 | In Kohala, do go chasing waterfalls | | | | | Aloha, readers. It's the fourth of July, and in this newsletter, we will be talking about Hawai'i: specifically, the Island of HawaiŹ»i (aka the Big Island), a place that grips you, body and soul, the minute you step foot on ground. Listen to stories of the Native Hawaiians, watch lava swirl and spew from Kilauea at HawaiŹ»i Volcanoes National Park, view the night sky from snow-capped Maunakea, swim near sea turtles (don't touch!), view ancient fish ponds and petroglyphs. This is a place like no other. | Enter Sanjiv Hulugalle, the General Manager of the luxury resort, Mauna Lani, An Auberge Resorts Collection, an iconic luxury resort on the Kona Coast. Sanjiv is one of the best people I know: his capacity for love, wonder, joy and passion for HawaiŹ»i is contagious. He's lived on the island with his family for 9 years and graciously agreed to share his insights into life on the island. Read on for Sanjiv's insider HawaiŹ»i recommendations. Mahalo. | | | | | Live Aloha on the Big Island | | | Whether you enjoy eating, hiking, exploring or playing tennis, Sanjiv has great suggestions for how to rock the Island of HawaiŹ»i. | | Lava flows at Volcanoes National Park | | | | | | | Eat at the bar at Forc in Waimea. It's very local. You just sit there, with people like Uncle Fred, who is a paniolo (cowboy), and you have great food from local farms. | | | | | Discover a secret beach. Everyone knows Spencer Beach Park, but if you go a bit further, you'll find these little beaches, MauŹ»umae and Kaluhikaa, and nobody's there. | | | | | Leave room for ice cream. The Kohala Coffee Mill in Hawi has the most delicious ice cream: the Kona coffee and the caramel flavors are so yummy. | | | Torn between picking a single island or hopping around? Wherever you travel in Hawai'i, expect stunning beaches and waterfalls, gorgeous mountains, and yummy food. Shave ice for everyone! | | | A brief chat with Sanjiv Hulugalle about his life in HawaiŹ»i – read at your own risk (you might want to move). | | | | Sanjiv with daughters Savannah and Catherine on the Kohala coast | | | | | How long have you and your family called Hawaii home? | We have been in Hawaii now for nearly nine years, and it just doesn't get old. It just feels like home and at peace. There's so much tranquility, love and spirit here. | | | Tell us about your family. | | | I've got two kids, Catherine, who just turned 15, and Savannah, and both are blossoming on the island. My wife, Alice, well, she puts up with me. | | | | | You need to rent a car to see the best parts of the island: real life, tiny towns, communities. | | | What's your day-to-day routine? | I actually don't have a "job." It's not that I've got to do my 8-12 hours. I come to the resort as a way of life. I got here this morning at 4am. I don't need to do that. I want to touch the flowers, I want to walk the paths, I want to be near the beach. | Why do you think that is? What is it about Mauna Lani? | Apart from it being an iconic resort, we are surrounded by special, spiritual, ancient Hawai'ian land. And the amazing people, like Uncle Danny [Danny Akaka], who's our Kahu Hanai (knowledge keeper) and Bullet [Obra], who does all our ocean sports. | | | | | "To me, the word Aloha means love, connection, an exchange of breath and mutual respect." | | | Where do you live on the island? | | | We live in Waimea, a very eclectic little town, with twisty roads, scenic views and Maunakea, the highest mountain in the world [when measured from] sea floor. The town is like a story book. We live in a treehouse, right near the girls' school. | Do you and your family have any favorite activities? | We're a tennis family. We also like to walk, and there's a beautiful place called Anna's Ranch nearby. We like to visit the pond and the waterfalls. My favorite hike is one I do with my wife every Sunday: it's a little park right next to this beautiful ravine. | | | | | Pack light and keep your wardrobe casual. You don't need to get dressed up in Hawai'i. | | | What is another experience you recommend people try? | Stargazing at Maunakea. While there is a visitor's center, the experience is so much better with a guide who knows the lay of the land (and the sky), the best time to go up there, and knows the latest weather situation. Yes, it snows in Hawai'i. | | | | | Brekke Fletcher is a travel writer and editor whose work has appeared in TIME Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and CNN. Now she oversees Newsletters for Lonely Planet and loves every minute of it. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
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