(Photo courtesy of Fairmont Orchid)

MEDIA RELEASE

From the turn of the century to the late 1950’s, spirited, ocean-wise and charming local boys gathered on Hawaiian beaches to share their knowledge of the ocean and the Hawaiian culture with visitors from around the world.

Those same eager visitors are still arriving daily and the tradition of “Beach Boys” lives anew at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii through the Hui Holokai Beach Club Program.

On the beach by 8 a.m. every day, members of the Hui Holokai Beach Club Program not only cater to the beach comforts of guests by setting up chairs and cabanas with towels and ice water, checking out beach equipment and educating guests about the pristine coral reef fronting the resort, but the real fun begins when they share their knowledge of Hawaii Island’s rich cultural heritage as well as their own Hawaiian legacies mixed alongside.

Guests of The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii have a variety of options to choose from during their stay, from participating in a weaving class using coconut and hala (pandanus) fronds, lei making oceanside on a grassy knoll, Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling in the open ocean, stand up paddle boarding in the bay, kayak fishing adventures and more.

Hui Holokai ambassadors lead botanical tours, “turtle talk” sessions (the real story behind the calmly-wise Hawaiian green sea turtles that bask on the shores fronting the hotel), and archeological hikes on the nearby petroglyph fields, the largest in the Hawaiian Islands.

The resort’s rich history reveals itself through their eyes as they guide visitors to ancient lava shelter caves and man-made fishponds stocked with seafood once restricted only to the ali’i (Hawaiian royalty) of old.

They often can be seen in the early evenings leading a string of playful keiki (children) behind them as they run the resort perimeter performing the nightly sunset torchlighting ceremony and blowing the pu (conch shell) to the four winds.

They’re just as often to be seen “talking story” (local term for chit-chat) with guests sharing legends and stories of old and modern Hawaiian life, or creating a lifelong memory sharing their secrets in a two-hour surf or stand up paddle board lesson by appointment.

While most of these listed activities are complimentary to guests, others are available by purchasing the hotel’s two optional activities packages for a one-time purchase, good for their entire stay.

If its outdoor adventure you seek, try the “Fun & Sun” package ($75 per adult/$65 child) or consider the “Paradise Within Wellness” package which includes daily floating yoga, pilates, relaxation and art classes ($150).

— Find out more:
www.fairmont.com/orchid-hawaii