Perfect Hawaiian Vacations For Families

by Staff Report

I just earned some major points with my family, not to mention the most uniquely special memories that we will never forget. I had the very good fortune to take my loved ones on a trip to Hawaii, and it is truly the exquisite paradise they say it is.

Our first stop was Hawaii's premier golf resort hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. Surrounded by three courses (heaven for me), a historic pineapple plantation, and three diverse beaches, this 548-room hotel and resort offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the island of Moloka'i.

My family and I were greeted with fresh flower lei, tropical fruit punch and chilled oshibori towels presented by extraordinarily polite hotel personnel. Once settled in our beautifully spacious room, we could barely change fast enough to get us all down to the pool.

Wow! A 10,000-square-foot three-tiered swimming pool and two outdoor whirlpool spas? My kids could easily live here. The Pool Bar & Cafe has a wide assortment of delicious tropical drinks, smoothies, appetizers, sandwiches and salads to enjoy, and, twice daily, the pool servers present complimentary fresh Maui pineapple to guests. If you are lounging in the pool, the servers will actually enter the water fully dressed to serve you.

That night, we all slept very well. I have never woken up as rested as I was that next morning. The kids of course were already up, scouring the hotel brochures, and coming up with the family game plan. It was a tough decision. Recreational facilities include six tennis courts, a basketball court, nine-hole putting green, croquet and bocce ball lawn, shuffleboard and a secluded beach. And, the 7,000-square-foot fitness center and spa includes weight training and cardiovascular equipment, steam rooms and saunas, and a variety of spa treatments inspired by the beliefs of the ancient Hawaiians.

We opted first for some boogie boarding and made good use of the beach activity booth to grab some protective sunwear and rent our boogie boards. After an hour and a half on the boards, we decided to snorkel a bit in the crystal clear water before lunch.

After a sumptuous lunch at The Beach House Bar & Grill, we decided to give the kids some time to check out Hawaii's natural wonders in The Ritz Kids half-day recreation and education programs (full day also available) while my wife and I headed on over to the hotel spa. You've got to love the hotel shuttle service, a quick and easy way to get around to all the beaches, restaurants, shopping and golf courses within Kapalua Resort, (as well as the Kapalua West Maui airport).

My wife and I were thoroughly rejuvenated by the world-class service at the spa, and the kids were totally jazzed because they got to learn how the Hawaiian Islands were formed. They even got to make their own volcano! Okay, I was a little jealous, but I wouldn't trade that time with my wife for the world.

It turns out, the resort has weekly Kids Night Out programs, which include dinner and entertaining activities at the hotel. My wife gave me a knowing look, and I, knowing that look, announced that the kids should get to check out the Kids Night Out activities. They were thrilled, but, perhaps, not nearly as much as my wife and I. While the kids were having the time of their lives, my love and I spent our evening alone together, watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, and enjoying a cocktail at the hotel's Lobby Lounge.

Keep in mind that this was just the beginning of our adventure in the Hawaiian Islands. After an extra couple of days filled with shopping (my wife was in heaven), a round of golf, and plenty of family time in the pool, at the beach, and exploring the local culture, we didn't want to leave, but it was time to move on to our next destination:

The Kona Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii.

You must check out their website (www.konavillage.com) to begin to see the magical history of this location. Ka`upulehu, the area surrounding the resort, was once the site of an ancient fishing village. It is believed that ancient Hawaiians recorded important events about their society and beliefs in the smooth volcanic rock. These rock carvings are called petroglyphs. Great care has been taken to preserve the petroglyphs, which exhibit enough differences from other locales to suggest that this site was dedicated to special purposes, most likely subjects involving ancient rituals, myths and the status of royalty. I was hooked just by reading about them, but to see them on the specially built boardwalk and to learn about them from the local citizens, well, from a history buff standpoint, it was beyond fascinating. Fresh from their volcano making experience, my children were surprisingly into this part of our trip, allowing dear old dad to make this our first stop after settling in at the resort.

We stayed on the south side of the resort, a favorite of most families or couples who enjoy a more South Pacific environment. We definitely do, and enjoyed our ornate room and it's view of the beautiful garden outside. While we did indulge ourselves in the wide assortment of water activities at the resort, we spent just as much time exploring the area. The lagoon was particularly soothing as we walked along watching and hearing the birds and other wildlife. Not too many bugs, thankfully. Apparently, the water in the lagoon is what they call "brackish", which eliminates most of the mosquitoes and bugs.

The Kona Village dining experience is everything they promise it to be, emphasizing fresh island-grown vegetables and fish from local waters. We had Belgian waffles for breakfast at Hale Moana overlooking Kahuwai bay and enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch Al Fresco right next to the beach. We sampled each of the two oceanfront restaurants for dinner (Hale Moana & Hale Samoa) and had trouble deciding which we liked best, although my honey and I would definitely go back for a romantic evening at the more intimate Hale Samoa.

The absolute highlight of our trip to Kona Village is undoubtedly The Kona Village Resort's Legendary award winning `Aha`aina (Lu'au). The Lu`au at Kona Village Resort is the longest running lu`au on the Big Island, a tradition spanning almost 30 years. Following our `Aha`aina (feast), we watched their Polynesian revue, which features the hula (dances) of Hawai`i. Rhythmic oli (chants) and mele (songs) tell stories of the people, their land and the gods they served. The Samoan fire dance was particularly exciting." New Zealand's Maori warrior haka and the Tahitian tamure followed to complete an enormously entertaining evening.

There are places that you'd like to go on this Earth, and then there are places you just have to go. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui and The Kona Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii are two of those places. They each offer you a unique opportunity to reconnect with your loved ones in an inviting, tranquil, and absolutely fun-filled atmosphere, and, together, bring you right into the heart of one of our planet's most magical cultures. Make your decision now and plan to take your family on a trip that they will never forget, a trip that will re-energize not only their mind and body, but also their spirit.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui

One Ritz-Carlton Drive Kapalua, Hawaii 96761 USA

Telephone: (808) 669-6200 Facsimile: (808) 669-1566

For Reservations, dial (800) 241-3333 Or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/kapalua.

The Kona Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii

Mailing Address: PO Box 1299 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745

Physical Address: Queen Kaahumanu Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

Phone: 800-367-5290

808-325-5555

Facsimile: 808-325-5124

For more information: info@konavillage.com Or visit www.konavillage.com.