Arrival at Mauna Kea Resort, Welcome Practice + Dinner

We will take it easy the first day, allowing everyone to arrive and settle into our beautiful new surroundings at Mauna Kea Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island (just 1 hour from the Koan Airport).

A beloved resort since it opened in 1965, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was founded by noted conservationistLaurance S. Rockefeller, who spotted the perfect white sand crescent of Kauna‘oa Bay and visualized an elegant, luxury resort that reflected the spirit of that incredible location. The resulting Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – Hawaii Island’s first resort – has, ever since, provided its guests with a perfect mix of exceptional golf, tennis, ocean and cultural activities as well as serene and luxurious relaxation.

We will meet for a brief, but nourishing stretch practice and welcome followed by a beautiful Ocean front dinner together at The Resort.

Pololu Valley Hike + Lunch + Browsing in Hawi

Morning Practice, 1/2 Day Adventure

The Pololu Valley forms a deep cut in Kohala Mountain, around 300 feet deep near the lookout. The secluded nature of this area make it a favorite among hiking enthusiasts.You should expect incredible views, steep terrain, switchbacks, rugged trails, and slippery lava rocks along this hike. It’s about a quarter of a mile to the beach and it takes around 20 minutes to hike down, depending on your hiking ability and fitness level.

We will spend a few hours browsing the peaceful haven of Hāwī, North Kohala's quaint little town, best known as the bicycle turnaround for the annual IRONMAN™ World Championship held every October. This historic town, set in the green northern tip of the island, was once the busy hub of North Kohala’s now defunct sugar industry.Today, Hāwī is home to a handful of charming art galleries, boutiques and restaurants set in colorful and lively plantation buildings. You’ll find everything here from handmade jewelry and crafts to homemade fudge and 100% Kona coffee. The Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery was once voted best restaurant on island of Hawaiʻi and is a great stop for a fresh island style meal.

Bake Shop, Sea Turtles, Volcano National Parks, Kilauea Dinner

Punaluʻu Bake Shop Next stop: the southernmost bakery in the U.S.! You arrive at the quaint and colorful roadside bakery, ready to see and taste some of the most delicious baked goods Hawaiʻi has to offer.

Bakers buzz around as locals and travelers alike peer into the glass cases, pointing at Hawaiian sweetbreads and Portuguese-inspired malasadas — both of which your guide will have pre-ordered for you so you can skip the line. The luscious grounds are the perfect setting for this mid-morning snack. Time permitting, grab extra baked goods for our next stop to a black sand beach (own expense).

Appreciate the majestic sea turtles: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach You can feel all your troubles and stress melt away as you arrive at this unique beach where the black sand provides a striking contrast to the turquoise waters of the Pacific. Breathe in the salty air mixed with the tropical flora and get lost in the rhythmic and soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline.

Read more

Papakōlea Beach Hike

Green sand beach round trip mileage: 5.5 miles elevation gain: 275 feet

Papakōlea beach is a geologic oddity among few in the world. It means 'plover flats,' after the Pacific golden plover. This hike travels to a green sand beach located in a bay cut into a side of Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone that erupted about 50,000 years ago. The green sand is created by a common mineral in Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other components of the lava.

Hula Class at Volcano Art Center + Evening Luau

After our Morning Practice, we will travel to Volcano Art Center Gallery is located in the historic 1877 Volcano House Hotel in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and operates under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. Centered at Kilauea, home to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, of creativity, of Fire, Volcano Art Center Gallery has been a mecca for visual artists since 1974. Here, we will learn the Native Chant to The Goddess and practice The Sacred Art of Hulu!

After our adventure at Volcano Arts Center we will head back to The Resort (with some time to spare) to have our final Dinner Luau Style! With spectacular food, steel guitars, hula dancing, and even a fire dance, the Mauna Kea Luau is a “ The Best Luau Experience on The Big Island” .