Hilton Waikoloa Village

Where we stayed on the Kohala coast: a saltwater lagoon with a footbridge across it, palms at dusk, and nene on the lawn in the morning.

Waikoloa, Big Island

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The Lagoon and the Grounds

The property is built around a saltwater lagoon with a footbridge across it, and the grounds run down to the lava shore where the coast trail passes. It is large, and walking it is most of the experience: palms, carved figures around the pool, and the mountain behind everything. At dusk the torches go on and the palms go black against the sky.

The Birds

Four species turned up on the lawn over the week. Nene, the Hawaiian goose, which was down to about thirty birds in the nineteen fifties and is the reason you drive slowly here. Pacific golden plovers, which winter in Hawaii, breed in Alaska and come back to the same patch of grass year after year. Saffron finches, which are South American and introduced. And a heron working the tidepools below.

The grounds

The Grounds

The lagoon, the pool, the shore below, and the palms at the end of the day.

Palms bending over a sheltered beach with kayaks drawn up
The LagoonThe beach inside the lagoon, with kayaks pulled up and the palms bending in the wind.
A resort swimming pool with a planted island and carved stone figures
The PoolThe main pool, with a planted island in the middle of it and carved figures standing on the rock.
Tall coconut palms leaning over a grassy point above the sea
Down to the ShoreThe palm grove on the point, leaning the way the trade wind has pushed them.
A small green and white cottage on a lawn with pruned plumeria trees and palms
The GroundsA cottage on the lawn between the buildings and the water, with plumeria pruned back hard for the season.
The curved facade of a resort tower above palms at dusk
Palms at DuskThe curve of one of the towers over the planting, late in the day.
A lit torch beside a path among palms at dusk
The TorchesTorches go up along the paths at dusk and stay lit through the evening.
A worker in a harness climbing a coconut palm with spikes to trim the crown
Palm HusbandryA trimmer working a coconut palm on the grounds, spiked in and roped on. The palms here are cut back regularly so that nothing comes down on anyone.
Close view of a coconut palm trunk with cut frond scars
Close to the TrunkA coconut palm trunk on the grounds, showing where the old fronds were cut away.
The birds

The Birds

Four species on one lawn, one of which nearly went extinct.

Four nene, Hawaiian geese, grazing on a lawn set with flat stones
NeneNene on the lawn. The Hawaiian goose is the state bird and was down to a few dozen birds in the middle of the last century, so four of them on a hotel lawn is a better sign than it looks.
A Pacific golden plover standing on a stone path beside a lawn
A Pacific Golden PloverA kolea on the path. Pacific golden plovers winter in Hawaii and fly back to Alaska to breed, and they return to the same patch of lawn year after year.
Two yellow saffron finches on a lawn beside a palm trunk
Saffron FinchesSaffron finches on the grass. They are South American birds, introduced here, and they work the lawns all day.
At the table

At the Table

Dinner on the property.

Three seared scallops on black rice with orange sauce and greens
ScallopsSeared scallops on black rice with an orange sauce.
Cooked pork belly with garnishes on a wooden serving board
Pork BellyPork belly on a koa board at the restaurant on the property.
A rectangular chocolate dessert on a grey plate with red sauce
DessertA chocolate dessert to finish, with a smear of berry sauce across the plate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it on the beach?
It is on the lava shore rather than a sand beach, with a saltwater lagoon on the property standing in for one. The coast trail passes the grounds, so the shoreline walk starts at the door.
What is there to see on the property?
The lagoon and its footbridge, the pool and the carved figures around it, the grounds down to the shore, and a surprising amount of birdlife on the lawn. We ate on the property as well.
When did you stay?
February 2024, for a week. Dry and warm on this side, and whale season offshore.

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