Many people have asked me what Hualalai Four Seasons is like right now. Here’s my short answer: it’s pretty much shut down. The hotel is completely fenced off. The Spa and gyms closed early on. Then the retail stores.
No restaurants are open, of course. Ke’olu is providing an excellent take out menu that keeps evolving to include more items. You order and then pick up, mindful of social distancing, or your order can be delivered. You can now buy breakfast and lunch at The Trading Company, which remains open with limited staff and short hours.
Only 10 people at a time can be in the store at one time.
Ke’olu also provides a grocery shopping service for limited items. And many of us have learned how to use InstaCart and Shipt.
Canoe Club is closed down.
The golf courses seem to alternate on being open or closed. (Sorry, I don’t keep up with the schedule.) People use the course to walk. A few days ago a family was riding bikes and teaching one of the kids how to ride a bike on the 15th.
People are still allowed to exercise, keeping the six feet-a-part social distancing rule. We’re very fortunate that we can be outside for part of the day. And that the beauty surrounding us never falters.
Personally, I’m turning gray and hoarding my Tates gluten-free cookies. Hope all of you are doing well!
Hualalai members who are remaining at Hualalai during the COVID 19 Crisis have formed an email thread so we can stay in touch, share information, give coping hints and share stories about our sheltering in place here. If you would like to be on the thread, email me back and I will add you.
As the human and economic impact of the Covid 19 pandemic continues, we would like to ask for your help for our community. The Hualalai ‘Ohana Foundation is initializing the Hualalai ‘Ohana Crisis Response Fund. This fund will be used to ease the many hardships employees are experiencing.
We have heard from many of you expressing concern for the well-being of the employees and an interest in learning more about how the Foundation is participating in the response.
Our goal is to help keep balance in the lives of our resort ‘ohana in their time of need. All administrative costs are covered by our foundation, which means 100% of your donation goes directly to benefit our recipients.
The fund will be administered by the Hualalai ‘Ohana Foundation staff and its board of directors. We will report back to share with you the impact of your gift and that of our supporters. Our efforts will be carefully executed and will be complementary to all Federal, State, and local efforts. Our belief is this could be a much longer recovery for the hospitality industry and we approach this effort with a long-term view. Much is unknown at this time so we will remain flexible in how to best use our resources going forward.
Since our founding in 2002, the Foundation has been there for employees. At times, this has required the flexibility to respond quickly and nimbly to the needs of employees while staying true to our mission and purpose. You may recall the 2011 Tsunami at Kona Village where we mobilized to support the immediate needs and concerns of employees, providing a vehicle for the most basic necessities of life such as groceries, utilities, prescriptions and gasoline so that they could get back to what’s really important – their ‘ohana.
With your help, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to our community. You have been there before when most needed and we want to thank you in advance for your generosity and concern for the well being of the Hualalai ‘ohana.
Please give online today. We want to hear from you and appreciate your feedback on things. Please direct inquiries to the Hualalai ‘Ohana Foundation at nicoleilani.hof@gmail.com or call (808) 325-8177.
“The Holley Ohana created a chalk art masterpiece on the street outside our home. We’d like to encourage other homeowners to brighten up their street and the resort with your own creative art projects. Please submit your photos for all to see and let’s make Hualalai a cheery place to be!”
The Hawaii Humane Society is asking people to foster animals during this COVID 19 crisis. There is an urgent need to foster 40 medium and large dogs. They also anticipate a need for fostering cats, kittens and puppies. To learn more about fostering go to HIHS.org/foster
Life as we knew it has changed drastically in only a few days here at Hualalai Four Seasons. With the closing of so many venues, our beloved staff members are now unemployed. Things are dire, but many members have been putting their heads together to determine how we can help.
For people who want to donate right now: The Food Basket has a COVID-19 Pandemic Response Fund. When I donated, I indicated I was from Hualalai Four Seasons. Go to hawaiifoodbasket.org
The link below is an article from “West Hawaii Today” that explains the program in more depth.
“Hawaii Island’s 11 state legislators in a Friday letter to Mayor Harry Kim urged him to order an immediate countywide shutdown for the next 15 days.
The letter, signed by all four Big Island senators and all seven representatives, strongly requests that Kim order an immediate closure of all county facilities and schools, send home all non-essential county personnel, prohibit all nonessential travel from the Big Island, and the quarantine of all arriving travelers at the Hilo and Kona international airports for at least 15 days.”
The Corona Virus is so contagious that we all need to practice social distancing. We have four twenty-something-year-olds staying with us who have come from all over the mainland. I have told them to keep themselves away from the general community of Hualalai for 14 days.
As we continue to monitor the ongoing conditions, the health and safety of our members, guests and employees continue to be our top priority as we monitor the global, national and state response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation. We continue our heightened precautions in food handling, sanitization, disinfection and cleaning measures.
Currently, we have discontinued serving buffets in all of the Resort and Club venues. Ala carte options will be provided for the time being. This will impact ULU breakfast, Luaus, Aloha Fridays and Farmers’ Market. We will be revising offerings and planning for additional options available to our Members.
Out of an abundance of caution, we are also reviewing many of our operating guidelines. We will provide additional updates in the coming days as we determine next steps and possible need to limit certain activities and gatherings.
As a first step, we have determined it is best to limit larger gatherings. Therefore, the Monday Night Member Receptions will be canceled until further notice. While we all look forward to these evenings where we come together as one ohana, we have made this decision with the health and safety of all our Members, guests and staff in mind.
Our entire team is grateful for your patience and understanding as we all work together to ensure that Hualalai remains the safest haven possible in these uncertain times. Please watch for additional detailed updates tomorrow.
Only 10 people at a time can be in the store at one time.
