Ko'Olina Kama'Aina program... Can you get it resale?

[BocaBum99]

Just got back from the Marriott Ko'Olina today. It's a really nice resort. In the presentation, they were offering membership into a Kama'Aina program which allowed day use of the resort amenities for local residents of Oahu. Day use does not have to be coincident with timeshare usage.

Has anyone been able to get this program by buying a resale timeshare at Ko'Olina?

 

[ZCar]

Boca,
There is a separate cost for the Membership. I may be wrong, but seems like it was $229 per year.
It's probably a personal or family membership and I would doubt if it could be passed on, but who knows?
There seem to be a sustantial number of "local" owners and I know of employees that own. Last visit we met a girl whose family owned and they lived in Kapolei, just 10 minutes away! Met another from central Oahu that was just wrapping up a 2 week stay. There must be a reason!

 

[BocaBum99]

Boca,
There is a separate cost for the Membership. I may be wrong, but seems like it was $229 per year.
It's probably a personal or family membership and I would doubt if it could be passed on, but who knows?
There seem to be a sustantial number of "local" owners and I know of employees that own. Last visit we met a girl whose family owned and they lived in Kapolei, just 10 minutes away! Met another from central Oahu that was just wrapping up a 2 week stay. There must be a reason!

I was sitting by the pool and I met several guests who had Kama'aina cards. They allow 6 guests and Marriott is very stringent in its enforcement. They had a guy patrolling the pools to ensure that everyone there was supposed to be there. They give you wristbands that you need to wear to use the amenities.

I agree that the program is year to year and there is about a $200 annual fee. That is what one of the members told me. She showed me her card. She is there 2 or 3 times per month. And, to get in, you need to book a reservation. So, Holiday weeks is tough to get.

The cheapest unit Marriott has at the resort is about $20k. The equivlaent resale is about $12-13k. I was hoping that a resale purchaser would be allowed to be a member. If so, I may sign up and buy one.

 

[LAX Mom]

Boca-
Not quite following your interest in this program. Isn't this for locals? Don't you live in Florida?
What exactly does this program allow? I understood it was for the use of the pools and parking at Ko'Olina. The beaches are open to the public anyway.
I'm just confused why a Florida resident would want access to the pools at Ko'Olina?

 

[reidley]

I just attended a Ko Olina presentation this past weekend. It's true that if you buy a Ko Olina week from Marriott and you are a local Hawaii resident, then you can join the Kamaaina Club. It costs $325/year and you can use the pool/fitness center/locker room/etc 24 times per year. You get wrist bands - ours were purple (the guests staying at the hotel wore green bands). It's limited to 6 people per visit. And you have to make reservations prior to arriving because they limit it to 60 families per day.

What I want to know is if this perk is available if you buy resale? I asked the question but wasn't given a straight answer. Does anyone know or know who I can call to find out?

 

[jmatias]

We traded into a 3 bedroom at Koolina this January and really enjoyed using the pool/spa/fitness facilities which we found to be the best of the Marriott resorts we visited. We also learned that the new building will have the new feature pool with slides, water features, etc. We too thought about buying a resale to get into the Kamaaina club.

Instead, we bought another Summit Watch bronze week for a trader to use to get into Koolina. Since we live on Oahu we can take advantage of those last minute trades. During my searches we always find Koolina availability and feel that while the resort is still building more units that trades will be easy to come by.

Koolina will be a large resort when completed...if I recall about 700 units in total. Trades will always be there, especially for those of us who can take advantage of the last minute weeks.

While we understand that things can always change in the trading world....this is what works for us right now. And the price of the bronze week is right.

If anyone finds about the Kamaaina club via a resale please post.

Aloha,
Jen