Marriott Ko Olina Beaches closed

[larryallen]

Beaches open yet?

 

[javabean]

Ko'Olina beaches are now open.

 

[larryallen]

Thanks Java. That's good news. We are going soon.

 

[brianfox]

Regarding food at the little shopping right next to MKO:

This is a tiny strip mall where Disney has their DVC office on the upper floor. There is a trolley that leaves from MKO every hour. It stops at Roy's, the strip mall, and the Marriott hotel. The mall is really an easy 8 minute walk from MKO, though. It's directly across the street from Aulani.

There is a Hawaiian BBQ place that in my opinion is better than L&L. VERY inexpensive. If you have kids, eat here! A kid's burger is under $2. Stay away from the slushies - they are much better across the street.

The Mexican restaurant is not bad, but not particularly great. Prices are much better than MKO. I usually order a carnitas burrito - hard to go wrong there. Tacos - which is supposed to be their specialty - are not very good. They do have a great selection of unusual margaritas at a reasonable price. I enjoy the watermelon one in particular. The restaurant is definitely worth a try, and it grows on you. Very lively atmosphere.

Across the street is a "country store" style ABC store. Same ABC prices and same ABC stock - it's clearly an ABC when you walk in. (GREAT musubi!!)

The ice cream parlor is a great big meh.... Quite expensive for the quality, but there's not many great ice cream places in HI. If I went to a nice looking shop like this on the mainland, I'd expect incredible ice cream. The chocolate and mint-chip flavors I tried were very bland. They seemed to have a very low cream content, more like ice milk than ice cream. They were struggling when we went, and I don't give them a long life expectancy.

When we went last year, a couple of places had yet to open.

Be sure to get a discount card from MKO!!! You get 10% off the already unbeatable prices at the Hawaiian BBQ. On one trip to the ABC, they gave me 10% off even though they weren't supposed to. Always wave the card - sometimes magic will happen. Mexican restaurant does not give any discount.

 

[mish]

Just returned from a stay at the JW Ihilana down the road from the Ko'Olina beach club. Yes, all the lagoons are closed due to contamination from the previous heavy rains (landfill run-off). I think there is more to it than medical waste spillage....Anyway, you can drive to Waikiki, the North Shore or beaches on the East side that are open for ocean swimming. Water is warm, waves were "Monster" last week, but should be dying down by now. I saw on tv that the huge swell that hit Hawaii hit Calif. this am. Was great watching the higher class surfers ride the 25 foot waves at the Sunset Beach tournament!!
And yes, I bought into the points program to make more use of the 2 MVC weeks I currently own. I bought the minimum amount to get me to the preferred status. I have 3 kids that may be getting married within the next few years, and this will enable us to offer nice honeymoon choices- without having to sit on pins and needles waiting for a response. And my husband liked the additional options to celebrate his 60th!!
Mish

 

[larryallen]

The restaurant choices are poor there... but I am ready to go!

 

[LouisLouis]

> If you own at any Marriott property they won't charge you for parking.

I am a Ko Olina owner.
However, when I stayed there with II exchange, they charged me the full parking price ($29 per day, was it?) for the full week, even after I explained that I was an owner...

 

[ada903]

That's not right. I stayed on an exchange with two condos in my name, both through II, and we had one car per condo, we did not pay parking. We own a different Marriott.

> If you own at any Marriott property they won't charge you for parking.

I am a Ko Olina owner.
However, when I stayed there with II exchange, they charged me the full parking price ($29 per day, was it?) for the full week, even after I explained that I was an owner...

 

[newowner]

I once stayed at KoOlina through a purchased Getaway. They did not charge for parking.