to.