#waikoloa

[thnx4thefish]

Brought Bbokari and Wolf Chan with me to Hawaii so they could visit the beach and the Pacific!

Sending lots of healing energy to the whole group now that we're really IN IT for comeback season.

[tm7tm7tm7]

[thekaniniestateonline]

Best Volcanoes National Park Safari: Adventure Awaits in Hawaii

When planning an unforgettable getaway, the allure of Hawaii often tops the list. Renowned for its natural beauty and volcanic landscapes, the Big Island offers a unique experience for adventurers and nature lovers alike. Among its gems is the Volcanoes National Park, a haven for exploration and discovery. For those yearning to immerse themselves in this volcanic wonderland, a well-organized safari promises to transform your trip into a lifetime memory.

[mapsoffun]

My last swim at Hilton Waikoloa Village was in their saltwater lagoon, and it was pretty incredible. One of the criticisms of the resort from other guests I spoke to was some disappointment that there wasn’t a proper beach to sit on and swim in the ocean or bay. That’s a valid complaint, but the shorelines weren’t exactly beaches as much as they were covered in jagged stones. This lagoon is a decent compromise: no, you don’t get waves to splash in, but you do get a small beach and sit on a lounge chair, and you can swim with actual tropical fish (and a sea turtle or two). You’re not going to see a huge number of fish, but you will see a nice variety, and that alone is a pretty cool feature and reason enough to consider getting a dive mask/snorkel or at least a pair of goggles.

I went early, just as they were finishing up the little dolphin show they do some mornings around 8 AM, and it was like having much of the lagoon to myself. I could not have asked for a more peaceful and yet invigorating swim on our last full day in Hawaii.

[hokunohea]

Discover Paradise at Ainamalu: Waikoloa Beach Resort Rentals Await

The Ainamalu Waikoloa Beach Resort isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a destination where you can create lasting memories. With luxurious accommodations, a variety of activities, and opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture, this resort truly offers something for everyone. As you plan your next getaway, consider the unforgettable experience that awaits you at Waikoloa Beach Resort rentals. The paradise of the Big Island is ready to welcome you!

[theadventurebuddies]

Welcome to our Hilton Waikoloa Village Review | Hawaii! Dive into our detailed review of the Hilton Waikoloa Village, a perfect family resort that offers an unforgettable experience for all ages.

[tiare-room-service-massage]

Tiare Room Service Massage

Massage and Spa Treatments to your door … Hawaii … 808-322-4720

[waikoloaproperties]

Explore Waikoloa Village Condos for Sale - Premier Waikoloa Real Estate

Discover a range of Waikoloa Village Condos For Sale on the Big Island. With over 10 condo complexes to choose from, Waikoloa Properties offers a variety of properties for ownership, rental, and investment. Find your ideal piece of paradise in Waikoloa Village with our experienced real estate team

[daisylovesrumble]

Urge These Resorts to Stop Offering Cruel Dolphin Experiences! | PETA

Hawks Cay Resort in Florida and The Kahala Hotel & Resort and Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii are supporting the abuse of intelligent dolphins by partnering with notorious Dolphin Quest or Dolphin Connection. These companies cruelly confine dolphins to tiny lagoons so they can offer tourists “swim with dolphins” experiences for profit.

[tropic-havens]

Waikoloa, Anaeho'omalu Bay, Hawai’i.

[zentloper-xmas]

Greetings all,

I’m writing on Christmas Eve this year. For a few years now I’d been considering going “all digital” with my Christmas letter. This year I guess it’s finally happening because every time the thought passed my mind to sit down and write it, I always had at least two other “bigger” priorities breathing down my neck preventing me from doing so. Plus, have you SEEN the price of stationery and postage?? Oh, nevermind, you probably have…

The year has taken us many fun places, like up to Chicago, IL in April, Big Bend National Park in May, Oklahoma City, OK in July, the Waikoloa Resort in Hawai’i with the in-laws in August, and Nashville, TN in November (with a quick stop over at Dollywood in Knoxville– I’ve always wanted to go, and I came back with a fabulous pair of turquoise boots bedazzled with fringe!). Always thankful for the ability to travel, see new things, and have some adventures together with my hubbie!

I also find myself as Vice President of a local non-profit (it’s that LGBTQK+ org I mentioned in last year’s letter). Neil and I got very involved with volunteering, event planning/hosting, and community outreach, and the result was a nomination in the group’s elections in November. Neil got a slot too: Membership Coordinator! Being VP pairs well thus far with my titleholder responsibilities, which includes going to conventions for panels, running educational classes, making appearances at events to schmooze, and judging contests. One of my biggest successes this year was implementation of not one but TWO ten kilometer fun runs (one in the spring and one in the fall) that I hosted as fundraisers and to raise awareness/visibility for transgender folk. I’ll be continuing that in 2025. The work  all feels very rewarding, especially when folks who I don’t even personally know will come up to tell me that the authentic way I live my life inspires them to do the same. Wow. That’s awesome stuff, y’all.

Only somewhat tangentially, I don’t know if you’ve heard but there’s a lot of anti-trans legislature hitting the Texas Senate/House in 2025 (39 of them have been pre-filled, to be precise). There were 669 such bills across the US last year (thankfully only 48 of which passed– which is still too many, but we count our blessings where we can). The majority of these bills target education, healthcare, and legal recognition, and there’s been a massive spike since 2023. (If you’re looking for a helpful resource to stay informed, I suggest: https://translegislation.com/ ) I’ve watched with sadness as transphobia has been ramping up in our country for the past decade (for reference, I came out and began transitioning mid-2011, a relatively safe time and place [California] to do so), and this year on Transgender Day of Remembrance (a day to memorialize the lives of trans folk who were lost due to anti-trans violence celebrated annually on November 20th) the death toll was at 33+.

I hope you won’t mind if I get up on my soapbox a moment just to say none of this is okay. I’m not okay with this. I ache for my trans siblings, especially our trans youth. That number hit me hard this year, and I’ve been doing all I can to get involved, speak out, and educate those I can reach with my platforms.

If any of this is stirring concern about MY personal safety as a trans person, know that I’m statistically good. I’m white (statistically-speaking, POC are more targeted), I’m male (statistically-speaking, trans women are more targeted), and I pass* so well that the average person I meet out on the street has zero clue I’m not cis (until I tell them that is, because I’m very open about working it into conversations in a form of what I like to call “every day advocacy”). Neil and I also created a “go bag” of necessary supplies and have an emergency action plan in place in the event something really bad were to occur in Texas and we needed to leave IMMEDIATELY for my safety. Kinda shitty we feel a need to have these preparations in place, but such is the world we currently live in. It’s not a matter of fear, but realism: A lot of folks out there would rather I was dead.

*btw “pass” or “passing”  is an outdated term, though still the most common parlance you’re likely to hear; a better term is “cis-presenting” rather than “cis-passing”.

Turning back to lighter matters… the Buda Library claims that I’ve saved $1,185.43 by renting rather than buying. I’ve been devouring every book they put on the shelf that relates to transgenderism, gender identity, gender-creative parenting, with a sprinkling of challenges facing women too. (I’m glad the resources are there for everyone to read– go Buda! <3) I just find all this subject matter so fascinating… and often encouraging as society progresses gradually toward a kinder, more accepting world. I hope you won’t mind if I drop a bunch of book recs like I did last time. Partake if you will (I hope you will!):

“Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God's Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children” by Jamie Bruesehoff

“Men Who Hate Women: The Truth About Extreme Misogyny and How It Affects Us All” by Laura Bates

“He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters” by Schuyler Bailar

Oh, and I got a new tattoo! It’s a balloon doggie with spots like a dalmatian! Xyr* name is Speckle. <3

*Xyr is a “neopronoun” used in place of their, his, or her; I’ve been experimenting with the use of xe/xem/xyr on non-gendered entities like plushies to get more used to using alternative pronouns.

Have a wonderful holiday and a splendid 2025 ahead,

Rick & Neil

[petri808]

Day 11 @flufftober “sweet tooth” TakaRitsu . Just tooth ache fluff kind of Drabble.

It’s their first vacation trip as a married couple, and Masamune wants to make it so memorable, that his husband will always remember the time they spent together. Of course, in Japan it’s not a legal marriage, but now that Ritsu is added to his family registrar, Ritsu Onodera is now legally, Ritsu Takano… Oof, just thinking about it still gives Masamune goosebumps. Everything they’ve gone through to get to this point is in the past, and now their future is looking bright. Two successful men in the publishing world, who will one day take over Onodera Publishing, but for today, all that awaits is sand, sea, and a little paddle boarding in Anaeho’omalu Bay in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

The six day, five night honeymoon trip is a collective gift from both sets of parents to give the young couple a little relaxation before starting their fresh beginning. Many tourists choose Oahu island because of it’s wider array of things to do, but considering Ritsu and Masamune come from he city, a city vacation is a the least enticing idea. Therefore, Waikoloa on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii was chosen for it’s warm climate, and natural beauty— A place where life moves at a relaxing, slower pace that ebbs and flows like the waves on the islands sandy shores.

At the Waikoloa Marriott, Masamune and Ritsu are checked into an oceanside suite on the top floor that overlooks Anaeho’omalu Bay. It’s a pretty typical hotel with it’s pool, bar, restaurant, a salon and small gym, but what makes it special is it’s ties to the local culture. In ancient Hawaii, the local islanders would use the natural landscape of some bays to create what is referred to today as aquaculture ponds and fisheries. By adding rocks and wooden slatted gates, they would entice young fish to swim through the gate by providing abundant food sources, so by the time they try to leave, they’re too big to get through the slats anymore. The shoreline of the hotel features a renovated pond so tourists can see this amazing technique up close. It then stretches out into a mile or so long white sand beach where vendors rent out surfboards, kayaks, and paddle boards.

Around 4 pm, Masamune convinces Ritsu to go out with him on a tandem paddle board as long as he can sit while Masamune does all the paddling for them. It’s September, so the air is still fairly warm despite moving towards autumn. Plus, they didn’t plan to stay out too long.

“The sunset will look the same whether from our balcony or the beach, so I don’t understand why you want to be on a board in the middle of the bay.” Ritsu complains.

“Well,” Masamune counters, “the balcony is not really romantic and the beach has other people. This way, we can relax without distractions.”

“Guess that’s true” Ritsu relents as he sits down in the center of the board.

After kissing his husbands forehead, Masamune stands up and pushes away from the sand with the help of the vendor staff. Thankfully, the weather is on their side with very little wind to stir up the waves. For about twenty or thirty minutes, he paddles against the tide to get them past the break-point in the waves maybe two-hundred yards off-shore. It may not seem so far when you’re just looking out over the water, but when the waves are working against you, and you’re trying hard not to lose balance, it takes time to travel such a distance. But finally, they reach a point where it feels like the tide is no longer pulling too strongly and they can relax, just floating and bobbing surrounded by the deep blue sea. Masamune sits down behind with Ritsu between his stretched out legs, then passes the paddle forward to Ritsu to hold in front of them.

“What do you think?” Masamune asks Ritsu as he wraps his arms around the man. “Isn’t it so much more relaxing like this?”

Ritsu shifts back against his husbands chest. “Okay, I’ll admit it kind of is… Even the way the water is shimmering from the sunset is cool.”

Masamune sighs happily in his contented win. “Boy, the pictures of Hawaii’s sunsets don’t do it enough justice. They’re mostly red and oranges in the photos, but who knew they came with pinks and purples too!”

“I can imagine some of my clients immediately seeing these sunsets and breaking out their colored pens,” Ritsu chuckles and sighs too with a smile. “They’d look amazing with watercolors.” He turns his head so he can see Masamune better. “Thank you for bringing me out here.”

Over the gentle pitter-patter sounds of the water lapping against the fiberglass board, light whooshing of the trade winds, and occasional seabirds flying above, a sense of pure euphoria drowns out the conch shells roar in their ears. There’s a crinkling and tinge of moist shine in Masamune’s eyes as he smiles and leans in, placing a pressure-laden, long-lasting kiss on his husbands lips. “No,” his voice grows fervent, “thank you, for being here with me.”

What a perfect way to end their day.

[mapsoffun]

The rain kept going all afternoon, letting up just in time for sunset, which was pretty cool since our part of the resort was noted as a great place to catch sunsets. We’d see people scurry over with cameras to both take photos and then pose for some, and it was charming.

[hokunohea]

Unwind in Luxury: Hotels in Waikoloa Beach Golf Course at HOKU NOHEA

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