Visit Hawaii: Fairmont Orchid Hawaii

1. Location

Fairmont Orchid Hawaii (fomer Orchid at Mauna Lani) has a fairly secluded oceanfront location on the North Kona Coast. Kona town, with many restaurants, shops and art galleries, is a 30-min drive away.

The hotel's two 6-story wings curve like a horseshoe in front of a white-sand beach. This set-up allows most unobstructed views of the ocean. From almost anywhere on the property, you can see a colorful mix of ocean, mountains, black lava and tropical gardens.

Courtyards, waterfalls and fountains tucked away throughout the grounds will constantly suprise and delight you. One jacuzzi, for example, is hidden among the bushes at the foot of a rocky watercourse - a perfect romantic hideaway.

The open lobby at Fairmont Orchid Hawaii gives you a great shot of the grounds, especially at night, when all paths are lit by tiki torches. The lobby itself is quite a sight too - it is opulently decorated with crystal chandeliers and silk wall coverings.

2. Rooms

Pastel-colored rooms at Fairmont Orchid Hawaii are decorated in European rather than Hawaiian style. Your room will have an Italian marble bathrooms and private lanai with beautiful view of the ocean or garden. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing along the shoreline, or sipping an evening cocktail on your lanai while looking at the torch-lit gardens below.

The bed is very comfortable. Fairmont Orchid Hawaii uses high-quality bedding that's a mix of foam and feather pillows.

There are 540 rooms. Each room has:

522 sq ft
Beds: 1 king or 2 queens
Air-conditioning
Private lanai
Large-screen TV with cable, on-demand movies, video games, and express check-out
Fully-stocked mini-bar
3 telephones
Writing desk and chair
Coffee maker upon request
Wooden valet clothing stand
Spacious marble bathroom with separate shower, double vanity and telephone
Make-up mirror
Light cotton bathrobes
Luxurious toiletries
Hair dryer
Iron and board
Free in-room safe
Free daily newspaper
Maid service twice per day
Room service

3. Restaurants

Fairmont Orchid Hawaii has 8 restaurants and bars, including:

1) Kahakai Bar
This bar is set up as a classic Hawaiian beach bar, from thatched roof to refreshing trade winds and billion-dollar views of Mauna Kea Mountain and the blue Pacific. It serves a variety of tropical libations and mouth-watering pupus (appetizers).

2) Brown's Beach House
This restaurant is a "must" if you want a quintessential island dining experience. Chef Etsuji Umezu creates innovative, island-inspiring dishes with emphasis on super-fresh seafood. Entertainment by Hawaiian duos Nino and Kevin, or Grant and Moku, plus an entrancing hula dancer will make your evening unforgettable.

3) The Grill
The restaurant's koa-paneled walls and elegant white linen, sunsational wine lists and service, and guitar performance by Charles Michael Brotman will satisfy even the most discriminating diner. Food is an interesting mix of contemporary culinary style and classical technique.

4) The Orchid Court
This restaurant is one of Big Island's favorite breakfast places. It serves tempting a la carte items and sumptous buffet. Buffet includes delicious chicken apple, pork link and Portuguese ausages, crispy apple wood smoke bacon, made-to-order egg station with omelets and egg subsitutes cooked any way you want them, bagels with all the works, including lox and capers, fresh baked pastries, muffins and breaf, cereals, fresh tropical fruit and melon, yogurt, Japanese miso soup and tsukemono, fresh fish of the morning, potato dish of the day, not to mention the chef's daily special like crepes, Belgian waffles or macadamia nut pancakes. Have a wonderful morning!

5) The Paniolo Lounge and Polo Bar
Enjoy a relaxing game of billiards or board games in the comfortable and classy lounge. Sink into a handsome, oversized leather couch and have an appetizer from the pub-style menu. Indulge in a fine selection of cordials, gourmet coffee drinks, spirits, desserts and fine cigars.

6) Norio's Sushi Bar & Restaurant
This recently opened restaurant is already very popular among visitors and locals. Chef Norio's menu includes exceptionall fresh seafood such as sea urchin eggs (uni), Hawaii-raised abalone, octopus (tako), tempura dishes, sushi and sashimi.

4. Things to do

Beach Activities
Most of the shoreline is rocky and not very good for swimming, but great for walking around and watching gracious sea turtles that populate this area. To compensate for the lack of natural beach, Fairmont Orchid Hawaii built a white-sand lagoon with calm waters for swimming and snorkeling. It is surrounded by many lounge chairs and sun shades, and you can always find a good spot without feeling crowded.
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii offers many ocean activities like kayaking, canoe paddling, scuba diving, including reasonably priced lessons and equiment rentals.
Pool
10,000 sq ft heated pool with several lagoons is decorated with lava rock to remind you of the Big Island's volcanic origins. Althought the pool has not fancy slides (just a voleyball net in one area), it makes a beautiful and elegant impression. Pool complex also includes children's sand-bottom pool and 2 tidal pond whirlpools.
Free Morning Coffee
Complimentary coffee bar opens at 6:30am every morning outside the Orchid COurt restaurant. You can grab a cup of Kona blend coffee or tea, pick up a Wall Street Journal off the nearby table, and head back to your lanai or to the beach for an early morning walk before breakfast.
Spa
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii wanted to create a spa where Nature contributes to your wellness treatment, so they opened the outdoor Spa Without Walls in December 2003.
At Spa Without Walls, you can choose between garden and oceanside facilities. Maybe you would like a lomi lomi massage on the beach? Or a no-oil Thai massage in a wooden tea house next to the waterfall?
Spa grounds are full rainforest plants, blooming orchids, towering banana trees and coconut palms that create shade and beauty at every turn. 10 island-inspired waterfall massage houses are located amidst all this lushness and surrounded by a network of streams, waterfalls and lily ponds.
Down at the ocean's edge, you will find 5 new private oceanfront massage cabanas. Here, the gentle caress of tradewinds and awe-inspiring views are part of every treatment.
The spa's indoor facility includes fully equipped fitness center, 6 treatment rooms, steam room, dry sauna, and a resting room with complimetary herbal teas.
36-hole Golf Course
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii is adjacent to the Francic H. I'i Brown GOlf Course, a beautiful and challenging course for pros and amateurs alike. Conde Nast Magazine continuously rate it as one of the world's top courses. Golf Magazine called it "one of the most breathtakingly beautiful seaside golf courses in the world".
The course has two distinct 18-hole complexes, the South and North Course (par 72 each). The South Course was built on the prehistoric lava flow. It snakes through stark, rugged a'a lava. Volcano goddess Pele reigns supreme on this course. If she favors you, balls hit into the lava will miraculously bounce back into the fairway. If not, kiss them good-bye. Aside from great golf, this challenging course offers you a range of mountain ocean views.
The North Course is excellent for tournament play. It is characterized by rolling terrain and kiawe (mesquitee) groves. Trees often come into play on this course. Another challenge is herds of feral goats that often roam the course all day, from hole to hole.
Children's Program
The Keiki Aloha Children's Program specialized in fun and educational activities, like cave explorations, eel feeding, sand castle building, lei making, for children 5-12 years old. The camp runs 9am-4pm Mon-Fri (cost is $60 in 2004, including lunch). It also has a special Sat afternoon program (petroglyph hike) and Sat evening program (dinner and a movie).