I have not been to the Big Island since I was three when my grandma passed away so I was very excited to just be at "the" hotel and be a part of the Williams family history. Just so you know, no one at the hotel would know or care one bit about who I am so there were no deals or discounts to be had! The rooms are nothing to be excited about. Most of them are in need of an update as they have not been renovated since the '80s or '90s. The best part of the room was our view of the mountain beyond the parking lot.
However, the lobby/bar/grounds of the hotel is gorgeous. So far, I believe, even the fancy resorts we've walked around don't compare to the beauty this place has going on. It was a perfect place for our family to hang out for a while.
Every where you go, there is a view to be had.
There is an open air bar and restaurant and lounge area that is right on the water. It's a bonus that kids are welcome anywhere, the Mai Tais are delicious, and they are a great price during happy hour.
There is a peaceful "lagoon" with lava rock steps right into the ocean.
There is a black-bottomed pool where you can swim or watch the sunset while sipping a Mai Tai on one of the lounge chairs.
Or you can just choose to do stickers as the sun sets if you're Wyatt.
There are fun Hawaiian-looking details everywhere. The whole place has a serene, peaceful atmosphere.
We felt "our" hotel was a delightful place to stay and relax and I feel so fortunate to have gotten to spend some time there. We will absolutely be stopping by over the next few weeks to enjoy a couple more sunsets!
Hi Rachel & Nate: Here's one detail you should know about, just in case Barbara didn't tell you about this. When you look at the main building of the hotel (the best view is from Kailua-Kona, across the little bay, or from out on the water if you take a boat down to coast to see the Capt. Cook memorial) you'll see that the architecture is a series of staggered terraces, with a "swoop" going down the middle. It's honoring the holu'a slide that's still there, coming down the mountain (Holualoa) -- you can find out where to drive to the actual slide, it's a little bit south of Kona as I remember. The Hawaiian kings (& Pele & her sister!) would "ski" down the slide, from the top of the mountain right down to the water, on something that was about 12' long, looking sort-of like a very narrow sled, with raised runners. It was a fast & dangerous journey! Anyway, the architect of the hotel was a good old family friend whose daughter was your aunt Helen's best friend, & he and "Uncle Bob" (Daddy!) & Bamp wanted to keep the hotel's design as Hawaiian as possible (not sticking up like a skyscraper) & with the "spine" of the building looking like the holu'a slide. There was a little beach on our property, near the old tidal pool, where King Kamehameha II (or III -- I've now forgotten) would enter the water to swim & surf, which then made it a "sacred" beach that only he could use. (This was in the early 1840's.) When the family bought the land, we had a blessing ceremony by the local kahuna, & lots of the real Hawaiians attended, because this was a big deal to sell that land (especially the special beach) to anyone, especially to haoles. A dear old Hawaiian friend of mine who knew the local community well told me that they told him that they were always happy with the way the hotel looked (& with all the decorations & designs everywhere in & out) & with the way the Williams family obviously felt about the land & the history & the way the locals who worked in the hotel were treated (I knew some of them who worked in the dining room, & kept in touch with 2 of the women for several years at Christmas.) There was always a good feeling of mutual Aloha, in other words, which was so nice to know! I think that the beautiful old Hulihe'e Palace in "downtown Kona" is still there -- it's fun to take the tour. It's not as big & as ornate as Iolani Palace in Honolulu, but it's very pretty. Several of the Queens & their families used to stay there, when they wanted to get away from their own islands and royal duties...it represented the summer or "country seat" of power when there was royalty staying there. You also should go north along the coast to find the he'i'au that's there & preserved nicely. A lot of this history, with some good pictures (of the holua slide, for instance) can be found on Google (look up Mt. Holualoa and holu'a slide, Kona, Hawaii.) I'm sure that the concierge at the hotel can point you towards these places I've mentioned. I'm so envious of your wonderful long visit on the Big Island! ~~ Aunt Robin
ReplyDeleteHi Aunt Robin! We are so grateful to have all this time here. I remember reading about that slide in our travel book! We’ve walked by the palace but have not gone in yet. I know that sometimes on Sundays they have gatherings on the lawn there with hula and music. People bring their chairs and hang out.
DeleteIt does feel good to know that the locals felt it was a hotel they could approve of. It would feel strange to see their town be built up into a tourist area over time. It was so fun to read the article about the opening ceremonies. That was a great find! Aunt Helen also sent a postcard with the date of 1968. So fun that we happen to be here 50 years later!