Posts Tagged ‘hawaii life’

Tahiti the original Hawai’i

French Polynesia including the Society, Tuamotu and Marquesas islands are our favorite vacation destination. We are fortunate enough to have visited yearly for the last 10 years. Many of our friends and clients ask us why we would vacation in another tropical destination similar to where we live full time. The answer is, more of a good thing is a good thing!! Direct flights are available from Honolulu offering no jet lag as Tahiti is on the same time zone. Tahiti is in the southern hemisphere therefore the opposite season as Hawaii. Visiting in the summer offers winter whale watching opportunities in Tahiti. The various islands offer seclusion and lagoons filled with warm aqua waters and abundant sea life. Food delicacies are numerous and include one of our favorites, poison cru the Tahitian version of Hawaiian Poke or Ceviche found in many south and Central American countries and the Caribbean. For my many clients and friends that visit their Hawaii homes, couple it with a trip to Tahiti for the full Polynesian experience. ...

Dawn Patrol-Mauna Lani Resort

Lissette and I run/walk a very scenic, 6 mile route daily at sunrise within the Mauna Lani Resort and along the shoreline including circling the fish ponds ponds at Kalahuipua’a, and the shorelines at Honoka'ope and Makaiwa Bay. It’s an incredible start to the day currently filled with snow capped volcanoes, hump back whales breaching, big waves and the ever present and plentiful bird population. Migratory Koleas are numerous now displaying their “just arrived” light feathered plumage which changes to a dark “tuxedo” as they prepare to head back to Alaska and beyond in the spring. The seven fish ponds that are named Kalahuipua'a, Kahinawao, Waipuhi, Waipuhi Iki, Hope'ala, Milokukahi and Manoku—most were used by ancient Hawaiians to raise fish and supplement their ocean fishing efforts. The ponds are stocked, and the schools of mullet and awa are moved from pond to pond to feed in different stages of development. Mauna Lani has also planted a variety of ancient Hawaiian plants in an effort to return the ponds to...

Winter at Mauna Kea Summit January 2017

On a recent Saturday afternoon Lissette and I decided to drive to the Mauna Kea Summit located at 13,800’ above sea level to check out the snow conditions and watch sunset. It’s a 1:15 minute drive straight up hill from our home at sea level along the Kohala Coast and totally worth it for the incredible vistas to our side of the island and beyond. We were greeted by snow covered, lava cones and an ethereal vista filled with wispy clouds and cold blasts of 25 degree dry air. We are truly blessed to be able to drive to the tallest mountain in the world located in our own “back yard” on a whim:) Let us know if you would like to consider owning Big Island property in the future where experiences like this are frequent and plentiful! Click here to search our website for your piece of paradise!

Merry Christmas — Mele Kalikimaka — from the Oliver’s to you and your family!

Wishing everyone the best of Season’s Greetings including a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a great New Year celebration. Lissette and I are thankful, hopeful and prayerful especially this time of year for all of our friends, family and clients all over the world. We are thankful for the blessings of 2016 and know 2017 will be one of the best years ever for all of us! God Bless you all and many thanks for your friendship and support!

Winter has arrived on the Big Island!!

Snow fell on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa over the last few nights signaling the whales are soon to arrive from their seasonal journey from Alaska. Big waves are heading this way this afternoon-another sign that winter has arrived on the Big Island!  Surf or ski?  All possible this time of year if you dare to travel to 14,000’ and avoid the exposed rocks and un groomed conditions.  Surfing conditions can be the same relative to exposed rocks, coral and un groomed conditions but that’s the fun of it-for sure!  Come join us for great weather and the best of all that the Big Island has to offer this winter and possibly stay a while to preview our many resort properties for a longer visit:)  Call me to discuss!!

Dining and Shopping

It’s simply a food-lover’s paradise out here on the Kohala Coast, with restaurants offering everything from traditional cuisine, local luau fare, and fresh Japanese sushi. You’ll definitely enjoy taking your pick from the top-rated dining options in the area. Pueo’s Osteria is one spot many diners definitely recommend. It’s wonderful Italian food is made even better by the fresh local products they always use. With generous portions and reasonable prices, it’s definitely worth a drive from to Waikoloa Village from the area resorts. Their smoked mashed potatoes with ahi is a definite must-have. Brown's Beach House Restaurant is an excellent cosmopolitan restaurant in the Fairmont Orchid complex, located in the Mauna Lani Resort. The menu might look pricey, but the restaurant’s excellent quality and service more than give you value for your money. Enjoy a quiet dinner right on the ocean with fantastic view and sunsets. The romantic setting and relaxing ambience is best served with a side of their famous dessert, th...

Water Activities

Water is arguably the cure for everything, and on the Kohala Coast, you’ll be inclined to agree, as one never runs out of ways to fall in love with the ocean. You can go swimming with wild dolphins off the coast. It’s a dolphin adventure like no other, allowing you to see these magnificent creatures in their natural element. Adventure X Boat Tours is the most popular choice by far, if you want to enjoy an outstanding adventure with knowledgeable hosts. An equally amazing experience is to spot majestic whales breaking the ocean surface. Ocean Sports Whale Watch Adventures provides customers an experienced crew of captains that have been described as “informative, friendly, and funny,” who make sure to entertain and educate guests on these magnificent sea creatures. They all make sure everyone has a comfortable and relaxing experience on board. With support from a capable crew, whale watching is something that families with small children will enjoy. The Kohala Coast is an ideal spot for all kinds of scuba and snor...

Top 10 Attractions

Hapuna Beach and Waialea Beach Hapuna and Waialea have consistently been scoring at the top of many travelers’ lists for years. Immaculate restrooms, and outdoor showers are available for guests looking to enjoy surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and so on at these beautiful spots. Boat Tours Head out into the ocean and get a chance to see some of the ocean’s most majestic residents up close and personal. There’s dolphin and whale watching for families, and even glass-bottomed boats, so you can check out what’s under the sea from a comfortable (and dry) vantage point. Puako Bay If you want a sense of old Hawaii, take a walk the shore  Puako Bay, Black Sand Beach A special corner of the world, this beach has amazingly clear water for snorkeling and abundant varieties of fish. Genesis Gallery As the top-rated gallery in the area, this gallery allows you to soak in all the wonderful stories in its art and artifacts. It’s also easy to mingle with local painters, glass artists, and jewelry artists....

Living Along the Kohala Coast

Home to the island’s finest resorts, the Big Island’s Kohala Coast is the perfect setting for the ultimate beachgoer’s lifestyle while offering the luxurious benefits that any exclusive resort guest expects. Here, world-class resorts dot the dramatic lava landscape and the views are nothing short of spectacular. If you’re looking for the finest beaches on the island, this is where you’ll find them. This slice of coast also enjoys sunny weather virtually year-round. With less then nine inches of rainfall annually, one can definitely experience the landscape at a leisurely pace. Go just a little bit north and you’ll gaze upon some of the most treasured spectacles on the Big Island – majestic sea cliffs that provide a dramatic vantage point of the ocean and the broad slopes of the island’s volcanoes in the distance. Attractions Amidst the beaches, the lush greens of the courses, and the lava outcroppings, one can spot the remains of ancient Hawaiian culture standing as modern day sentinels. Here, the centuries-old ...