King Kamehameha Golf Club | Guest for a Day

Aloha Vacation Villas is a family owned business and we make sure to experience the island to better convey the best of Maui. Our Son Michael (pictured below) is visiting from the mainland to help build out a couple of villa kitchen projects.  So naturally, we took a break for a family game of Golf Scramble and decided to visit the King Kamehameha Golf Club.

As Maui's only private 18-hole lush course along side the West Maui Mountains, King Kamehameha Golf Club offers an impressive design and ranks 2nd to the Plantation Course at Kapalua. With great conditioning, a superb layout and spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, many would say it rivals the Plantation Course.

Throughout there are elevated tee shots and slopes -- lots of them. In fact, holes that might seem short on the surface can play extremely long, like the 387-yard ninth, which often plays uphill and into the wind. The approach shot can easily be three clubs longer and that's after a drive that goes nowhere nearly as long as you thought off the tee. The finishing hole is one of the best on Maui at 559 yards, it's reachable because it's downhill, but a lake and waterfall guards the green.

Then you arrive at the 74'000 sq. ft. Frank Lloyd Wright-designed clubhouse. The spectacular building is adorned with original artwork by prominent local artists and has a beautiful golf shop. Lavished with spa facilities, including therapeutic showers, whirlpools, a Furo (Japanese style bathtub) and saunas, King Kamehameha offers a 'Guest for a Day' program ($170+ with limited tee times). The price, by the way, is a bargain compared to other Maui resort courses, especially considering what you get for it.

Furo  |  Japanese Style Bathtub

For dining, there's the intimate Wai Kahe Room and suncourt that are both open for Lunch and cocktails only. The menu includes Hawaiian regional cuisine with a euro-asian flair as well as traditional Japanese food. Food service is also available in both men's and women's lounges with a full bar.

Wai Kahe Room  |  Suncourt

Practice facilities are also impressive with a full grass range, short-game area and putting greens. Training aids, such as alignment sticks and weighted clubs, are a nice touch on the range for warming up before a round.

So, while visiting the Kapalua Resort, you can include King Kamehameha on your rotation. Like all private clubs, their goal is to sell memberships. But you can try it out at least once. As a 'Guest for a Day', that's perfect and perhaps you would consider joining if you regularly visit Maui.

Journey to Hana | by Jake Jacobs

Lynn and I have lived on the island for 8 years. We are constantly asked by our Aloha Vacation Villas Guests, about the journey to Hana. Well this weekend, my son Rob who just moved to the island, a full grown man decided he and his friend Deano (another full grown man) were going to drive to Hana and go all the way around! Lynn, my wife said, "It's suppose to rain, and most of what you want to see is along the road to Hana. So have a good guide with you." So at 8:30 am, off they went on their adventure without much of a plan. Yup, it was raining too, and they said not to worry.

Well, it was around 5pm when the sound of the road warriors returned. “How'd it go?” I said.  “Well it's exhausting and I guess we drove right by the 7 sacred pools, not a lot to see and the road after Hana is scary at best” my Son said.  “OK (chuckle)...So did you stop along the way?” He said, “We went to Jaws, saw a whale…and saw lots of bridges. Oh and it rained as hard as I have ever seen it rain.”

So the lesson learned here is to plan. Although my Son's experience is different than most, it will be for everyone. But with a little research and planning, Hana can remarkably be a memorable journey.

The Road to Hana is one of the most scenic drives in Hawaii that hugs the Pacific Ocean’s coastline. It’s a two lane road - 40 mile stretch of highway that’s carved into the cliffs with winding roads, lots of one lane bridges, several waterfalls off the side of the road, with hiking trails, and swimming holes nestled in the rainforest. A few of the most popular areas to see on the Road to Hana are Twin Falls, the Garden of Eden, the Bamboo Forest, Wainapanapa State Park and Black Sand Beach, Hana Bay, and the Seven Sacred Pools.

So this is what we tell our Aloha Vacation Villas Guest:

Decide on whether you will drive yourself or take a tour. If you choose to visit Hana at your own leisure, decide on a day-trip or overnight experience. If you stay overnight, we highly recommend the Travaasa Hana Hotel, a Conde Naste Readers Choice.  The hotel is right in the middle of Hana Town and is one of the nicest places to stay in Hawaii. If you're staying overnight, consider having groceries delivered to your accommodation to save some money and have everything you might need.

You will need a rental car (convertible is best), something small enough to navigate the narrow road. You’ll also need to decide just how much you'd like to see, so do some research. If you plan accordingly to your interest, you can experience Hana in a day.

We recommend this Road to Hana guide. It's inexpensive and is like having an experienced guide sitting next to you.

With the Road to Hana CD Guide, you will find:

• Hidden waterfalls, as high as 400 feet
• Secluded jungle waiting to be explored
• The most romantic places on Maui
• Jaw-dropping natural wonders
• Panoramic views of sparkling coastline
• An enchanting bamboo forest
• A "clothing-optional" beach ;)
• Incredible food stands and restaurants
• And the 3 stops you will NOT want to miss!

What's Included:

• 26 narrated tracks on audio CD covering:
• The top 15 spots on the Road to Hana
• History of Hawaii
• Plus, Hollywood on Maui
• The best spots as voted on by R2H customers
• Large map with important mile markers
• Your choice of a 1 or 2-day itinerary
• Driving Tips for the Road to Hana
• Checklist of important items to bring
• Photos from the Road to Hana

So, Leave early and grab a picnic lunch. The Kuau Store is on the way and opens at 6:30am. You can top off the gas tank in Paia; grab a picnic lunch and some snacks. Look for the famous surfboard fence (808) 579-8844.

Lastly, pay attention to time and be sure to leave Hana at least a couple hours before sunset. It gets very dark and you’ll want to be back on time for Dinner.