[ SUNDAY TRAVEL ]
Birthday bash THE guests of honor can't eat cake and ice cream. Nor can they blow out candles and open gifts. But their birthday bash at the Hilton Waikoloa Village has become one of the Big Island's biggest annual events.
for Waikoloa
dolphin ‘ohana
aids charities
Dolphin Days has grown from
a concert and luau to a
3-day charity festivalBy Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
Special to the Star-BulletinDolphin Days launched in 1995 to mark the first birthday of Kolohe, Lokahi and Kuo Koa, the first Atlantic bottlenose dolphins to be born at the Hilton Waikoloa. Since then, the resort has welcomed five more calves to its dolphin 'ohana (family), and each year, Dolphin Days celebrates their birthdays en masse and in style.
The dolphins are part of the hotel's acclaimed Dolphin Quest program, which offers personal encounters with the friendly, intelligent creatures under the supervision of marine mammal specialists. Some of these sessions are so popular, participants are selected via a lottery.
While the thought of dropping between $95 and $195 per person to play with dolphins may seem frivolous, Dolphin Quest makes it clear that education and conservation are the core of its mission statement.
Says Vicky Kometani, the Hilton Waikoloa Village's marketing and public relations manager, "Dolphin Days was created following a conversation between myself and Jeff Smith, Dolphin Quest's director of operations, that we should have a luau to celebrate the first birthdays of the three dolphin calves that were born in 1994.
"Their birthday was right around the Fourth of July, so Dolphin Days has always been set around that time. We felt we should involve a charity and really make it a community event."A portion of all encounter proceeds goes to the Pacific Marine Life Foundation, which supports marine education, conservation and research, and Hawaii Shriners Hospital for Children. Since its inception, Dolphin Days has raised more than $100,000 for the two charities.
The first Dolphin Days featured a dolphin encounter for Shriners children, a luau with a silent auction, and a concert starring Wayne Newton, who had enjoyed a session with the dolphins during his stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and performed gratis in support of the program.
Since then, Dolphin Days has grown into a three-day event, including a golf tournament, dolphin program, lavish dinners, and The Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Music Festival, which is billed as the event's premier attraction. Cheryl Ladd, Susan Anton, James Ingram, Steven Bochco, Hunter Tylo, David Benoit, David Carradine, Mark Hamill, Bruce Jenner and Brooks Robinson are among the celebrities who've participated in past celebrations.
This year, art aficionados can go online to purchase high-quality giclees or reproductions of Hawaiian-themed paintings by Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell (the Hilton Waikoloa Village's artists in residence) and make a tax-deductible contribution to the Dolphin Days charities at the same time. The giclees have been enhanced and signed by the artists, whose original work is displayed in public and private collections around the world.
"Beyond the donation we are able to make each year, Dolphin Days brings to the Big Island a totally first-class, top-of-the-line event that is not done anywhere else in this capacity on this island," Kometani said.
"The first year, I was at the Dolphin Lagoon when the Shriners children enjoyed their encounter with the dolphins. I stood in the background and cried when I saw the ear-to-ear smile of one little girl whose arm was in a brace. Right then I knew that whatever it took, this event would continue because it is all about the kids!"
Although the 1,240-room Hilton Waikoloa Village usually sells out during Dolphin Days, accommodations are available at neighboring Kohala Coast hotels, most of which offer deals for kamaaina. Tickets for Dolphin Days events may be purchased a la carte.
When: Runs from Thursday to July 1 DOLPHIN DAYS
Place: Hilton Waikoloa Village, 425 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI 96738
Call: (886-1234
Web site: www.dolphindays.com
Schedule
Thursday
>> Trends of the New Millennium: The Hilton Waikoloa Village's culinary team explains the direction food and beverages will take in the new millennium. In the Waters Edge Ballroom, 7 to 10 p.m.; $75 per person (no children's price available).
Friday
>> Dolphin Program: Dolphin Quest trainers sing, dance and play with the Hilton Waikoloa Village's dolphins in the Dolphin Lagoon, 5 p.m. Free.
>> Aloha Friday Luau: Relax on the Palace Lawn with a delicious Polynesian buffet and a performance by Tihati, 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $68 per person; $25 for ages 5 to 12.
Saturday
>> Golf Tournament and Putting Challenge: On the Kings' Course, 7:30 a.m., shotgun; $135. To register for the tournament, call (808)-886-1234, ext. 2513.
>> The Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Music Festival: The weekend's main event features numerous wine, beer and spirit purveyors, as well as dozens of Hawaii's most talented chefs, including Russell Siu, George Mavrothalassitis and D.K. Kodama. The evening culminates with an all-star musical presentation spotlighting Oleta Adams and a fireworks show. On the Palace Lawn, 6 to 10 p.m. Cost: $95 per person; $30 for ages 5 to 12.
>> The After Party: Gather with friends, play some pool and dance the night away! No-host bar remains open until 1 a.m. Participants must be 21 years and older. At the Waters Edge Ballroom, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.