Some Views From The Petroglyphs – Part I
Our United jet descended over the magnificent sight of volcanic peaks, expanses of black lava and palm trees waving Aloha. We knew we had arrived on the Big Island of Hawaii and that the warmth of the Island awaited us! A short drive, 18 miles, from the Kona airport on the only road north along the coast brought us on our right to the Waikola Resort entrance. Petroglyphs, the rock drawings of an early people, are seen in the black lava as you enter the resort. The Marriott Waikola Beach Resort, newly and beautifully renovated, was immediately on our left opposite the Kings’ Shops.
Entering the lobby you can immediately be swept into the “laid back” Aloha style that will characterize Left Coast Crime 2009. You are facing pools, a sand beach, one of the best beaches on the Island, and blue, blue ocean. The lobby furniture is conducive for relaxation and the open terrace allows you to be outdoors but under cover. Registration and Breakfast will be on this terrace where you can decide on a dip in the pool, a walk on the beach or a brisk swim in the ocean.
The Marriott has preserved on the pool level of the hotel the ancient fish ponds that were used by the early Polynesian settlers for aquaculture. You can still stroll around these ponds today and learn about capturing the small fish in one pond, feeding them and moving them into to a separate adjacent pond when they get big enough to start eating the little fish and are almost read to be eaten by the fishermen. Also on the pool level is the Bar where tall, iced drinks with and without little colorful umbrellas are invitingly abundant. A poolside restaurant is being planned and will be one of the already popular upscale Hawaiian Island restaurants.
The room accommodations are very comfortable with bright and tasteful furnishings and especially large and sparkling bathrooms. The meeting rooms are also newly furnished having excellent sound proofing to prevent room to room sound spill over. There is even a spa with Asian style motif that was so attractive you want to hop right up onto a massage table.
The Marriott is located conveniently, a three minute walk from the Kings’ Shops where food can be purchased in a variety of venues and price ranges. There is a Food Court with some Hawaiian local shops as well as the usual pizza, Subway type offerings. The Hawaiian Steak House is a brew and steak type moderately priced restaurant.
One of our favorite restaurants in the Kings Shops is Roy’s that serves “Hawaiian Fusion® Cuisine” including seafood specialties, really good soups and salads and yummy desserts. Check out www.roysrestaurant.com for some mouth watering sights.
A new addition to the restaurants in the Shop is the Merriman’s Market Café with moderate priced food with a Mediterranean flair. This restaurant is run by the fabulous Merriman’s located in Waimea, up country from Waikoloa. Merriman’s in Waimea is a long time favorite for Hawaiian regional cuisine with consistent excellent elegant dinning. If you want to purchase food for your room, there is a General Store that has milk products, cereals, fruit and sweets for sale.
A new complex called the Queens’ Shops will be open by 2009 and even have an all purpose Super Market, upscale shops and an multi-thousand capacity amphitheatre for performances.
We hope these impressions of our introduction to the Waikola Resort area have inspired you to join us at Left Coast Crime 2009. Register now and reserve a room at the great rates that we negotiated with the Marriott Waikola Beach Resort. Mahalo for reading Some Views from the Petroglyphs and connecting with us. If you have any comments or suggestions contact us at wggmd@gottfried.org. We look forward to hearing from you. ALOHA!
Martini and Roy Yamaguchi photo © Roy’s Restaurant.
Spa photo © Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa