Hualalai Magazine - Winter/Spring 2024

HUALĀLAI WINTER /SPRING 2024

New Frontiers Dive into Hualālai’s exclusive sea and land experiences

PLUS LUXE INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING SHORING UP HAWAI‘I’S CORAL REEFS PLAYING WITH PGA GREATS & MORE

Hualälai Realty

AT HUALĀLAI REALTY, it is our privilege to help you find the perfect Hualālai home. As Hualālai Resort’s exclusive on-site real estate office, we are the experts in this luxury niche market, having closed more than $2.9 BILLION since 1996.

We focus 100% of our efforts on sales at Hualālai. We look forward to sharing our insights and unique listings with you, and providing incomparable service for all of your real estate needs at the world’s premier residential resort.

72-127 Pu`ukole Street For information, please call 808.325.8500

THE TEAM

Rob Kildow R(B)

Regina Stuard R(B)

Ku’uipo Valenzuela R(S)

Chieko Madenokoji

R(S)

Vivian Tobias R(S)

April Carty

STOP BY OUR OFFICE NEAR THE HUALĀLAI TRADING COMPANY WATCH US ON THE IN-ROOM REAL ESTATE CHANNEL 2 CALL US AT 808.325.8500 OR VISIT US AT HUALALAIREALTY.COM Access to and use of private amenities at Hualālai Resort is available only to Hualālai Members. Hualālai Membership is not included with a purchase of a property. See Membership plan and other governing documents for terms, conditions and costs. Obtain the Property Report or its equivalent required by Federal and State law and read it before signing anything. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of the property/properties shown here. Warning: The California Department of Real Estate has not inspected, examined, or qualified this offering. All residential sales offered by Hualālai Residential LLC dba Hualālai Realty. © 2023 Hualālai Realty.

“The stunning pod-style home is all about merging exterior and interior and moving effortlessly between the two.” PA G E 3 0

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ROUNDS OF APPL AUSE

E komo mai, welcome: a letter of greetings

When the Mitsubishi Electric Championship returns to Hualālai, so

and good tidings to our Hualālai ʻohana of

will some of its most ardent fans—pros who tee up at the tournament

residential Members and Resort guests.

year after year. B Y L A R R Y O L M S T E D ; P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B R YA N A P P E LT

HUAL ĀL AI MOMENTS

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ONLY AT HUAL ĀL AI

Indelible images of Hualālai living, from

From free diving with a spearfishing champion to forging knives with

catching big air off the coast to serving up

a third-generation blacksmith, these singular experiences can’t be

aces back at the Resort.

found anyplace else. B Y N I C O L A C H I LT O N

THE FRONT NINE

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SEA KEEPERS

A quick swing through the latest news,

Hualālai’s natural resources team is joining in a decade-long effort to

views, and happenings at Hualālai.

shore up Hawaiʻi’s endangered coral reefs. B Y G I N A D E C A P R I O V E R C E S I

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ANDREW RICHARD HARA; BRYAN APPELT

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP; HENRY HOUGHTON; SARA LEE;

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ALOHA

WINTER /S PRING 2 02 4

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GOING WITH THE FLOW This beautifully designed Hualālai home is indooroutdoor living at its best. B Y L O R I B R YA N ; PHOTOGR APHY BY HENRY HOUGHTON

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ROOM WITH A VIEW A land-and-sea panorama is the main attraction at this perfect perch.

ON THE COVER Free diver Kimi Werner. P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y P E R R I N J A M E S

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WILLMANINTERIORS.COM

P: 808/887-1719

hualālai moments

SEA AIR Cliff jumping on the south side of Hawaiʻi Island, with Hualālai’s Alakaʻi Nui as home base

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SARAH LEE

hualālai moments

AQ UAT I C L I F E Enjoying one of the two pools at the Members-only Hualālai Canoe Club

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DANA EDMUNDS

hualālai moments

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A L L AC E S

DANA EDMUNDS

Playing on one of Hualālai’s pro-level Laykold tennis courts

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WELCOME TO HUALĀLAI OCEANFRONT SPLENDOUR IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH NATURE Surrounded by white-sand beaches and black-lava landscapes, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai is perfectly situated for all kinds of island adventures. The spirit of Hawai‘i, from its long-held traditions to its inspired art, informs every detail of our idyllic retreat.

the front nine

A QUICK SWING THROUGH THE LATEST NEWS , VIEWS , AND HAPPENINGS AT HUALĀLAI

ANDREW RICHARD HARA

1 A CUT ABOVE Chef Nuri Piccio’s omakase dinner takes center stage Saturday evenings at ʻUlu Ocean Grill, with communal dining for up to eight guests. Piccio curates a unique menu weekly, featuring a mouthwatering multicourse experience that combines ingredients, both local and Japanese, with traditional preparations and a touch of the modern. Courses transition from an array of otsumami (small dishes) to sushi.

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After starters like sashimi and Resort-cultivated shrimp and oysters, there might be chawanmushi, a savory egg custard with truffles, lobster, and uni, followed by grilled A5 Wagyu beef served with wasabi and jalapeño ponzu. Make sure to save room for delights from executive pastry chef Kalani Garcia and his team, such as the matcha “Kit Kat” with white chocolate and yuzu gelée. 808.325.8135

the front nine

2 Game On A spectacular experience awaits at Hualālai’s newly renovated Ke‘olu Golf Course. On the heels of a two-year rejuvenation, the Members-only course is ready just in time for the Thanksgiving and Festive holidays. Designed by the late Tom Weiskopf, Ke‘olu debuted in 2002, and while the course has always had regular upkeep, such as verticutting and aeration, it had not received a major refresh until now. ing Bermuda grass to Paspalum on the tees, fairways, roughs, and greens, as well as the driving range,” says Dan Husek, director of golf maintenance. “Paspalum tends to be more salt tolerant and has a brilliant emerald green appearance.” Removing the top four inches of sand or organic-matter buildup has restored the greens to their original condition. “All of this,” Husek says, “has produced an even more exceptional golf experience.”

2) ETHAN TWEEDIE; 3) DANA EDMUNDS; 4) ANNA PACHECO

“The biggest part was conversion of the exist-

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3 Paddle Up With three new courts, Hualālai is the place to be for

players are needed, the club’s pros have been known to step in.

round-robins of pickleball. Members and guests team up for

The pickleball round-robins are complementary and tend to

the tournaments, which the Hualālai Tennis Club hosts during

be a bit more social than the tennis round-robins. Clinics take

the Festive season, spring break, and summer. Doubles compe-

place daily from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and beginner classes are

tition is open to pickleballers of all skill levels, with a maximum

every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Members and guests are

of 16 participants. “Twelve players is perfect, so no one needs

also invited to drop in to play on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4

to sit out,” says Mark Willman, director of tennis. Where more

p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 808.325.8460

4 FULL BLOOM In the Hawaiian Islands, May Day is Lei Day, and to mark the lively spring celebration, Hualālai will once again welcome students from Kailua-Kona’s Kealakehe Intermediate School. The students’ performance for the Resort’s Members—a tradition since 2000— will include Hawaiian song and dance. The participating students—members of a “Royal Court”—are nominated by teachers, based on academics and citizenship, and then voted on by their peers to represent the school. Colorful and heartfelt, the event, along with the Member community, has grown over the years. What started out as an intimate show at the Residents’ Beach House now has a larger audience, who will enjoy the 2024 festivities at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai’s Hoku Amphitheater.

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ANNA PACHECO

the front nine

5 TWENTY YEARS OF ‘OHANA The Hualālai ‘Ohana Foundation is celebrating two decades of giving. A gala jubilee, held at the Resort in July, marked the 20-year anniversary of the nonprofit’s founding by a group of Hualālai residents to support the Resort’s most valuable asset—its workforce ‘ohana. From the start, the organization provided scholarships for private K-12 education and financial aid for those with exceptional medical needs, and since then, it has grown significantly, assisting nearly 10,000 individuals with donations totaling $19.5 million. The anniversary gala and fundraising efforts add nearly $860,000 to that amount, in keeping with the foundation’s mission: “With love, help others be helped: Such is a family relationship.” 808.325.4701

the front nine

6 BREACHING MOMENT Be there when a humpback whale—fresh off its 3,000-mile journey from Alaska— frolics in Hawaiʻi’s warm waters. Though not guaranteed, such experiences are entirely possible, especially with advance planning. The mammals begin to appear in Hualālai’s offshore waters as early as

October, with the peak season for a whale watch charter being December through February, according to Trent Fischer, director of the Alaka‘i Nalu (Leaders of the Waves). Hualālai Members and Four Seasons guests can book a three-hour private charter for up to six people on Alaka‘i Nui,

the Resort’s new 46-foot center console catamaran, or a two-hour private charter for 14 max on its 29-foot Ribcraft. Though Alaka‘i Nui is the more upscale option, with a food and beverage menu and space to spread out, both get guests to where the action is. 808.325.8126

7 Beach House Classics For decades, Big Daddy cocktails have been a mainstay at the Residents’ Beach House, and while the restaurant’s signature RBH Mai Tai was its fi rst 24-ouncer, now there are four more oversize concoctions to sip and savor: Spiked Mango, Kiawe Heat, Beach House Tonic, and Rosé All Day. The alcoholic drinks are as popular as 6) TRENT FISCHER; 7) ANNA PACHECO

ever, according to Nic Trim, general manager of both the Residents’ Beach House and the Members-only Hualālai Canoe Club. “The idea,” Trim says, “was to create a large, refreshing cocktail that couples could share while enjoying sunset pupu.” 808.325.8126

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Seaside Boutique

The true definition of resort luxury found here at Seaside Luxe,Seaside Beach, and the Club Shop For more information call 808-325-8459 or visit www.hualalairesort.com

the front nine

8 Cropping Up Again Hualālai-grown oysters are back on the

Kelsey Makida. “In May 2023, following a

before being given to, and distributed by,

menus at select restaurants following a

six-month cultivation process, harvesting

the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai’s butcher

three-year pandemic pause in cultivation

began again, and we are now delivering

department, Makida says. At times they are

by the Resort’s natural resources team.

500 oysters to our on-property restaurants

featured in delicious dishes at Beach Tree

“The oyster program was developed here in

each week.” The Pacific oysters, raised in

and Ke‘olu restaurants, and they always

2015 and continued up until the 2020 shut-

the property’s Pūnāwai Lake, are hand-

go over swimmingly at ‘Ulu Ocean Grill &

down,” says marine husbandry specialist

graded for quality and approximate size

Sushi Lounge. 808.325.8126

9 BEYOND HOSPITALITY

S E C T I O N BY M A R G A R E T K E A R N S

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8) DANA EDMUNDS; 9) COURTESY OF HAWAI’I ISLAND CHARITY WALK

Over the past 44 years, Hawai‘i Island has raised more than $6 million for the Hawai‘i Island Charity Walk—part of a statewide event through the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association that supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations—and planning is now underway for the 2024 event. To be held in May at Waikoloa Beach Resort’s Queens’ Marketplace, the fundraiser will see participants following a 6K course and enjoying delicious food and entertainment afterward. Each year, Hualālai Resort employees raise the bar for giving, spearheading their own fundraising activities, from bake sales to local-product raffles, to supplement the funds raised on event day. “For more than four decades, the Charity Walk has been a symbol of unity and compassion,” says Charlie Parker, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai’s regional vice president and general manager, and chair of the Hawai‘i Island Charity Walk. “It’s the one day each year when the hospitality industry comes together to champion the cause and show our appreciation for all the critical nonprofits here on the island.”

FA C E S O F H UA L Ā L A I Many of the Hualālai staff who strive to make your stay spectacular spend their downtime enriching the lives of more people in their communities. Here, we catch up with three members of our Hualālai

MCAFEE-TORCO, HIRAISHI: ANNA PACHECO; KAPUA: HEAVEN MCARTHUR

family—our ʻohana—who volunteer their time and talents to help Hawaiʻi’s children.

Everyone at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai is happy to see Jerry Hiraishi.

He’s the one who supplies the property’s various restaurants and retail outlets with the cash they need to serve their customers—Hualālai’s Members and guests. And most employees at the Resort do indeed know him. During his 25 years in his role as accounts payable and general cashier, Hiraishi estimates that he has instructed more than 500 manager-in-training candidates.

What they might not know about is Hiraishi’s longtime passion for baseball and softball. He started playing at age five, he coached his son’s baseball team, and around 2010, he started coaching his granddaughter’s softball team.

The then-nine-year-old had given him an ultimatum: If he didn’t coach, she wouldn’t play.

That granddaughter has since aged out of youth softball, but Hiraishi is still in the game, as head coach of the Gold Coast team of West Hawaiʻi. He has seen postseason success, most notably in 2018, when his all-star roster of 13- to 16-year-old girls made it to the Senior Little League World Series. Played in Roxana, Del., that year, the team got as far as the semifinals. Now he is coaching another granddaughter, in the 12-and-under division, as well as softball at Kealakehe High School.

“I’m so involved with softball,” Hiraishi says. “I do it for the kids. I do it for them, to make them happy, and for the love of the game.” —SHEIL A GIBSON STOODLEY Though Kaʻaiʻōhelo McAfee-Torco is relatively new to the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, having become its cultural manager in 2022, she has already introduced several engaging initiatives at the property’s Ka‘ūpūlehu Cultural Center: weekly language classes to mark Hawaiian Language Month (February); a look at Hawaiian history through fashion, such as the mu‘umu‘u; and more.

Before joining Hualālai, McAfee-Torco taught Hawaiian studies for nine years in K-12 public and private schools. A

a member of the ‘Ohana Wa‘a Polynesian voyaging community, a network of people who support and promote the spread of native mariner knowledge, and she personally participated in a threemonth sailing expedition on board the canoe Hōkūleʻa.

She sees similarities between her audiences at the Resort and in the enrichment program. “Waʻa kaulua (voyaging canoes) can teach us life lessons that are applicable not only on the ocean but also on land. They reflect communities that are thriving with native resources from the mountains to the sea.” —S.G . S.

Hualālai staff members (from top) Kaʻaiʻōhelo McAfee-Torco, Kekoa Kapua, and Jerry Hiraishi volunteer to help keiki (kids) in Hawaiʻi.

native Hawaiian who grew up speaking Hawaiian and English, she maintains her connection to kids through her work with the La‘i‘ōpua 2020 Enrichment Program, which is expected to serve more than 1,000 students in 2023. The initiative is multipronged, but McAfeeTorco concentrates on presentations involving La‘i‘ōpua, a 25-foot, doublehulled sailing canoe built according to native principles and practices. She is

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At the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, recreation means something specific: the Resort’s pools, its beach service, and its related food and beverage service. If you haven’t personally encountered the director of recreation, Kekoa Kapua, you have almost certainly met some of his team of 80 while you lounged on the beach, floated in a pool, or relaxed in a cabana. “It’s the space guests spend the most time in,” says Kapua. “Our team plays a vital role in the guest experience.”

Kapua’s day at the Resort starts at 6 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m., and he patrols his vast realm sans golf cart, Segway, or scooter. “I’m doing a lot of steps,” he says. “Everything is on foot. It keeps you tanned and in shape.”

Away from work, Kapua and his wife serve on the board of Humanity Hale, a nonprofit founded in 2019 by their friend, Charis Higginson, to support and assist Hawaiian children in the foster care system, as well as other islanders between the ages of eight and 17 who have experienced, or are experiencing, trauma. The charity’s goal is to create and run a foster group home to serve this population.

Kapua, now a father of two, had a difficult and challenging childhood. “I know the trauma these kids are living,” he says, explaining why his work with Humanity Hale is so important to him.

“I had people who changed the course of my life. I hope to be that person for others.” —S.G.S.

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship returns to the Hualālai Golf Course in January. Here, PGA Tour champion Steve Stricker approaches the 18th green.

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Some of the biggest fans of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai are the pros who return to play it year after year.

BY LARRY OLMSTED P H O T O G R A P H Y BY B R YA N A P P E LT

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rounds of applause

ualālai has hosted the Mitsubishi Electric Championship since 1997, and when the tournament returns this winter, the pros will be back, too, for reasons beyond what you might expect. Sure, the Hualālai Golf Course makes the Best in Hawai‘i lists of Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and Travel + Leisure ranks it among the best on the Big Island.

The quality and scenic beauty of the Jack Nicklaus design, plus the opportunity to score very well, explain why golfing travelers love it. But for the world’s top professionals, there’s more to it—a lot more.

The stars who tee it up here each year are champions, accustomed to playing the best courses in the world, public and private. Yet these legends of the game look forward to coming back each January to kick off the PGA Tour Champions season—so much so that many consider it their favorite tournament of the year and bring their families for a working vacation.

“If they are playing here, they have already accomplished something big,” says Brendan Moynahan, Hualālai’s director of golf. “It’s just an incredible field—major winners, Hall of Famers—and they love the event and the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai.”

“I always say God spent overtime when he created this place,” says Masters and British Open champion Bernhard Langer, the winningest player in Tour Champions history. “The colors are so magnificent: black lava rock and the white sand in the bunker, then the green grass, the blue sky, the ocean that has five different shades of blue. It’s just a beautiful place.”

That natural beauty is often accentuated by the time of year, when jumping whales can often be seen just offshore. The timing of the tour-

Darren Clarke, and Alex Čejka on the Hualālai

nament also adds to its allure for the golfers. “It’s the beginning of a

Golf Course’s famed 17th hole.

new year, the guys are all so excited to see each other again, they’re

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“If they are playing here, they have already accomplished something big.”

— B R E N D A N M OY N A H A N , Hualālai’s director of golf

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rounds of applause

“I always say God spent overtime when he created this place.”

—BERNHARD LANGER, Masters and British Open champion

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such good friends,” Moynahan says. “The first year that Darren Clarke played, he went to practice and Colin Montgomerie was on the range, and they talked for an hour and a half, like schoolgirls. These guys are tight. Vijay Singh has a home on Hawai‘i; he plays the course when on the island. We’ve hosted the tournament since ’97, and Hale Irwin has been here for all of them. He still comes back for the pro-am; 2024 will be his 28th year.”

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship also offers a very special spectator experience and, for those fortunate enough to participate, not one but two full pro-ams benefiting several local charities, including the Big Island Junior Golf Association. Because the field is made up of senior major champions from the past five years and PGA Tour Champions winners from the last two, it has a smaller and far more star-studded field than most pro-ams. The Hualālai Golf Course is always in superb condition, the ocean views and final oceanfront holes are staggering, and the pro-am hospitality is among the best of any tournament, from the luxurious gift bags to the food, drink, and lavish accommodations.

The atmosphere is upbeat and fun for the spectators, who enjoy one of the least crowded of golf’s top professional events. “We’re lucky if we get a couple thousand people a day,” says Moynahan. (The biggest PGA Tour events, in contrast, can draw more than 100,000.) “If there’s a player you want to follow, you can, and you won’t be five deep at the ropes. You

Bernhard Langer (opposite) and Miguel Ángel Jiménez (above) know the Hualālai Golf Course well. Here, Langer plays hole 1; Jiménez plays hole 8.

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From free diving and surfboard shaping to blacksmithing and more, the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai’s exclusive experiences bring visitors into the very heart of Hawai‘i.

B Y N I C O L A C H I LT O N

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f working in a blacksmith’s forge and training for a triathlon don’t sound like parts of an amazing vacation, think again. These and other Only at Hualālai experiences are beyond fun and uplifting, transporting participants in ways they never imagined possible. Working with individuals who embody the islands’ spirit, the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai makes these unique adventures available to the Resort’s Members and guests, so that they can experience fi rsthand the many different facets of Hawaiian heritage and culture—elements that have always been at the heart of the Resort’s ethos.

“We’ve sought out people who are not only experts in their craft, but who also have distinct perspectives and stories to share, shaped by an appreciation of Hawai‘i’s natural environment and mana,” says Charlie Parker, the Resort’s regional vice president a nd genera l m a n ager.

Whichever experience you choose to embark upon, be it under the sea, on top of the waves, or high on a mountainside, you’ll head home afterward with a stronger bond to Hawai‘i, its illustrious people and unforgettable stories.

SARAH LEE

Longboard champion and alaia designer Bonga Perkins (see page 33) guides the Resort’s Members and guests in catching the wave of a lifetime.

SANDALWOOD REFORESTING WITH WADE LEE

◗ Wade Lee’s native Hawaiian ‘iliahi sandalwood forest is a serene spot on the slopes of Mauna Loa, and it is also the site of Hāloa ‘Āina, a reforestation project located on his family’s ancestral land that is home to around 500,000 trees. As you brunch in the shade, you’ll learn about the healing properties of sandalwood oil, and see firsthand how it’s extracted. In times past, the trees would have to be cut down to extract the oil, Hawaiian harvesters chanting in the forest to ask for their ancestors’ permission.

But today, Lee and family extract the oil from naturally deceased trees. “We only move as fast and produce as much as the land gives us,” says Lee, following the ancient Hawaiian ethos of taking care of the land so that the land takes care of you. After feeling the spirit of the forest, you’ll head back to the Resort for an ‘iliahi spa experience using sandalwood oil and powder harvested at Hāloa ‘Āina, along with energy work and a sound bath. It’s a soulful, soothing journey through the power of pure, natural, native sandalwood, and the perfect way to end a stay on the island.

Justin Lee (above, at right), son of Wade Lee (right), shows Resort guests the ‘iliahi trees about to be planted at the family’s reforestation project. Sandalwood oil harvested on-site is used in the Resort’s ‘iliahi spa experience.

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only at hualālai

SURFING AND BOARD SHAPING WITH BONGA PERKINS

◗ In Hawai‘i, the birthplace of surfing, many visitors enroll themselves in surf school. But stay at the Four Seasons and you’ll be able to take your Hawaiian surfing experience way further, shaping your own board and surfing it alongside Bonga Perkins, the Hawaiian waterman, surfboard designer, and two-time Association of Surfing Professionals World LongSANDALWOOD: ANDREW RICHARD HARA; BONGA PERKINS: SARAH LEE

board champion. This is a singular opportunity to soak up the surf culture of Hawai‘i and to experience what Bonga describes as “one of the best feelings in the world mentally, physically, and spiritually”—catching a wave. But not just any wave. This is a wave you catch on a traditional narrow, fin-free, wooden alaia surfboard that you’ve shaped yourself. “In ancient Hawai‘i, making a surfboard was a spiritual process, and surfing was an entire way of life,” says Perkins. “I still honor these practices in my craftsmanship today, and my passion for ocean culture is displayed in my commitment to sharing my knowledge.”

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only at hualālai

“The underwater ecosystems are thriving and colorful here, and it feels like I’m visiting a vibrant new world.”

— K I M I WE R N E R

FREE DIVING WITH KIMI WERNER

◗ Hawai‘i may be beautiful on land but it’s mesmerizing beneath the waves. “The underwater ecosystems are thriving and colorful here, and it feels like I’m visiting a vibrant new world whether I’m in 15 feet of water or out in the deep blue,” says Maui-born free diver Kimi Werner. Her considerable talents, including her ability to read the currents, sands, and reefs, make her the ideal guide for exploring that underwater world.

Werner accompanied her father spearfishing for dinner from the age of five, and later was crowned the United States National Spearfishing Champion. She tailors her free-diving experiences to the individual, meaning that even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be able to head into the deep with confidence.

“It’s very important to me to help people learn in small baby steps, in order to gently expand their comfort zone in a fun and invigorating way,” she says.

PERRIN JAMES

Free diver and spearfishing champ Kimi Werner helps Members and guests explore the underwater world.

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only at hualālai

“Knifemaking is my passion, my therapy, and my life. I pour everything into my knives.”

— N E I L KA M I M U R A

ANDREW RICHARD HARA

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BLACKSMITHING WITH NEIL KAMIMURA

◗ There’s something rock and roll about Neil Kamimura. The thirdgeneration blacksmith’s hand-forged knives, like his own tattoos, are works of art. “Knifemaking is my passion, my therapy, and my life. I pour everything into my knives,” he says. “They represent my home of Hawai‘i, my culture, and the people who surround me.” Join Kamimura for a day where the clink and clang of hammer on metal serves as the soundtrack to the peaceful setting of his forge, located in an old coffee farm in the Hualālai hills. You’ll learn how this former electrician shifted his focus to blacksmithing, and how he uses recycled metal salvaged from old cars for his blades, along with petrified wood, bone, and semiprecious stones for the handles. You’ll even turn your own hand to the task, creating a one-of-akind personalized knife, before sharpening your cutting skills in a class with an expert chef back at the Resort.

Guests who join blacksmith Neil Kamimura in his Hualālai hills forge learn firsthand how to craft a oneof-a-kind personalized knife, which, once inspected

by Kamimura himself, is theirs to keep and use in a culinary knife-skills class back at the Resort.

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only at hualālai

TRIATHLON TRAINING WITH IRONMAN DAVE SCOTT

◗ Dave Scott is a legend in the Hawaiian triathlon scene. The first person ever to be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame, Scott has won Hawai‘i’s Ironman World Championship an incredible six times. “Kona is a very special destination for me, and for all triathletes worldwide,” he says. And it’s here on Hawai‘i Island that he leads in-depth, hands-on training programs for Four Seasons guests looking to fine-tune the skills needed to participate in a triathlon. In addition to nutrition, strength, mobility, and flexibility, Scott’s five-day course focuses on each participant’s goals, whether that means improving your Ironman performance or simply getting active surrounded by Hualālai’s glorious scenery. “The premise of the camps,” he says, “is to open your horizons and expand your potential, inclusive of all ages and ability levels.”

Only at Hualālai, 808.325.8000

The legendary Ironman Dave Scott leads all aspects of his five-day triathlon training course, from biking on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and running along the Resort’s beach path to instructing participants before a swim at Kūki‘o Bay.

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JOHN SEGESTA

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Program specialist Madison Kearsey of Hualālai’s natural resources team observes corals in the Resort’s coastal waters—part of a broader effort to shore up reefs in the Hawaiian Islands.

DANA EDMUNDS

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MARINE SCIENTISTS, INCLUDING H UA L Ā L A I ’ S OWN , A R E D I VI N G I N T O A D E CA D E - LO N G S T R AT E G Y T O R E S T O R E A N D S A F E G UA R D H AWA I ʻ I ’ S E N D A N G E R E D CO R A L S .

BY G I N A D E C A P R I O V E R C E S I

T sea keepers

he turquoise waters surrounding Hualālai offer endless ways to explore the magic and beauty of the underwater world. Just a few fin kicks from shore, kaleidoscopic schools of tang, butterflyfish, wrasse, and surgeonfish glide through the reef that sprawls from Kūki‘o to Kahuwai Bay. Yet, despite the colorful corals and the proliferation of fish, this fragile marine ecosystem is in peril.

Between 2014 and 2015, a marine heat wave that migrated throughout the Pacific led to mass bleaching.

Between 38 percent and 92 percent of all coral colonies on North Kona and South Kohala reefs were partially or fully bleached. In the traditional ahupua‘a of Ka‘ūpūlehu, where Hualālai is located, coral cover decline was nearly 40 percent. In 2019, a second bleaching event took place, resulting in even more damage. “Temperatures were so high that our corals expelled the symbiotic algae that lives inside them and provides them with food,” says David Chai, Hualālai’s director of natural resources. “When that happens, you have live corals that are very severely stressed. Some of them will recover, but many won’t. And if they don’t, they die.”

Fortunately, researchers are developing techniques to help corals adapt to the rising ocean temperatures caused

by climate change: Enter Hawai‘i Coral Reef Strategy 2030. Developed by the Department of Land and Natural

In the Kona Coast waters off Hualālai Resort, Madison Kearsey (opposite) records her coral observations.

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TOP: DANA EDMUNDS; BOTTOM: ALLEN KENNEDY

FORTUNATELY, RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING TECHNIQUES TO HELP CORALS ADAPT TO THE RISING OCEAN TEMPERATURES CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

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sea keepers

S P R E A D I N G I T S WI N G S From bird habitats to marine reserves, The Nature Conservancy’s work is always evolving.

> For more than four decades, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked to revitalize and conserve ecosystems throughout the Hawaiian Islands. In its earliest days, TNC focused primarily on the archipelago’s native birds and their habitats, but since then, the organization, often in partnership with Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources and local community groups, has greatly expanded its efforts. Today these include everything from mapping ancient fishponds to banding shearwater chicks, studying opihi populations, reintroducing traditional farming practices, replanting native forests, and establishing nature preserves. In 2009, TNC began conducting fish surveys in Ka‘ūpūlehu to help the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Life Advisory Committee (KMLAC) create the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Reserve. Now, as fish populations in the reserve continue to grow, TNC and KMLAC have launched Kanu Ko‘a (see “Sea Keepers,” page 40), the first community-led coral restoration project to take place in Hawai‘i. —G .D.V.

Coral reef at Hualālai

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“KAʻŪPŪLEHU WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF TWO PILOT PROJECTS, ALONG WITH KEALAKEKUA BAY IN SOUTH KONA, TO SHOW THAT THESE TECHNIQUES WORK AND CAN BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE.” ­— D AV I D ­ C H A I ,­ Hualālai’s­director­of­ natural­resources

Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), Hawai‘i Coral Reef Strategy 2030 aims to protect and restore the state’s coral communities over the next decade, working to increase their resiliency and ensure their survival for years to come.

As part of the strategy, the DAR worked with scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to draft the Makai Restoration Action Plan. The plan calls for the creation of onshore and underwater nurseries where fragments of coral that survived recent bleaching events can be propagated and later reattached to the reef—a process called outplanting.

The plan’s contributors identified five reef regions in the Hawaiian Islands as focus areas for restoration, including the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Reserve, the protected stretch of coast fronting Hualālai. On October 30, 2023, TNC and the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Life Advisory Committee (KMLAC) held a ceremony to unveil Kanu Ko‘a (Planting Corals), the state’s first, community-led coral reef restoration initiative. As the project gets underway, Hualālai’s natural resources department, guided by Chai, will assist with monitoring coral health and growth rates.

“Ka‘ūpūlehu was chosen as one of two pilot projects, along with Kealakekua Bay in South Kona, to show that these techniques work and can be replicated elsewhere,” says Chai. “Everyone would like this to happen in other areas of Hawai‘i, but it has to be proven to be successful first. Hopefully we’re going to be able to show that.”

This isn’t the first time Chai and his colleagues have acted as stewards of the

ETHAN TWEEDIE

LEFT: ETHAN TWEEDIE

diverse ecosystems found at Hualālai. “It’s our mission as a department,” Chai says. “We were created to take care of places around the property the Native Hawaiian community has identified as traditionally and culturally significant.”

Over the years, that mission has inspired numerous projects at Hualālai, from restoring the property’s anchialine ponds and surrounding wetlands to designing a natural filtration system for Pūnāwai Lake, which now provides the Resort’s restaurants with fresh oysters and Pacific white shrimp.

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sea keepers

Chai is also a longtime member of the KMLAC. In addition to its work with Kanu Ko‘a, the community group was also responsible for establishing Ka‘ūpūlehu’s coastal fishing grounds as a no-take zone—a government-designated area where removal of resources is not allowed for 10 years—in 2016. Since then, Hualālai’s natural resources team has monitored the area, taking fish inventories and biomass counts to help document the remarkable species recovery that has taken place.

The existence of the marine reserve is one reason the Makai Restoration Action

LARGE WORKING GROUP WITH A

algae,” says Chai. “Coral spores can’t settle on algae; they need clean substrate or clean rock in order to grow. Fish, namely herbivores, keep rocks and dead corals clean so that the entire reef can recover.” Having the support of KMLAC also helped prioritize Ka‘ūpūlehu for restoration. “People here are all for it,”

LOT OF ACTORS

Chai says of the restoration initiative. “We have a large working group with a

WHO CAN BE

lot of actors who can be hands-on, and my crew is a part of that. So we have

HANDS-ON, AND

a lot of backing, both technically and physically, for this project.”

While these factors are crucial to the project’s success, the condition of

MY CREW IS A

Ka‘ūpūlehu’s corals may be the strongest indicator of a positive outcome. To

PART OF THAT.”

fragments of live coral that have detached from the parent reef and can be found

restore reefs, Chai explains, marine scientists need “corals of opportunity”—

­— D AV I D ­ C H A I ,­

on the ocean floor. Divers collect the broken corals and bring them to the sur-

Hualālai’s­director­of­

face to be examined for viability. Fortunately, corals of opportunity have been

natural­resources

discovered in abundance in Ka‘ūpūlehu’s waters. “If you look really carefully, you can see that they have tiny polyps,” Chai says. “So basically, we’re selecting the hardiest corals to propagate.” The live corals are cut with a jewelry saw into pieces, which scientists glue onto small disks. The disks are then placed on nursery tables 45-feet below the surface, and the bits of coral grow there until they’re large enough to be planted in the reef.

It’s a lengthy and laborious process that Hualālai is eager to support. One way of doing so is through education, which has always been integral to the Resort’s mission. “We love teaching guests about the value of our resources,” Chai says.

Both the Kumu Kai Marine Center and the Alaka‘i Nalu (Leaders of the Waves) offer numerous opportunities for Members and guests to cultivate an understanding of Hualālai’s wildlife and ecology, whether that means feeding the 60 species of fish that live in King’s Pond, searching for opihi in shoreline tide pools, or scooter snorkeling the Ka‘ūpūlehu coast. “Our programs give us the chance to share information about everything we have going on at Hualālai,” says Chai. “And that includes restoring our reefs.”

Although Kanu Ko‘a is in its infancy, the project is expected to continue for several years, giving Hualālai Members and guests lots of time to learn about the biological, cultural, and economic value of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs. For now, Chai and his crew will lend a hand wherever they’re needed. They’re also brainstorming ideas for relevant educational activities, from adopt-a-coral programs to snorkeling tours of coral habitats. “Our mission is to be good stewards of this place, and education is part of that,” says Chai. “Raising awareness about the things that harm Hawai‘i’s reefs—climate change, overfishing, ocean water pollution—and about what we can do to mitigate that damage, that’s really the bigger picture here.”

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HT: DANA EDMUNDS

“WE HAVE A

Plan selected Ka‘ūpūlehu as a pilot location. “Fish are key to keeping reefs free of

GOING WITH THE FLOW 48

Indoor-outdoor living is the essence of this enchanting Hualālai home.

BY LORI BRYAN

/

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HENRY HOUGHTON

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going with the flow hether ensconced on the lānais or in the living areas, the would-be owners of this Lau‘eki Street address will revel in Hawai‘i Island’s natural charms. The stunning pod-style home—designed by Zak Architecture, built by Metzler Contracting, and priced at $7.75 million—is supremely lifestyle oriented, and that way of life is all about merging exterior and interior and moving effortlessly between the two. Gentle ocean breezes and soothing natural light are features as much inside as outside the residence, which sits on a sweeping 23,647-square-foot lot blessed with Pacific Ocean and Haleakalā mountain views, spectacular sunsets, and ample seclusion within Hualālai Resort’s sprawling 865 acres. An infinity-edge pool, replete with a raised spa and poolside tiki torches, fronts three of the home’s four lānais, which seamlessly bridge outdoors and in.

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O PT I O N S O P E N With 3,802 square feet of interior living area, the home has limitless potential for entertaining guests or relaxing with family and friends. From the great room, which looks out to Maui’s dramatic Haleakalā Crater, to the kitchen and dining room, the floor plan brings everyone together gracefully in the shared spaces. The great room, with vaulted ceilings, wood beams, and bespoke finishes, is an ideal gathering space, featuring handmade terrazzo floors, as well as custom furnishings and fabrics by Donghia, Nancy Corzine, Robert Kuo, Sutherland, and John Hall Furniture. Just off the great room, an elegant formal dining room links to an open-air dining area on the lānai. The dining room flows naturally into the gourmet kitchen, but if desired, the kitchen can be closed off via pocket doors. Equipped with Bosch and Miele appliances, the kitchen is not only highly functional but also delightfully luxurious, with distinctive touches ranging from aluminum-edged green glass cabinets and Costa Esmeralda granite countertops to an eye-catching center island with a French lava stone surface and sleek bar seating.

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going with the flow

A glass door leads to the private outdoor shower garden, the epitome of the down-to-earth luxury of indoor-outdoor living.

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P R I M A R Y CO LO R S In the primary suite, a subdued palette puts the focus on the pops of color in the perfectly framed Hualālai landscape. Through the mahogany pocket, louvered, and screen doors, the owners access the hardwood lānai and the infinity-edge pool, taking in the vibrant blues and greens of the golf course, ocean, and Maui views. Back indoors, they can enjoy indoor viewings courtesy of a Sharp Aquos TV with home theater–caliber surround sound, or work in the en suite office. A spacious closet with custom cabinets provides plenty of room for apparel and finery. The en suite bathroom is similarly luxuriant, with a marble soaking tub, freestanding stone shower, and a double vanity with handcrafted Thassos marble countertops and custom THG hardware. A glass door leads to the private outdoor shower garden, the epitome of the down-to-earth luxury of indoor-outdoor living.

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going with the flow

S U I T E R E T R E AT When guests stay, they enjoy a detached bedroom suite that feels both connected to the property at large and set apart for privacy. Like the vaulted ceilings elsewhere in the home, the bedroom suite’s high ceiling lends an inviting airiness that permeates the entire space and extends outward to the beautifully landscaped lānai. The suite’s bathroom also offers a window on the lush green surrounds, bringing the outdoors inside a space that pampers with a trough-style double vanity, custom hardware from THG, and countertops of Thassos marble. Hualālai Realty, 808.325.8500

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72-146 LAUʻEKI STREET Price: $7,750,000 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 powder Interior Living: 3,802 sq. ft.

Covered Lānai: 1,258 sq. ft.

Garage/Storage: 696 sq. ft.

Under Roof: 5,756 sq. ft.

Lot Size: 23,647 sq. ft. hualalairealty.com

The suite’s high ceiling lends an inviting airiness that permeates the entire space and extends outward to the beautifully landscaped lānai.

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room with a view

LOUNGE ACT

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MICHAEL LEE

Reclining while taking in the scenery—that’s the ticket at this lānai off the primary suite of a Hualālai residence.

The panorama of the Pacific Ocean, the Kohala and Maunakea mountains, and Maui’s Haleakalā Crater (not shown) also includes, at closer range, the Resort’s immaculate greens and lush tropical gardens. The 4,449-square-foot, custom-pod-architecture home with three bedrooms and four bathrooms is truly a resort within a resort. Located on ‘Anea Street, on nearly three quarters of an acre, the property affords privacy but also proximity to Hualālai’s many amenities. The Members-only Ke‘olu Clubhouse is just a short walk away, and the ocean and shore activities are accessible via a quick golf-cart ride. Of course, staying on the home’s vista-blessed lānai or straying only so far as the pool might be all that needs doing. Hualālai Realty, 808.325.8500

Hawaii Four Seasons Hualalai, lower lobby Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Koa pond area Maui Four Seasons at Wailea Oahu Halekulani I Kahala Resort

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