I recently met Kona Village Resort general manager Ulrich Krauer in New York. Under his leadership and the new ownership, great things are in store for this gem of a resort just north of the Kona International Airport. In discussing this year's monthly theme program, Krauer reports, "We started off in January celebrating Petroglyphs and Poi. The monthly themes have proven to be popular and appreciated by guests who find our displays and activities - and the food of course - a wonderful and fun way to learn more about Hawaii."
Here's what's in store for the final sixth months of 2006.
June
June pays tribute to the resort's most frequent guests, the endangered honu (green sea turtles). Honu frequent the clear waters of Kahuwai Bay and bask on the beach soaking up the warmth of the tropical sun each afternoon before returning to their ocean home.And as turtles bask, the resort's dessert specialist will stir up excitement in the kitchen with June's featured cuisine, Hawaiian-grown vanilla. From decadent cakes and cookies to creamy rich ice cream, the flavor of pure, fresh island-grown vanilla is unmatched.
July
July's celebration of mele (music) and mangoes combines the unique sounds of the music of Hawaii with taste-tantalizing, vibrant, juicy mango. From slack key and steel guitars to haunting chants and sing-along tunes, visitors have loved the music of the islands for decades.Island chefs love to whirl mango into cheesecake and ice cream, slice it on top of tarts and dice in to salsas.
August
August showcases the gorgeous flowers of Hawaii and the quintessential fruit of Hawaii, the pineapple. What flowers are indigenous to these islands and can be found at Kona Village Resort? What legends surround some of the flowers? The resort's displays will answer these questions and guests will have a chance to make their own flower lei as they learn the traditions and importance of flowers to Hawaii.Pineapple was once the fruit for which Hawaii was famous, but production has declined in recent years. That doesn't mean you still can't enjoy biting in to a slice of sweet, juicy pineapple while lazing in a hammock at Kahuwai Bay at the Kona Village Resort.
September
In September, guests can learn the history of Hawaii's `aumakua (idols or literally translated to "ghost of my ancestors"). Many families in Hawaii still claim their own family `aumakua, a sort of protector of the family with which the family has a particular connection. `Aumakua may be, for example, the shark, the Hawaiian owl or Hawaiian hawk. Eons before missionaries introduced their concept of one God to Hawai'i in 1820, it was the 'aumakua that commoners could call on in a less ritualistic way for protection, comfort and spiritual support.Tender, freshly caught ahi (yellow fin tuna) is highlighted on menus during September. Whether eaten raw as sashimi, atop rice in sushi, or grilled and served along fresh greens, ahi is among the most versatile fish in Hawaii.
In my opinion, September sounds like a great month to visit the Kona Village Resort.
October
The intricate patterns and traditions of kapa (tapa) will be explored in October along with a celebration of Kona Coffee. From clothing to foot cover, wall coverings to floor coverings, capes to blankets, the origins of kapa can be traced back to ancient Polynesians. But it is the pattern on the kapa itself that identifies Hawaii's kapa from kapa found elsewhere in Polynesia.Kona has long been identified as the only place in the United States with estate-grown coffee. The highly sought after gourmet-grade coffees of Kona will be woven into recipes by Chef Mark Tsuchiyama and his team.
November
In November, it's makahiki (games/harvest festivals) time on Hawaii's Big Island. You can learn more about the sports of ancient Hawaii and test your competence at seemingly simple games that are surprisingly difficult. Many games during makahiki were intended to hone the skills of warriors for battle.Refreshments are a must and there will be plenty of macadamia nuts and macadamia nut treats on hand to satisfy everyone. Did you know that Hawaii's Big Island grows and exports more macadamia nuts than anywhere else in the United States?
