At Ko Olina

[GregT]

I'm weighing the superior view of Hale Moana versus the easier access to amenities/pools that is Hale Kona.

Okay, I spent a little bit of time thinking about this before we departed. At the end of the day, either property has advantages and disadvantages, and I have concluded I would be happy with either tower, and will request highest floor possible, either tower.

For reference, we are focused on these two towers because of the advantage of the sun room in these layouts -- Jack liked the room and stayed on a rollaway, converting any 2BR into a 3BR -- a huge opportunity. The Naia tower has advantages over both buildings and one day, I will view it as the primary building to request. Points users should consider this comment carefully, due to the ability to specifically reserve a 2BR Non-Lockoff.

So in considering the differences between Kona and Moana, the following came to mind:

1) Moana is "much" farther to our preferred pool, the Reflection Pool (formerly known as the Adult Pool). It is 3X the distance to RP that Kona tower is. However, I suspect that it is simply a matter of Kona being extremely close, whereas Moana is normal. For comparison, I liken it to Maui Ocean Club (Lahaina Villas) and the relative distance to the Lahaina Pool versus the Super Pool. Not a big deal.

2) Moana has much superior views to Kona, unless you are the lucky Kona visitor to be on the short-stacked stub that angles out, and is also above the tree line. Those rooms would be spectacular.

3) Kona has the ultimate View Opportunity for mountain view owners -- two rooms that are really ocean view -- I would have to think owners get those

4) Kona has much better access to registration desk and the marketplace. Not insignificant for those of us whose room keys always seem to be dead

5) Moana grills are superior to Kona grills. There is a sunset view opportunity and the walls are shorter. These second point may seem trivial, but it was huge for me. I bring alot of infrastructure to the grill (appetizers, speaker, wine, plates, etc) and there is no where to put it at Kona grills. The shorter walls at Moana provided needed real estate. This may matter only to me.

So advantages to either building. I will be happy in either one, and will simply request highest floor possible. Interestingly, I expect that to put me in Moana as I think Kona is a commonly requested building by owners, whereas I didn't meet a single person at the Moana grills who requested Moana. They liked it. But no one requested it. And many of them were exchangers. That was telling to me -- Kona tower was mostly owners, with some DC point people. Not a single exchanger. Moana had many of them.

This didn't surprise me, but I did find it interesting. This should also give TUGgers a Room Opportunity if we specifically request Moana. I think we will be high floor because most (owner) room requests will be favoring Naia and Kona, and anything 9th floor or higher in Moana will be spectacular. 6th/7th/8th floor still clear the tree line, but there was a difference as I got to the higher floors.

I apologize for the lengthy download, and hope I've not bored my TUGging friends.

Best,

Greg

 

[crf450x]

Lets set up at mIni tug meeting. I will be there and mjm so at least 3 of use. Anyone else going to be here?

I will be at MKO 6/6/16-6/10/16 with the few days before at aulani and the week before that from the big island. Then we head to maui afterwards.

A mini tug get together sounds nice.

 

[frank808]

I will be at MKO 6/6/16-6/10/16 with the few days before at aulani and the week before that from the big island. Then we head to maui afterwards.

A mini tug get together sounds nice.

Sounds great! We have silentg,mjm,cfr450x and frank808 so far. Anyone else is going to be at mko in early june just post up. Anyone have a preffered date and time? I prefer evenings after 8 as that is the time i am usually here.

 

[crf450x]

Sounds great! We have silentg,mjm,cfr450x and frank808 so far. Anyone else is going to be at mko in early june just post up. Anyone have a preffered date and time? I prefer evenings after 8 as that is the time i am usually here.

Monday 6/6/16 in the evening works for me.

 

[silentg]

Monday 6/6/16 in the evening works for me.

We don't arrive until 6/8/16

 

[crf450x]

We don't arrive until 6/8/16

We leave in the morning on the 10th so the 8th or 9th in the evening may work depending on what time we get back to the resort if we head out exploring the island.

We usually get up early so early mornings are always good with me as well before we go out and about.

 

[frank808]

Thursday 6/9 sounds good?

 

[mjm1]

Frank, sorry for the delay in responding. June 9 at 8pm works for me. I look forward to meeting everyone who participates. Thanks for organizing the get together.

Mike

 

[frank808]

Doss thursday 6/9 work for silentg and crf450x?

 

[crf450x]

Doss thursday 6/9 work for silentg and crf450x?

I am good for 6/9.

 

[spaulino]

So.. reading this thread makes me think that OV is much better at Kona and/or Moana tower more than the new Naia tower. I'm a new owner but have stayed in Ko'Olia quite a few times but have only stayed in main Kona tower. I have yet to book our 1st trip as an owner but will be doing that in June for 2017 trip so I'd like to find out which tower is more desirable for OV units. We have a 2BR OV. I was ok with Kona tower during our previous stays but have not seen/stayed at Naia or Moana tower so I can't compare. Now that we're owners and have the option to "request", I'd like our 1st stay there to be in a nice OV room. Planning on locking off for following year's use but not 100% sure yet.

I remember using the bbq grills but I cant remember which tower. Does the Naia tower have grills? I remember it being far away from everything but close to the newest pool, which sometimes have it's pros and cons. Pros being it's closest to the new pool and closest to the beach, Cons being its closest to the new pool which where all the little kids are and maybe too noisy?? I dont mind noise since i have kids but I do mind if it's excessive and already very late at night.

 

[frank808]

Each tower has a set of grills and Naia tower has the most grills. I think there are 12 grills there and a very nice view of the sunset while grilling.
I dont think you can go wrong with any tower in a high floor ocean view. Except for the kona tower units above the valet that you have to look around and to the right for ov. I cant believe those units were deeded ov. The closest units to the water would be Naia. I got moana top floor 3br once and the view was SPECTACULAR. When you open the front door to the villa, all you see is the blue ocean and sky. It was even nicer than the 3br penthouse oceanfront view at lagoon towers at the hilton hawaiia village. The moana unit was the farthest from the water but the view was the best I have ever had.
Just ask for highest floor available and you should be good. Now kona is central to everything and that is why i request that tower.

 

[GregT]

So.. reading this thread makes me think that OV is much better at Kona and/or Moana tower more than the new Naia tower.

I do think NAIA is the best tower. I focused heavily on Kona and Moana only because they have the little sun room separated from the MBR and it is a great place to put a rollaway bed for an 11 year old boy. One day, I won't need that segregated space and I will request Nala Tower for my unit. I may use DC Points so I can specifically get a 2BR non-lockoff (only in Naia) or at that point I will be an owner, so I will have a better chance.

Naia is only a little farther to the Reflections Pool than Moana, is right next to the lagoon, has excellent BBQ infrastructure, and terrific views from that tower. It is the best of the three towers, in my opinion, and I also focused so heavily on the other two because of the sun room.

Enjoy your trip!!!

Best,

Greg

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Anybody have an update as to the restaurant status on the ground floor of the building in which one checks in ?

I was there in January and the existing restaurant lease was due to be terminated last month (I believe), and another restaurant that would serve three meals a day was scheduled to move into that space.

Is it open and how is the quality of food?





.

 

[frank808]

Here right now and Chucks closed down April 1. Longhis is scheduled to open May 1. There are temporary signs i the elevator and around the grounds that say Longohis coming soon.

 

[pspercy]

Here right now and Chucks closed down April 1. Longhis is scheduled to open May 1. There are temporary signs i the elevator and around the grounds that say Longohis coming soon.

Longhis ?

I hope it's better than the one in Lahaina

 

[GaryDouglas]

Longhis ?
I hope it's better than the one in Lahaina

Is this perception from multiple visits or one bad experience? We've been to both the Lahaina and Wailea locations without any problems...

 

[frank808]

Longhis ?

I hope it's better than the one in Lahaina

I dont know but i will tell you when we visit longhis koolina next month.
The food at longhis lahaina and ala moana have gone down hill from years past. I used to love going to longhis when it was only in lahaina (yes over a decade ago). But since they have branched out the food is no where were it was. It has become lackluster and mediocre. But i will give the new one a try anyway and report back. I am hoping to be surprised.

 

[cp73]

I had dinner at Chucks on Valentines day and it wasn't good. The salad bar was ok but my filet was way over cooked (ordered medium rare), my wifes pasta was mushy, and the desert was ok. I think the days of salad bars are way over. I look forward to longhis. But my favorite is Monkey Pod. We went a couple of times. Great food both times. Also did Ama Ama and it was fair.

 

[bobpark56]

Keep the reviews of Longhis coming...we arrive on 30 April!

Keep the reviews of Longhis coming...we arrive on 30 April!

I just checked their menus at Lahaina. Their prices for appetizers are more than what we were paying for tasty 3-course menus del dia (with wine) in Spain last month...one of the reasons we already have 6 weeks in Spain booked again for next year.

Looks like our food budget for Maui and Oahu needs a significant uptick. I can survive on poke, but my wife can't. Costco, here we come!

 

[Lv2Trvl]

We arrive the 22nd and leave the 29th for Kauai so we miss the new restaurant and the new Four Seasons.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[silentg]

We are in for 6/9 at 8pm where should we meet?
Silentg

 

[DeniseM]

I'm chuckling over the meeting time of 8:00 pm:

-The time doesn't change in Hawaii so the sun sets about 7:00 - at 8:00 it is quite dark, and it "feels" late in Hawaii.

-They roll up the streets when the sun goes down.

-If you are from the East Coast, your internal clock will feel like it's 2:00 in the morning - especially if you just arrived. Even for West Coasters - it will feel like 11 pm.

 

[frank808]

Tables by the marketplace? I like to get a drink there or would you guys prefer longboards? Maybe longhis if they have a bar with drinks? We have a little while to decide.

 

[mjm1]

I open to either location. Looking forward to getting together.

Mike