Hawaii roundup: Tornado strikes Oahu golf course; renovated Grand Wailea Resort; best romantic hotels

On your next trip to the Hawaiian islands, beware sharks, stingrays, sunburns…and twisters? Keep reading for more on this unexpected weather occurrence; plus, we have news on hotels, renovated and romantic:

Weird weather | Blustery weather on Oahu Wednesday was punctuated by a tornado, which slammed a 250-pound man into a glass door at Kapolei Golf Course. The man, a golf course employee, was released from the hospital the same day, according to a Honolulu Star Bulletin article.

Renovated hotel | Maui’s Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa is ready to show off its $50 million worth of renovations. Among the announced improvements to the property are upgraded guest rooms and a restored Wailea Canyon Activity Pool area, which features seven pools, seven water slides, caves and, according to the hotel’s website, “the world’s first water elevator.”

Romantic hotels | Hawaii hotels captured the top three spots on the list of “Best for Romance - United States” in TripAdvisor’s recently announced 2009 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The No. 1 placer is Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. (If you want to maximize the romance quotient there, have a look at its “Lava Love Spa Package.”) In second and third places are Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, also on the Kohala Coast, and Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.

Big Island | Speaking of lists, in case you missed it, be sure to check out L.A. Times staff writer Susan Spano’s “Top 10 must-see spots around the globe.” Next door to Maui, the island of Hawaii is featured on her list for its “snow-capped, 13,796-foot Mauna Kea; awesomely active Kilauea volcano” and Kona coffee, among other draws.

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows; MaunaLani.com]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:47 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Hawaii, Hawaii's Big Island, Honeymoon, Spa & Romance, Hotels, Islands & Beaches, Luxury Travel, Maui, News, Tips & Advice, Oahu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.