Situated on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, Kona Village Resort
exudes the simple life both in vacation plans and pace. While the
resort’s Family Packages deliver all-inclusive convenience to
today’s traveler, its laid-back attitude transports guests back to
a simpler time when Beach Boys, Hawaiian hospitality and gentle
weather created the easy life for all to enjoy.
Kona Village’s selection of three-, five- and seven-night family
plans each include three meals daily, on-property water activities,
daily children’s program, gift basket, bottle of cham-pagne and
line-art drawing of the guest cottage. Five-night stays also
include two colorful Hawaiian beach wraps, while seven-night
packages add on a choice of a 50-minute massage, one-hour tennis
lesson or sunset catamaran sail.
Priced from $1,545 for the three-night option, Family Packages
are available through Nov. 19 (excluding the periods of April 3-17,
the entire month of May and Sept. 7-30). The price is based on two
adults, double occupancy, with rates for additional children
sharing the cottage with their parents based upon their age. Age
details are detailed on the resort’s Web site.
Adding to the easy mood at Kona Village are the resort’s Beach
Boys. Guests spending a day with this team on Kahuwai Bay are taken
back to the era when Hawaii’s first truly famous Beach Boy, Duke
Kahanamoku, ruled the waves.
When Kona Village first opened nearly 74 years ago, among the
staff on hand that day were the Beach Boys. These were not the
“sign out for a towel” kind of Beach Boys. They were and still are
Beach Boys honoring the style of “The Duke” decades before. They
are considered lovers of Hawaii’s ocean, first and foremost. They
can read the waves, look at the clouds and predict the winds. And
they possess that intangible gift of aloha that is willingly and
humbly shared with guests.
“When I interview someone for the position of Beach Boy, I look
for personality, water abilities, ocean knowledge, someone who can
name the fish in our wa-ters, someone who can be charming but firm
when need be,” said Fred Duerr, general manager. “I think every one
of our Beach Boys fits that description perfectly. Our guests love
them all.”
Robert “Bubba” Rutledge has been at the resort for more than 20
years. “I’ve watched kids so small they couldn’t see over our
counter grow up and return with their own children,” Rutledge said.
“We are all ohana [family] here the guests, the employees, we get
to know one another and care about one another.”
John Tioni “TJ” Judd concurred. “I see the first-timers arrive,
so intense they’re wound up like an eight-day clock. Over a few
days, they begin to relax and slow down. By the time they leave,
they’re practically crying because they don’t want to go. But we
know we’ll see them again,” he said.
Also among the beach crew are Puaita Pulotu (beach captain),
Justin Dryer, Keith “Kito” Gracidis and the lone female Beach
“Boy,” April Strang.
Since the use of water sports equipment is included in every
guest’s stay, Kona Village Beach Boys get well acquainted with
those enjoying the marine preserve fronting the resort. They assist
guests boarding the resort’s glass bottom boat and provide all the
equipment necessary for snorkeling, kayaking, sailing and paddling.
If caught in the hot Hawaiian sun without a hat, guests may ask a
Beach Boy to quickly weave a coconut-frond hat for protection. Each
of Kona Village’s Beach Boys tempers this type of aloha with common
sense for the protection of guests. All have completed First
Responder safety training and are qualified to use the resort’s
heart defibrillator.
The Beach Boys touch of Old Hawaii today strengthens the
ambiance that makes Kona Village Resort such a unique taste of
Hawaii. As Bubba says, “We’re not really a hotel, we’re an
experience.”
The 82-acre Kona Village Resort features 125 thatched-roof
bungalows plus a full range of land and ocean recreation
options.
800-367-5290
www.konavillage.com
