Thomas on Islands | profile | all galleries >> ==Hawaii Albums== >> Petroglyphs and Water Taxi: Around resorts of Waikoloa | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
Around resorts of Waikoloa, Jan. 2007 and Jan. 2008 Shoreline between Kona and the Kohala volcano used to be merely an "ocean of lava" of a different age. However, this is the dry and sunny side of the island, favored by visitors seeking good weather for their stay. And so the seemingly unused barren land has attracted large hotel companies and developers. Route 19 runs along the shoreline from Kona all way to Kohala and provides easy access. And so nowadays much of the shoreline is occupied by numerous "mega resorts", vacation ownership properties, and by golf courses. Places of historical interest will be often preserved. One such place is the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve (or "Malama Petroglyph Trail"). It is located close to the Fairmont Orchid Hotel, at the Route 19 mile marker 73-74. Despite astronomical room prices, some of these resorts are as boring and mundane as boring gets. Of course granted, such opinion may vary. Example? We consider the quite known Mauna Lani hotel to resemble an office building. Where is there the Pacific Tropics charm? However, some of these resorts are more... unusual. Take a look at the surroundings of the Waikoloa Village Hilton, mile marker 76. They have even constructed an Aqueduct on pylons connecting hotel building, on which a water taxi commute. Very whimsical... Artificial lagoons, artificial waterfalls and a sort of Asian Thai or Chinese style conglomerate of carvings and figurines. Even a parking at this hotel cost $9... That was 2007. |
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