It had been 20 years since I visited Hawaii, and it was my first trip to The Big Island.

With little to no idea what to expect, I trusted my native Hawaiian traveling partner to take care of choosing the best accommodations. Without hesitation, the first hotel she booked was Waikoloa Beach Marriott & Spa.

Situated off the Kohala Coast on The Big Island, Waikoloa is the kind of resort where the service and the scenery do the talking.

We arrived in the late afternoon and easily checked into our King-Sized suite, enjoying the ocean view from fourth floor.

After quickly dropping our luggage and grabbing dinner at a nearby restaurant called Lava Lava, I enjoyed my first Hawaiian sunset and began to recognize the peaceful nature of the place I had landed. Though I needed a good night’s sleep and some getting used to the new time zone, I could easily tell Hawaii, and Waikoloa in particular, had a great deal in store for me.

Up early the next morning, we walked through the hotel towards the ocean. The resort sits right next to a series of ancient fishing ponds where Hawaiian royalty were known to spend their time. This sacred area is beautifully preserved and is an unexpected buffer between the ocean and the resort that capitalizes on the culture of calm.

Once you pass through the fishing ponds, you walk directly on to Anaeho’omalu Bay. With driftwood, lava formations and plenty of sand and shallow water, Anaeho’omalu Bay is an easy way to begin your beach vacation. We wandered by foot across the lava rock, then sat in the chaises lounges, watching a family with their fishing poles, before deciding to leave the ocean view for a dip in the pool.

With three outdoor pools, a hot tub, and a water slide, we eased into the morning with a light swim before enjoying a continental breakfast at Hawaii Calls. A great meal to start my day, my plate was filled more than once with homemade banana bread, pineapple, papaya and fresh guava juice.

Each of the employees we encountered at the Waikoloa was kind, courteous and inquisitive. Many asked where I was from, if I’d ever been to Hawaii before, and how long I’d be staying on The Big Island. They also seemed to go out of their way to search for some sort of connection with my friend, the native Hawaiian tour guide who chose the resort. Upon discovering a mutual cousin or traced lineage to family, each would smile as if recognizing the other through this shared history.

In the end, I believe that’s the best way to describe the Aloha spirit … it’s a warm welcome of shared moments, an embracing of “island time,” a soft landing where relaxing and unplugging are ways of life.

Though I also spent time in Kona, Waikiki and Honolulu, Waikoloa set the tone for my Hawaiian vacation, one that only got better as the trip progressed.

More to come in future posts – Aloha!

— Carrie Cox, account executive