The stork is coming soon, and it’ll change our lives forever. We’re thrilled, but before our daughter is born, we wanted to take a little time to have one last romantic fling. That’s where the babymoon comes in.
You say you’ve never heard of a babymoon? Consider it a honeymoon, in that it’s a getaway just for two. “It’s a new craze,” says travel agent Duke Ah Moo of Pleasant Holidays. “I’ve seen a growing awareness of it in the last three to five years, in terms of clients asking to book trips while they are pregnant, and more and more travel resources dedicated to this niche market. I’ve read that 60 percent of expectant parents now take babymoons. I predict that number will rise even more in the next decade.”
Add us to that statistic! Though, selecting our vacation spot was a little different this time. We normally ask ourselves which country on the globe we’d like to experience, and if it’s feasible to go there in terms of time and money. This time, we had to ask ourselves if there’s a hospital nearby, if it would be a safe destination, and if it was within my wife’s approved travel radius (her doctor told her the further along she got, the shorter distances she could travel.)
We chose to stay close to home, at a hotel our agent recommended: Kona Village Resort at Kahuwai Bay. We were not disappointed. The resort slogan is “barefoot luxury,” and that’s exactly what we got. Its website boasts of the “ability of the aina here (the land) to somehow cloak each visitor to Kaupulehu in its invisible mana (spirit) and then seemingly invite all to slow down, relax, enjoy, observe and absorb.” Perfect for my six month pregnant wife.
I imagine the property doesn’t look much different from when it was built in 1961 by Johnno Jackson and his wife Helen. There are a series of charming bungalows or hale the guests stay in, designed to look like various Polynesian styles of architecture (Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, etc.) We stayed in a lovely oceanfront one at the far southern end of the property (SM3), which was only a seven minute stroll away from the main area.
The best thing about Kona Village is that none of the hale have phones, televisions, radios, or wireless internet access. (You’re out of luck if you want room service.) I’m a bit of a TV addict, and my wife is an e mail junkie. We brought our laptop just in case we felt guilty enough to do some work, but not once in three days did we feel tempted to seek out a wireless connection, much less turn on the computer!
Instead, we spent long hours reading on the spacious veranda, smelling the crisp ocean air, and letting the waves just 25 feet away mesmerize us. We even got used to the fact that there are no door keys at the resort; you simply don’t lock your doors when you leave. We never had a problem with theft, though we did keep our wallet in the room safe.
Kona Village reminds us of a high class summer camp, not only in physical layout, but also in the price structure. For one fee, you get a room, food, and some activities. Three all-you-can-eat meals a day are served at Hale Moana, one of only two restaurants on site. (You pay to eat at Hale Samoa.) Breakfast offers both a buffet and an a la carte menu, lunch is also a buffet served outdoors, and dinner offers a tempting selection from five rotating menus.
The food presentation is lovely and the staff is always attentive. Our only warning is that it’s so delectable, you may want to watch your waist line! My wife gained double the monthly pregnancy recommendation during this three day trip (printed with her permission; I ain’t stupid!)
Many activities, as I mentioned, are included in the fee. KonaVillage.com says, “Guests enjoy complimentary unlimited use of non-motorized water sports equipment such as snorkels and masks, kayaks, sailboats and body boards. Extra fees apply to guided adventure tours and private instructions.”
One day, after overeating at breakfast (par for the course!) we decided to work off the morning’s calories with a refreshing ocean swim, followed by a quick kayak excursion to the northern tip of the swimming area. The water is clear and inviting, and we even saw a few fish.
On a lazy afternoon, we decided to stroll around the property, which is large, but linked by quaint sandy paths. (Note to pregnant women: do not drink a lot before you embark on this walk due to limited bathroom access.) Along the way we were tickled to see game stations set up for badminton, ping pong, and basketball, which we stopped to indulge in. We visited a fascinating area with ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. We also saw a fair amount of critters along the way, including nene geese, ducks, parrots, and the so-called “Bad Swan,” named for his unfriendliness towards other foul.
HUALALAI REORT:
We couldn’t go to Kona without also visiting the nearby Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, which has a see-and-be-seen vibe completely counter to Kona Village’s isolationist appeal. Don’t be misled: sister property Kona Village has its share of rich and famous guests, including repeat visitor, supermodel Christie Brinkley. The two resorts simply market different attractions.
The highlight of our Hualalai jaunt was a dip in the gorgeous King’s Pond, a two million gallon salt water swimming pool painstakingly crafted to look like a natural rock formation. The pool, one of more than a dozen watery creations that dot Hualalai, is the brainchild of environmental architect David Chai, whose global reputation precedes him.
The pool is just yards away from the beachfront, and large, hidden pipes in King’s Pond transfer 2,000 gallons of salt water in every minute, while pushing out 5,000 gallons of pool water. It’s an expensive proposition, says Chai, but one designed to keep the 3,000 saltwater fish and five rays healthy and happy.
If you are a guest, and only if you are a hotel guest, you can swim in the pool and feed the fish and rays. (No, you can’t pay to swim with the rays for just a couple hours. We’re told it’s a liability issue.) It’s a highlight of many a trip, including ours. “It’s especially popular with the kids,” smiles natural resource specialist Ambyr Lee, one of four staffers in the Natural Resources Department under Chai.
She brought out a big bucket of fish parts for the rays, and drilled pellets for the fish, and starts slapping the water to let the animals know it’s time for the morning feeding. There are 50 species of fish that are lucky to live in the pond, and they all respond to the drill. We wait for the star attraction, the rays, to arrive. There are four eagle rays and one brown ray, and in short order, they too sail up for breakfast.
“Hold your hand out like this and when the ray takes the food you might feel a gentle sucking. Don’t worry. They don’t have teeth and they won’t bite,” she teaches, as she walks us down into the shallow water and guides our hand just under the surface.
If you’re wondering if these are the same kinds of rays that killed “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, they are not. Those were manta rays with barbs on the tip of the tail. These are eagle rays whose stinger sits where the body connects to the tail. We’re told just don’t pet in that area, and don’t startle the ray. Fair enough.
A large brown ray glides up to take the bait. It’s relatively small, maybe larger than a charger plate, with some white dots on its body. We are introduced. “This is the boy, Koa,” coos Lee, delighted to see her favorite ray. “He’s so sweet and shy. He’s very polite when he takes food.” She corrals Koa, a juvenile male, to hang out just a tad longer so we can pet him.
The ray’s skin is unexpectedly soft, like a wet mushroom. I have petted dolphins (rubbery) and felt shark skin (sandpaper) and thought the ray would be similar to that. This is a delicious sensation. I want to keep petting it.
There is no shortage of opportunity, because they are all circling for food. I don’t want to anthropomorphize eagle rays too much, but they are just so friendly and nice. They remind me of our Labrador dogs. Lee was kind enough to extend our time in the water when she saw how much we were enjoying ourselves.
Hilahila is the juvenile female, and Kolohe and Kaimalu are the adult males. As long as we have scraps of crab and shrimp, they oblige. Kolohe seems to like my wife. “He keeps circling up to you and you don’t even have food,” laughs Lee. Then again, all living things give off electromagnetic currents, and we all wonder if my wife is particularly interesting to the rays because the baby is giving off additional charges? It’s a fun question to ponder.
Chai imports the eagle rays from Kaneohe Bay on Oahu. “We’re actually planning to buy another female and to release Koa,” he explains. “We need to even out the gender ratio between the rays or it’ll be too overwhelming for just Hilahila.” Soon, Koa will probably go back to his birthing grounds. Chai says eagle rays need a lot of water and space to live in because they’re always in motion, which is why they’re hard to give away to aquariums or individual hobbyists.
King’s Pond is surprisingly empty, with only a few other couples taking a dip. We observe that most of the other guests prefer to lounge at the traditional swimming pools. There is one that’s child-friendly, with a lot of kiddies’ toys, and one that looks like the French Riviera, with cloth cabanas and poolside drink service. It’s very sophisticated, but I’d still rather hang out at the one that has all the fish.
In all, we had a great time on Hawaii Island, discovering new ways to enjoy our own backyard, while taking the time to reconnect as husband and wife before making the transition to dad and mom. And who knows- now that we’ve sized up both resorts for the baby-friendly factor, we’re thinking about returning again after Olivia is born.
*This is an unbiased write up. We have no connection to or relationship with Kona Village Resort or Four Seasons Hualalai.
Are you thinking about taking a babymoon? Here’s a website I found that lists resorts that actually cater to pregnant customers: www.babymoonfinder.com.
CELEBRITY SUITCASE: What can’t they travel without?
Juliet Lighter - TV host, model, former Miss Hawaii USA, & graduate student
“There are four things I must travel with: Ipod, lotion, hand sanitizer, and water. I love music, and having an Ipod handy keeps me from being bored on the plane as well as relaxes me if I get agitated. I am claustrophobic, and having a middle seat or a small seat on coach makes me break out in cold sweats.
I need to have moisturizer because, coming from humid Hawaii, my skin dries out quickly on the plane. I carry hand sanitizer because I’m germ-phobic. I use it before I eat and after I’ve touched bathroom doors. And I carry water all the time because hydration is important. In fact, I think I get dehydrated quicker than most people due to the claustrophobia. I lose water when I have cold sweats.
My need for space means I only want to travel first class now. It’s so important to me, I wait until I have enough miles or money for an upgrade, because – jokes aside – sitting in coach makes me feel lousy!”
Juliet values the cultural eye-opening that travel can provide; so much so, that she says she would rather not shop for six months and save up for a trip!
Juliet Lighter is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in communications at Hawaii Pacific University. She graduates in December 2007, and plans to give herself a long tour of Europe as her graduation present. When she’s not studying, she models and hosts Hawaii’s Reel Stories on OC16.
Juliet has been to nearly a dozen countries. Her love of travel began with a high school exchange program that sent her to the USSR for half a year. In 2007 alone she will have been to Japan, the Philippines, China, New York, Las Vegas, San Diego, and the aforementioned European vacation.
FUN FINDS
Think you know what kind of traveler you are? Think again. Take this quiz to find out your travel personality type and the destinations that suit you best.
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/quizzes/profiler/profiler
Here's a snippet of the answer that came back for me. I'd say it's mostly true, except I don't think of myself as "jet set" and the lack of a comfortable bed isn't a deal breaker for me.
You are a "Mid-Venturer Traveler."
You have an insatiable intellectual curiosity, abundant common sense, and a friendly, outgoing personality. This combination of character traits usually contributes to success in your career. You are likely to hold a senior position of responsibility in your company and will continue to advance in the future. You're also an opinion leader. Others look to you for guidance and direction on what to buy, choices to make in their lives, and the kinds of trips that they might like to take.
You love to travel, especially to foreign destinations and you seek new experiences and new destinations for almost all trips you take. You enjoy being physically active on trips but unlike your "pure venturer" friends, you don't want to take such extreme vacations and are more likely to plan your trips—set an itinerary of places you want to visit and schedules when you will be there.
You also insist on a comfortable bed at night (sleeping under the stars generally doesn't interest you), a warm shower, and meals that you can trust rather than taking a chance on native foods. You listen carefully to the unique travel tales of your friends and associates, or read heavily, to learn about the hidden, out-of-the-way places that have not yet become popular or have only recently gotten some publicity. Another name for your group is the jet-set. Your interest in what's new and what's happening leads you to be one of the first to visit destinations that seem to have a new ambience, or book a few days at a new spa or resort you read about in a travel magazine, or tour a country that until recently was closed to visitors.
History holds a great fascination for many mid-venturers. But if you've seen Buckingham Palace and the Eiffel Tower, or traced Paul Revere's route in New England, you don't need to repeat the experience. Rather, you'd prefer to stop in lesser-known cities or seek out an ancient monastery or old fort that may not be listed in most guidebooks.
