The final day of my short trip to the Mauna Kea this past weekend could not be ending more beautifully or peacefully. For 30 years now, the Island has brought me home time and again, to a magical spot of relaxation and rejuvenation, filled with memories old and new. The unparalleled spirit of the property is very much alive and ready to welcome you, whether once again or for the first time. This I joyously offer you: “Nou kou hale.”
Tag Archives: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
“Nou Kou Hale”
Island Tears
At 2:30 PM the sky yields solid gray, the ground quickly grows more wet, and the wind of yesterday has ceased, as drops continue to bounce off the stillness of the suddenly darker ocean water. Not since 1994 have I personally witnessed such steady and prolonged rain on the usually sun-filled Kohala Coast. This weather is more rare than my filet last night, to say the least. The Island is crying, for reasons unclear. Nonetheless, of course my limited and cherished time back at Mauna Kea remains untarnished.
Another Day, But Not
Poolside always comes through as the prime spot for a comfortable afternoon nap, aided by a chilled Pinot Grigio no less. Plus with a rather sudden flare up of trade winds today, the grassy area around the pool has proven all the more a welcome refuge from flying sand. Not that I’m complaining; trade winds are a trademark of the Kohala Coast. And today they’ve come to wish Mr. Todd Mitchell a most happy 50th birthday. In paradise, another day it is, while any other day it is not.
Serenity Unchanged
At least the most important things don’t change. The Batik Room and the Mauna Loa Suite are no longer, and the price of a Hau Tree mai-tai continues to creep upward. Beyond this, however, comes the unmatched serenity of being back home at Mauna Kea. This above all else remains, along with the view from 736.
Ryan R. Sanderson 