Beach & Botany’ voluntourism program on Kauai
Hanalei Colony Resort, a beachfront retreat on Kauai’s north shore, is partnering with a nearby botanical garden on a package combining tropical vacation fun with volunteer opportunities. With 48 units, Hanalei Colony is a condominium resort on an uncrowded beach in Haena, Kauai’s remote northernmost town. The resort prides itself on its secluded location. Nearby is the Limahuli Garden and Preserve, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden network. The garden is in a north shore valley, featuring rain forest, ancient lava rock terraces, native plant species, and a plantation-era garden. The Beach & Botany Package requires guests to make a minimum commitment of two four-hour-per-day volunteer sessions at Limahuli Garden for a total of eight hours p.p. spread over two days. The package includes a choice of five or seven night’s accommodation in an Ocean View two-bedroom condo, a picnic basket lunch for two, a three-hour kayak tour for two on the Hanalei River, two one-hour massages at the resort’s Hanalei Day Spa, annual membership to the National Tropical Botanical Garden (with a variety of benefits), and an arrival gift designed for “tropical gardeners.”Volunteer sessions at Limahuli Garden begin with a brief orientation, and guests then assist the garden’s staff in different tasks. Guests choose in advance which of three activity levels suits their physical capabilities and outdoor experience, ranging from a low level of exertion in the nursery to a high level of exertion and physical demand doing ecological restoration in Limahuli Preserve. The minimum age for a volunteer is 14. The Beach & Botany Package prices for 2012 range from US$1,964 to US$2,324, depending on guests’ choice of five or seven nights and low season (10/1/12 – 12/19/12) or high season (now through 9/30/12 and 12/20/12 – 1/14/13) dates. A seven-night package includes the seventh night free. The package prices are subject to applicable taxes, based on double occupancy, and cannot be combined with any other special offer. Hanalei Colony Resort offers deluxe two-bedroom condominium units with kitchens and private patios. In keeping with its restful ambiance, Hanalei Colony’s units do not have televisions, stereos, or phones. Resort amenities include free parking, a swimming pool facility with whirlpool spa, barbecue and picnic areas, laundromat, and twice-weekly maid service. Guests are invited to a weekly complimentary continental breakfast and an afternoon mai tai party. The oceanfront Mediterranean Gourmet restaurant is open daily from lunch through dinner, and the Napali Coffee House & Art Gallery offers morning coffee drinks, smoothies, and pastries as well as mid-day snacks. A variety of treatments are offered on-property at Hanalei Day Spa. (http://www.hcr.com)
