TOP 10 KEIKI (KID)-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AT HAWAI‘I’S MAUNA LANI RESORT:
FISH, GOLF, HULA AND MUCH MORE

Family Fun a Priority at Mauna Lani

KOHALA COAST, Hawai‘i, (March 3, 2008) – Mauna Lani Resort offers a host of kid-friendly activities to make a stay at this Big Island resort the perfect escape for families. Known for their dedication to the Hawaiian culture and preservation of the ‘aina (land), Mauna Lani’s keiki-guest offerings are so unique and fun most youngsters won’t realize they’re also learning about the environment, endangered honu that wander the shoreline, native plant life or the music and dance of the islands.

Mauna Lani’s Top 10 Keiki-Friendly Activities - in no particular order because they’re all great!

• Colorful koi and tropical fish feeding – The diversity of fish in the saltwater ponds surrounding Mauna Lani are entrancing, from brightly-colored koi to resident balloon fish, sting rays and sharks; the resort’s loko i‘a managers, or keepers of the ponds, oversee fish feeding tours for guests young and old.
• Learn the "hukilau” - Beachside hula and ‘ukulele lessons given by Big Island kupuna are a great way for kids to get down with the music and dance of Hawai‘i.
• "Wipe Out” on Hawaii’s only keiki golf course – Mauna Lani’s nine-hole Keiki Course is specifically designed for junior golfers and beginning players 18 years and under. The par-33 layout is no pushover either - Hole #3, aptly named "Wipe Out” for its challenging green, is compared on the course scorecard to the "toughest wave you’ll ever ride.”
• Nurture a honu – Since 1989, Mauna Lani has raised juvenile honu (green sea turtles) in their saltwater ponds while educating guests and the local community about this endangered species. The baby honu are cared for at Mauna Lani until they grow to a size and weight deemed appropriate for release into the wild. Every 4th of July the resort celebrates "Turtle Independence Day” with games, educational booths and yes, a honu release at the ocean’s edge fronting Mauna Lani Bay.
• Camp Mauna Lani – Kids can spend the day exploring caves and tide pools, learning the Hawaiian language and participating in arts and crafts activities or join in fun outdoor games and activities. Camp Mauna Lani offers daily adventures for kid-guests 5-12 years old.
• Celebrate the Hawaiian culture – Mauna Lani celebrates the Hawaiian way of life with cultural activities for kids of all ages. Gather fragrant plumerias for flower leis, weave a lauhala bracelet, decipher petroglyphs in nearby archaelogical preserves, duck into a lava tube or prehistoric shelter cave or take a peek into the past at the Eva Parker Woods Cottage Museum.
• Pampering Pitstop – Mauna Lani’s world renowned spa also offers treatments just for kids: the Tutti Frutti Tropical Smoothie or Tutti Frutti Mani-Pedi Combo blends a Hawaiian sugar cane exfoliation with a soothing application of moisture rich tropical butter that will leave your keiki’s skin (or hands and feet) hydrated. The Mani-Pedi is topped off with child’s favorite polish color and a sparkling jeweled toe ring.
• Fish like the locals: with a bamboo pole! – Mauna Lani’s expansive shoreline offers kids a chance to catch a big (or little) one using a bamboo fishing pole. A popular pastime with local keiki, Mauna Lani’s coastline is teeming with colorful reef fish, including weke and moano. Scoop net fishing is also a favorite activity, and a little easier for smaller keiki in the safety of the resort’s tidepools.
• Play like a pro - The Mauna Lani Tennis Club offers a clinic just for kids. The Tennis Club, located adjacent to Mauna Lani Spa, has six Plexi-Cushion courts and a 500-seat stadium court, and provides a big-time environment for tennis prodigies to test their burgeoning skills.
• Get a birdseye view of life under the sea – Kids can take advantage of complimentary snorkel gear daily. Mauna Lani has multiple spots for fish viewing and can accommodate almost any equipment request your Jacques Cousteau, Jr. could possibly have. The resort also offers environmentally friendly activities, allowing the entire family a chance to participate in an exciting and educational ocean exploration.
   

Mauna Lani’s ‘Ohana Package Makes Booking a Family Vacation a Snap!
‘Ohana means family in Hawaiian and Mauna Lani continues to earn its reputation as Hawai‘i's premier family resort with activities, programs and events designed for every generation. The Mauna Lani ‘Ohana package starts at $315 per room per night (two-room, three-night minimum) and is good through December 23, 2008. Restrictions apply.

Mauna Lani Resort sits oceanfront on the finest stretch of shoreline on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Located 23 miles north of the Kona International Airport, this uniquely Hawaiian luxury resort features the award-winning Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Mauna Lani Spa and the Francis H. I‘i Brown Golf Courses. Mauna Lani Resort is recognized as one of the "World’s Top Luxury, Eco-friendly Getaways” by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in their January, 2008 issue. For reservations call 800-367-2323 or visit www.maunalani.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mark Glickman / Susan Bredo
808-881-1913 / 808-885-1473
mglickman@maunalani.com   
sbredo@maunalani.com