Day 1
Check into Hapuna Beach Price Hotel and kick open the balcony doors. All 350 rooms face the beach; so there’s not a bad view to be had. Plus, if you find yourself here come winter time, you’ll be treated to the rhythmic sound of pounding waves throughout your stay. (It’s a bit more breezy during this time of year.)
Enjoy breakfast at Cafe Hapuna and explore the 1,839 acres of property the hotel shares with the legendary Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Needless to say, the 350-room, 61-suite hotel is spread out enough to not feel crowded. And it sits on the corner of one of the best beaches on the island, Hapuna Beach. Sink your tootsies into the white sands and, take your pick from a dip in the turquoise ocean or try the water sport of your choice. Or opt for a class. Hapuna offer yoga, tai chi, hawaiian quilting, hawaiian kite-making and hula (this legendary dance was born on the Big Island, after all).
“We try to keep people involved while they are here,” says Dan Conklin, director of sales for Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. “That way you feel like you’ve learned something instead of just vegging out.”
Day 2
When you’re ready to venture off property, consider visiting the vanilla bean factory or check out a bread factory nearby. Another idea to keep you busy: Boost your culinary cred by touring a farm. “We have lobster farms and abalone farms,” Conklin says. “We are putting in a shrimp farm soon.”
“The good thing about this island is that you can grown anything in volcanic soil,” says Conklin. “We have more than 200 types of fruits and vegetables grown locally. If you’re a real foodie, you’ll love it here.”
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
62-100 Kaunaoa Dr., Kohala Coast, HI, 96743
808/880-1111; 800-882-6060
www.princeresortshawaii.com