Lodging at Hale Koa Hawaii

Author Message   Jeff Glanzer Intermediate Member Username: Jlglanzer Post Number: 136 Registered: 04-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.208 Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 02:57 am:    Irv, go the the halekoa.com web site and follow all of the links they have all of the shows, cost,menues for each resturant and prices for each meal, guests will get a room key that will allow them to purchase/enter at all of the facilities except the PX need that valuable ID!!.   Kenneth Wilson Member Username: Nokaoi27 Post Number: 36 Registered: 01-2008 Posted From: 98.232.87.0 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 08:22 pm:    Irv- To answer most of your questions: I do not believe there was tax added to meals at the Hale Koa, but I am less than certain about that. Most (if not all) of the major car rental companies on Oahu offer large capacity vehicles. I find the best deals on carrentals.com. I don't know if the Hilton still allows use of it's internet, but the Hale Koa does have wifi now (albeit at a daily rate). There are free to use picnic tables at Bellows as well as one of my favorite beaches on Oahu. Generally gentle waves, great for the little ones. There are many safe hikes on Oahu. There is one right on Bellows that identifies much of the plant life you are passing and gives you 3 options as to distance you want to travel (from 1 to 3 miles). I see lots of little ones on the hike to Diamond Head, but that seems a little more difficult. There is a nice short hike up at Kole-kole pass that leads to a sacrificial site. There is a short, level hike through a bamboo forest on the way to Pali that culminates at the ruins of Kamehameha III's summer mansion. The hike out to Kaena point from the Dillingham side is relatively flat and you pass by several tide pools teeming with sea critters. Lots of other choices that escape me at the moment. Lastly, the Hale Koa luau is almost as good as Germaine's or Paradise Cove, and much easier on the wallet. I think it was $45 per adult the last time we did it (over a year ago). I don't know the charge for children. I hope this helps. Ken   Irv Haynes New member Username: Norsseman Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 64.136.27.227 Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 04:02 pm:    We plan a second trip to the Hale Koa and have a few questions for all of you Hale Koa tourists? 1. As I remember the lodging is tax free, but is the restaurant bill tax free also? 2. We will be traveling with our daughter and son in-law and their two children who will be staying in an ajoing room if possible and this sounds like it is not always possible?? While eating in the Hale Koa restaurants will I have to show my ID so that our non-miitary son and daughter can eat with us? or will they be issued a temporaty pass card? Same goes for the health club and the ID issue.. 3. What rental car agencies offer a van or other large vehicle than can seat 4 large adults and 2 children under 6 years old? 4. Is the Hilton next to the Hale Koa still allowing Hale Koa guests to use the internet at the Hilton? 5. Are there picnic tables available at Bellows AFS? for day use? 6. Are there any safe hikes for children under 6 years of age on Oahu? 7. How good is the Hale Koa Luau? What is served and what is the cost for adults and children under 6? Thanks for any input I can get !   E.L.Fink Member Username: Yahootie Post Number: 37 Registered: 08-2009 Posted From: 70.216.133.165 Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 - 12:55 pm:    In Sept/Oct we stayed at The Lodge, K-Bay.   Philip D Watson Member Username: Olesarge69 Post Number: 17 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 76.208.56.34 Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 11:08 pm:    Sorry, I forgot to mention that depending on the day you check, many of the hotels at http://discounthotelshawaii.com are within walking distance of the Hale Koa facilities and the BFB. I just like to save money on rooms(I only plan on 6 hours or less in my room each day anyway) and spend the money saved on touring, visiting with SPATS at the BFB, eating wings at Hooters or ice cream at the Dole Plantation, watching the waves on the North shore, visiting the Punchbowl and hiking up Dimond Head just to name a few.   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 241 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.135.90 Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 01:17 am:    We also stayed at the Royal Alaka'i Inn for several nights for $39 per night ... but had to drive to facilities like the Hale Koa's pools, beaches, ocean view dining, BFB ... and military golf courses. We managed to suffer through two weeks Aloha and are looking forward to a REDO ... maybe at the 2010 BFB reunion. ~:-}   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 240 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.135.90 Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 12:52 am:    Staying at the Hale Koa is an option. No one is forced to stay there. Discount Hotels Hawaii ... is a commercial necessity with the depressed Hawaii tourist economy. Room vacancies are high, so discounted room prices are better for the hotelier than a vacancy. FHYL [A kanaka who now resides near Myrtle Beach, SC area where similar business practices are being employed because of the depressed tourist economy.] PS: I was in Hawaii Oct 25th - Nov 11th, spent several nights at the Hale Koa ... at room rates far better than the Waikiki Sheraton or the Hilton Hawaiian Village where my friends were staying. And our accomodations, facilities, grounds, beach & Bare Foot Bar were superior. No complaints from this Vet.   Jeff Glanzer Intermediate Member Username: Jlglanzer Post Number: 124 Registered: 04-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.208 Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 12:38 am:    Philip, I think I am going to stick up for Lyle and the Hale Koa. You are right discount hotels are cheaper. How many of them have an adult pool and hot tub, Point facilities, PX/BX, Bibas, Luau, snack shops, Church, bar, Beach within 30 yards and 60 acres. I agree if you only want to go to Hawaii and stay at Hickam or Pearl Harbor or a discount and not go into town that is also cheaper. A Garden View room with a king size bed is a very good bargin. Phil, I would be interested in a discount hotel that you would recommend.   Philip D Watson Member Username: Olesarge69 Post Number: 14 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 70.224.39.65 Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 12:13 am:    In my opinion the Hale Koa is a rip off to the veterans. Discount Hotels Hawaii is much cheaper. http://discounthotelshawaii.com/   Lyle Miller Member Username: Yellowstone Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2009 Posted From: 98.66.134.78 Posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 12:43 am:    This is just a short report on our recent stay at The Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu. Our dates were: Oct. 22 - 30th. Flew into Hickam Space A and decided to use The Bus. Purchased a 4 day pass for $25 ea. [we are not 65 as yet] After that 4 day pass was up we purchased another - some may not agree but we loved this and truly got our money out of these passes as we were on the bus going everywhere 3-4 times a day. We would just hop on, look for a good place to eat, etc. and then hop back on later. Well back to the Hotel. We had a swell time and the rooms are great. We had been to the Hale Koa about 3 years ago. Each day when I called to get other lodging at Hickam it was never available. You had to start calling at 6 a.m. and if you were lucky enough to get a room they said each day would be the same. So I just decided to give up on this. Other lodging on the island was not convenient to using The Bus. Also I know the bus states no luggage, but we only had 1 - 22 inch case and 2 carry on's so it was not a problem with the bus driver. Taxi from Hickam to Hale Koa would be from $40-$50 depending on traffic. Hale Koa also charges $7 per day for parking in the garage across the street. One thing to remember about the Hale Koa when you book a room and for some reason you cannot make it, space a problems or whatever you have lost your first nights stay. Also if you declare that you will check out on a certain date and change your mind and want to check out 1 day early, you also loose that nights stay as well. They tell me if you have an emergency like illness, etc. they might consider waiving that policy. We were able to get a room at Hickam on our very last night but due to this policy I had to cancel the room at Hickam when I discovered this policy. I think I was so excited at check-in I did not recall this policy. But it is not a new policy and the same thing applies to Shades of Green in Florida. But the Hale Koa has it all. Great restaurants, the beach, oh the beach, and the pools, the hot tub. Oh I wish I was back right now. One day we rode the bus up to Sunset Beach and went snorkeling in a cove and the little fish were the best ever. What a wonderful trip.