Heading for the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii? Here's Some Great Ideas

Kalei Naone, the concierge at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, is a transplant from the island of Oahu, where she grew up when Hawaii was still considered 'country living.' She has some great suggestions for what to see and do on her adopted Big Island of Hawaii.

(Kalei Naone, the concierge at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, has some neat suggestions about what to do and see on the Big Island of Hawaii)

Best places to . . .

Stroll and Shop: Kick off your shoes and stroll along the 2.9 miles of shoreline fronting Mauna Lani Resort. Stroll along white sandy beaches and pebbly coves. View the crystal blue Pacific gently lapping at the shoreline as the palms sway in the breeze.

As the sun gently slips over the horizon, you can watch the skies come alive with a plethora of twinkling constellations. The outdoor natural beauty of a tranquil sunset is the perfect ending to a magical day on the Big Island of Hawaii. Shopping can wait until another day.

(An striking aerial view of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows)

Best Coffee Place: A visit to Greenwell Farms is a must when you visit the Big Island. The Greenwell Farms legacy began in 1850 when Henry Nicholas Greenwell left England and first set foot on the fertile soil of rural Kona.

Discover the history of Kona Coffee as you tour this historic family estate. View the wide variety of coffee growing on the slopes in Kealakekua, and witness the many steps involved in creating the perfect cup of coffee - from the growing, harvesting, picking, drying, roasting and most importantly the tasting process. Greenwell Farms is also a great place to shop as they offer an abundance of freshly roasted coffee you can take home to friends and family.

Most Unusual Place: Volcanoes National Park - Discover the results of 70 million years of volcanism and evolution -- processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems. The park encompasses diverse environments from sea level to the summit of the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Kilauea, the world's most active volcano has been active since January 1983 and is a site that leaves visitors in awe.

Over half of the park is a wilderness filled with miles of hiking trails. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has been honored as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

(Stay in relaxed comfort at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows)

Best Bar & People Watching: Ocean Grill Nestled between the pool and the beach at Mauna Lani this scenic location offers a great watering hole and a vantage for people watching. Sit back, relax and sip a tropical "Lava Flow", (a Pina Colada with a blend of fresh strawberries). If people watching is what you're looking for you won't be disappointed.

Folks from around the world can be seen relaxing in cabanas, swaying in hammocks or catching a dip in the pool. Nearby under the shade of a Milo Tree, (if your timing is right), you might be witness to a romantic wedding...Hawaiian style.

Best Restaurant: The CanoeHouse Located oceanfront at sea level this award-winning dinner venue features creative delectable cuisine. Chef Jon Matsubara uses fresh Island products that are at the peak of their season and bursting with flavor. He creates a symphony of delicate tastes and textures in his seasonal Pacific Regional cuisine.

The CanoeHouse staff shares their gracious aloha with you as they attend to every detail to ensure you have a memorable dining experience. Spectacular Kohala Coast sunsets and starlit skies set the backdrop for the CanoeHouse experience.

Best Family Restaurant: The Gallery at the Golf Clubhouse. The extensive array of chophouse style cuisine at the Gallery features something for everyone in the family. A keiki, kid's menu, has home time favorites like chicken nuggets and PB&J along with Oreo crunch desserts, while parents will enjoy the aromatic flavors of fresh fish and steak. The casual open-air ambiance offers views of emerald green fairways and the scenic Kohala coastline.

Best Museum: Eva Parker Woods Cottage and Historic Tour "Visitors always have rave reviews after visiting the cottage and joining in on the Historic Tour", says Kalei, one of Mauna Lani's friendly concierge. The cottage has a collection of Hawaiian artifacts discovered at Kalahuipua'a, home of Mauna Lani Resort.

(The atrium at the Mauna Lani is a comforting combination of water and foliage)

But it's the outdoor natural museum that people really enjoy. Guest's learn about the history of the Islands through the narration of our Hawaiian Historian, Danny Akaka. He shares his knowledge with visitors as they stroll through petroglyph fields and ancient fishponds.

Best Park: Holoholokai Petroglyph Park This park is truly unique with a rocky shoreline; a salt and pepper mix of black lava and smooth white coral. Bring a picnic lunch and relax on a shaded grassy area or have a barbecue on one of the open-air grills. Outdoor showers keep you cool and refreshed.

A favorite of youngsters are the shoreline tide pools teeming with tropical fish. What makes Holoholokai a special place is the adjacent Puako Petroglyph Field and Malama Trail. This archeological field has over 3,000 ancient Hawaiian carvings and is one of the largest collections in the state.

The rock etchings are scattered throughout an old pahoehoe lava flow. At the entrance to the trail there are man made casting of the petroglyphs, so visitors can make art rubbings of the Hawaiian carvings without damaging these ancient treasures. A day at Holoholokai Park - don't miss it.

E-mail concierge@maunalani.com to learn more.

ABOUT KALEI NAONE

Kalei is a transplant from the island of Oahu, where she grew up when Hawaii was still considered 'country living'. From an early age she displayed a passion for Hawaiian Culture. All through her youth she would pay strict attention to all things Hawaiian and absorb all that her parents and Kupuna (elders) had to offer.

She was called back to Oahu to help her family so she took on two jobs and continued part-time at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her day job was as a teaching assistant at her old alma mater, Pearl City High School, teaching Hawaiian Language & Studies to the keiki (children) of Hawaii. Her night job was a graveyard front desk clerk at a Waikiki hotel. After 14 years of teaching Hawaiiana by day and correcting papers by night, she finally graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in Hawaiian Studies.

To satisfy her love of the land and its culture, she returned to the Big Island, where the land was still unspoiled. Once there, she found a special place, Kalahuipua'a at the Mauna Lani Resort and she joined the concierge team at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows to continue her teachings.

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