Staying in a 2 bedroom Kohala Suites Waikoloa in January

[VegasBella]

My mom and I had such a great time on the Big Island last year that we are going back for her 80th birthday. This time it's going to be a girls trip with my sister and her daughter. We plan to stay at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Kohala Suites Waikoloa that I booked through RCI. It's a 2 bedroom so I think my mom and I will share the room with two beds so we each get a bed and my sister and her daughter will share the king bed.

Anything we should know about Kohala Suites? Am I correct in understanding we can use the amenities at Hilton Waikoloa Village like the pools and lagoon without a day pass?

So far we plan to visit Volcanoes national park again, do some farm tours again, do the evening manta ray snorkeling maybe (I would really like to do that but not sure others want to), obviously do some beach time and pool time, maybe a hike or two... not sure exactly what else.
Do you have any suggestions for our trip? We will have ages 8-80 and we are all vegetarian or vegan so please no dining suggestions that won't accommodate us. Thanks!

 

[mcdanielpj]

Yes, you can use the amenities at the HWV. Go to the HWV pool recreation desk at the Kona pool next to the ice cream place and give them your last name and room number. They will give you a key for the towel kiosk and also wrist bands. For some down time, the middle pool at the Bay Club is very quiet except on weekends. My vegan son liked the options at KTA in Waikoloa Village.

 

[VegasBella]

PS for anyone who finds this when searching Kohala Suites... I emailed them about their "grocery delivery service" listed as an amenity on their website. Here is the response I received:

Aloha

Thank you for your inquiry. Sorry that info is in error about delivery service through Kohala Suites. However, there are the two grocery stores nearby that may still offer delivery.

--Island Gourmet Market (which is under the ABC umbrella) https://www.islandgourmethawaii.com/waikoloa/ 808.886.3577

--Foodland Farms https://foodland.com/stores/foodland-farms-mauna-lani-kamuela/ (808) 887-6101

There are also the bigger stores in Kailua-Kona (Wal-Mart and Target) that may have delivery through Instacart or the like.

We suggest that you contact them directly to inquire about their available services….

Hope that helps.

Mahalo

 

[ScoopKona]

PS for anyone who finds this when searching Kohala Suites... I emailed them about their "grocery delivery service" listed as an amenity on their website. Here is the response I received:

The two stores which are going to work with your vegan party are Island Naturals in Kailua-Kona and Farm House in Kainaliu. Farm House doesn't have the selection that Island Naturals has. But what it does have is going to be half price or less compared to Island Naturals, which is the most ridiculously-overpriced market on an island full of overpriced markets.

I would go to Kainaliu first, then the KTA in Keauhou, (which is the nicest KTA on the island) and then finally Island Naturals for anything you couldn't find at Farm House or KTA.

 

[VegasBella]

Thanks for the tip to go to KTA in Keauhou. We might do that.
I'm generally fine with grocery shopping. We have been to the Big Island before and did fine with groceries. I can shop at any grocery store and be fine, it's really not a big deal.
I just asked about the grocery delivery service because I thought it might be convenient, but there isn't one anymore. But if there is a wider selection at that KTA and better prices then it could make sense for us to go there.

The restaurants are a bigger issue, especially when traveling with children because they're more picky. That's ok, we can pack sack lunches for outings. One of the reasons my family got into timesharing is for the kitchens. It really makes traveling so much easier for us.

 

[mountainboy]

*May add there is a KTA in Waikoloa, about 15 minutes away from Kohala Suites, if you need to get something, after the initial grocery haul.
Their Papayas, bananas & greens were excellent & very reasonable (fresh, beautiful celery was 1.29/lb; fresh, healthy lettuce was 1.39/lb) etc...
Also pls see @ScoopKona's other recs at another thread re local farmer's markets (including in Waimea for Saturdays etc); nice drive to the upcountry & excellent produce (& local eats/food trucks etc).
Have an awesome trip with your loved ones!
Mahalo!

 

[ScoopKona]

The restaurants are a bigger issue, especially when traveling with children because they're more picky. That's ok, we can pack sack lunches for outings. One of the reasons my family got into timesharing is for the kitchens. It really makes traveling so much easier for us.

Food delivery is fraught with peril. "Couldn't find the items. Couldn't find you. Bought a pizza instead." Etc.

As for restaurants, there are so many vegetarians here that only "Howlin' Howlie's House of Pork" isn't going to have something on their menu. Unfortunately, that something was probably processed in Milwaukee and then arrived on a barge.

Finding local food isn't easy (except at the Kainaliu grocery store, farms and the real farmers markets). You can google "[food I like] farm Big Island" and you'll likely get a few useful results.