b'and a multitude of restaurants with themes from China,and supporting the local community, says Scott Head, Italy, and elsewhere.longtime vice president operations for Waikoloa Land In the old days, travelers were content with a half- Company. Whether it be the many authentic cultural waydecentroom.Thencameswimmingpoolsandprograms found here on a daily and weekly basis, or nightclubs and, if you were lucky, some golf, Hemmeterhigh-quality entertainment that comes in for special occa-said at the time. But people are becoming blas to thosesions, resort visitors and the Hawaii Island community features. A smart developer today must have a vision ofalike benefit.romance and excitement that can be translated into aThe Amer Ari Invitational golf tournament brings top resort environment. collegiate talent to the Kings Course each year, giving The1980swereheadydaysinHawaii,andtheresidents and resort guests a chance to see budding super-Kohala Coast was one of the epicenters. By 1993, a tour- stars such as Jordan Speith and Matt Kuchar without the ism slump brought challenging economic times to thelarge crowds of the PGA Tour. Sporting events, includ-state, and Hilton Hotels Corporation and Colony Capitaling Lavaman and Ironman, use Waikoloa as a primary Inc. purchased the Hyatt. It has been very successfullyheadquartersandtrainingground.Oceanactivities, operated as Hilton Waikoloa Village ever since. such as the Great Waikoloa Canoe Race, help keep the traditional sport of Hawaiian paddling alive and thriv- ABOVE: A keiki hula T I M E L Y V I S I O N ing. Culinary events, such as the annual Poke Contest,dancer performs on Waikoloa Beach Resort, meanwhile, has continued toMealanis Taste of the Hawaiian Range, and the Hawaiione of Waikoloa Beach develop and expand. With Thos Rohr as president andFood & Wine Festival are all part of the Waikoloa BeachResorts many stages.chief creative thinker of Waikoloa Land Company, it wasResort calendar.the first resort along the Kohala Coast to build a shop- And slowly but surely, new timeshare and other real ping center, the Kings Shops, joined a few years later byestate development has moved ahead, giving longtime Queens MarketPlace. Many tourism industry insidersvisitors and new arrivals a place they can call home in thought this was untenable at the time, but in hindsightHawaii. As a sign of the times, a second entrance to the it was a prescient move, supporting small businesses, cre- resort opened in 2016 to accommodate the growth.ating local jobs, and serving resort guests.Waikoloa Beach Resort continues to be the gathering Waikoloa Bowl was built to host larger offerings suchplace of the Kohala Coast, 50 years and counting past its as 4th of July celebrations, food and cultural festivals,conception. For some, it is the ideal family getaway; for and occasional concerts. Hawaiian music, hula perfor- others, a couples paradise. Whether its a romantic dinner at mances, and educational programs are daily occurrencesone of the many excellent dining establishments, a morning around the resort, and on occasion mega-bands such asswim in the Pacific Ocean, a late afternoon round of family Chicago, Journey, America, and Earth, Wind & Fire havegolf, or the simple pleasure of a brilliant Waikoloa sunset, appeared to delight both guests and locals. Waikoloa Beach Resort is one of the Aloha States most EverythingwedoatWaikoloaBeachResortisenjoyable place to relax, renew, marvel, and dream.gearedtowardbothenhancingtheguestexperienceGeorge Fuller, Waimea, 20172 1'