Hawaiian luau at Paradise Cove on Oahu. Photo and slideshow by Sue Frause.
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While the rain continued its dance the day before the summer solstice, a friend of mine had the smarts to book a flight to Oahu where she's spending a week with a friend.
When I last checked in with her, they had returned from sipping Mai Tais at an outdoor bar on Waikiki while listening to traditional Hawaiian music. "We're here until Friday, so it's all about sun and fun at the pool."
And here we sit, in the rain, on the first day of summer. For most people, a Hawaiian vacation means escaping the grey winters of the Pacific Northwest. But summer is a great time to be in the islands, especially when our forecast is not so rosy.
I took a mini-spring break to Oahu in April and discovered a part of the island that I'd never experienced. As somebody who isn't a big fan of Waikiki with its big box stores and chain restaurants, it was a welcome relief to arrive at Ko Olina Resort & Marina. Located on 642 acres along the west side of Oahu, it's a place of both ocean and mountain views, along with 1.5 miles of white, sandy beaches.
My home for three nights was the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, located on the first of seven lagoons at Ko Olina. I had a spacious suite with a balcony and a view; enjoyed daily breakfast at Naupaka Terrace (OK, one morning I had room service); and a lovely dinner at Azul, one of five on-site restaurants and lounges. Just across the way is the Ihilani Spa, where I checked in one afternoon for a 50-minute massage.
Although I'm not a golfer or boater, Ko Olina is the only resort on the island of Oahu with both a golf course and and a marina. Located about 30 minutes from Honolulu International Airport, I didn't bother to rent a car. It was all about chillin' by the pool, the beach and enjoying the warm, sunny days and nights.
But since I was in Hawaii, I had to attend a luau. Located within walking distance of the J.W. Marriott Ihilani is Paradise Cove; it's a huge complex overlooking the Pacific Ocean with everything from shopping stalls, water activities and outdoor bars to the luau itself (good food!) with a fantastic show. I ended up sitting with some people that I knew from the island where I live in Puget Sound. It was the perfect ending to my too-quick spring getaway. Mahalo!
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