Go Visit Hawaii

After spending four nights at the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay, I hope to have the opportunity to return again someday. The resort has so much potential if they could only improve some service issues it could truly become top notch and live up to its five-star rating.

The Location
The resort’s location on Lanai’s remote, south shore makes the resort very special. It feels secluded and swank. The resort is perched on a bit of a cliff over looking the marine preserve of Hulopoe Bay where pods of spinner dolphins frequently visit and one of Lanai’s more famous landmarks, Puupehe (sweetheart rock). The scenery will not disappoint.

The Resort Grounds
The resort grounds are beautiful. Guest rooms were scattered among nine different buildings. (See this photo to get a better idea of how the resort is configured.) The guest room buildings were only two stories high and seemed to blend into the landscape as you can see from the above photo. Between each building were beautiful Oriental and Hawaiian themed gardens. Our room was located in one of the buildings that was furthermost from the lobby, but we didn’t mind the walk as we enjoyed the antique art and gardens scattered through out the resort. (Our walk to the lobby took less than five minutes.)

The pool was nice, but rather small for the size of the resort. I liked that there was an abundance of umbrellas at the pool and down by the beach. Occasionally pool staff would bring pineapple bits, cold lemonade and towels. The beach staff set up chairs and umbrellas and provided snorkel equipment.

Though we didn’t play any golf, we heard nothing but wonderful things about the golf course from other guests. We had lunch at the golf course club house and the view was amazing. We wished that they served dinner there.

In addition to the golf course, to keep in shape, the resort has tennis courts, a fitness center with a beautiful view of Hulopoe Bay, and hiking trails.

We had considered getting a massage at the spa, but when we saw the entrance to the spa, it didn’t seem inviting or special. The spa is located in the ground level of the lobby building. It seemed cramped and it didn’t offer any views.

The Rooms
Guest rooms are quite spacious. The bed was very comfortable with quality linens. All the mattresses were being replaced in September 2007. The marble baths had double sinks, a tub and and separate shower. We had a mini-bar that could be customized at check in. Each room has a lanai, but we didn’t spend much time there unfortunately because the furniture wasn’t that comfortable and design of the lanai prevented air circulation, so it was uncomfortably hot to sit there for long.

One big disappointment to us is that we booked a partial ocean front room. With a special offer we found, we could be upgraded if upgrades were available. We were supposedly upgraded to a ocean front room, however the primary view we had was of another guest wing. When we sat on the bed or in the club chair, our view was completely of the other guest building. We had to keep our shutters pulled the majority of the time. So beware if you are booking an ocean front room, it may not be what you’re expecting.

We had also clearly requested a second level room. We even called the hotel directly the day before arrival to confirm our reservation and request for a second level room. We were there the second week of September during a slower time, so the rooms should have been available. We were disappointed that our request was never acknowledged at check-in. We were so exhausted and jet lagged that we didn’t have the energy to complain.

The Restaurants
The only restaurants in the area are located on the resort grounds. You can take a shuttle into Lanai City or over to the Four Seasons Resort at Koele for other options. Because of our brief stay, we ate all our meals at the resort. (Here is a link to the dining facilities.) Due to the limited dining options and how remote the resort is, the cost of meals was a bit on the expensive side.

We very much enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Hulopoe Court. We aren’t normally fans of buffets, but this one impressed us very much. It was so clean and spacious. Several options changed daily so that you don’t get bored.

We also had dinner at Hulopoe Court. We had a lovely table overlooking on the open air terrace overlooking the bay. Everything we ordered was outstanding. The service was very attentive.

We had lunch and dinner at the Ocean Grill. The grill is located by the pool and and pool bar. The outdoor tables offered views of Hulopoe Bay. We had good lunch service, however the dinner service we experienced was not up to IHOP standards let alone Four Seasons standards. After we finished with our entrees, we waited for at least 20 minutes with our dirty plates sitting in front of us and empty beverage glasses while our waitress chatted with friends. No other wait staff seemed to care. Eventually a bar manager recognized our frustration and asked if he could offer any help. He insisted that we have a free desert, which was a kind gesture, but our dining experience for that evening was already ruined.

The Service
At times, service was tremendous. At other times, it was a big disappointment.

Turndown service was inconsistent. We only received turndown service one night of the three nights we wanted it. (Note: we made sure that the do not disturb indicator was not on the door when we wanted the service. We even left tips each time.)

Another significant service issue came from the concierge. She called and woke us up the night of arrival (and our jet lag) to tell us they had just tried to deliver a confirmation letter to our room, but we had a do not disturb sign on the door. Uh, hello! There was a reason the do not disturb sign was on the door! The concierge realized her error and apologized, but our slept was interrupted.

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So, that’s my review of the resort. As you can tell, there were some outstanding aspects along with some fairly significant disappointments. Would I return there? Absolutely, but only if I find a good deal or until I can determine that service issues have been resolved.

I’ll add more thoughts on Lanai and getting around in the upcoming weeks. For other opinions, see what TripAdvisor members are saying about this resort.

If you happen to be on Maui this week, take a drive west to the beautiful resort of Kapalua. When you see the resort on your left, keep going straight for another half mile and you’ll see a right turn for The Plantation Course. If you’re lucky, you might catch Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, or Mark Calcavecchia warming up for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship–the prestigious annual golf event–made up of golf’s 2007 tour champions–takes place December 31st 2007 to January 6th 2008.

Monday and Tuesday are golf professional practice days, with Wednesday reserved for a Pro-Am golf tournament. The Mercedes Championship first round is on Thursday, with golf’s champion of champions crowned on Sunday. For $225 per person, The Plantation Course will let you view the golfing action from the exclusive The Lookout over Honolua Bay seating area. Perched behind the 11th tee with panoramic views of the 11th tee and green, 10th green, 14th tee and the spectacular backdrop of Honolua Bay, this seating area is limited to 250 spectators.

If you’re not able to get a ticket or aren’t lucky enough to be on Maui this week, don’t get too upset. You too can play The Plantation Golf Course–you just have to wait until the pro golfers are done. Once they’ve celebrated and packed their bags, you can book your own tee-time and enjoy one of the finest golf courses in Maui–and all of Hawaii. The Plantation Course is beautiful and, as the photo opposite shows, has stunning views. It’s certainly a challenging golf course, but even a hacker like me enjoyed playing it. There’s nothing like teeing off at the 18th, and watching your ball roll 100 yards after it makes contact with the fairway–assuming it makes contact with the fairway. You then get to take a slow walk to the green and pretend you’re Tiger Woods–priceless!

The Plantation Course’s green fees will set you back $295 for a full 18–$200 if you’re a registered guest of the Kapalua Resort. For a bargain rate of $150 you can play the course in the afternoon using the special “Twilight” rate. A little cheaper, but just as nice, is the Bay Course–a sister golf course in Kapalua.

When you’re done playing golf, be sure to head to the fantastic Plantation House restaurant for a meal. While the Plantation House is spectacular for a sunset dinner, their lunches are just as delicious, and you might even spot a whale or two in the distance.

Whether you can make the Mercedes-Benz Golf Championship, get a chance to play some golf yourself, or simply grab lunch at the Plantation House, be sure not to miss this gorgeous slice of Maui paradise!

If you are going to be in Hawaii over the New Year holiday, you may want to learn this phrase:

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou

It means Happy New Year and it is pronounced “how-oh-lay ma-ka-hee-key ho”.

If you’re going to be on Oahu to welcome in 2009, you’ll find ideas of where to see fireworks and find new year’s eve events in Waikiki and Honolulu.

As 2009 nears, I’d like to be among the first to wish you Hau ‘oli Makahiki Hou!

Update - if you are looking for 2008 Waikiki and Honolulu New Year’s Eve Events to ring in 2009, click the link for all the details.

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You’ll find the biggest Hawaii New Years Eve celebrations on Oahu in Honolulu. Follow this link for a complete listing of what’s going on for New Years Eve in Waikiki and Honolulu.

Waikiki will put on their fireworks extravaganza at midnight. The fireworks show sounds absolutely amazing! Here’s how the Waikiki Improvement Association describes fireworks plans:

At five minutes before midnight, we will fire one announcement salute every minute until one minute before midnight. Then we will fire one salute at 60 seconds, one at 45 seconds, one at 30 seconds, one at 20 seconds, followed by a 10-second countdown with
one every second.

At midnight a rousing rapid-fired New Years crescendo will unfold to the jazzy version of Auld Lang Syne. The entire show will exceed 300 shells! This opening will surely mark the end of 2007 and be a fitting beginning of 2008!

The show will transition from the New Years finale to an eight-minute display of the finest and most unique fireworks effects ever seen in the great state of Hawaii. “Palm trees,” “coconut trees,” “rings,” “strobes,” “flitters,” colorful “falling leaves” and a great “brocade willow” scene will be just a sampling of the variety.

As the tempo increases leading to the conclusion of the show, another rousing rapid firing of “gold willows” supported by the thunderous repercussion of the brilliant “flash salutes” will unfold to display a grand finale.

Who wants to watch an apple drop in freezing temperatures in Times Square when you can see an awesome fireworks display in the warmth of Waikiki? Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!

Here’s something to exercise your brain on the day after Christmas.  Take a look at this photo and guess which island I’m standing on and which island is off in the distance.  Please leave your guesses in the comments just for fun.

What does Santa do to prepare for his big night?  He goes to Waikiki to relax, of course.  My friend Dave Zuls of Hawaii Online Advertising ran into Santa yesterday at Waikiki Beach.  He reported that Santa was very popular with the bikini clad crowd. Dave says, “No wonder Santa’s so jolly.” :) Dave was able to capture this photo of Santa with a Mai Tai in one hand and doing the shaka with the other.  Many thanks, Dave, for sharing the photo with us!

The trend of volunteering on vacation continues to gain interest. Maui, in particular, seems to have quite a few ongoing volunteer organized projects in Hawaii.  You can help restore ancient Hawaiian fishponds, remove invasive plant species, and clean up beaches among other worthy environmental efforts. 

Take a look at the useful volunteer on vacation projects that the Pacific Whale Foundation organizes.  For your hard work, not only will you receive the satisfaction of making a difference plus you’ll also receive:

• A free “Volunteering on Vacation” T-shirt
• Learn about the history and environment of beautiful natural areas
• Meet local experts and other visitors who care about the environment
• Pay no fees or admission charges

If you’re digging out of snow, maybe these airfare and hotel deals to Hawaii will warm your heart.

Hawaiian Airlines New Year’s Pricing
Roundtrip fares start as low as $290 from Los Angeles to Honolulu.  The special new year’s pricing is valid for travel from January 7th through March 14th.  You must book between now and January 4th.  For more information and to check fares from your city, click here. 

Kaanapali Beach Hotel Whale Encounter Package
As you know, winter is humpback whale season in Hawaii. Kaanapali Beach offers a prime viewing spot from Maui.  The Kaanapali Beach Hotel has a January special called the Whale Encounter.  For $750 per person based on double occupancy, you’ll get:

• 5 nights Partial Ocean View accommodation
• Compact rental car
• Daily buffet breakfast
• One dinner at the Tiki Terrace Restaurant
• A Whale-watching cruise
• Admission to Maui Ocean Center
• Two Hawaiian beach towels
• Logo cooler bag and a disposable camera
• Two bottles of water per day

The nene (pronounced naynay) is a special bird to Hawaii. For starters, it’s an endangered species. It is also Hawaii’s state bird. Coffeetimes.com shares some interesting characteristics of this Hawaiian goose.

Nene breed in the Fall and Winter. The female incubates 1-5 eggs for 30 days while her often life-long partner watches guard. After hatching, the goslings won’t fledge for another 2 1/2 to 3 months. This is also the time that the adults replace their feathers and are temporarily flightless. It is the most vulnerable time for the nene as a flock. After this vulnerable period the nene can reach the age of 25, perhaps older, if allowed.

When you’re in Hawaii, the best places to see a nene in the wild are in the national and state parks. Hawaii Volcanoes Park on the Big Island and Haleakala National Park on Maui are common habitats for the nene. If you see roadside signs for the nene, please take extra precautions and keep within speed limits.

Photo credit to D. Knisley via flickr.

I see and hear that question quite a bit. I think each person needs to choose what fits best with them. In general, if you want to be stress-free and don’t mind being in a crowd, then opt for the shore excursion. If you want a bit more adventure and privacy, then opt to do your own thing.

To help you make your decision, I’ve listed the pros and cons of booking excursions with the cruise line. Of course, you can assume the opposite applies for touring on your own.

Pros of Booking Packaged Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

• The tour will be perfectly timed with the cruise ship’s schedule, so you won’t miss your ship.
• You don’t have to do any researching.
• You don’t have to do any navigating and driving. You’re on vacation and along for the ride.
• You will have the benefit of a tour guide who provides the history and background of the significant spots.

Cons of Booking Packaged Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

• You’re sharing your visit to Hawaii with a bus load of people.
• You don’t have any freedom to stop for views and photos that catch your eye along the road. (Trust me, you will regret missing those opportunities.)
• You must keep to the tour schedule.
• You will pay more for excursions compared with the cost of renting a car and creating your own custom sight-seeing plan. For less than $50 you can rent a car for your entire family. Most shore excursions cost more than $50 per person.

Of course you are free to mix and match packaged shore excursions on the various islands. For example, you can take a packaged tour on Maui, but rent a car on Kauai.

If you are interested in renting a car on shore, Dollar Rent A Car has a presence on all the Hawaiian islands. At most of ports of call, you can arrange to have a free shuttle meet you at the harbor dock and take you to the rental car office. Hertz and Enterprise are two others that have free shuttle service from most ports of call. It is best to call and check for the most current offerings and daily rates.

MSN Travel and Pauline Frommer have also touched on the subject of whether to opt for the cruise ships’s excursion or not. I think Pauline gives some good advice of what cruisers should see and do on shore in Hawaii. Though on Kauai, I’d definitely suggest going to Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks instead of the botanical gardens. At Hilo, Pauline suggests going to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which I certainly agree with that suggestion. Though she mentions that you’ll see “plumes of steam greet you from where the molten rock is sizzling in to the Pacific.” Since June, the lava has not been flowing to the ocean. Lava flows are fairly unpredictable, so it is best to check with the official Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory for the most up to date lava flow activity.

If you decide that you’d like to plan your own shore excursions, then you will find some of the best picks of budget friend activities to do on each Hawaiian Island here.

Have you cruised to Hawaii? Did you opt for packaged tours or doing your own thing? What was your experience? Please share your comments.

Photo credit to TwoBrowns Photo Files on flickr.