Day Eight

Ted and I started visiting the Big Island back in the early '90s after our first cruise visit in 1985 for our 20th wedding anniversary.  He is a Hilton Honors member and during his work years had Platinum status that gave us great benefits.   We could stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, Turtle Bay Hilton at Oahu's North Shore or the Hilton Waikoloa north of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.  We tried a Marriott condo on Maui once and the Marriott Waikoloa another time using points.  But we always returned to the Hilton Waikoloa.  

A hotel room (much less 4) just wouldn't be cost effective at any hotel so we found the condos we are in now.  I would never hesitate to recommend these 3/3 beautiful residences for a larger group.  But we wanted the newbies to experience the Hilton Waikoloa Resort.  Bill, Larry, Sam, Morgan and Cassie had never been there.

The kids were in awe when we entered the main lobby.  There were 8 trees decorated in the colors and flowers of the 8 major islands.  The size of the trees showed their position in the line up.  These were the only Christmas decorations we had seen anywhere but church.

We ran into a gorgeous peach colored cockatoo and were allowed to have him sit on our arm.

We had learned there were day passes, available a week in advance if room allowed.  Then we learned we could rent cabanas and confirm our plans at any time.  So we rented four cabanas which gave us 8 chaise lounges in four cabanas, cold bottled water, a USB port, Popsicles, a safe and a pool boy named Conner!  We felt pretty special!

We went swimming, used the slide, swam and snorkled in the lagoon with turtles.  Morgan was so happy to see so many turtles up close and personal.

We headed to Buddah Point to watch the sunset before heading home.

It was an exhilarating day but exhausting.  Dinner was pizza, sandwiches and leftovers followed by turning in right after.