- Honolulu, Oahu
- 75.2 °F
Press Release
Hawaiian Culture Comes Alive At Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club
Resort features new hula show and luau-style dinner buffet every Monday night
LIHU‘E, KAUAI, Hawaii – August 4, 2008 – Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club is expanding its array of authentic Hawaiian experiences with "Hawai’i Alive!," a new hula and Polynesian revue, complimented by an optional luau-style dinner. Every Monday evening, just after the sun sets over the blue Pacific Ocean, guests will be treated to an enchanting performance by a local halau (dance school) in Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club’s new hula show, featuring Halau Rohotu.
"For the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting Halau Rohotu’s practice sessions, which have given our guests a unique, behind-the-scenes look at a ‘real’ hula rehearsal," said Bill Countryman, general manager of Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club. "To meet the great demand from visitors for a true Hawaiian performance at our resort, we’re now offering this new show. It’s a wonderful way to share our culture and make our guests’ stay more meaningful."
Forging Partnerships
In its quest to "surpass the ordinary" and provide "epic Hawaiian experiences," Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club adopted Halau Rohotu, allowing them to rehearse in the resort’s open-air courtyard every Wednesday and share their Hawaiian culture with guests and associates.
"Everyone watches with fascination as the young men and women of Halau Rohotu practice with such passion and commitment," said Countryman "I knew our guests would feel a special connection to our island through these students and their dedication to sharing Hawaii’s stories through hula."
The Punua Family has a unique tie to the resort as the elder generation, directed then by Victor and Ku‘ulei Punua, once performed there six nights a week when it first opened in 1961 as Kaua‘I Surf Hotel. Today, son Walis Punua and his wife Shana, now kumu hula (masters) themselves, convey Ku‘ulei’s instruction and knowledge of the Hawaiian culture to the younger generation of halau members. In addition, the students are taught both Hawaiian and Tahitian styles of dance. According to Punua, "Our halau is unique in this sense and we feel it is a strength for the students to be disciplined in both areas."
"We are so thankful for this opportunity for our halau to return to Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club," said Punua. "It is a homecoming for the Punua family because along with my wife Shana, we are now able to teach the younger generation of students here at the same place where I once grew up watching my parents who entertained thousands of guests over the years."
Hawai’i Alive! Hula and Polynesian Revue
Under the direction of Kumu Hula Shana and Walis Punua, "Hawai’i Alive!" features hula, fire knife dancers, native drummers, and authentic chants and music from Hawai’i’s past and present. Set in the resort’s tranquil Ni’ihau Court amid swaying palm trees and tiki torches, it’s live, Hawaiian entertainment at its finest.
Rates for "Hawai’i Alive!" are $35 for adults and $20 for children ages 12 and under. Tropical cocktails and bar service are available for a fee. For reservations, contact the Concierge desk by calling Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club at (808) 246-5166.
Luau-style Dinner Buffet
Before every performance, Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club also offers an optional luau-style dinner buffet at the resort’s Kukui’s Poolside Restaurant & Bar, every Monday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy dining in the open-air atmosphere while enjoying a taste of classic Hawaiian cuisine, including:
- Imu-style Kalua Pork with Kunai Cabbage
- Hawaiian Coconut Seafood Curry
- Beef Luau Stew with Taro Leaves
- Chicken Hekka with Long Rice
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- Molokai Sweet Potatoes with a Coconut Glaze
- Lomi Lomi Salmon
- Kauai Coffee Glazed Ham with Pineapple Chutney
- Tropical Hawaiian Desserts
The price of the dinner buffet is $32.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For dinner reservations, contact the Concierge desk by calling Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club at (808) 246-5166.
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Halau Rohotu is just one of several featured cultural activities of the resort’s Signature Guest Experience Program. Other authentic island experiences include:
- Ni‘ihau Shell Earring Crafts
- Sunset Hula Ceremony
- Cultural Garden Tour
- Torch Lighting Ceremony
- Koi Fish Feeding
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Situated on the family-friendly Kalapaki Beach, the world-class KAUA‘I MARRIOTT RESORT & BEACH CLUB is set on 800 acres of lush, tropical surroundings. Visit this 356-room island paradise where Jack Nicklaus Signature golf, Hawaii’s largest single-level swimming pool, and oceanfront dining together create the ultimate Hawaiian experience. Centrally located, just minutes from Lihu‘e airport, the resort serves as the perfect starting point for guests to take in all that Kaua‘i has to offer. Also offering complimentary airport shuttle service, a fitness center, spa services, water sports, retail shops, and Kalapaki Kids Club. For more information or to make reservations at Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, please call (800) 220-2925 or (808) 245-5050 or visit www.kauaimarriott.com.
For More Information, Contact:
Jeanne Datz Rice or
Erin Kinoshita
McNeil Wilson Communications, Inc.
1003 Bishop Street, 9th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 531-0244
Fax: (808) 521-7163
E-mail: jeanne.datz.rice@mwc-anthology.com or
erin.kinoshita@mwc-anthology.com
